To my mom,

When I was little, I criticized everything you did, told myself I would never tell my child, "I told you so," and promised myself that I would never become you.

But as I began to grow, slowly but surely, I began to let down my pride and started to realize how absolutely extraordinary you are and how incredibly lucky I am that God gave me you. Now I know, Mom. I know that you are the best and I hope to be half the mom that you are someday.

I know now that when you said, "Because I said so," what you really meant was, "Mama knows best. I'm wise. I've been through this before, just trust me."

I know now that when you wouldn't let me get every single toy that I wanted, you were trying to teach me how to work for things and be appreciative of the things that I have. It taught me how not to selfish, to realize the concept of worth and to be grateful.

I know now that when you told me I had to clean my room before you would take me to my friend's birthday party and I through a fit, you were just trying to teach me how to be responsible and how to work for things that I wanted.

I know now that when you held onto the handle above your head and said, "Do you see that car?" (that wasn't for another half mile) the whole year I had my permit, you were only trying to make sure I would be a good, safe driver when I was on my own.

I know now that when you came into my room after we had a huge fight and you said, "I want you to know how much I love you," and I would never say it back, you were trying to show me how to love like Jesus did -- unconditionally and with so much grace.

I know now that when you took my phone or grounded me for bad grades, you were teaching me that my education was important and you wanted me to have the opportunity to be anything I wanted to be.

I know now that when you told me I had to be home by 11 p.m., always making me the lame friend, you were just trying to keep me safe and show me how much you truly cared that I was on this Earth with you.

I know now that when you wouldn't let me sit in front of the TV all day, you were trying to teach me how to be motivated and goal-seeking.

So now I can say thank you.

I can look by and say thank you for not letting me settle. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for teaching me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Thank you for teaching me that with God -- anything is possible. Thank you for showing me how to be a dedicated wife and a gracious mother. Thank you for holding me when you were the only friend I had left. Thank you for being my mom first and my friend second. Thank you for pushing me in school but teaching me that I am worth more than a test grade. Because as I sit here studying for my last freshman year finals, I hold so true to my heart that this degree is not for me- it's for how I can use it to glorify Christ. And while I heard it a billion times -- every time I walked out the door to take a test, or go to work or drive my friends around -- "I'm praying for you" set into the depth of my heart and reminded me each time how much you loved me. Thank you for teaching me how much of a treasure I am. Thanks, Mom. Thank you so much.

While we never saw eye to eye when I was a snotty-nosed bratty fourth grader or when I was stuck-up Aeropostale-wearing middle schooler, I see now. I see how extraordinary and dedicated you are to being a mom. And I thank God every day that He called you to be my mom.

I know now that when you call me at school and you say, "I'm so proud of you," I can say, "I owe it all to you." As I look back on my childhood, I no longer think, "When I'm a mom, I'll do everything so different." Now, I look back on my childhood and think, "If I can be half the mom that my mom was to me, I think my kids will be just fine."

You are something absolutely precious, Mom, and I think it's time you know how much of a treasure you are.