Dear Mum,

When I was a little girl, you showed me the song "I Hope You Dance," by Lee Ann Womack. We were in the car on the way to dance class and you turned the volume up just a bit and began to sing. It was the first time I was hearing the sweet words to the beautiful melody. I smiled. I thought to myself "Wow, I really love to dance," so found myself relating to the song. For years to come, we sang it in the car over and over again—every road trip, big or small. But when did I start to realize the real meaning you were conveying to me?

There hasn't been a time in the world where I have felt distant from you or like I was unable to come to you for advice. There hasn't been a time where I pulled out of the driveway, leaving to go back to school, where I didn't shed a tear saying goodbye to you.There hasn't been a time in the world where I was at school, needing a hug, and you weren't the hug I ached for. There hasn't been a time in the world where I didn't think of you as my best friend.

I want to say thank you. Thank you for always being by my side no matter what. Right or wrong, I can always count on you to be supporting me. Even when it is not my best choice, I can count on you to help me fix it. I can count on you to make sure I end up okay. (But the best part is I cant count on you to make a sarcastic comment at the end of it all)

Thank you for always being my favorite shoulder to cry on. Thank you for always being my favorite person to giggle with. Thank you for always being the first person I want to tell good news. Thank you for being you.

I am lucky. I am lucky enough to have a mom who I can call my best friend. I can't imagine a world without you as my number fan, and without you only a phone call away. I do not know where I would be without the love, care, and lessons you put into my life as well as my siblings. From day one, you have always been my person. And you always will be.

When you played me that song for the first time, I failed to realize the true meaning of what the words were saying—what you were saying to me. Since then, whenever the song pops up on my playlist, you're the first thing I think of and the only person I want to sing it with.

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance"

Four lines to sum up the important lessons you have taught me in my life. From you, I have been shown how to fight for what I believe in. I have been encouraged to take chances, to find opportunities to be the best I can be. I have been built to be strong.

I love you Mumma. Thank you.

Kels