To my Mom,

To just say you're amazing wouldn't quite be nearly enough. In fact, I believe George Washington put it best...

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her."

You are the most beautiful person inside and out that I have ever met. Your selflessness each and every single day amazes me. Despite working long hours day in and day out, you still manage to put your children first. Everything that any one of the four of us may need, you always manage to come up with. Everyone always comes before yourself, and as incredible as that is, you don't deserve it. You deserve to put yourself first sometimes. You deserve to take a day off, to go on that Italy trip that you've been wanting to go on, and to be in Times Square when the ball drops.

Everything that I am I owe to you. You've been there from the very first day....well, you didn't have much of a choice I guess. You did, however, have the choice of abandoning ship, but you never did. You were there when I started kindergarten, and you were cheering for me as I crossed the stage in a cap and gown. You saw me fail. You saw me cry over bad grades, boys, and girls that I thought were friends. You were there when I had glasses and contacts as a chunky little girl. You supported me as I attempted EVERY SINGLE SPORT in junior high, and you supported my decision to quit almost every single one of them by high school. You picked me up off the bathroom floor when I felt like everything was crashing down. You were at every heart doctor appointment, and spent every night in the hospital with me. You held my hand and wiped my tears through every attempt at them getting any blood. You watched me learn how to drive, and you raced to my side after my first accident. You moved me into college, and support every decision I make regarding my future. You come visit whenever you can sense how homesick I am. The list could go on forever.

Every success I achieve in life, I attribute to you. I made it through high school because you pushed me. I crossed the stage and got my diploma because you lifted me back up after every fall. I'm furthering my career because of you. I'm pushing myself to my limits studying because I owe it to you. I want nothing more in this world than to make you proud and give you all that you deserve. One day, we're going to hop on that plane and visit all of Europe rather than just Italy, and we're going to see the ball drop from Times Square.

Thank you for everything you do mom. Thank you for being the best mother, friend, support system, and cheerleader than I could've ever been blessed with. I love you to the moon and back.

-Taylor