There are truly not enough words in the English language to describe how incredible my mother is. But here is my best try.

Dear Momma,

You have seen life at its hardest times, and smiled down at me anyway. You have stood on your two feet when everything in the world was pressing on your shoulders. You have cried, loved, and laughed with me.

I do not tell you enough how much I appreciate you. God hand picked you for me, and I am so blessed that He did. He knew I needed you, and that you needed me.

We fight and argue terrible sometimes, but I know above everything else that your love is what has gotten me this far in life. You have taught me how to be brave, courageous, and strong. You taught me to fight for what I want in life, and showed me how to get there. You showed me how to be independent, because you were.

You are everything I inspire to be: loving, strong-willed, beautiful, wonderful.

I love you more than anything in this world. When everything has gone wrong in my day, when I feel like giving up, I call you and you tell me that I can do it. And I know that I can, because you did. You overcame circumstances that you could have ran from, but instead you conquered.

Thank you for just being you. Thank you for constantly driving me to and from the ten million activities in high school, to always answering my silly phone calls about what kind of medicine cures what when I'm in my dorm just wishing you were there to care for me.

If I turn into half the mother you are some day, I know I will have succeeded.

Even when I fail, even when I feel as if I will never achieve all the things I have set out to do, you encourage me. You show me that battles are being won everyday in my favor, even when I cannot see it.

I know I will always have a friend in you. I will always be able to talk to you, and trust you.

I get my best traits from you. Your big heart, that you love with all you have towards others. Your determination, to reach further than the stars. Your softness, that I see you use when talking to your grandchildren. I am so glad I got these things from you, because you were the best example of them as I grew up.

So here I am, no longer your baby. But don't worry, I still need you and I always will. I still need you to tell me it's going to be okay, and I still need you to wipe my tears.

Your my biggest hero, and my number one fan.

I love you momma.