You are her best friend, sister, and favorite companion. More than that, you are like a second mom to me. For that, I sincerely thank you.

I have seen my mom at her best, worst, prettiest, and ugliest. I have loved her through it all and she will forever be the most idolized woman in my eyes. She will always have my unconditional love but just as my mom is not enough for me, I am not enough for her. Then you came along and added light to her life I never thought possible.

My mom is the strongest woman I have ever met. With that being said, she is a real softy when it comes to her family and especially her kids. She may play a tough game and act like she has it all together, but the more I mature into adulthood, the more I realize my mom is an average human being just like everyone else in this world. I don't mean that to downplay how much of an amazing woman she is. I just mean she can't do this life alone. Her kids have their own lives and there is a line between mothers and their daughters that just doesn't get crossed in that type of relationship. Her husband has his own career, own family by blood and his own relationship with his children to maintain. Her parents have four other children to keep in touch with not to mention grand kids and great grand kids also. But then you came around and she finally had an actual "person" to be transparent with in life.

I see new life in her that I have only seen in spurts before you came around. It's like she is living out her teenage years again with a best girl friend that she can gossip with and goof around with and just be the real her. Not only that, but she can also be real and turn to you when her life hits the fan. I remember both times my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I can also remember the looks in their eyes. The fear and uncertainty she was trying to shield us kids from was screaming hurt in her own eyes and looking back I see that she could've really used a friend like you to just break down with. But even though you weren't close then, I am so thankful that you are here for her now in case something like that were to ever happen again.

I also want to thank you for not only being my mom's friend, but also for being another mom to me. Moms and daughters don't always get along and sometimes points get overlooked in the grand scheme of everything. You came along and reminded me how lucky I am to have such a beautiful woman to look up to. If I don't agree with my mom on something (which is rare now that I have grown up more), you are there to be a mediator and translator to get both points across to both of us. Because of you, I have a better understanding of my mom and I believe my mom has a better understanding of me. If I have ever not been able to tell my mom something, you were always there to help me either work it out on my own or find a way to talk to her. Also, with you being my second mom, I was able to have two more little sisters that I love as if they were blood. Your daughter closer to my age has become one of my closest friends in life so I am also able to experience the friendship that you and my mom have first hand. And as you can see in the picture, we've had a lot of good times together. Your youngest daughter is like another little sister to me and I hope she knows she will always have another big sister to come to for anything (sorry but sister-sister confidentiality applies here).

You are such a beautiful, strong, Godly, and passionate woman just like my mom and I am so thankful to have yet another woman in my life to look up to. You see the same good in my mom that I do. You see the woman that has worked as hard as she can every day of her life to get to where she is in life. You love my mom unconditionally and for that I am forever grateful for you. I love you so much, thank you for loving my mom too.