Dear Mom,

Today, you graduate with honors with your associates degree.   Words cannot express enough how proud I am of you today and everyday.  You have always been an inspiration to me!  You and Dad have been through so much in 30 years, and you fall in love more and more as the years pass.  Through the two of you, I learned how to build a strong relationship with David.  I know that there is nothing that we cannot handle, even whatever the military throws our way!

I cannot imagine a better mother as a role model.  I may not have understood your rules growing up, but now I think OMG, I can't believe she let me do that!  Now that I have children of my own, I call you all the time for advice and you listen when I have my freak outs!!

And now you are a grandmother of 3 and you adore them like they are your own children.  You have made their Halloween costumes, shared your love of horses and the outdoors, but do not get to see them as much as you wish!  They adore their Nannie and Peepaw as if they do get to see them everyday!

As the years go by, our mother/daughter relationship has become much more than that.  We are best friends.  You are always there when I need to be and you are my 3rd cheerleader on getting my bachelors degree, next to David and Tyler!! I pray that I am as close to Tyler and Landon as we are.

Today is your day!  Soak it up and enjoy every minute of it.  Even though I cannot be there tonight, I am cheering for you!!  You went through a lot to get your degree and I am so proud of you.

Congratulations, MOM!!