The Woman behind the Legend...

Today is her birthday. Most women cringe at the thought of mentioning their age but not her. She's never been one to cringe at the thought of anything...well, I take that back. She hates the thought of losing somebody she loves. But anything else, there is always courage. No fear, no backing down. Today, she is 54 and she's beautiful. Take a look for yourself...My Momma...

I will start this post by saying blogging comes up often in my conversations with my mom. I haven't posted anything in FOREVER. I'm just too busy but it's one of the things she loves most, reading. And for some reason, she loves reading what I have to say, so here is my gift to her. I will resurrect my blog...for her. It seems a small price to pay for all the many sacrifices she has made for me over my lifetime.

My mom is by no means a Saint. She has lived a hard life and paid a very high price for it. She has made a lot of mistakes and I'm sure shed a lot of tears because of those mistakes so please don't read this and think for one second that I place her on some type of pedastool. Believe me, if I even attempted to, she climbed down quick, take me out back, make me "pick my own switch" and get down to the business at hand! She was afterall, raised by Leah Lahti!

However, even in her mistakes she has taught me a lot. She raised four of us essentially on her own and I love knowing that with all of our ups and downs, successes and failures, she looks at the four of us and smiles. She sees success in all of us. She finds pleasure in the small things.

I love that in the last year or so, my mom and I have found restoration, healing. I love that God showed me a part of my heart that was closed off to Him and to her and forced me to open it up. He came in with a broom and dustpan. He cleaned it up and cleaned it out and now there is something beautiful there where something cluttered and dusty used to lay.

My mom has taught me that through it all, even the darkest night, love will shine through. She also shown me that blood may be thicker than water but love is thicker than blood. When you love somebody, THAT is all that matters. It's not the bloodline that runs through your veins or the heritage that runs in your name.

Diane taught me the importance of being a giver, even when you think you have nothing to give, you ALWAYS have the shirt on your back because there is somebody out there who is worse off than you. She showed me the value of the dollar and how to not let money be my master.

I am proud of the woman she is today. I'm proud of the person she still strives to be.

Happy Birthday Mom...I love you.