Happy Birthday!

Dear Mom,

As I sit here and try to think of all you mean to all of us, it gets

a bit overwhelming. You see, you mean so much!

I love that you are always there...with a listening ear, a hug,

sound advice, always willing to spend time with me.

Bob appreciates so much the support we know we can always

count on from you. There's never been a moment of friction between

the two of you because you have always respected each other.

I can remember back almost ten years ago...you took time off work

to come to Portland to welcome Ryan. He took his own sweet time, arriving just twelve

hours after you had to leave for home. But, oh, did you ever love that little guy!

I remember you reading him story after story (you are the book nanny!),

getting down on the floor to play with him, you and Dad taking him for walks in the wagon, how you wanted to be called Grammy but changed it to Nana when we discovered he could say it! And it hasn't changed...you love that not-so-little guy so much...and he loves you right back! And, Emma, oh, Emma. To her, you are "Nanny." To her, you are the one

who loves plants (and lets her water them) who's always ready and willing to read to her, play with her, teach her... You're one of the few she'll cry for when you leave.

To all of us, you are one of our favorite people!

~~~

Happy birthday...may there be MANY more!