Wind beneath my wings

For some reason, when people discover that I am the only daughter in a family that consists of a mom, a dad, and four children, they say to me, "You must be really close with your mother."

I mean, yeah, I guess. We're not like Gilmore Girls close, but we do have a unique bond being the only females to hold down the fort.

So anyway, about my mother... She celebrates a birthday today. If I calculated correctly, it is the 21st anniversary of her 29th birthday (because she says once you turn 29, there's no need to keep track anymore). In other words, she's turning the big 5-0, and to honor this milestone, I have come up with 50 facts/reasons/stories that explain why my mama is the best. 

1. Her name is Wendy.

2. She is the 9th child in a family of 11 children.

3. She dealt with and still deals with 10 siblings.
4. She has been married to my dad for 27 years.

5. She got married at the age of 22, but always tells me that I am not allowed to get married until I turn 35.
6. She gave birth to me and my 3 brothers.

7. She never spoiled me for being the only girl in the family.

8. She never taught me how to put on makeup.

9. She never taught me that wearing makeup was necessary.

10. She has brown eyes, and she always wanted a brown-eyed baby, but is satisfied (I think) with the four bright-blue-and-green eyed babies that she got.

11. She has been by her parents' sides in the most trying times of what they call their "second childhood," aka old age.

12. She re-learned how to crochet so that she could help my Grandma re-learn after having a stroke.
13. Her favorite color is yellow.
14. Never showing a lick of anxiety or worry, she allowed all four of her children to play ice hockey.

15. In the aforementioned sport, she allowed all four of her children to be goalies (an even bigger testament to her incredibly calm and trusting self).

16. Hockey arenas are cold, and she sits in them for hours at a time at least two nights every week during the winter.

17. Do you know how bad kids smell after playing hockey? She still loved us despite it.

18. She put(s) countless miles on her mini-van in order to watch all of us kids play sports and stuff.

19. She is the best at sports cheering, only raising her voice to encourage and/or praise.

20. She knew the exact location of the toughest hills and the most-hidden corners on every cross country race route, and she was always there to push us through in the times when it would have been easiest to give up.

21. She is a hot commodity when it comes to cross country meet scorers in central Minnesota.

22. She signed me up for piano lessons.

23. I don't even want to know what percentage of her income she spent/spends on her children. It's too much. 

24. Through tubed ears, removed tonsils, an extracted foot bone, removed wisdom teeth, and a broken foot, she has taken care of me.
25. On occasion, she takes time off of work to dress up like Clifford the big red dog and entertain the local kindergarteners.

26. She did daycare for most of my childhood, and always found time to play Legos and other fun kid games with us.
27. She cleverly taught us how to play the game "Give mom a back rub" when we were bored.
28. She makes a mean Jello roll-up. Her great-nieces and nephews and brothers-in-law can attest to that.
29. Sometimes when we would go to the mall (a place which she dislikes but finds unable to avoid at times) she would buy me a cup of cinnamon roll bits.
30. She let me bake cookies with her, and when I got older she let me bake cookies for her.
31. She treats me to Noodles and Company in every moment possible.

32. She taught me that you can never have too much chocolate.
33. She starts each day with a glass of chocolate milk.
34. She says the reason why my younger brother Chris doesn't like chocolate is because she ate too much of it when she was pregnant with him.

35. She reserves going to the theatre as a mother-daughter activity, because "the boys wouldn't like it." I still claim to not have been spoiled.

36. This one time, she told me that I have the freedom to decide what I want to eat for breakfast and that I don't need to tell her about every detail. That was code for: you are free to live your life as you choose.

37. She has perfect handwriting. I used to sit and enviously watch her write and draw.

38. I inherited her steady drawing hand (okay, it also took a little bit of practice).

39. When I was 18 she let me embark on my first international trip. To Africa.

40. I have made repeated decisions to move further away from home, and she has supported all of them. Not because she won't miss me, but because she believes in my dreams and aspirations.
41. She supported my decision to join the Peace Corps.
42. She hasn't been on an airplane in over 25 years, but she's my #1 chauffeur to and from the airport.

43. When the weather is nice, she rides her bicycle basically everywhere.

44. When I decided to become a vegetarian, she could have told me I was crazy, but instead she researched new recipes and now makes special accommodations for me whenever I come around.

45. She prays for me; though, I've probably given her too many reasons to pray for me.

46. She's a good listener.

47. When I overwhelmingly spew my plans for the future at her, she tells me that it will all work out.

48. She has a great sense of humor and light approach to life.

49. She has a beautiful smile.

50. She gives great hugs.  

Happy Birthday, Mom. Love you.