Traditions are memories that carry us through the rough times. Even if it is something as simple as an annoying singing balloon.

It’s Mother’s Day! Today we say thank you and show our appreciation for the one person who stands by our side no matter how wrong (or right) we are. My brother and I have a Mother’s Day tradition of buying our mom annoying singing balloons, which she totally enjoys (clearly we have her sense of humor). We plant the balloon somewhere central where we can all take turns hitting it until the music comes on (I like to think of it as musical anger management). However today is not about musical balloons, or finding the right restaurant…today is about MOM. She survived 9 months of someone sitting on her bladder and playing kickball in her stomach. Then went through numerous hours of labor to bring you and I into this world. Her hard work did not stop there. She has had to put up with misbehavior, bad attitudes, and hearing her name called hundreds of times to find things that we misplaced, and somehow only she can find. She is amazingly courageous. She is taxi driver, athletic director, master chef, and family doctor. She is irreplaceable, incomprehensible, always dependable MOM. “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: ‘There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!'” (Proverbs 31:28-29). Thanks Mom! No one else could have put up with me (or Jon). We love you so very much!

So what am I thankful for today? MOM!