~ A Thank You Letter to My Mom ~

On this Mother’s Day, I’d like to take a moment & thank you for a few
things that have always meant a lot to me.

Thank you…

For naming me, LeAnn. I’ve always liked it, and I like that I’m named after you & Dad, combined.
For working at a job that allowed you to be with me after school.
For writing that book with your fancy writing and the stickers in the place of some of the words.  {I still have it.}
For always making our house a HOME.

Thank you…

For allowing me to play piano and take lessons, to develop my gifts.
For keeping me well dressed, well fed, warm, and healthy.
For home-cooked meals and clean sheets.
For lots of visits with my grandparents, making memories I cherish even more now.

Thank you…

For following and supporting Dad when he was called into the ministry.
For making our moves during Dad’s schooling & first churches as smooth as possible.
For working multiple jobs, & still finding time to cook…clean… I don’t know how you did it.
For transforming the hallway walk-in closet into a cozy bedroom for me in our campus apartment at CBC. And wall-papering it. And putting a dresser in there. And making it pretty.

Thank you…

For staying with me in the hospital after my accident.
For trying to stay calm for me.
For covering the mirrors when I was too frightened to look.
For allowing me to heal emotionally, at my pace.
For praying for me.

Thank you…

For staying up with me when I was sick.
For letting me have a cat even though you are highly allergic to them.
For making my clothes when we couldn’t afford to buy them, and even sometimes when we could. {you may not know this, but I was really proud of those clothes}
For letting me comfort you when Papaw died.

Thank you…

For doing all the art work on every single one of my reports.
For seeing past the grades and noticing the problem.
For reading my textbooks to me at times, because I’d retain it better by hearing.
For being a 2nd Mom to all my friends.
For taking me to L.A. to buy my first high school prom dress. It was so pink and fluffy.
For letting me go to the prom my Freshman year. With a Senior. And not following us.

Thank you…

For teaching me how to be a lady.
For allowing me to spread my wings, while setting boundaries.
For teaching me not to talk badly about people, and to be a true and loyal friend.
For teaching me about good character.
For trusting me.

Thank you…

For letting me do my favorite thing, and encouraging me to…sing.
For sending me on a life-changing, 3-month tour with the Continental Singers … twice.
For going to my recitals, concerts, competitions, and auditions.
For being my biggest fan.

Thank you…

For a wedding, fit for a princess.
For a shoulder to cry on when times got hard.
For speaking hope and comfort when we heard “…the baby’s gone.”
For your ear, pressed against the birthing room door, and your heart, full, as we welcomed Lauren….then Erynn….into our lives.
For being such a fun Mamaw to my babies.
For the example you gave throughout my life of how to be a good Mommy.

Thank you…

For walking with me through the hard times.
For not turning against me when I lost my way.
For being a voice of truth in my darkness.
For helping me sift through everything in my brokenness.
For telling me when I was wrong, and when I was right.
For showing grace when others condemned.
For showing love when others showed hatred.
For not allowing me to believe that my mistakes defined me.
For not letting me lose faith in who God made me to be.

Thank you…

For liking him.
For making him feel comfortable.
For encouraging me to start anew…
For welcoming him into the family.
For a beautiful garden wedding, fit for a princess.

Thank you…

For loving his children, and being their Mamaw.
For being with us when Hannah was born, and helping me through a tough delivery.
For loving all 7 of our kids.
For all the handed-down furniture.
For being Wayne’s mom, when his mom lost her battle with cancer, and gained her Heavenly
reward.

Thank you…

For seeing what few could, or wanted, to see.
For never giving up.
For your continued support and belief in us, our ministry, and our future.

Thank you…

For teaching me about Jesus, and then living what you taught.

Thank you…

For all this, and so much more.

I love you, Mom…
                                 …aka Mary Poppins
                                          …aka Mommy Dearest.

You’re the best.
xoxo
~LeAnn