I didn't send a card, but I wrote this...

Every princess was raised thinking that "someday prince charming will come." Every princess was taught how to keep her head up so that her crown didn't fall. Every princess needs to know how to communicate with animals via song.

Not this princess.

To a certain extent, yes. I could see how in some way, shape, or form these topics were discussed in my castle. But bottom line, this princess was taught that she could slay her own dragons and I owe it all to one person in particular.

Mom. The twenty years I've been on this earth, you have been my rock. You have been the Godly woman in my life that I've looked up to when I'm uncertain what to do. You are who I've wanted to "be when I grow up."

After living in Africa for a few months, I found so much more gratitude in being able to say "yeah I have a mom and she loves me" because often times that wasn't always the answer I got from those I was working with.

I'm sorry it took me so long to figure that out.

So for all the times I took you for granted

for all the times didn't recognize how much you do for our family

for all the times I didn't say thank you

for all the times I neglected to tell you I love you

I love you.

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Thank you for teaching me what it means to be compassionate.

Thank you for listening to my rants about the same things in four different ways.

Thank you for keeping the fridge stocked with Ginger Ale and Cholula.

Thank you for being an example to Julia and me, and for being a role model to Josh.

Thank you for sending me worship songs out of the blue because "it reminded you of me."

Thank you for being my voice of reason.

Thank you for letting me be your "little office helper."

Thank you for letting me drive whenever we'd go places.

Thank you for answering the phone when I'm walking home from class so I don't feel obligated to talk to everyone I run into.

Thank you for always, without a doubt, crying at the happy-sad parts during Americas Got Talent.

The world needs more people like you.

Thank you for being my Target buddy.

Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader.

Thank you for your willingness to go to war with me, even though I know you'd never hurt a fly.

Thank you for supporting my crazy ideas and telling me I'm capable.

Thank you for reminding me of my worth in Jesus.

Thank you for telling me what I need to hear, and not necessarily what I want to hear.

Thank you for all the things you've done that have gone unnoticed or unspoken. We see, and if we didn't see it, Xavi probably did... and that's validation enough.

I wish I could be home to celebrate you, to be with you, to light 50 candles and watching you make a wish on every single one of them.

Momma, you are royalty. Thank you for raising this princess right, knowing that she can conquer the world, that prince charming is out there, but I'm capable of being an individual who can, in fact, communicate with animals.

I love you, mom. Happy Birthday!

Love, your Princess