Happy Mother's Day.

Moms are there to get rid of the monsters in your closet when you're little, and to distract you from the ugliness of the real world when you're older. 

Moms are there to put bandaids on scraped knees, and to hold together broken hearts. 

Moms are there to help with science fair projects in elementary school, and help determine the correct frosting consistency from an hour away. 

Moms are there to drive you anywhere you need to go as a child, and to wait up for you when you drive home as a [kind of] adult. 

I'm more grateful for my mama every single day, because now I realize how much I took her for granted before. She's the first person I call when I get asked on a date, and the first person I call when I'm home from that date. She's the only person who's cooking advice I trust. She's the only one who I know won't judge me for being catty about some things, but will listen, and kindly tell me to "be the bigger person, Ash." She knows my frustrations better than anybody, gives the best advice...and it doesn't hurt that all of this usually involves some kind of cupcake or frosting too. ;) 

Because only my mom would have dinner waiting for me in the fridge every weekend I came home. Only my mom would answer the phone at 1:30 in the morning and talk sense into me through my broken-hearted tears, and then proceed to come up with a plan as a "closet mobster." Only my mom understands my love for Audrey Hepburn, Michael Buble, and Fiiz. 

She's a cake-making wizard who somehow finds the time to be superwoman to 6 bundles of chaos and if someday I can be half the mother she is, I'll be the happiest mom on the planet. 

So here's to you Mom. Thank you for teaching me how to bake, to appreciate music, and how manage my sanity reasonably well. Thank you for teaching me about unconditional love, true forgiveness, and strength--no matter the circumstance. Thank you for helping me believe in everything, from this wonderful gospel to the magic of literature and everything in between. Thank you for teaching me what I am capable of, showing me when I need to change, and helping me recognize when I deserve better than I think. 

Thank you for being my best friend. 

He's a cool Grandpa.

Happy birthday to the one who taught me how to fish [and didn't argue when fishing turned into laying in the sun on the roof of his boat], the one who encourages the sass my mother gave me, showed me that the "you won't get any cake if you eat that frosting off the cake" threats my grandma [and now mom] made were empty, and the only one who can make multiple marriages jokes at my expense without making me lose my temper. 

Happy birthday to the initial source of our family Aggie Pride[I mean, lets be real, he's the reason behind my love of Aggie Ice Cream since that was the first real food I ever ate], the one who put up with a thousand and a half sleepovers with all the cousins,  and the person who figured out the only way to keep me quiet was to promise me food. 

Happy birthday to one of the greatest examples and one of the biggest influences in my life. From a summer spent learning and teaching about the history of the Church in Nauvoo, to Family Home Evening lessons amidst dozens of screaming children, and learning the importance of forever families. 

Happy birthday to the one who taught me to believe in the magic of the "Quiet Game," robot-deer, and myself, the one who taught me to love National Geographic documentaries, sushi, and Secondhand Lions. 

He doesn't think he's a "cool" grandpa [even though he has Facebook now!], but he'll always be my favorite grandpa--and I'm not just saying that because he's my only grandpa. I'm grateful for the example he's given me and my family, and for the person he believes I can become. 

Not many people can say they have a grandpa who will fit an ice cream date in the middle of their board meetings and interviews and appointments....but I do. And for that? He'll always be my cool grandpa, and one of the most important people in my life.

To my little.

Little,
Tomorrow you get to know who I am--and I can't even begin to explain the emotions that I'm experiencing right now. I am so excited to finally be able to call you mine, and I can't wait to watch you through your experience in Kappa Delta.
Little, I've admired you from the very first day I met you. Since then, in talking to people who know you, I've begun to admire you even more. Your motivation motivates me. Your humor parallels mine. Your leadership skills and desire to learn are the embodiment of everything we strive for. And last (but not least), your sarcasm is a trait rivaled only by our family line.
Little, I don't know everything about you yet--and you know very little about me. But I'm going to do my best to be the best friend and mentor you could ask for. I can't wait to show you how much Kappa Delta means to me, and I can't wait to share this experience with you. I'll be here for the nights you need a break from homework, and waiting with treats on the days where homework is an absolute must. I'll be here for movie nights and ice cream binges and girls' nights. I'll be front and center at everything you do, and I'll be behind the scenes before hand for anything you need help with. I'll be the ear you need when things aren't going right, and the cheerleader you'd never ask for when everything is going smoothly. I'll be there to talk, to listen, and to be the voice of reason if needs be.
Now I'm not perfect, but I promise I will do my best to be what you need. And most importantly? I'll be there to help you find an even deeper love for this sisterhood and everything that comes with it.
As a little, I wanted somebody to vent to, cry to, laugh with, and look up to. Somebody who would motivate me, keep my head out of the clouds, and remind me what I deserve--and I found that in my big. I hope I can do the same for you. I love you already, miss little. And I can't wait until tomorrow.
Until then,
Love you to the moon and back,
Big.