Tonight, I’m sitting in a hotel room in Carlsbad, California. The plan was to go to Legoland for Christmas. But then, I lost the tickets. I had partnered with Legoland as a social media ambassador, and I was so excited to give this gift to everyone. But the tickets were gone.
At Julia’s graduation in May, you helped Priscilla scour the house, hoping they had fallen behind a cabinet or the piano. You found old cheerios, dust bunnies, pen caps, bobby pins, and coins, but no tickets.
A few weeks later, I opened my email to a gift. You had replaced the tickets and insisted that we keep our Christmas plans.
Last week, I flew to Texas to drive you back to Arizona. After dad’s seizure in November, he is not allowed to drive, which makes for a long drive if you are the only driver. It was such a blessing to have you guys to myself. I love watching you with the kids, but getting to talk and listen and sing and laugh with you is such a treat. Calling my grandma and talking for hours and giggling at old family stories and new family stories made the drive so precious.
Telling you that I actually found the tickets when I was redecorating Mary’s room after Julia left for college was so humbling. I was embarrassed that you had spent money on replacing something that I had not been careful with. Not once did you make me feel guilty or sad. They had been tucked in-between two pictures that I wanted to hang in Mary Alice’s room. You just laughed.
Looking for the closest gas station and ending up in Mexico will be a story I tell for years. But there is no one I’d rather accidentally cross the border with. It reminds me of the stories you told me of when we lived in McAllen, Texas when I was a toddler and how you would cross the border with books and supplies for the children in the school there.
Yesterday was a blast watching the kids explore day one of Legoland. When we arrived, you decided we should give away the other tickets we had purchased. I walked the line and because of your generosity, you gifted nine other people entry to Legoland. As they passed us during the day, we received random waves and hugs. I would just point to mom and smile.
Legoland day two did not go as planned. This morning began with Nate and I getting sick. Brian, dad, and Julia took the kids to Legoland, but you stayed behind just in case we needed anything. You patiently watched movies while Nate and I recovered.
Oh mom, you are such an angel. You are a bright, dear, caring spot in this world and I’m so incredibly thankful for you. I never say it enough but please hear me when I tell you, you are a dear, kind person in my life and I am so blessed by you. Your selfless love is the hallmark of your life. Thank you. Thank you for loving me. What a lucky, lucky girl I am.
