To Janna Marie...

There are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour and today there are 60 years in the life of my mom Janna. 

While I am someone on the precipice of 30 (and realizing my mom had me at this age), I know there is no way I can know all of my mom's story. All of her highs and lows, her ups and downs, her heartaches and joys. There are quite a few things I do know about her without a shadow of a doubt.

So, let me tell you a few things I have learned in my almost 30 years about my now 60 year old Momma. 

To you mom, here are 60 random things I think of when I think of you that make you one amazingly awesome epic woman, mother, wife, and friend! And I couldn't ask for any better!!! 

1. I have known with out a shadow of a doubt that all 60 seconds in a minute, all 60 minutes in an hour and all hours of the day I am loved by a truly wonderful woman. 

2. I have never had to question just how much or how long you will love me. 

3. Nor can I fathom just how much you love your girls. 

4. I also know you probably never will be able to get any joke the first time it's told to you. :) and you will always (or at least a majority of the time) have to have us explain it to you ;)

5. I can always find you in any store by your puffy hair (sorry mom this was my go to growing up)

6. Or by your unmistakably lovable laugh!!

7. From the first day of my life you have lovingly smoothed my hair, rubbed your hand over my eyebrows and told me you love me (and you will still do it to this day if I choose to sit in front of you while we watch a movie... and yes I don't think I'll ever be too old for this.)

8. You love yourself some John Wayne.

9. And you love yourself some Gene Kelly... and passed that down to your daughters...he's dreamy!!

10. You also passed on your love of musicals to your girls. 

11. You have the immense capacity to overcome and trust God in the face of both your daughters near misses with death. 

12. You have the voice of an angel. 

13. A voice you have blessed so many of us with in church, weddings, funerals, baptisms and for those of us who have had the honor of living with you ... in every room of the house. 

14. And you passed that love to me...makes me pretty proud to sing out like you! I am indebted to you for this!! :) 

15. You have taught so many children over the years the love for music. 

16. An you instilled into them gifts and skills they may never be able to fathom. 

17. You move mountains for those you love.

18. You take a ton of pictures and you print a ton of pictures.

19. And you made sure that Jenn and my childhood were filled with pictures and memories of amazing times. 

20. You taught your girls to sew, and made us many things over the years. 

21. You taught us to crochet although I've never finished a project in my life. 

22. You gave me advice (although i didn't always appreciate it at the time) and helped to grow my musical talents. Thank you!!!

23. You have prayed for both your girls everyday of our lives and probably I'm sure long before our births. 

24. You are stronger then anyone gives you credit. 

25. And you fight for those you love with all you have. 

26. You have the most empathetic heart and sometimes breaks mine for how easily yours breaks for those you love.

27. You cry at hallmark commercials. (pass the tissue)

28, And darn it you passed that on to your girls... seriously we're turning into saps. 

29. You were I'm sure a great actress on stage as you had many leads before my time. :) 

30. You honor our veterans and love our country in more ways then many will ever know. 

31. You volunteer your time to rock babies and give them love at the children's hospital. Although you may get a lot out of that too hehehe 

32. You study your bible regularly.  

33. You play a mean hand bell.

34. You can direct the heck out of any choir. 

35. You play a 12 string guitar like a boss. Although you taught me how to play the G chord all sorts of wrong :) 

36. Your descant on Silent Night each Christmas Eve brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. 

37. You kissed and healed many of my wounds.

38. And sat with me through many a broken heart. 

39. You ached at life's biggest challenges that both your daughters have had to face.

40. And you celebrated with us in big ways as we conquered those challenges. 

41. You faithfully supported/support both your daughters as we seek God's will in our lives. 

42. But you long for us to live close while silently crying knowing we can't. 

43. You love Dad and show it in ways we miss far to often. 

44. You have a great love for travel. 

45. Particularly with those you love.

46. And passed that on to your girls as well.

47. You can never see a broadway muscial too many times...

48. Again you passed this one on to your girls. (I can't drive from here to Iowa without basically singing the whole Oklahoma score) :) 

For everything above I thank you but I thank you....

49. For teaching us how to grow up into women of good character.

50. For teaching us how to put on makeup.

51. For teaching us how to tie our shoes.

52. For always watching as we showed you are latest craft, musical accomplishment, or simply how marvelously our dress flared out while we spun in circles. 

53. For never letting us walk away from a fight unresolved. 

54. For being willing to grow into what it means to be a mother and daughter and friend in our older ages. 

55. For still all these years humoring me while I show off my new musical skills... Forever any instrument I learn the first song I will learn is always for you... 

56. And will always be your favorite song... Moon River. 

57. For never being ashamed at showing your love and for never hiding tears. 

58. For instilling in me how much I am worth, how much I am loved, and for never giving me a moments breath to question your love and how proud you are of me. 

59. For being willing to share life with us. 

60. For never hesitating to reach out to share what you have learned, seen, or experienced because you have taught me that life isn't for living alone. Life is for sharing... the big moments, the little moments, the sweet moments, the utterly sad moments, and for rejoicing, crying, and singing through it all... together. Because life isn't worth living if you can't shed a few tears together, a ton of laughter, and more love than you will ever know. 

 So here is to you Janna Marie Amendt. For being an amazing woman of faith that shows her love for God, for her family, and for life through her unmeasurable love and unstoppable song! 

I love you Momma! Happy Birthday!!! I thank God for you each any every day, I pray for you each and every day! And love that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have the best mom a girl could ask for... 

While our relationship is far from perfect at times, I know perfectly well that where ever God sends me I am sent with the love and music in my heart that I could get only from you... one pretty darn fantastic mom!! 

I love you!!