Happy Birthday to my Momma

The Miller Girls



Yesterday was my mother’s birthday. We had a great dinner last night at Jenn and Brian’s with Gma there as well. Of course, Ellie was still the center of attention for all of us! Here’s a list of various things: memories I have, things I love about my mother, good times gone by. . . Momma, this is for you.

1. She’s my momma. That’s why I love her!
2. She gave me life.
3. She always made the best roast ever
4. Growing up in Gordon, we spent hours upon hours riding from Macon to Gordon, Milledgeville to Gordon. When I was little, momma would sing with us. I can’t count the times we sang “This Little Light of Mine”, “Jesus Loves Me”, “Popcorn Poppin’ on the Apricot Tree” or any other song she could think of.
5. I remember loving to watch her get dressed up for a date night with my Dad. I loved going into their bedroom after they’d left just to get a whiff of momma’s perfume she’d sprayed minutes before. Perfume never has smelled as good as it does on my momma.
6. The ultimate may / can teacher. “I don’t know, can you?”
7. Her love for the beach.
8. Even in the very minute of heartache beyond belief, she never wavered from the strong mother I knew she was
9. She’s a friend who’ll always be honest with me and tell me exactly what she thinks. Whether I want to hear it or not.
10. Her home always has smelled like you could “eat the walls” like one of Jenn’s high school friend once said.
11. Nights of sitting on our back porch on Senora Place, us three girls, crying, hurting, and comforting each other months after Daddy died.
12. My 17th Birthday party where just a few friends turned into waaaay too many, including a few cops!?!?!
13. King & Prince visits through the years
14. Crabdaddy’s and the best waitress ever
15. Lovin’ me through my ugly years when she didn’t like me!
16. The many formal dresses we shopped for, tried on, and bought through the years of proms, Valentine’s Dances, Homecomings, and the like!
17. Corky the Cat and his many siblings. . . alive and dead.
18. Christmas Sugar Cookies that the Piggly Wiggly always had that I loved!
19. Canning veggies Daddy grew in the Griffin’s garden
20. Her strong grip on my hand walking into the church for Daddy’s funeral
21. Surprising me at Jayne’s with my new car for my high school graduation!
22. Senior Cruise
23. Spring Break trips
24. Momma’s admiration and love for her family that I always admired.
25. Island Townhouses, C9
26. The no good horrible very bad terrible Surprise Party
27. The fact that we can now laugh about that Surprise Party
28. My K5 teacher had a baby while I was in her class and momma was the sub. I would immediately forget who my mother was every day we walked into the class. I was scared of her as a teacher, I think!
29. Quebec City and Toronto
30. Hotel del Coronado
31. I was always amazed as a child at how she could harmonize any hymn in church
32. Her stories of her life growing up. I always loved to hear her say, “When I was a little girl. . .” I knew it was going to be a good story!
33. Calling out daddy for his cousin Maurice
34. Pulling me through the lowest times of my life
35. Always assuring me God did in fact have someone out there for me, even when I didn’t believe it.
36. Watching her in her teacher role.
37. Jenn’s Graduation Party!
38. Being there when “my” branch opened downtown
39. Being the happiest mom of the bride ever!
40. Watching her be Lovie
41. Her “surprise” and excitement each Christmas and Easter morning when we saw when Santa or the Easter Bunny left!
42. The fact that she honestly never knew that Jenn and I always snuck into the room before they were up to see what Santa left us!
43. Our many trips and times with the Kononens
44. Her new Friday night tradition with Ellie
45. “Jesus love the little Ellies. All the Ellies of the world. . . “
46. Her life long friend LaDon and how LaDon and Harry are my second parents
47. All the Georgia games we’ve been to in our lives!
48. Her love for junkin’
49. Her plants, flowers, and such she always has growing
50. “Child of Mine”
51. Heartbreak and triumph we’ve all 3 known
52. How protective she still is of me and Jenn
53. The comforting fact that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, my momma will always be there for me. Always.

Think there’s 53 things just by chance? There’s your clue! Happy Birthday, momma! I love you with all my heart!