Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Kinda bummed I’m not there to make you in breakfast in bed or take you to a fancy-schmancy dinner but don’t worry- you’re getting a very special gift when I get back…ME. ;)

My mom- the rock in my life. Obviously, Christ is my foundation but my mom is next on the list.

Since I’ve been here in Tonga, I’ve been getting a lot of comments a long the lines of

“You look JUST like your mom!”

“You talk and act just like your mom!”

“Your smile is exactly your mom’s smile”

And I have to say, I’m proud to be a photocopy of the lady I adore the most.

Heres to you, Mani-

To the woman who , to the best of her abilities, gave me the best of the best.

To the woman who taught me self-confidence …maybe just a tad too much. ;)

To the lady who  spent at one time giving me a 5 hour lecture…

To the lady who gave up countless hours to make sure I knew the truth and the right and proper way to do something…even if it was scrubbing the floor.

To the lady who taught me how to drive…  Her method? Staying silent while I was in total panic mode and only replied to my frantic questions with three words- figure. it. out.

To the lady who believed in me even when I didn’t.

To the lady who helped me actively pursue my dream of traveling even when every single door seemed bolted shut.

To the lady who did what was best for Ivan and I even when in her words “Every Tom, Dick, and Harry” either disagreed, disapproved, and maybe even disliked her for her choices.

To the lady who gave up a very promising, successful career to be a stay-at-home-mom and school, nurture and raise, Ivan and I. (So sacrificial it makes me want to have a cry-fest every time I think about it.)

To the lady who should’ve given up on me because I’m such a stubborn-ass but persisted with the help of Christ.

To the lady who was willing to change habits, attitudes, and even her whole lifestyle that I would have the opportunity to excel in school, arts, and life as a whole.

Most importantly- to the lady- who daily sacrificed her life to make sure my relationship with Christ was close, firm, and real. You are a true inspiration and I look up to you so much - as mother, a wife, a business woman, and especially as a believer.

To the lady who did all this with the help of Christ and then let her life investment hop in a plane and set it loose…(that’s me by the way)

Happy, Happy Birthday.

I know it’s a privilege and a blessing to have my mother alive and well today. It is also an honour to be associated with her and the greatest of honour to be her daughter- only daughter I might add. God has blessed me with an incredible relationship with a very dear lady and it’s the crème de le crème that I can call her MOM.

I am who I am today because of the wonders God has done through you. You allowed Him to use you as a tool and you have so faithfully carried out your calling in my life, even when I knew you just wanted to send me to insane asylum.

I want you to live many more years to see me epically fail at trying to be a great person like you. =P

Thank you. Ofa lahi atu. Cheers to you. Happy long life to you.

Forever grateful,

~!_eita