I Love You for All the Big and Small Things

I love how you talk excitedly about your bees.

(“The female honeybees rule the bee world and, no offense, but the male bees are pretty useless.”)

I love how you point out the bald eagles in all the nests in all the trees between home and town.

(“Look, my bald eagles are here today!”)

I love how you clench your fists and exclaim “Yesss” when you find the elusive puzzle piece that finally fits.

(“Allie, look at that!”)

I love how much you love food. And how you bake cakes specifically so you can eat some batter. And how you tried to sneak some last week even though you knew I’d get mad at you.

(I’m so sorry that you’re temporarily robbed of this joy.)

I love the way you express gratitude and happy disbelief.

(“No POSSIBLE way!”)

I love that you consume a bowl of blueberries with yogurt and homemade granola every. single. weekday.

(“It’s my anti-Alzheimer’s regimen.”)

I love that you can spend hours upon hours beach-combing for seaglass and driftwood and occasional shells.

(“It’s one of my all-time favorite pastimes.”)

I love how much you enjoy your gardens. And I love you outbid the people who help you with them, when they estimate a price for their work.

(“No no no! You should definitely charge more than that!”)

There are so many big, big things I love about you (like how there’s nothing that feels more like “home” to me than you). But today I wanted to share a few little things that make me smile because they “spark joy” in you.

I love you, Mom. Happy Birthday.