Dear Mom,
When I think back to my childhood, one memory in particular still makes my eyes well up with tears…
While other parents were driving Mercedes and BMW’s, you were driving the school bus. And you did it with a smile on your face!
And work ethic isn’t the only thing you gave me. You are the definition of “Super Mom.” You have taught me that…
1) My word is my wand.
In fact, I can still hear your voice: “Phil, your word is your wand.”
If I was angry and complaining, you taught me that I would attract whatever I was focusing on. If I continued to use words of frustration, I would attract more frustrating things in my life. But if I used words of gratefulness, I would be given other things for which I would be grateful.
And guess what? My word is my wand, and that is why my life is so great right now.
Thank you, Mom.

2) I should always make it fun.

It was late into my elementary school years when I learned that “Energy Balls” were actually pitted prunes and that “Moon Candy” was dried apricots.
I specifically remember a day when I had a friend over, and you said, “Who wants some Energy Balls?”  Lacey and I jumped up and down…
I can only imagine what my friend was thinking, but I still grin when I think about the sick look of disappointment on his face when you brought out the “treat.” After recovering from his shock, he said, “Those aren’t Energy Balls. Those are PRUNES!”
Well, to this day, I still love my Energy Balls… and countless other kind-of-gross things that you made fun.
3) It will come back tenfold.

Perhaps your greatest lesson was this: “Everything you give will come back 10 times, so just keep giving.”
I remember the time you donated enough money to sponsor a pew at church. Money was tight, so I asked, “Why are we giving that much money when we can’t buy what we need for our own household?”
You said, “Whatever we give will come back ten times. Let’s keep giving and believing!” And you were right, Mom. It always came back ten times… and more.