50 Memories for 50 Years

My mom celebrated her 50th birthday the other day.

My siblings and I wanted show her just how special and loved she is -

and do it in a big way. She didn't want a trip, or a fancy party  

or any of the typical birthday fare, so we started to brainstorm. 

Then I remembered how Holly, from this great little blog

I read, did a collection of memories for her father's 60th birthday.

I ran the idea past Abby and Ben and we decided to give it a try.

We contacted all of my mom's friends and family members - 

brothers, sisters, co-workers, even high schools classmates to ask them

if they would be willing to share their favorite memory of our mom.

The response we got was amazing.

The letters we recieved were beautiful, sweet, funny 

and everything we had hoped they would be.

We special ordered envelopes and stamps and numbered them 

1- 50.

Then we arranged the memories in chronological order

and packaged them all together for the final presentation.

The reaction we got from our mom when she opened them up 

was also everything we had hoped it would be. 

It was so fun getting to watch her go through them, reading 

memories from the people in her life all throughout her past.

 Jeff wrote a letter from my mom's dog - we even got her "signature"

By the time she got through them all it was almost midnight, so

the house was a little dark and the pictures are a bit blurry, but it 

went exactly as we had hoped it would and we couldn't be happier.

She was completely surprised.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project, it meant 

the world to us that so many people took the time and energy to 

put together all of these amazing letters and memories. 

It was truly above and beyond what we expected and hoped for. 

So, thank you, thank you, thank you.

and to my mom,

Happy 50th Birthday!

I love you!