Joan was pretty awesome. She always smiled. She was silly. She was quick to take care of all my friends. She was the best cook I have ever known. And, I was blessed to call her Mom. She has been in heaven since 2001, but I still miss her like she just left. I hold on tight to the lessons she taught me. Here are some of them.

Where there is an all-you-can-eat buffet, there is happiness.

There should always be chocolate cake.

Weighing in at Weight Watchers and losing a half a pound is worth measuring out the gross deli turkey.

Tab and Sweet n Low always come in handy in your purse.

If you get drunk Saturday night and pass out in the back of the van, you will wake up in the church parking lot Sunday morning because she will NOT miss mass.

You’re allowed to be upset about something and get a hug, but then life goes on and you move forward too.

Dogs are people too.

Puzzles are one of the best forms of relaxation, but if you want to put the last piece in, you need to steal it when nobody is looking.

Card games are competitive and winning and rubbing it in is an important life skill.

You do not want to say gonorrhea if you mean diarrhea.

Women are badass and strong, but still deserve a man to spoil them.

Putting up with idiots is best done with a smile on your face.

Some of the best traditions come in edible form.

If you’re fighting with your sibling, you’re on your own. Figure it out. Even if he is beating the snot out of you.

Jean Nate is one of the most comforting smells ever.

Drama is stupid. Tell it like it is and take life in stride.

Cousins are better than gold.

Parents having a night on the town, friends, and a social life besides their kids is ok!

There should always be a junk drawer.

Chicken and rice and tollhouse cookie squares will make everyone happy.

All food needs pepper.

Swearing is blasphemous (sorry mom).

Teaching is the most important profession there is, next to being a mom.

There’s always room for a little something sweet.

A mom won’t laugh at you when you break a bone, even when everyone else does.

Do your nails.

Don’t finish an entire box of devil dogs before the rest of the groceries are even put away.

Sing, even if you don’t sing great.

It’s ok to eat an entire bag of Pepperidge Farms cookies.

The more Aquanet the better.

It’s ok to live your life and enjoy it to the fullest after a loss.

Chew your food 26 times before you swallow.

Road trips are awesome when you have the right people.

The door is always open. Someone always needs an ear or a snack. Be there for them.

Christmas is awesome and magical!

Lots of angels celebrating up there this year. We better live it up for them down here! Missing my mom❤