My gorgeous mom and I around the time of my 1st birthday.  You see where I get my smile from.

On Instagram, the picture above would be considered a #ThrowbackThursday.  But this Thursday is different.  Today is my mom’s 60th birthday.  And in honor of her birthday, I wanted to leave you with the greatest lesson below she has learned in her 60 years that she shares with everyone who crosses her path.  It’s such a simple statement, yet carries so much truth.  And courage.  And forgiveness. It’s the greatest lesson of all, and the greatest thing anyone could leave behind of their time spent on earth.  And I thank my mom for her undying love she has showed me and set as an example to those who cross her path.  Without her love, I wouldn’t be complete, and I’m so grateful for the extended birthdays God has given me with her beyond the few years back we almost lost her to breast cancer.  She is a true fighter, and survivor, and my greatest hero.

I love you Momma!

To me, she’s Grandma.  To most others, she’s “Lady Mary”.  Recently my mom sent me a photo she took of her mom, and all I could think when I saw it was, “I see big sunglasses and fur are a legacy I carry on well in this family.”  Looking at this picture, it’s all the reasons I love my Grandma.  Then I got to thinking about the true legacy she has left in my life, mostly being that I love carrying on her old fashioned ways.  Here’s a few things I carry dear to my heart that I learned from my Grandma as I strive to be extraordinary.

1.  You aren’t born with class.  You earn it.

2.  The man wears the pants in the marriage, but the woman is the one who picks them out.

3.  You are never to old to gossip about celebrity dirt.

4.  Serving your husband as his helpmate is not a duty, it’s an honor.

5.  Your guest bathroom should always smell like designer perfume.

6.  You can never have too many closets.

7.  There’s a whole big world out there beyond your small Southern town you were raised in.  But you never forget where you came from.

8.  Life is too short to sacrifice sparkle.  The more the better.

9.  The best trail mix is one in a big container combined of Cheez-Its, pretzels, Wheat Thins and whatever other snack bags you can find in your pantry.

10.  Make your entrance worth their stare.

11.  A lady isn’t complete without a statement jewelry piece.

12.  Jackie O lives on.

And a happy early birthday to my Grandma who we celebrate the birth of next week!  Love you, Grandma!