Dear Nana,

Dear Nana,
As we all gather today to celebrate your 80th birthday, I want you to know that you are the best Nana a girl could ask for.  Not only do I want to be a Nana like you someday, I want to be a reflection of the woman that you are each and every day. 

So aside from the amazing grandmother that you have been and continue to be for each of your 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way...and more to come), I want to focus on the role you play for the women and girls in our family. 

This past summer Allison, my mom, and I sat out on mom's back patio and talked about your influence on all of the women in our family.  We talked about how fortunate we are to be well into adulthood and have so many great memories with you. We think every woman and girl in our family wants to be like you.

I have lived with two of your daughters and have spent significant time with the other 2 daughters.  I can't count the number of times I have heard "Nana does it this way" or "this is how Nana taught us to do it."  As an adult woman, I am striving to be successful and more like my mother.....which I know means more like you. 

I don't think I have ever seen you raise your voice.  I have never seen you frazzled.  I have never seen your house dirty.  I have never seen anything but a home cooked meal from scratch. 

I want to be as patient as you.  I want to be as open and welcoming as you are to everyone and especially the boyfriends/girlfriends and wives/husbands of every family member.  I want to be as thoughtful as you are.  I want to be able to fold fitted sheets as well as you can.  I want to be able to pack up a family of 8 for a 2 week vacation with one hand tied behind my back and make it seem like it was a breeze.  I want to give sweet kisses like you do. 

I love you, Nana.  Happy 80th Birthday.