My whole life, my Mom has been finding creative and fun ways to say I Love You.

She would leave notes on our alarm clocks in the morning to tell us she loved us. Her and Dad snuck into our room one night when we were kids and drew happy faces on all our toes.

When my Dad went away up north for six months with the military, my Mom had me and my sister make tape recordings of noises from around the house so we could send them to him (we included a toilet flushing. I'm not sure why.)

She sent her mother flowers on her own birthday to say "Thanks for giving birth to me". She would sign us out of school and take us shopping. She would spend hours writing clues on Christmas presents because we loved them. She did Easter trails with handwritten notes guiding us from one spot to the next (also because the dog ate the food trails.)

Her gifts of love have always been spontaneous and from the heart. It's a gift I watch my sister give to her children, and one I try to give to those around me.

Love big. It's a year round thing.