This Mother’s Day, I am in Santa Barbara and my mom is in Japan. We are about 6,314 miles away and have a 16-hour time difference.

But that won’t stop me from telling her that I am thankful and appreciate her for everything when I see her via Skype.

In Japan, my home country, children traditionally give their mothers a bouquet of carnations.

When I was a five year-old girl, I didn’t have any money to spend freely. But I wanted to do something for my mom on Mother’s Day. Just like the tradition, I wanted to give her a carnation.

Because I had no money at the time, I ended up with making it myself.

I went to my room and looked for something that I could use to make it. What I found in my toy box were some white papers, colorful crayons, scissors, and glue. My artistic switch turned on.

First, I cut the papers into the shape of a flower petal over and over again until I had too many to count. Second, I put red and pink colors on the paper petals. Third, I twisted a piece of paper to a thin stick and colored it green. Then, I glued all the petals together to make it look like a flower and pasted it onto the stick.

But it wasn’t quite perfect yet. It needed a nice box.  I walked around in my house and found a perfect rectangular one.

I finally put the hand made flower into the box. I was so excited to give her my present.

At night, when my mom returned home from work, I gently gave the box to her.

“Mom, thank you for everything. I made this for you.”

She looked kind of surprised by my gift but also very happy.

She gave me a warm hug.

Since then, more than 15 years have passed.

Mom, thank you for sending deep love from Japan. I am very happy to be your daughter. I always miss you and your miso soup.