Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, everyone! I am so grateful that I am a mother. I love my kiddos more than I could ever express in words. Being a wife and mother has truly brought me the greatest joy I have ever experienced in life. As I reflect on the wonder of motherhood, I also feel filled with gratitude for the mothers in my life.

To my mom (pictured here): Mom, you are the BEST! How I was blessed enough for God to pick you as my mother I will never know. I definitely got an angel. In your Mother's Day card today I wrote, "To the most Christ-like person I know." It's the truth! If I am only half the mother to my children that you are to me, I will feel pretty darn good about that! I love you.

To Grandma "T": Thank you for being you. Growing up, I looked up to you so much and wanted to be just like you. I loved how beautifully you decorated your home, wanted to be able to cook and entertain just like you, and dress just like you...oh yeah, and play pinochle just like you! Thank you for teaching me all of these things, except the pinochle part. I never will be as good at that as you are!

To my mother-in-law, Halene: I miss you! I can't believe it's been almost 16 years since you passed away. I miss your giggle, watching sports with you, canning with you, and hearing you call everyone "such a sight!" Thank you for raising my knight in shining armor!

To my Grandma Dunham: I wish we had lived closer to you growing up. I wish I had known you better. I am so grateful to you for raising my father to be the man that he is. I hope one day to meet you in heaven and sit down and have a LONG chat. I want to hear all of your stories and experiences!

To my daughter (and mother of my granddaughter), Kori: I am so proud of the mother that you are. I am so grateful that you and Rick have blessed our family with little Daci. I never have to worry about how she is being raised. You are the sweetest and most conscientious mommy. I hope you will forgive me for the mistakes I made as a mother.

A Girl In A Whirl and My Wonderful Mom

Have you ever felt like a girl in a whirl? I would be willing to bet that as women, wives, and mothers we ALL have! My friend, Allison shared this poem with me and I thought it was a fun one to share with you on Mother's Day. After the poem, I will get serious and say something from the heart.

Mother's Day 2005 (Wow! Those munchkins sure grew up! I just love being a mom!)












A Girl in a Whirl
By Dr. Sue

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day,
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely.
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their class rooms, I sew all they wear,
I drive them to practice, I cut all their hair.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires and fix the sink's leak.
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all, oh no, that is not all!

I play the piano and work on my talents;
My life is a wonder of fullness and balance.
I read to my children, I help all my neighbors,
I bless my community, too, with my labors.
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do.

I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
My visiting teaching is done the first day;
I exercise, and I cook menus gourmet.
I can garden produce each summer and fall,
But that is not all, on no, that is not all!
"It's easy," she said, and then she dropped dead!

That's about right, isn't it? Why do we think we really have to do it all? I feel that we need to realize what is truly important and learn to let a few things go. That has never been an easy thing for me, but I am getting better the older and tireder (I know, not a word, but I like it anyway) I get. If anyone taught me the important things about being a mother it is my own mother, Nedra (see photo below). She is truly an angel. I couldn't have had a better childhood.

I remember...

• reading on the bed with mom before my naps and bedtime each day
• waking up to find my mom studying the scriptures before she started each day
• seeing my mom and my dad kneeling at their bedside in prayer together every night
• watching her stay up late hours to sew a prom dress or new outfit for me while I went to bed
• how she came and stayed with me after each baby I had. She would get up with the baby at night, change them, bring them in to me to nurse, and then put them back to bed for me.
• how she always buys the best birthday cards and then writes a very sweet a personal note from the heart in each one
• homemade chicken noodle soup on Christmas Eve
• how she didn't get mad at my sister, Andrea and I when we did a 'jumping on the bed' trampoline program for our Christmas Eve talent one year, which was definitely against the every day rules.
• how calm and patient she was whenever I did something wrong. She never 'freaked out' but always sat down and talked with me about it
• how after she miscarried once she spent time consoling me (I was so disappointed we weren't having a new baby at our house) instead of focusing on the feelings of disappointment and loss she must have been having
  

There are so many more memories that I could list, but I will stop here. I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Celiac and Other Mothers

As most of you know, our son, Easton is serving an LDS mission in the Texas, Houston South mission. He has spent the last 6 months on Galveston Island and just loves it. There are so many opportunities for service due to the absolute mess that was left by Hurricane Ike. He also spends almost every minute 6 days per week teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who want to listen and learn. We have been so proud of him and are so excited for him to come home in about 10 more months. Many of you also know that Easton has Celiac Disease. He cannot have gluten in any form (and it is in just about everything!). I knew he would be OK on his mission because he is really careful about what he eats. My worry was what he would do when he and his missionary companion were invited to someone else's home to eat. I was worried he would eat something he shouldn't because he didn't want to offend someone and then get really sick. But, everyone has been so kind. Many people have gone out of their way to work around what he can and can't eat. In fact, I got a phone call from a family there on Galveston Island to let me know they were having Easton and his companion, Elder Peterson (yep, no joke. Elder Pedersen and Elder Peterson) over for dinner and that they wanted to fix Easton his favorite gluten-free meal. How nice is that? I emailed her the recipe and she is excited to give it a try. Easton will be so surprised, and so grateful for his favorite gluten free Chicken Broccoli Casserole. I am so grateful for 'other mothers' who care about my son and his welfare while away from home for 2 years.