Mother's Day

I have been sitting here for half an hour just staring at the computer screen. It's Mother's Day...and I want to pay tribute to my wonderful mother. But how on earth do I ever put into words just what she means to me?  Growing up she was everything to me. I always knew that I was loved beyond measure. I knew that, no matter what I did, her love was unconditional and unwavering. I could talk to her about anything and everything...and I did.  She always seemed to sense when I needed a friend, and when I needed a mom. 

         When I was 10 or so, and we were living in Illinois, I started recieveing monthly gifts and cards from a Secret Pal. I even received a few after we moved to California. I'm surprised I never recognized her handwriting at the time, but several months after the gifts stopped, as I was looking for something in one of her drawers, I found a couple leftover Secret Pal cards.  I didn't tell her that I had found them. She had meant it to be a secret and I didn't want to spoil it.  I have tresured those gifts even more though, because I knew they came from my sweet mother, who wanted to do something to make her daughter feel extra special. 

I loved the days when she would come into my room in the morning to wake me up, and then tell me that I didn't look well, and that if I didn't have any test or papers due at school I should probably stay home and rest.  Ofcourse, we never rested on those days. That was Mom's code for "You could use a mental health day and some shopping therapy." 

I loved hanging out with my mother...I still do!  She's fun and funny, and still one of the best listeners and sounding boards, personal cheerleaders and friends any girl could ask for.  No one could ever accuse her of being selfish or unwilling to sacrifice for her family.  She set the perfect example of unconditional love for her children.

I am proud to be her daughter.  I am grateful for the countless lessons that she taught me on how to be a good mom and a good person.  She deserves so much more praise than this little blog post and my meager skills with words can express.  I have truly been blessed to be raised by such a wonderful mother.

Friends

"How good and glorious it has seemed unto me, to find pure and holy friends, who are faithful, just, and true, and whose hearts fail not; and whose knees are confirmed and do not falter, while they wait upon the Lord, in administering to my necessities..."

I found this quote from Joseph Smith while preparing a lesson for Relief Society last Sunday. I have been likewise blessed when it comes to friends.

So I share this quote in honor of my incredible friends, who bless my life with their strength, encouragement, and humor.

My own post-it.

I recieved my own post-it note this morning. A thoughtful reminder, from a loving daughter, that I can face any challenge with the Lord's help. I have been truly blessed. She is not just a wonderful daughter, but a good friend....and I love her to pieces.

Love is...leaving a post-it!

Isn't it amazing the way that siblings can fight like cats & dogs and then turn and do something incredibly sweet and loving for one another?

For the past two school years The Girly and Stitch seemed to argue just about evey morning while getting ready for school. One always claimed that the other was being annoying. But when Stitch realized that he would be getting ready for school alone this year, because The Girly was starting high school and morning seminary, he was not happy. He told all of us that he was worried it was going to be lonely and wierd without her in the morning.

So The Girly began doing something very thoughtful, to make Stitch feel better about the situation. Every school day morning since school began, she has left him a post-it note stuck to the bathroom door. Little words of encouragement and love. Stitch is saving every one and tucking them in his journal. He looks so forward to them every morning.

It makes my heart feel good to see their love for each other...expressed through the giving and cherishing of little post-it notes.

Number One

My firstborn, here to be called Number One, is feeling a bit left out because he is the only one in the family that has not yet been blogged about. So here goes....

Where do I start? He was the child who introduced me to motherhood, and hence, taught me the meaning of true, instant, unconditional love. I saw a plaque once that read: I never believed in love at first sight until the day that you were born. That is how I felt when I first saw him. I always thought I understood how much my parents loved me, until the moment the doctor laid him on my chest...and I realized that until that very moment I really hadn't had the slightest clue. No amount of imagining comes anywhere close to that feeling.

As far as babies go, and even toddlers, he was darn near perfect. Hated to be dirty, wouldn't put things in his mouth that didn't belong there, didn't like climbing or anything else too adventurous or dangerous, and only had to be told once to stay out of the kitchen cupboards. He was almost too good. He got over it! Ha, Ha

He is a senior in high school this year. Totally scary. He and I,...oh, and Dad too...have gone through some struggles to get him here. School does not come as easily to him as it did to me, and there were a few years in elementary school that I thought it might kill us both, but he keeps plugging along.

He is creative and funny. Loves art and humor, dragons and kokopellis. And, as became very apparent to us at his 17th birthday party, where he and his friends were making s'mores and singing showtimes, he's a theater geek. Interesting how kids end up with such different interests than their parents. But then, my Grammie did community theater...he must get that from her. (sudden epiphany on that one)

I'm not sure what career field he'll head into, not sure he's certain either, but this I know...he will be a good dad! He has so much patience with little kids....always has....and they just seem to love him. He'll be one of those dad that's always playing with the kids, because he'll always be a bit of a kid at heart.

He's a good kid with a good heart!....a gentleman....even a good brother....when he feels so inclined. (hee,hee) And he's not too grown or embarrased to kiss his mother goodbye in public. (gotta give him extra credit for that) Overall, I'd say I got pretty lucky in the kid department...and it all started with Number One.

My Stitch

This is my youngest. In a few short months he will be a teenager (which means I was 12 when he was born - hehe). He is a Scorpio, but really should have been a Gemini.....because there are two different personalities living in that adorable head of his. If he were a Disney character he would be Stitch. Ironically enough, Stitch is his favorite...perhaps because he identifies with him. You see, Stitch can be sweet and good, albeit a bit mischievious,....a good friend. But Stitch can also be a monster, leaving chaos in his wake.

My Stitch is a bit like that. The quintessential little brother, he knows how to push EVERY button to get a rise out his siblings (and his parents). His favorite activity as a toddler was to drag his older sister through the house by her collar, giggling and laughing as she cried and screamed. He has a short fuse...quick to get angry. And he will argue about anything and EVERYTHING!!

But my Stitch has a BIG heart. He was the best cuddler and snuggler as an infant and toddler....and always the one most likely to break away from playing to give me a spontaneous hug and "I love you." He is incredibly compassionate, and a loyal friend. He is bright and funny. He thinks deeply about things, and surprises me at times with his insights. He stands up for what is right, defends the underdog and befriends the outcast. He is unafraid to talk about the gospel with others....and speaks to them in terms of it being fact, not just belief. He is going to be an awesome missionary.

Yes there are times I think I will pull out all my hair in exasperation dealing with his monster side...But I am always incredibly grateful and proud to be his mom...because the big hearted, other side of him more than makes up for the exasperation.

Sorry Ladies, He's Mine!

This is my darling husband. Pretty dang cute, huh?!! I have had the extreme fortune of being his wife for 19 years, 1 month, and 9 days. I love him to death!!

He makes me laugh everyday...and would have me believe that I am the hottest, sexiest, best looking woman around. I love him for that. (Though sometimes I worry that his eyes are going because the woman I see in the mirror is not as hot as he claims!)

He is a terrific husband...far more thoughful than I...and a fantastic dad. He works very hard to take care of all of us. OH!..and he is the BEST at picking out presents! I really hit the jackpot when I found him. As my dad said today.."He's a keeper!!"

Though we have always thought a lot alike it started getting freaky when we hit the 15 year mark. We started to find our selves thinking and/or saying things at the same time. If we only had a dollar for everytime one of us said, "I was just thinking the same thing" or "I was just about to say that." (But somebody PLEASE shoot us if we ever become one of those old couples who dress exactly alike! ha.ha)

I enjoy being with him....he's my best friend. And I'm pretty sure that eternity with him is gonna be a blast!

My Other Mom

The topic of todays post comes thanks to my sister, who yet again is dealing with "mother-in-law issues." She and her mother-in-law have a horrendous relationship....to put it nicely.

I on the otherhand have been tremendously blessed in the mother-in-law department. There is a reason that my husband is the wonderful man that he is -- he has a wonderful mother. She is kind and generous, and I love being around her. We share the first name, we just spell it differently, and still occasionly recieve each others mail as a result. I called her mom right from the start..... long before Brian and I started talking marriage....I probably should have taken that as a sign.

It is no exaggeration to say that I consider her one of my best friends. We think a like in a lot of ways and enjoy spending time together. Some of our favorite activities are shopping (especially the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas), going to the Harvest Festival, talking politics (or anything else) , and eating dessert for breakfast -- we are especially good at that one!!

My friends and sisters are admittedly jealous -- and I certainly can't blame them. I have definitely been blessed!

Why me?

I woke up at 4:20 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Something Pam talked about at the memorial service yesterday kept running through my brain. She said that she went to visit her mom at the hospital one day, after struggling with the question of why this was happening to her mother. She sat on Myrna's bed and asked if she ever asked herself the question "Why me?" "Why did I get leukemia?"

Myrna's answer was a profound one....a life lesson for us all! She told Pam that whenever she asked "WHY?" it was "Why am I so blessed?"

Why am I blessed with such a loving husband?

Why am I blessed with such a wonderful family?

Why am I blessed with such loyal friends?

Why am I blessed to have a knowledge of the gospel?

Why am I blessed with a nice house....good food for my family....the beauties of this earth....air in my lungs?!

The list is endless!

So here's what I've decided -- I am going to make the effort everyday to ask myself why I am so blessed with certain things in my life...and to share those questions here, at least on occasion, and/or to write them in my journal.

Here is my first question, one I have been thinking about for a week:

Why am I blessed with such an amazing daughter?

Perhaps this thought has been running through my head because I just had the opportunity to be with her at girl's camp, to see how she interacted with others, and to hear her bare her testimony. I watched her in awe...wondering what I ever did to deserve her. She is such a gift! She is such a light!....and always has been. I swear that girl was born smiling. The kind of smile that lights up her whole face...and the room.

She has a personality that draws people to her like a magnet....friendly and kind to everyone. One of the girls in her third grade class walked up to me one day and said, "Katelyn is the kindest person I know." She looks out for the outsider, the person hanging out on the fringes, and pulls them in, because she knows how bad it feels to be left out and doesn't want anyone else to feel that.

She has a strong sense of who she is and what she believes in....and she lives it! She doesn't let the opinions of others affect her standards. At a time when so many teenagers follow every fad, and give in to the slightest pressure from their peers, that is amazing! She sets an example others can follow...an example of kindness, compassion, modesty, and finding the joy in life.

And one of the greatest blessings is that she likes me! She enjoys doing things with her mom and isn't embarrassed by me. I know that not all moms of teenage girls are so blessed. I always had a good relationship with my mom growing up, and prayed that I would have the same with my daughter. Happily that is a blessing I have received.

I may never know just what I did to deserve her...but I will be ever grateful that I have been so blessed as to have her in my life!!!