My Mom....

What can I say??? I've realized that I don't express my feelings very often, and so therefore it is very hard for me to put them into words. I LOVE to read people's blogs where they so eloquently express their love and gratitude for their role as a mother, or their gratitude for their mother and I give a little silent cheer or even shed a tear (wait did that just rhyme???? Maybe I'm a poet and I don't even know it...he he he) Anyway I have REALLY been thinking of my mom lately. Yes it could be because it was Mother's Day yesterday, but I know it started before that. I think it was all the times lately that I have raised my voice at my children and had to stop and think "WAIT I don't remember my mom losing her temper THAT bad...how did she control herself!?" Or the times that I have asked my little family of 3 small children if they think I am their maid. I now know what my mom meant when she said this. HOW I ask, HOW can someone spill something and then simply WALK away and know it is going to be cleaned up???? I know I have done this to my mother - SORRY MOM! Motherhood is amazingly difficult yet rewarding. I really thought I was a somewhat patient person until I became a mother and now realize I have NO patience. I really didn't start to write this to go off on all my flaws or the hardships of motherhood. I really just want to THANK my mom for being the most amazing mom ever! I wanted to write some of the wonderful things I am grateful for that my mom has done...of course my little sis beat me to it on her blog and she is MUCH better at remembering moments and expressing them and so I am going to put her list here on my post and then add to it. (Kim please take this as a compliment and not as plagiarism. lol) Every single one made me nod my head and laugh and cry so I agree with them all Kim!

1. She is the world's greatest listener
2. Every time I travel with my girls somewhere, she packs little goody bags to help the girls stay happy and preoccupied en route
3. When I was in high school, my mom used to fall asleep in my bed while I was on a date. Then I would have to wake her up when I got home by climbing in bed with her. This allowed her to make sure I was home by curfew, and for her to hear all about my date. :) (Isn't that a great idea?)
4. My mom is so thoughtful. She often sends little surprises in the mail to our kids.
5. My mom used to take us toilet papering. I think she figured that she would rather be in on the kid's mischief rather than hear about it from someone else. Way to channel that mom... and keep us out of REAL danger.
6. My mom was a 6th grade teacher to many of my peers. I went to junior high and high school with many of her old students. She had such a positive influence on so many kids, that I think she won me many of my friends. Thanks mom. When I run into them, they all STILL ask about her.
7. For Family Home Evening growing up, I remember having dance offs with my parents and siblings. We loved watching my parents do the jitter bug and cha cha together. We had a lot of fun. FHE is where I first learned how to shimmy.
8. I love it when my mom giggles. She is the best late at night. When you get her laughing, it makes you feel like you are hitting the jackpot!
9. My mom is the greatest cheerleader. She has always encouraged her kids to reach for the stars. Her kids are her whole world. She was always at every assembly, dance performance, and encouraged us to do our best.
10. My mom is one of the most nurturing women I know. She loves and serves so many. She has had a positive influence on the many lives with her gifts and charity.

Thanks Kim for putting into words some of my favorites too! Now here are some of my own...

1. The picture above perfectly describes one of the qualities that I love the best about my mom....my mom and dad have ALWAYS taken all my friends under their wing and treated them with such love. Ever since I was little I would bring home "strays", ok that doesn't sound like a nice word for my dear friends that I have brought home. But I have brought people into my parents home and they have bent over backward for them and made them feel right at home. Actually now that I think about it I am not the only one of my siblings that have done this...I remember when my brother Scott had a COMPLETE stranger he met at college come and live with us for a while. And he really WAS a stray and took advantage of my parents...but that is another blog post in and of itself! he he he....This picture above is of the son of one of my companion's from my mission. Saturday my companion Irina had a birthday party for her twins who were turning one and my parents went to the party!!!! How cute is that. Irina introduced my parents as her American parents (she is from Lithuania - but recently became an American citizen...CONGRATS IRINA!!!!) She came to the U.S. shortly after returning from her mission. My mom hooked her up with pots and pans, bedding, etc. when she moved into her first apartment. My mom even gave she and her husband some of her old furniture...sometimes I really wish I lived closer to get these perks :) I think Irina has been to more family parties and holidays with my family then I have in the last 10 years since we've been home from our missions. Anyway I loved this picture on her blog and hope she doesn't mind me stealing from her, there are my cute parents in the background sitting on the couch visiting! They are always the quiet cheerleaders in the background supporting all of our loved ones.
   
   My other friend Brandon stays with them while he is passing through Salt Lake from Idaho, and old friends of mine pop in from time to time to see them. My mom and dad have seen more of my friends from high school then I have in the last 14 years...yes I know that is my own fault living so many miles away, but part of that is because people love to run into them and see them because of the love and welcoming arms my parents extend!
2. Another thing I have always LOVED about my mom is her amazing way to make me feel calm in any situation. Somehow she made the most stressful of situations seem doable. She has this way of calming me down and helping me to clear my head so I can think straight. I remember countless times in high school that I would be up all hours of the night not knowing how I could finish projects and she would help me prioritize, and sometimes we would divide and conquer projects. Other times I would almost have anxiety attacks when I had scheduling conflicts and didn't know how I was going to be in 2 places at once and somehow she would help me work through it and find the best possible solutions. It didn't matter what the problem, boy/relationship stress, school stress, etc. I just knew if I had a problem she could help me work it out. There was just peace when she was there, and she always was.
3. I always know my mom has my back. She was always there to stick up for me. If she saw one of her kids hurt she was right there ready to protect us. It was always the joke that she would "write a letter" to whomever she needed to if things were not right. When I didn't make the dance team my second year of college, she was ready to write that letter to the lady who cut me. She hated to see me down and hurt and suffering.
4. When I had a crazy skin condition starting my junior year of high school my mom was nurturing me and making sure I had the best help possible. She was always trying to make me feel comfortable even if it meant constantly changing my bandages so I wouldn't itch.
5. My FAVORITE times with my mom is when I would fall asleep at night in her bed. We would lay there for hours talking and finally fall asleep and then my poor dad would come upstairs from watching t.v. and would have to go sleep in my bed because he HATED to wake me (yes I was pretty much an ornery bear when awoken - my poor kids have inherited this terrible trait from me).
6. That leads to another thing my mom would do for me....many times I would wake to breakfast in bed! It sounds like she was spoiling and pampering me but I think she did it to get me moving and also because I would wake up so much nicer this way :)
7. I love my moms notes and letters. I remember ALWAYS looking forward to a colored envelope that would come in the mail weekly without fail, a letter from my mom! Her letters always uplifted me and made me feel like a little girl wrapped in her arms instead of a young women miles away from home. They were constant and reassuring.
8. My mom has come out to Florida when each of my babies were just infants and helped me with the overwhelming, yet so touching time of having a newborn. I loved the way she would teach me how to bathe my new baby, soothe my new baby, and enjoy my new baby. She would remind me to cherish the moments that would run away from me so fast as they grew. She reminded me to enjoy each stage of their infancy and toddler hood and not wish it away. I find myself often laughing inside when my kids do something cute and thinking that my mom would have found that adorable too.
9. Some how my mom made each of her 5 children feel that they are the favorite child. She has so much love in her heart and was able to make us all feel special.
10. My mom has always been so in tuned with the Spirit. There are times when she was prompted and has kept us from danger. Other times I disobeyed and put myself in some not so good situations. Like the time she told me not to go toilet papering with my dance friends and the night/early morning ended with me, a fifteen year old without a license, being pulled over. If I JUST WOULD HAVE LISTENED! She has always been in tune and listened to the small promptings that have started conversations that I know we needed to have.

Thanks mom for being my inspiration, my best friend, my cheerleader, my teacher, and my sounding board. I LOVE you so much and it is hard to be so many miles away, but it is comforting knowing you are just a phone call away and that you will always listen!