Mother's Day

I've been thinking about Mother's Day all week.

Naturally, I first started to think about my mother.

She brought me into the world...

and cared for me.

She showed me how to have fun...

and she made great memories for us at all the holidays and throughout our childhood.

She talked with me and encouraged me...

 she was there for the the regular times and the special times, as well.

  It baffles me to think how she raised us all, but somehow she figured it out.

I still call her every day and often multiple times a day. 

We laugh together and cry together.  She thinks deeply, and loves to have fun.

 I don't know what I would do without her.

I love you, Mom.

This week I've also thought about my mother's mother.

Grandma Velma Larson thought me how to be optimistic and kind.

I have great memories of her coming on our family vacations.  She knew facts about each state including their state motto, state bird, state flag, and unique facts about each state. 

She was born in Canada and loved to dance.  She rode her horse to school.

She married my grandfather, whom I never met because he died when my mother was only 21.

Grandma Larson raised her two boys and four girls by herself, and she never complained.
Her many grandchildren still bless her name.
On the mirror in her bedroom she displayed this poem:

For Today

For today, I will celebrate life, 

For today, I will make the best of 

My circumstances.

For today, I will celebrate the joy

Of simple things.

For today, I will learn something new.

For today, I will be a better person.

For today, I will reach out

To someone in need.

For today, I will be thankful.

For today, I will dream with my eyes open.

For today, I will laugh.

For today, I will encourage a friend.

For today, I will use my imagination.

For today, I will relax.

For today, I will listen.

For today, I will take time.

--Author Unknown

I love you Grandma Larson

This week I also thought of my mother-in-law.

Carolyn is relatively new to our family, and she's been a great addition.

She brings spunk to our family, has a kind heart, and is happy to share advice or help however she can.

Before Carolyn, Dana Thornock was my mother-in-law.  She loved flowers and butterflies and wanted to help others.  Sadly, she passed away after only 16 years of marriage at the young age of 46. 

The hardest part about Mother's Day is missing the mother-in-law I never knew.

David's mom, Susan, was born in Coalville, Utah.

She was an accomplished student and even met the President of the United States on a 4-H trip to the capital.  She liked to dance and was on Brigham Young University's ballroom dance team.

I understand she was a real practical joker, and loads of fun to be around.

She was very musical, which is how she met Marty.  She would accompany his singing and eventually  they started dating.

She raised four children-- three boys and a girl.  She buried two other children.  

 She got cancer when her family was young and battled lymphoma for five years.

When David was only 14 she passed away.

I can't imagine the heart ache of loosing a mother.  

Moms are the glue that hold everything together.

I have a lot of respect for Marty and his children who worked together to make it work without her.

Somedays I try to imagine how my life would be different if she was still alive.  

Sometimes I can feel her spirit close, encouraging me as I raise her grandchildren. 

I'm sure she would be very proud of David 

Even though I've never met her, I miss Susan.

I love you, Susan

 Today at Church the kids filled out a worksheet about their Mom.

Ethan wrote that "She is friendly, and helpful."  When asked what I do to make him happy he wrote, "She helps me with my projects".  Then he wrote, "I love doing things with her, especially playing board games....She is so good at cooking my favorite foods..."

Nataleigh wrote that I was good at crafts and that she liked to cuddle together.

At  the "Mother's Tea" for Jacob's Montessori school he wrote that my favorite thing to do was play basketball and run.  I think those are Jacob's favorite things to do, but I do love to spend time with him doing whatever he wants to do.

I feel very blessed to be a mother.
I thank heaven for my mother and for her mother.
Likewise, I count my blessings for the mother-in-laws that have influenced my life. 

Being a mother is the hardest thing I have ever done.  It stretches me in ways I never knew possible.
It is challenging and rewarding.  It's made me who I am today.

Thank you Ethan, Nataleigh, Jacob and Oliver for making me a Mother.