Happy Mother's Day

mommy: my favorite title

What a wonderful day. I love the idea of celebrating how important our mom's and the role of motherhood in our lives in a day. I think that unless we have a set aside time, it's easy to let our gratitude for such things go unsaid, not on purpose, but still.

my mama

So today, I am grateful for all those wonderful women in my life who have filled the role of mother in some way or another. I have friends that have advised me and loved me, teachers who have given me knowledge and guidance, motherly-type women who have blessed me with tenderness and concern (bishop's wives and now, officer's wives have fallen nicely in this category), and of course, both my mama at home and my mother-in-law/best friend in Spokane,WA. I have been so blessed by super amazing women both in and out of the church that I just want to say thank-you to them and all of you who give women a good name by being motherly to those around you even if they don't want it or say thank-you themselves.

my other mom

This is a fun post for me too in the respect that as a woman I love the idea of thanking women who fulfill the wonderful and very traditional role of motherhood. In our society/world today many try to undervalue the role that I love so much and the fact that as a nation we celebrate the role women were born to fill makes me so glad I live here. Women have been given special skills, talents, and gifts that lend themselves particularly to being moms and I know that our Heavenly Father loves his daughters so much that He trusted us with those things so we could be the kind of people to help lead and guide others in their path toward home to Him.

beautiful little big girl

This post is also fun for me in the respect that I AM a mommy! I love being a mom. It is so hard! It's also the most wonderful, joyful, fun thing I've ever done. It's one of those things that at the end of my life, no matter how my kids turn out, that I'll be able to say, "that was worth my time, effort, and sacrifice." I have become more the person I want to be because I am a mom. I have also had the special opportunity to be here for four amazing children that bless my life with sweet kisses, big bear hugs, and lots of giggles that make my sides hurt and mouth tired from all the laughter. What a wonderful gift it is to be a mom. I am so grateful that I didn't listen to the world and decide to wait longer or not to have them at all. I have much to offer the world just as me, but I actually can change the world in a very real sense by what I do as a mom. It's a bit scary and intimidating, but also extremely exciting and makes me feel so special.

my sweet little boy

My kids today were so cute! Joseph colored me a pretty flower in nursery to wear like a necklace, Evie brought me a felt pin on flower that she specially picked out because it was blue (my favorite color), and Chris made lunch for our family and then took charge of dinner.

partner in crime

It was a wonderful day for me with some beautiful talks in church and some great thoughts from other women and family members today.

giggle queen and daddy

One of the best gifts a mom of little ones can get was given to me today! Elizabeth, my 1 1/2 yr old, finally said, "mama" today!!! I loved it so much I asked her to say it again and again. She was so cute that by the end of the day she would just make raspberries at me instead. Silly turkey!

littlest little one

Well, I hope all of you reading this have taken the opportunity to think about the women in your life and maybe said thank you for what they've done in helping you to be who you are. We don't always get along with our own moms, but we have all been given the blessing of special women in our lives who have filled that space in our hearts.

best job of all time

Love you mom!