Thank you, Mom!

Tomorrow is Mothers' Day. I have been thinking about how grateful I am to be a mom and having the opportunity to raise some of Heavenly Father's precious children here in my home. I have felt blessed as I watch them grow and progress, make good decisions, and choose to do thigns that are right and good. I feel very lucky.

I have thought about my sisters, sisters-in-law and friends who are mothering at the same time I am. We are all different. We have different strengths, different weaknesses, different ideas, different needs, different habits and different schedules, but we all have the same goal. And we all feel indescribably love for our children.

I have thought about one sister in particular. She has blessed the lives of children (mine included) for many years, but this year is special, because she has welcomed a special child into her home, into her heart. Their start wasn't easy, but I can see much good that has come from the bumpy beginning. She is an amazing mother!

I think of my mother-in-law, my grandmas, aunts and friends. Many women have touched my life and the lives of the children.

And I think of my mother. Having children was never an easy process for my mom. I am truly amazed at all she sacrificed to bring me and my siblings into the world. Even more importantly though, is all that she did to help me become who I am. She created a home where I wanted to be, a place where we could learn, grow, explore our talents and overcome mistakes.

I remember one night long ago. I was probably ten years old. My bedroom was downstairs from most of the house. I couldn't sleep and I snuck up the first flight of stairs. I could sit out of sight and listen to what my mom and dad were doing. (Now that I am a mom I realize their post-bedtime attempts to get laundry and other such things finished before they headed to bed themselves.) But then, my mom spotted me. I expected to be in trouble. After all, I should have been asleep for quite a while. I remember getting teary eyed, and saying I was hungry. My mom took me into the kitchen and sat me in her spot at the table. I curled my legs under me as I sat. And mom made me toast, with apple cider jelly. Maybe my mom felt some exasperation at my "night owl" tendancies, but it certainly didn't show. I went back to bed with a full belly and warm heart.

I don't know why this particular time has been on my mind yesterday. Maybe it is a reminder of how I should be when my own little night owl stumbles down the hall. And it is certainly a lesson of how the little things a mom does can make a huge impression.

When I feel sentimental I like to play with pictures. I love to look at old pictures. This year I have made some colalges that I am proud of. I also like to make videos. Here is one I made this weekend. It includes many of my favorite pictures. It is a way of watching my kids grow up.