My Mother

So I meant to have this post done on time, but this is literally how my entire life has been lately, totally behind!!!

But I can't let another year go by without some mention of the wonderful woman that taught me to strive to be the woman that I want to be.

Pictures are worth a thousand words so I am posting a lot of them.

This was for some Family Home Evening or something or maybe Father's Day since most of the pictures seem to be of my dad. Either way my mom rarely did things half way. She'd go all out.

I just love this picture. I believe this was Easter. That's my big sis and my beautiful mom. I LOVE the dress!

My mom always had a project going on usually several at the same time.  I believe this was the first check she received for her Birthday Calendars. A project that turned profitable.

My mom and big bro.

This picture is representative of the many, MANY, outings my mom initiated. My dad was more of a home body and my mom loved to be on the go. Needless to say, my go-with-the-flow dad traveled a lot around the country.

We had a lot of great road trip memories.

My mom and big sis.

I'm sure these are some relatives my mom took us to meet.

My mom with two of her daughters-in-law, all pregnant at the same time. I was the one she was expecting at 45!!! She rocks that shirt!!!

 

Only part of the Yours, Mine, and Ours family that my parents put together. I'm going to say around 1979.

My mom loved family pictures.

No matter how we were doing financially, family pictures were a yearly thing.

My mom was someone who loved her family and did her very best to show it. Even more than that she loved her Savior and was an incredible example of how to live the

Gospel.

I remember her getting up early every morning before the crack of dawn so she could have some peaceful time to study the scriptures alone.

I remember watching her as she would reverently and gently care for her temple clothes.

I remember my mom and dad coming home from the temple every Saturday morning in such a good mood.

And I remember what an incredible missionary she was. She would share the Gospel with nearly everyone she came in contact with. My desire to serve a mission came from seeing the excitement and joy it brought my mother and father to share it with others.

I could literally go on for pages about just her spirituality and faith. Her example of living it are seared into my memory because I saw it every day.

She taught us so many lessons of life as well.  If ever we were feeling discouraged or ugly or unpopular she would take us to the nearest mirror and tell us to give ourselves the biggest smile we could muster and tell ourselves we were beautiful or make a funny face.

She taught us to wash windows and scrub baseboards. Always with a "little extra elbow grease". Ugh. ;) She awoke us early, what seemed like every morning, to go exercise. She taught me to play racquetball. I'm pretty sure I only beat her once or twice, if that.

She was also one of the best cheerleaders I've ever known.

No one could get excited about something like my mom. I don't know that she EVER missed one of my shows or performances. I have flashbacks, whenever I'm singing, of my mom in the audience putting her fingers up to each cheek and flashing a massive grin. That was my signal to smile more. Or the hand behind the ear to tell me to sing louder.  I'm pretty sure that she thought that each of her children were the best at whatever they did. That's how she made us feel anyway.

My mom passed away 4 days before Gracie was born in 2006. It was a devastating day. I know she is near though. Cheering for us as usual and probably shaking her head at us as well. But I know she is near and I know I will see her again. That knowledge soothes the gaping hole that she left in our lives.

I have so much to live up to and aspire to.   I hope I can teach Gracie the way she taught me.

Happy Belated Mothers Day Mom!!

I love you!