Mother's Day 2011

Where to begin? I am so far behind it almost seems pointless to try to catch up! But, even as I was attempting to upload a few photos, I came across some notes I had taken recently of things the kids have said and done, things that are precious that I completely forgot about! Like this little comment from Jesi: "I’m sorry Mommy. I wish I had a cold instead of you! One time I stepped on a nail and I said, “I’m glad it was me and not Nathan." Then Dad said, "I wish it was me and not you." Because, we love our family.” Jesi seems to say something profound (to me anyway) several times a day and I am always sure I will not forget because it is something that changes my heart. And then, I don’t get a chance or take the chance to write it down and then it is gone. But, if nothing else, she helps change my heart every day to focus on the most important things and I’ve learned that if I only half listen to what she is saying (which sometimes we have to do as mothers when we are multitasking – but sometimes we do it because we are distracted with less important things), I will miss out on having my heart changed in that sweet moment.

That is what keeps me going on this seemingly impossible task of trying to keep a blog going! I had to laugh when I read my last post - as if I could POSSIBLY give myself the gift of TIME as a mother of young children. But, I know that someday I'm going to miss all the constant needs. Just writing this one paragraph, Nathan woke up from a very short nap and wanted to eat, Kassi got stuck trying to get a cup from the corner cupboard, Jesi wanted me to watch her bounce a balloon on her head, the girls both climbed into my lap to "help" & everyone wanted an early dinner, so we had a little dinner break. So, here I go again :). I am so grateful for this crazy time of my life and know that if I get through it without having a nervous breakdown that I'll look back and smile! So, I will attempt once again to record a few of the good memories for us to look back on when these times have passed us by! These first two pictures were taken on Mother's Day after church. Kassi's former nursery teacher always spoils the kids with candy after church. That explains Jesi's blue tongue.I LOVE tulips. We have a lot of landscaping to do, but I love the roses and tulips in our yard. Andy attempted to take some pictures of me with the kids and the tulips after church. Our neighbors got quite the kick out of the girls screaming at the top of their lungs, "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!" (over and over and over again). It was hillarious. Between that and the wind, we got some interesting pictures. Speaking of time, I really need to take the time to go and get a haircut. It has been over 9 months (before Nathan was born)!Jesi said, "Look Mommy, it is snowing flowers because it is Mother’s Day!" The girls were twirling and dancing under the big cherry tree in the front yard – laughing and singing under the falling blossoms. It was so sweet. So, next time blossoms fall on you, I hope you remember that it is snowing flowers!Nathan was one handsome little fella as usual. The girls (esp. his Mommy) couldn't resist smothering him with kisses.Andy made us breakfast – monkey bread, eggs, and juice. It was delicious and I was very impressed that he threw the monkey bread together all by himself! Andy’s mom gave me the new "Our Best Bites" cookbook for Mother’s Day, which was so awesome of her and Andy tried out this yummy recipe! I know, what a man!!!Drew and some other primary children got to play prelude music before sacrament meeting. We were the first ones there, so he played first when there were only a few people there, but I loved it! And, they rotated through all the children before the meeting started, so he got to play it again right before the meeting started and even with all the room filled and overflowing (with it being Mother’s Day and a missionary giving his farewell talk), he did AMAZING! It was so great to see him beaming and so happy with what he had accomplished – the best Mother’s Day present ever. (This picture was taken at his piano recital last month.) Drew and Jesi also sang “I often go walking” with the primary, beaming with smiles. I always LOVE to watch Drew take Jesi by the hand and lead her up to the stand to sing with the primary. Only 2 1/2 years before he will graduate from primary. That is just not something I want to think about right now. Anyway, it was a sweet meeting!Jesi made me the cutest magnet with her picture on a fun foam flower. She was SO excited to give it to me, and I was so excited to receive it! Her card said "Moms make children blossom" and when you fold it it just says, "Mom". We thought that was pretty cool. I found Drew’s gift he made at school in his backpack the next morning - he forgot to give them to me on Mother's Day. It was a cute bear magnet they had made at school. He also had two pages of sentences that he had finished about me. It was so fun to read them! Andy picked out this sweet willow tree figurine called, "the quilt". It is a mother rocking a child with a big quilt covering both of them. I love these figurines because they have so much meaning to me. It is almost like having a picture of each of my children in each figurine. The kids and Andy also helped me pick out some vegetables for the garden and a few plants and flowers for the yard the day before. I love picking out perennials and letting the kids pick which vegetables we should grow in the garden.Then, after lunch we made some of my mom’s favorite cookies (snickerdoodles) and let the kids each pick the “prettiest tulip” in the yard and make pictures or notes to take to her for Mother’s Day. This Mother's Day I thought a lot about all of the amazing women in my life who have taught me so much. I have so many friends who have not found the right guy or who have struggled to bear children. My heart goes out to them. Our lives never seem to go the way we plan them. While I always hoped to marry and have children of my own, I never expected that I would enjoy all of the challenges and blessings that come along with being a wife and mother.

Recently when I was thinking about some amazing women in my life who are still waiting for the blessings of marriage and children, I remembered an inspiring talk that I heard years ago, right after the September 11th attack on our country and right before my first child was born. I have always loved and respected my mother for all the sacrifices she has made for me. I love and appreciate her all the more now that I am a mother, as well as Andy's mother who bore and raised her 5 boys so well. I have also gained a love for women everywhere and for all they do to help strengthen their families, their friends, and their neighbors. Whether or not we are blessed with children of our own in this life, we ALL are mothers and we can all make a huge difference in the lives of those around us. I know that I am indebted to countless mothers and grandmothers, friends, teachers, aunts, sisters, neighbors, and women who "bear with me" and I thank each one of you and encourage you to keep on making a difference to "lift where you stand" as Pres. Uchtdorf has taught. Here are a few quotes from Sheri Dew's talk that I found very inspiring and I will attach the link to her complete talk below as well. I don't know how I'll ever catch up, but I know that every effort I make will be well worth it and I hope to be back soon to record some of the things we've been up to around here. Thanks again to all of you for your love and support and Happy Belated Mother's Day!!!

"Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he knows that without righteous mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail.

When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living”—and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.

Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us.

Look around. Who needs you and your influence? If we really want to make a difference, it will happen as we mother those we have borne and those we are willing to bear with."

http://lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/are-we-not-all-mothers?lang=eng&query=mothers+bear+with+us