Mothers

I had a great Mother's Day and hope all of you did too. My girls spent the day singing me sweet primary songs about mothers and giving me all sorts of handmade gifts from school and church.

Mike asked Ella what Mommy does for her and she spouted off a list without encouragement: "She give me kisses, puts me to bed and tucks me in, gives me food, and gives me medicine when I'm sick." We were impressed she came up with it all herself!

My gift was these beautiful hanging baskets for the porch and deck. They make me happy!


I still cooked but it was worth it--my favorite Sunday dinner (roasted chicken and mashed potatoes). Mike did 2 huge loads of dishes and spent all day playing with the kiddos. I even took a nap. I loved their performance to "You Raise Me Up" by the MoTab.


At church we got the most beautiful quote by Elder Jeffery R. Holland. It was balm to my soul. Being a mother and wife is the greatest blessing I've ever been given, but it's also the hardest thing I've ever done. There will always be times of discouragement and inadequacy, but in the end my family is my greatest joy.

"Because She Is a Mother" (see the entire inspiring talk here)

"You can’t possibly do this alone, but you do have help. The Master of Heaven and Earth is there to bless you—He who resolutely goes after the lost sheep, sweeps thoroughly to find the lost coin, waits everlastingly for the return of the prodigal son. Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be.

Remember, remember all the days of your motherhood: “Ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.”

Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.” You are doing God’s work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even—no, especially—when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, 'Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.' And it will make your children whole as well."

How could I not love living with these crazies?