Thanks to you, Mom

Today is Mother's Day. So far I have received many carefully crafted art projects from 3 children, a made-up dance made for mother and daughter to dance to and have had one son wrapping all of his toys in a crumbled piece of typing paper and giving them to me...."Happy Moder's Day to you! Happy Moder's Day to you!" He's so excited for me to open them that he actually opens them before handing them to me. I even got 2 dozen red roses from hubbie. That's never happened before! The Primary kids all sang in church today, new words to "Popcorn Popping"....

I woke up this morning and what did I see?

My beautiful mother smiling at me.

She had made me such a nice surprise,

a yummy breakfast right before my eyes.

She puts her arms around me and says I'm neat.

And that's what makes my mother oh so sweet.

It is really so,

And I'd like to say.

I love you mother, Happy Mother's Day!

Now I sit here while the rest of the family makes dinner. Should be interesting, but it doesn't matter, I don't have to cook! (oops, there went the smoke alarm. Now Lee is opening all the doors and windows in the house. I'm not worried)

I love being a mother, although right now it feels that the harder days out-number the easier days. But it only takes one small "special moment" to make it all worth it. The longer I am a mother, the more I appreciate my mother and I know Lee feels the same about his mom. I find myself going through the day having conversations with my mom in my head. Sharing things with her, even though she is over 1000 miles away. I feel bad that I don't call her as often as I know I should. I can't imagine going days without talking to my children, even when they are grown. I'm sorry mom! But, I know she understands, she remembers what it's like to have small children. I've heard that the older you get, the stronger the ties get that bind you to family. You feel their pull greater each day. Wow.

Lee and I wanted to thank our mothers publicly and to let them know we remember the small things and appreciate all that they have done and all that they continue to do. We love you moms!

I chose to post pictures of them during their "younger" years. They are people, women with interests, hopes, dreams, fears, likes and dislikes. Not just a mom, as we children sometimes imagine them to be. They really do understand, they have been there! (there goes the smoke alarm again!)

This is my mom, Gina, Virginia.

Born in Mexico. Lived in Mexico most of her life.

She grew up as a "farm girl" you could say. Never shyed away from hard work. My mom has never been one to sit and watch life go by. She has always been very very active. Growing up she enjoyed playing basketball, water skiing, camping, and piano...just to name a few. She has always given her all to every Church calling she has ever had. She loves the Savior and strives to be like Him. She makes friends easily and has always been concerned about those either less fortunate or without family near by. Two things she would always tell us...and she lived and continues to live by them...

1. If you have a job to do, just do it and do it well.
2. Don't sit around waiting to be asked to do something, look around, find something to do to help.

This is my other mom, Lee's mom, Ann.

She was born in Salt Lake City, UT. Grew up in Montana, for the most part, and has lived in Washington State now for over 40 years. She grew up on the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. During her younger years, according to her, she was painfully shy. She out grew it, though! All of her life she has had a passion for reading. Reading just about everything she can get her hands on, sometimes over and over again. Who knows, maybe it was Florence Nightingale who influenced her to become a nurse. With her ability to stay calm in stressful situations, she is really good at what she does! She has always appreciated music. She loves to sing and play the piano. She appreciates Nature in all of it's manifestations. Mom's thumb is amazingly "GREEN!" She loves the gospel and has always had a firm testimony of it.

Thank you mom for being not only my parent, my leader, my example, but also my friend. It's amazing to me that you were and are able to balance them both. Thank you for always catching my bangs! (when curling my hair, you would catch the bangs before they could land on my forehead) You protected me from a lot more than just hot hair. Thank you for listening to me jabber on and on and on about anything and everything, even my dreams! I know now that you were incredibly busy and that I was very distracting. Thank you for cooking me healthy meals, even thought I didn't relish the idea of eating them. Chilren are so picky, I know! I love all your cooking! I know that I have said this before, but I will say it again. If I can be the kind of mom/grandma that you were and are, to have my kids feel about me, the way I feel about you, then I will know that I have been the most amazing mom ever.

Thank you for always being a good example. Thank you for picking me up from school when it was rainning. Which happened a lot in Washington! I knew you would be there. You were always there. Thank you for taking care of all my bumps, bruises, scraps.... gun shot wound, tuna can/fireworks trama.... yah... Even though you were working, you always had a homecooked meal ready for us. Those dinners meant more than just a full tummy. Thank you for always knowing what the right choice was that would have the best outcome for me and for helping me see it too.

We were both blessed with amazing, talented, loving and strong women for mothers. Without you, we would not be who we are. So Lee says thanks to mom Romney and I say thanks mom Reynolds. You did an awesome job of raising us! =0]