Dear Mother

What a wonderful day it is!!!! I am so blessed to be given the gift of being a mother. I woke up today forgetting that TODAY is my day too. I have been thinking only about my own mother and what an amazing example she is to me of how a mother should be. Being a mother is so surreal. When I was younger I dreamt of this time when I could have a child and teach her and watch her grow. I tried to imagine how my life would be and what my children would look like. It is NOTHING like I thought it would be... It is so much better. I couldn't have imagined how much joy I would feel when my child kisses me or even when she says, "MOMMA!". I couldn't have imagined how difficult it would be to leave her for only a little while. I couldn't have imagined how special it would be to look into her eyes for the first time and for her to wrap her fingers around my finger. And I can't imagine how many more precious moments I will share with her. I love being a mother and I owe it all to my own mother for showing me how wonderful it is...

There is a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland about motherhood and I love to listen to it when I feel down or when I am having one of those days when I feel like just giving up. He says, "May I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust of your Father in Heaven has in you. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even -no, especially- when your days and your nights may be the most challenging." What confidence this gives me to know that my Heavenly Father trusts me to raise and teach one of His children here on earth. It is an eternal paternership with God. I am truly blessed.

Just to show how awesome my mom is.......Last week, my mother saw a rat snake crossing the street and she pulled over on the side of the road and caught the snake to bring home. She surprised us when we woke up!