What more joy could a mother have than I have today?
I want to share a little about why my Mother's Day is happy today. If it sounds like bragging or whatever - I don't care. I'm just putting it all out there.
A few months ago, Libby took a special marker for drawing on windows, and wrote, "I love everybody. - Elisabeth" It's been there for months and I won't clean it off. I look out at the beautiful landscape around us every morning and see those words, and I feel happy. Having Libby as a daughter brings me joy!
Peter wrote me a letter for Mother's Day that really touched me. He went through a lot of the things I do, like teach piano, assign referees for the soccer club, help people with oils, and substitute at the schools, and told me I did a good job at those things. It was a really thoughtful letter. And seeing him take good care of his new rabbit "Petey" is fun. Having Peter as a son brings me joy!
Last Friday, Mary got together with a friend in her Beehive class and made a Mother's Day gift for her Beehive advisers. They did this on their own, without any outside prompting. They were delightful gifts - a vase with the "flowers" being a cut out of a flower with the girls' picture on it. I love it that Mary's doing things like this on a Friday afternoon when she could be doing so many other things. Having Mary as a daughter brings me great joy!
Yesterday morning, Jesse said, "Mom, come and listen to my song." I immediately went up the stairs (I don't always do this). She sat down at our
Petrof piano and played a beautiful
Valse by Chopin. She was only assigned the song ten days ago by her piano teacher, so she didn't have it perfected, but it was amazing how well she played it. She plays with a great deal of feeling and emotion, which you need for Chopin. I went outside to milk the cow (I know - ironic, isn't it?) and started to cry with the sheer thrill of hearing my own daughter play something like that! The day before, she also got an award for being in the Top 10 academically at school. Having Jesse as a daughter brings me great joy!
Friday afternoon, Bruce and I went to Joseph's track meet. Without consulting each other, we both brought along the book we were reading. (For those interested - Bruce was reading
Fablehaven and I was reading
Mallorean Vol. 1). Joseph said later that he was looking up in the stands and saw us sitting there reading our books. I told Bruce that we were going to look really nerdy, and his reply was, "
Woopdidoo - who cares?" I thought the same thing, so there we sat between races (there really is a lot of time between races), reading our books. Instead of being embarrassed, Joseph told us, "You guys are really cool." Ha ha And then, after a trip to Taco Bell to fill him with some
carbs, Joseph went out and raced a PR (personal record) of 4:48 in the 1600 meter. WOW!! I can't believe he can run that fast. I was so proud of him. Having Joseph as a son brings me great joy!
And now Josh. Friday morning they had the Academic Assembly at the High School, and Josh also got in the Top 10 academically of the Senior class. He also had a lead part in the video that was the entertainment for the assembly, because of being a
Studentbody Officer. I had one Mom tell me that he stole the show. And then, yesterday, the MAD Boys were guest performers in a Concert put on by a local singing group. They got to perform in the ______ Civic Center (a nice auditorium). They sang three different songs, and they turned out great. They sold
CD's at Intermission, signed autographs, and had very pretty girls hanging out with them. I was just about bursting buttons the whole night. Today Josh spoke in Church, bearing his testimony and talking about mothers. I felt so foolish when he was talking because I was smiling, no - not just smiling - I was grinning ridiculously wide the whole time. I thought to myself, "Calm down and look a little more dignified," but I couldn't do it. Having Josh as a son brings me great joy!
And then after all this, Mary Jean, my dear friend in our ward, said in Relief Society that if your children are making bad choices it's not all your fault, and if they are making good choices, you can't take all the credit. Very true! The truth with our children is that more than me making them who they are, they have weathered well my motherhood. Ha ha! Ah, they really are good kids.
I came down this morning to a beautiful breakfast with all the children at the table and a wonderful husband serving it. Thanks Bruce!
I also want to thank my own Mother for all she has done and continues to do for me. Besides everything she has taught me and the wonderful example she is, I think I am most grateful for my Mom because she is my best cheerleader! Even recently, I had this reaffirmed when I was doing a presentation on essential oils on a Conference Call. I was on with a brother and a sister and my Mother. I had started the presentation, and then we had small break. My brother and sister both said,"You should probably use a script." My mother said, "You're doing great, just keep going!" Now, please don't misunderstand - my brother and sister were totally right, and I didn't get offended by what they said. And at the same time, hearing my mother give me encouraging words just like she has done my whole life, well, it made me feel so good. I had to laugh right out loud at how her simple words made me feel. Thank you, Mom, for being my best cheerleader!
This is a picture I really like of my Mom. The trees are shading her face, but that's how she likes it - to be outdoors among the plants and trees, and surrounded by children and grandchildren.
This picture was taken 6/30/2004.
Happy Mother's Day to my own Mother, my wonderful Mother-in-law, and all women who nurture and love others.
She had a fun birthday party with lots of friends. 
Grandma and Grandpa got here that day, so they got to be here for all the festivities.e
