My Angel Mother

*I have been working on this post for awhile now, but was gone on Mother's Day, and never got it posted. I know Mother's Day has past, but I still want to share it to honor my Mom.

Abraham Lincoln, whom I love, said "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." 

This statement resonates with me. I would not be the person I am today without my Mom. She has always been there for me. She is such a good, strong woman. She has built her life on the foundation of her faith. I am grateful for the choices she has made that have shaped her into the Mother that she is.
 

Through the years, her and my Dad have taught me innumerable lessons and truths about life. In this post I will focus on my Mom, though. (Remember, this is for Mother's Day!) There is no way I can express all that she has taught me, but today I share some of the lessons I value most from her.

1. She taught me how to work. My Mom is not afraid to work. She is extremely dedicated and detailed in whatever she does. As kids, if we would slack off in our chores or school work, she would always tell us, "You need to take pride in your work!" We would say, "Oh Mom, this doesn't really matter because... (insert an excuse)." In response she would say, "It does matter; how you work says a lot about you! Always work hard in everything you do." Because of her, I know that opportunities come when we do our very best and put in the time to work for something.

2. She taught me the importance of an education. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that both my parents are teachers, but at a young age my siblings and I knew that gaining an education was important. My mother has always told us that an education will open doors for you in life. She worked diligently to receive her teaching degree with four small kids at home. There were nights where she would study all night and close the books when us kids would wake up. To this day, she still takes any chance she can to further her education.

 3. She taught me how to treat others with charity and to forgive. She taught me to speak kindly about everyone; especially people whom I may find it hard to speak kindly about. I learned the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt, and to not judge others. Everyone is doing the best they know how to do. She was always quick to jump in to serve others--and she always did it with a happy attitude. Most importantly, she taught me how to have charity towards your husband and children. Seriously, she is so patient with all of us. It is rare to see her lose her temper. She gave us the gift of being raised in a home where our Mom was always happy and kind. (This does so not mean she is a pushover... She could hold her ground as a parent when needed!)

4. She taught me how to create an uplifting home environment. When my siblings and I started entering our teen years, she received a distinct thought to "flood our home with the Gospel." And she did. We had pictures of Christ and temples on our walls. She put quotes from Prophets and Apostles all over our bathroom mirrors. Our background noise in the house was uplifting music. We had books all over the house about uplifting things such as prayer, scripture study, and building relationships. Through her efforts there was, and still is, a tangible Spirit in my parent's home.

5. She taught me how to live and love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All I can say is she exemplifies everything about this statement through her thoughts, words, and actions. She joined the church as a young adult, jumping in with both feet wanting to know everything about it. She still has that same thirst for knowledge today. Applying and discussing the Gospel was part of our everyday conversations at home. She has truly showed me what it looks like to live as a disciple of Christ.

Thanks for all you have done for me, Mom! All that I hope to be I owe to you. I love you and hope to instill these same lessons in my own children. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Tidbits from Women's Conference 2013

Last week I had the chance to attend Women's Conference at the campus of BYU. I was lucky enough to go with my Mom, sisters, and my cousin (which we were so happy to have her...she is awesome!). This was the first time any of us had gone, and we loved it! By the end of the day, we had decided to make the conference an annual tradition. If you want to be uplifted and inspired, this is a great conference to attend.

I just want to share a few insights and things I learned at the conference, so here goes...

* In order to experience the peace that "passes all understanding," we need to know and learn of the source that it comes from--our Savior and His Gospel.

*We show our love and devotion to God through our choices and actions.

* The only things that really MATTER in life our are family, relationships, and our relationship with God.

* We will be judged as we judge others, so HEAP on the MERCY!

* Often times, as we develop our talents, we make it easier for God to help us.

* In marriage, we have to intentionally, purposefully work at strengthening our marriage. Otherwise, we will drift apart.

* Always speak kindly of Jake, which I always strive to do. But also, teach our children to speak highly of their spouses when the time comes for them to be married. Children need to see positive examples of a marriage relationship.

* Men can be taught romance. Not by criticism, but by giving them a vision of it time, and time, and time again.

* God protects His righteous saints from feelings of discouragement through prayer and keeping the commandments.

* I was reassured of the Prophet Joseph Smith's declaration that, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.” God loves each and every one of us so much. Despite heartache and trials, He truly desires us to be HAPPY. With His help, we can be. We just need to do our part and "...pursue the path that leads to it." 


It was a beautiful conference. I was touched by the power women have to influence the world for the better. If you would like to learn more about the messages of the conference, read here. It will change your life!