A Day to Celebrate Mothers

So, I'm sure I am one of a billion blog posters who are "dedicating" their post to their moms. I wish I could be more creative, but, I feel like this post is SO important.

My mother's day was quite eventful. I woke up feeling well rested (Thank you Heavenly Father for that Mother's Day gift). Andrew had been feeling quite sick the night before, so when I saw that he was still sleeping, I decided not to wake him up yet. I got Beth some breakfast and turned on some cartoons so I could take a quick shower and get ready. Andrew woke up, and although he was feeling icky, he got ready for church too. We made it to sacrament meeting almost on time (Hey the day can't be perfect). We listened to some great talks. One of my favorite moms in the ward talked about having a Mantra that she says to her self when times get tough. She said that this mantra has extended the life of her children multiple times! :-) She lost her husband in a motorcycle accident almost 5 years ago, and was left to raise 3 children, alone. So her words always bring tears to my eyes. I can't remember the exact mantra, but I will definitely be making my own....if only for my kids' sake.

Then a brother got up to speak. He's married to a friend of mine, and in young men's with Andrew. He's only spoken maybe one or two other times, but I love listening to him speak. He specifically directed his talk to the men in the ward. And even though his talk was unfortunately cut short by time constraints, his spirit and insight touched my heart. He asked the men "Can we be better to our wives and do better?" It was a wonderful talk. It reminded me of President Uchtdorf's talk in the Priesthood session of General Conference. If you haven't heard it, or read it yet, DO IT...here's the link....http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/your-potential-your-privilege?lang=eng

After sacrament meeting, Andrew admitted he needed to go home. So, I told him to go to the car and I would drop Beth off at Nursery and then run him home. I didn't question his need to go home, because frankly, he looked terrible, and I knew there were no major sporting events on TV that day. :-)....So I tried to take Beth to nursery, but she wouldn't let me put her down. Now, normally, I am NOT the person to take her to nursery, for this very reason. Andrew takes her, since I have a class I teach, and I can't be late. But today, someone else was teaching the class, so I tried to drop her off. I couldn't do it. She clung to me and cried. So, I took her out to the car, and Andrew and I decided it might be best that she stay home with him so I could enjoy the rest of church. After church was over, I went home and checked on Andrew, still sick, poor guy. I got Beth some lunch and told Andrew he needed to take a nap, sleep is wonderful for colds.

On a whim, I decided to take Beth to my parent's ward which meets later in the afternoon. So, we left Andrew at home, with pillows, blankets, water, his phone, and strict instructions to SLEEP. Beth was happy to see Papa and Gran Dawnie. My dad is the Bishop of their ward (The ward that I grew up in and attended for 21 years of my life). So, Beth couldn't sit with him, since he was on the stand at the front. But she did pretty well sitting with me and my mom. She did throw a minor fit or two, but it was close to nap time, and her second sacrament meeting of the day. I was so grateful I went to the meeting because I got to listen to a WONDERFUL speaker. I am well acquainted with her, and her family. She recited a quote that brought tears to my eyes. After church I sent a message to her daughter and asked where I could get a copy, because I loved it THAT much. And here is the quote:

"I grant you that there are many who approach the great responsibility of motherhood with fear & timidity, because of its dangers to the physical life of the mother, because of its pain, its sorrow & its distress; but in the very nature of things, if God should lighten the burdens, the sorrow, & the pain of child-bearing, he would endanger the enduring love of the mother for her children. There is nothing worth while we obtain unless we pay the price for it. That which is given to us freely, we consider of little value, & so, because a mother goes into the valley of death, lays her life upon the alter to bring life into the world, & because through the rearing of the children who come to her, she spends many sleepless nights, denies herself the personal pleasures of life, devotes herself with patience & care & strength almost more than she has, to the welfare of her children-this is what makes her love them. For where her treasure is, there her heart is, & the greatest treasure a woman has she gives in her service, her life itself. All that she has, she gives for her children, beginning with the great ordeal of bringing them into this life." 

 

-Melvin J. Ballard

This quote especially means something to me since I will be going through labor and delivery next month with our second child. This time around we are hoping to labor and deliver without any pain medication at all. So when Brother Ballard speaks of... "if God should lighten the burdens, the sorrow, & the pain of child-bearing, he would endanger the enduring love of the mother for her children," it really made me think. Now, I believe that there are burdens, sorrow and pain, ANY WAY you choose to deliver your children. But I think I needed to hear this talk because recently I've been questioning my ability to deliver this baby without the use of pain medication, I've never done it before. I keep forgetting that the Lord knows the difficulties of pregnancy, labor and delivery. And that those struggles teach us something greater, LOVE.  I now have a stronger testimony of my body's abilities. I know that because of our preparation, we will be blessed. Keep in mind, The "All Natural Delivery" goal is just our personal preference this time around, but everyone has the right to choose the way they want to deliver their baby. 

 

After visiting my parents ward I went home and put Beth down for a much needed nap, I checked on Andrew who was sleeping. And I finished a few things before heading to our Bassett Family dinner that evening. I got to spend time socializing and eating wonderful food with the wonderful Bassett family. My Grammy Bassett is one of those wonderful women in my life that I am SO grateful to have. She is getting older, and can't do as much as she used to, but I will never forget the wonderful memories I have of her. After dinner we returned home, Beth was put to bed and Andrew and I spent a few hours talking about the day. He felt SO bad that he missed "making the day special" for me. But I told him it was a wonderful day, even though he couldn't do much "extra" to help. While he was home sick he cleaned up the house, did the dishes, and had a wonderful card for me. He's a wonderful man.

I'm so grateful to my mother. My sister Bo wrote a wonderful blog post about my mom and I echo a lot of her praises. My mother is amazing. She is always giving, and never turns down someone in need. She is often the voice of reason, but in a calm and loving way. About 10 years ago she was diagnosed with MS, it has been a LONG, HARD road for her. But she was always there for her kids. She drove us everywhere, made it to every event, and supported us in every challenge. Luckily, she found a wonderful medication that has worked to control a lot of her symptoms. But it didn't come without sacrifice. When I was a teenager she apologized that we couldn't have the nicer things the other kids had, cell phones, the "in" clothes, cars, etc. She explained that her MS medication was very expensive. Even with the insurance coverage my parents had, her medication cost around $500 per month. As teens, we thought and said "It's ok mom, we understand, and we wouldn't want to have those other things, especially if it meant you didn't get the medication you needed." And now as an adult, I am even more in awe. I was never without what I needed. I was and continue to be very blessed by having her in my life.

 

About 5 years ago, I added another mom to my life. My mother in law. She is a wonderful woman, who is always putting herself last. She worries about the kids, their spouses and the grand kids first, and then maybe, just maybe she'll think about herself. Sometimes I want to wring her neck, and tell her to "Sit down and stop fussing! You'll never enjoy your meal if you are constantly helping kids." But she wouldn't listen, she's too dedicated. Of all the things she has done there is one that I am the most grateful for. After 3 children, my in laws decided that they were done having children. They kept to this decision for almost 10 years. Until one day, after some experiences, they decided they were NOT done. So they had 2 more children, 17 months apart. The older of the two is Sam, brother and best friend to my husband and the husband of a close friend (and now sister in law). And the last child they had was my husband. If they would have stuck to their original decision, my life would be completely different today. So I am grateful for them changing their minds. My husband, and Sam, were probably not easy children to deal with. They are full of energy and very stubborn as individuals, but put them together, and they are a force to be reckoned with. My mother in law did get good practice with Andrew's older siblings....especially the 2 older boys.....(If his brother's read this they'll say "who could she be talking about???"). All in all, her decision to bring more children into this world has directly impacted my life. Thank you Diane!

There are many other women in my life that are wonderful examples to me. I have/have had wonderful Grandmas (and Great Grandmas), Aunts, Cousins, Sister's in Law and Friends who remind me that being a mother is NOT easy, but it's definitely worth it. And to them, I am also grateful.

My mother's day was wonderful and memorable. I fell so blessed to have Bethani in my life and I can't wait till her sister Amielia joins us. I am lucky to be a mother to these two girls. It's a gift that I will never come close to repaying. My only picture on the blog this week is my "Happy Mother's Day" picture from Beth. I took it yesterday after church. She was walking around the house in my shoes, and she wanted me to look. She now says "MOM!" a lot. And I do mean the caps and exclamation mark. It's never a "mom?" or "Mom." But no matter how she says it, I'm grateful that she knows how much I love her and that I am her "MOM!"

 Happy Blogging Everyone!