Mother's Day 2012

   Mother's Day this year was just about perfect. I woke up to french toast and to my children running into my room (alright, mostly only Soph was running, Noah was carried in by my running husband, still counts) yelling, "Happy Mother's Day! You look so beautiful!" Lies, but it was still the best. Then we took our time getting ready, one of the good things about 1 o'clock church, and walked to church from Josh's parents house. Church was pretty good, Noah got a little fussy, but nothing much. Then we walked home to Josh's parents house and had great food and good company. I was sad we couldn't visit my mom on Mother's Day, but I'm grateful I got to visit them just a couple of weeks ago, hopefully a post about that will be coming soon--no promises though. :) We exchanged love and presents and it was nice to be with family. We walked to the nearby apple orchard and let the kids play in the dirt. They were filthy and cried all through their baths because they were so tired, but it was totally worth it. Then Josh and I stayed up late watching the last few episodes of Smash for the finale tonight, poor guy-I just outted him. :) 

Most importantly though, I felt loved and cherished by my husband. He's been known to get in trouble for not doing things for birthdays and such in the past, and I know he's been trying to improve. I appreciated it soo much. He got me a card from the kids stating that someday they would change my diaper, comforting thought, and Zumba for the Xbox--wha wha?! I'm so excited to try it. All I have to do is stop eating these jelly beans. :) haha He was really helpful all day and made me feel so special and like I was the best mother in the world. He's normally pretty helpful anyway, but he was really helpful yesterday. That's all any woman really wants on their special days, to feel appreciated and cherished. So good job honey. You won't get yelled at this year. :)

And I just have to say that being a mother is so much harder and trying than I ever thought it would be, but it's also more rewarding, more satisfying, and more life-fulfilling than I ever thought anything could be. It is making me into the woman I want to become and I can see why Heavenly Father commands us to multiply and replenish the earth. I am so grateful I can have children of my own, my heart breaks for those who cannot and I hope that someday they too can experience the joys of motherhood, although I believe that all women are mothers in their own rights--even if they don't have children of their own. I know that Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ watch over me in my responsibilities of motherhood. I am not alone in this, and I am so thankful that I have them to guide me and support me through this. I would terrified if I was alone. And I am so thankful that families are eternal. Lately I've heard of and had a lot of friends deal with the deaths of loved one, particularly children. I cannot imagine the depth of grief that this causes, I hope I never have to experience it, but I know that for those who have the Gospel, the sting of death is softened by the fact that they will see their little ones again and have the opportunity to raise them. They are in the safe keeping of their Savior.  I am so thankful for my family and that we will be together for eternity!

Sophie and Noah are so sweet and loving to each other and to everyone around them. They make me want to be better and to draw nearer to the Lord. And although I do miss some of the things about the days before them, I feel like my life really began when they entered it. I was born to be a mother. I already dread the day they move out, although that may change with time and hormones :), but I'm excited for them to live life and to experience things on their own. I hope we'll always be close and that they'll always want to come home again. I am so thankful for them in my life and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for them.

        

And lastly, I am so thankful for the mothers in my life. My own mom is absolutely the best around, at least for me. She always listens to my rants and allows me to be me. She understands me in a way that no one else does. I know that I can always come to her with anything and she almost always tells me exactly what I need to hear. I'm so sad that we don't live closer, but I cherish the times we get to visit. And my mother-in-law is a great mother to her boys and daughter-in-laws as well. I am so thankful she taught her boys the importance of the Gospel and of getting married in the temple. I know that Josh is a product of her and Clay's example. Although I complain about Washington's rain and other things, I am grateful to have gotten to know her so well and to have her as a part of our children's lives. They love their grandmas and I'm so grateful they have such good ones.  

                            

So Happy Belated Mother's Day all! There is no work as important as the work of rearing children. I believe that now more than ever.

Love,  Moi

(Rocking the aviators, sorry for making fun of you for wearing these in the 80's dad. I guess you were cooler than I thought.)