Great Women

May we know them....
I know many great women.  They are my best friends, my sisters and sister-in-laws, and my daughters.  I am blessed to have a mom who has taught me by example how to live as I believe, how to live the way our Savior taught, and how to love unconditionally.  How grateful I am for my mom's influence and love. 

   

Elder Russell M. Ballard said:  "There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman...A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time."

Another blessing of mine is the sweet influence and love we have from Brad's mom - our wonderful "Grandma".  Her faith is eloquently described in Elder Jeffrey Holland's words:
"A woman’s abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest.”
That is how I would describe Grandma, or Mom to the few of us blessed enough to call her that!

May we raise them......

I have the honor of being a Mom.  I cannot imagine a more noble calling.  Our children are raised and each night I thank my Heavenly Father for each of my children, individually. 

Sheri Dew said: "As mothers in Israel, we are the Lord’s secret weapon. Our influence comes from a divine endowment that has been in place from the beginning. In the premortal world, when our Father described our role, I wonder if we didn’t stand in wide-eyed wonder that He would bless us with a sacred trust so central to His plan and that He would endow us with gifts so vital to the loving and leading of His children. I wonder if we shouted for joy at least in part because of the ennobling stature He gave us in His kingdom. The world won’t tell you that, but the Spirit will.

We just can’t let the Lord down. And if the day comes when we are the only women on earth who find nobility and divinity in motherhood, so be it. For mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence."

I cannot take credit for the amazing individuals that each of our children have become.  Not perfect, but wonderful men and women who are striving to live the teachings of our Savior in their very best way.  They love the Lord, they love their family, and I am blessed to be a part of each of their lives.
 

May we be them!

I cannot express how much I love and enjoy being a Mom.  Moments of pure happiness mixed with sleepless nights, long conversations, and many prayers have helped me to become a better person.  I have learned how to pray more earnestly, fast with a broken yet hopeful heart, stretch my faith, and become a more devoted follower of my Savior. I have learned to search the scriptures and the conference talks for answers, to understand the importance of temple worship, and strive to eliminate things in my life that would distance me from the promptings of the Spirit.  I know that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with His children and also given me the opportunity to influence many more of His children through service. 

Aaron - Savannah - Tyler - Jenny - Jacque - Aly - Eric:  On Mother's Day, I wanted my children to know how much I love them and how much I love being a Mom.