Mothers Day Thoughts

Apparently I'm the one who takes most of the pictures recently b/c these were the only pics I had with the boys and I!

Mothers Day always brings up such emotion in me. This year is no exception. When looking inward, I still remember the days before I was a "mother" when I so desperately wanted to be a mother. One Mother's Day in particular, I remember coming home from church and just crying and crying. How unfair it feels sometimes when our life isn't working out just the way we thought it should. Thank goodness Heavenly Father gave me this experience, this deep desire (even though at the time it just felt awful and lonely and even a little hopeless). When I was a young(er) single girl, I knew I wanted a family, but never had that same yearning. I mostly thought of it as far in the future when I had accomplished a gillion other things. After my miscarriage and subsequent struggles to bring a baby here, that desire deepened and deepened within me until I wanted that little baby here more than almost anything. Thank Heaven!
      After having Ike and now Zachary, I know that there truly is no better calling, commitment, job or joy we can have than being a mother. I know the Lord instituted motherhood and family. I know no task or responsibility will ever be as important as being a mother. I love it, even when I question my ability or the responsibility I've been given, I know THIS is where Heavenly Father wants me right now.
      Secondly, I have had a chance today (thanks Ben) to ponder the other women in my life and their examples of motherhood. I look at a dear friend and family member of mine that Heavenly Father called home this year. Let me back up. Last night I was feeling a little down. About lots of things. I was thinking how inadequate I am, how underappreciated I felt and how guilty I felt for feeling underappreciated. All unfounded, I was pretty much just really tired. As I prayed last night, I asked to please be helped in putting my life back into focus. I didn't want to feel that way and I usually don't, but in those quiet, strange moments, it is an awful feeling. Anyway, last night I had a dream about this wonderful mother who we lost this year. I awoke this morning thinking of her, her suffering, and how I could help her family. She was such a selfless mother, even in the end when she was so full of pain and suffering, she never let her son know. She waited until the very end for him to even know she was going to the hospital for treatments while he was at school. She never used her fast moving, life threatening illness as an excuse, she lived for her family and showed ultimate love and sacrifice for them. I love her and am glad to have known her shining example.
      I also thought of another family member who just had a new baby. She is young and beautiful and starting a darling little family with her husband. They found out at 20 weeks gestation that their baby had a chromosomal defect that would cause her a very short lived little life once outside the womb. They have shown such faith and courage. She writes of the joy she has felt knowing this little girl inside of her and knowing that our Father in Heaven has a plan for them. They have welcomed this little girl with triumph and such joy as I've never seen. This little angel baby is still going strong and I know that this miracle is possible because of their unwavering faith. I love them and am so grateful to have such a wonderful example of faith, love, and courage.
     My third mother this year is not a mother as you might think. She is a young, beautiful, single woman I have known for a decade. She shows my kids so much love and support. She is a wonderful example to them and all the children in her life of loyalty, service and love. She shows care and concern for them and for all of us in a way no one else does:) I think all women are mothers in one way or another and this woman excels at it.
     You can see why I sometimes feel inadequate when I know such amazing women all around me, but right now all I feel is true love for each of them and honor in knowing them personally. I love our Father in Heaven. How inspired He is to give us each other to help us and inspire us. Please know today I am thinking of each of you. Thank you for being mothers and helping me to be a little better too. I'm so grateful for the opportunity he has given me to be a mother to these two sweet little boys. They amaze me everyday and make me a better, happier person than I've ever been before.

Tutu Cute:)

Maybe it's because I have boys at my house and I'm trying to over compensate, or maybe it's because almost everyone I know has had a baby girl in the past six months, but I have becoming a Tutu making queen! They are fun, simple, and easily embellished. These are my first three... Appropriately for Macy, Adrie, and Emry the sweetest little nieces who just happened to have birthdays while I was experimenting:) Apparently they are very well loved and worn to pieces, just as I would want them to be! Enjoy girls:) And stay tuned...

Some of the Girls

I know everyone teased that I was going to take this photo home and blog it... Well, I did. Couldn't help it:) In case you didn't know, I live in a house of boys. All boys. And me. I'm a girl. So, after 2 years of dental school and 3 boys 24/7, I think when a girl time arises, I just might jump on it. Ok, it happened more like this... Natalie, my dear sweet, very pregnant friend (above, in white) is about to pop. In an effort to keep her mind off the ensuing popage, she invited a bunch of us to go see the new Jane Eyre with her in Scottsdale at Fashion Square. Hehe. When I asked Ben about the idea, he insisted I go. I think it was in an effort to a.) not have to go with me to Fashion Square b.) not have to see Jane Eyre and c.) not have to eat sushi. Well, I guess we both won:)

I have to say, I love my family. I love doing things with those crazy boys all the time. But, after an afternoon away, I think I appreciate them more. So, if it's been awhile since you have "taken a break" as it was for me, I highly recommend it:)

P.S. These girls are fabulous (we missed you who couldn't come)! We had a great time. I love Jane Eyre, but I would've gone with these girls to see most anything just to be in their company! They are amazing wives and mothers and I think I'm a better person just for knowing them:) Thanks girls (and thanks to my boys for being ok without me for a few hours).

Easter FHE Resurrection Eggs

I saw these last year and just HAD to do them this year:) For Family Home Evening Monday before Easter, our family spent some time opening the eggs, numbered 1-12, finding the symbolic little item and looking up the scripture associated with it. I think it left a huge impact on all of us in reading specifically about some of the things Jesus Christ experienced the last week of His life on earth. We are so blessed to know what we know and to have this peaceful time in our lives to be able to reflect on Him and His mortal ministry. I love Easter because it gives us a chance to rejoice in our Savior overcoming sickness, sadness, sin, and all the world for us so that we could live with Him again! What more is there than this?

Here is the lineup for the eggs:

1. Message -- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.
   Passage -- Matthew 21:1-11
   Item -- Piece of palm branch
2. Message -- Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
   Passage -- John 12:2-8
   Item --  cotton ball with perfume on it
    
3. Message -- Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
   Passage -- Matthew 26:17-19
   Item – a piece of graham cracker 
4. Message-- Jesus suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane
    Passage-- Item-- I printed a small picture of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
5. Message -- Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
   Passage -- Matthew 27:3
   Item -- 3 dimes  
6. Message -- Jesus carried His own cross.
   Passage -- John 19:17
   Item – I fashioned a cross out of toothpicks and hot glue
    
7. Message -- Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
   Passage -- John 19:2
   Item -- thorny piece of our bush
8. Message -- Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
   Passage -- John 19:23
   Item -- a small die  
9. Message -- Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
   Passage -- John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
   Item -- A nail
    
10. Message -- Jesus' body was prepared and wrapped in linen for burial
    Passage -- Matthew 27:57 Item -- small piece of linen
     
11. Message -- The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.
    Passage -- Matthew 28
    Item -- A small, flat, round rock
     
12. Message -- Jesus has risen! Passage -- Matt 28: 5-8