Thank you

"While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living”– and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born….Motherhood is more than bearing children…It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us...Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave women an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate. As President J. Reuben Clark Jr. declared, motherhood is "as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the Priesthood itself."" Sheri Dew, General Relief Society Meeting, 2001

I have been blessed in my life with wonderful women who have taught me so much about being a mother--about my divine stature, nature, and identity.

For my own wonderful mother--thank you for choosing to marry Daddy in the temple, to work at your marriage, so that we could be surrounded by love and security and happiness and laughter all our growing up days. Thank you for teaching me patience, compassion, song, the Gospel, to cook, to play, and to read.

For my darling sister LaDale--thank you for teaching me the pure love of Christ. Thank you for your laughter, our silly jokes, our grand plans, the radiant love you give my babies, the patience with my struggles. Thank you for your care, your hospitality, and a certain sparkly green hair clip.

For my fabulous sister Jenafer--thank you for teaching me how to be more patient with my kiddos. Thank you for your example of selfless giving to your children. Thank you for helping me know that although sometimes it feels like they are sucking the life out of you, it's never fatal and always worth it.

For my sweet sister Telima--thank you for teaching me friendship. Thank you for supporting me in my need, for being silent when that's what I needed, for laughing with me when that is what I needed, and for giving me adult conversation when one more "why-mama?" was going to turn my brain to mush. Thank you for letting me spend a little time mothering that darling red-head of yours. (And here's to our smoothie summer!)

For my terrific sisters-in-law Amy and Caren--thank you for making my brothers so happy. Thank you for your example of determination and grace under trial, for your humor, and for your embrace of our (more than slightly) weird family.

I have been richly blessed. I love you all.