Happy Mother's Day!

So this post may be a tad early but most of mine are a tad late so let's call it even. I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming Mother's Day and had to give a few shout outs to all the amazing women who have influenced my life.

Of course, I have to start with my mom. I was at mutual tonight and was talking to a few of the ladies in my ward and they were commenting on how well Annie did at mutual and how easily she had assimilated into the ward. They were saying how she seemed to do so well socially and I explained to them that she had always interacted with her typical peers. When she was younger, my mom kept her out of special programs as much as she could in order to allow her to learn the appropriate way to act socially. If this meant she had to coach softball and basketball and go to orchestra classes with Annie so that she could participate she did it.

The women both commmented on what an amanzing woman my mom must have been and they were right. I could write novels on how amazing my mom is but to spare you the reading, I will just talk about the things I am most recently realizing about her. Even with her being gone, I feel like I know just what she would have me do in regards to Annie because she was so clear on what her goals were for her and on what she saw in her future. So even though I may stumble along the way, I am so grateful for a mom that had the foresight to share with me those plans so that I have a clear roadmap to follow. Annie is kind of amazing and she got it all from my mom. I work with parents everyday that either don't advocate for their student with special needs or that are too overbearing and speak up in such a way that the teachers become unwilling to help their student because they are so demanding.

I remember coming home from school and being able to tell it was an IEP meeting day because of the cupcake tins and cookie sheets dirty in the sink. My mom would bake all day long to bring each person involved in an IEP meeting a plate of treats recognizing that if these teachers were going to spend time helping her daughter, the least she could do was bring them some goodies. She always tried to balance the services she was receiving from the school with time spent volunteering at school functions and donations given to the classroom. I remember even in Annie's seventh grade year when she wasn't feeling well, her volunteering to be the class pen pal and writing to the student's in Annie's class every other week. Like I said amazing.

Oh sisters. How I love them. I seriously don't know what I would do without them! I think after our mom died we just molded together and just took on the roles of what we were good at to make things work. Emily took care of the girls at the El Moro house and helped them survive emotionally, physically and mentally when things were crazy. She is also the cooking wife of the Jetcher house and is always coming up with new tasty things to eat. Amanda helps so much in supporting the girls bringing all her kids to swim meets with sonic slushes in tow for Annie and Julia to slurp on after swimming. She also teaches us all the homemaking skills she has aquired and is my pregnancy bible. She has all the answers I want. I am so grateful to have theses older sisters to look to and to learn from! Then Julia has always selflessly helped with all things Annie. The girl has shared a room with Annie since she was 4 and is an amazing example of being stalwartly obedient even when she could have made so many excuses to not choose good things. And Annie is the glue that holds us all together. Constantly teaching us how to act better, cracking us up with her hilarity and reminding us to read scriptures, say prayers etc.

Whenever I think of this house, I always think of all the ladies in the Lyn Rae ward that I learned from. You can't live on this street without gleaning from their wisdom. And not only that but all the ladies in the Kimball stake who I got to spend time with at girls camp, talking to at Vista Cleaners and learning from at church meetings. They are such amazing women who are devoted to serving others, raising their children the best they can and lifting up those around them. My family was so blessed to be supported by the people who lived in that ward and stake.

Maybe I am just feeling nostalgic, or hormonal or eh who knows...bloated? But this Mother's day I just want to say thanks to all those lovely ladies who have helped shape and mold my character, who have been shining examples of what it is like to balance busy schedules and still come out with their sanity in tact, and who have taught me to rely on the Savior for my support.

Happy Mother's day to all ya'll! And just know that I am striving to be a bit like you.