Mother's Day 2010

Gifts I Have Received Through Being Willing to Be a Mother:

(I'm going to preface this by saying: I wrote this on Mother's Day, May 9^th, 2010, to stand as a written reminder of things I have learned, and am grateful for knowing, due to becoming and being a mother. I also write these things down, so as to be able to share them with my family.)

1. Six AMAZINGLY brilliant children, 10 FABULOUS grandchildren (so far)
   

2. More understanding of how much God loves us

3. More understanding of what “LOVE” truly is, and what the word means

4. Better understanding of exactly who I am – my strengths & weaknesses – how to recognize and increase my strengths – how to accurately view and work to overcome weaknesses and turn them into strengths because I am human, but a Child of God

5. Learning to accept and love myself, in spite of faults and weaknesses

6. Learning to like myself as I am now, while continuously striving to become BETTER!

7. Learning to forgive – and that forgiveness frees the soul to soar to God

8. Learning more fully the GREAT POWER of the prayers of a mother

9. Gaining an understanding of unconditional LOVE

10. The greater measure of gratitude for all the blessings the Lord has given me

11. The better understanding of Eternity and Eternal Progression – grandchildren who continue to fill and bless my life with joy beyond that which I could comprehend without them

12. Understanding of the joy of righteous children and their families, and seeing them grow in life and the Gospel

13. Better understanding of God's HOPE for us to repent and return to the path that leads back to Him

I learned Love, Understanding, Forgiveness, the Power of Prayer, Gratitude, and Hope!

Day 24: I'm Thankful for Jeremiah

As the prophet Jeremiah of old, this young Jeremiah is a man of faith. He loves God, and doing His work. He loves Jesus Christ and being His emissary. Jeremiah has a heart that loves unconditionally, and finds joy in service to all those around him.

Jeremiah is the fifth in the family - and the only boy. When he was a baby, he was often called "The Boy." He is a mother's perfect description of what any mom would want in her son. That is not to say he is perfect, although he works hard to do what's right in his life.

As a young child, he was really good at taking things apart - like the lawnmower, when he was only 2-1/2! I KNEW, though, that someday he would learn to put things back together! Now, he is working towards his degree as a mechanical engineer.

Yup, they all come "pre-wired" for who they are going to be. It's our job as parents to somehow figure out how to guide these little people in the direction the Lord wants them to go, until they decide to guide themselves there. Also, to pray for them, when they decide to go in another direction, entirely.

Jeremiah is a GOOD SON, and great friend to all who know him. His spirit is ageless, and he is able to translate this into the ability to befriend anyone - from infants to older adults - in personal friends. He truly LOVES everyone.

Jeremiah prepared himself to be able to serve a faithful full-time mission. His love of the Lord is still constantly shown in his life. He is a faithful home teacher, and now spends his Saturday afternoons and evenings as a Temple worker, helping with all the duties he is asked to perform, as he helps the rest of us to attend and do the work for those who were once on the earth, but cannot now do their own ordinance work. His life is an example and a blessing to me, and to many others.

Jeremiah, thanks for all you do for me and others. Thanks for the rides to places. Thanks for the ride home from accounting class for a WHOLE SEMESTER of Monday nights.

Thank you for choosing to be MY son. I respect you, and who you are, and who you are becoming. I love you!

Thanks! Day, the Second. HOORAY for Technology!

Today is Sunday. It was also Stake Conference, with a twist. It was broadcast live, from Salt Lake - to the WHOLE state of Arizona! How cool is that?!

You all know how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE technology. This broadcast is the epitome' of a cool use of technology. I know it's really great to be able to email and chat with folks from all over the world, in the blink of an eye; but, attending a conference where the people talking to you are in another state, and all the other folks in Arizona are also in attendance, is so totally AWESOME!

That's just one of the things I'm grateful for today - technology.

Technology allows me to easily keep in touch with my oldest 2 daughters, who live in Texas. I use the internet to do research for school. My math class has all my homework online, but the class is not.

Another thing I'm thankful for today is being descended from actual pioneers who crossed the plains to settle the West, and who were willing to go to Arizona and settle, when there was nothing here but sand, cactus, gila monsters, scorpions, and not much visible water. I LOVE ARIZONA!!!

Another thing I'm grateful for today is the inspiration I took away from conference. These are a few things that struck me enough to write them down:

1) "Compare the Scriptures to 'letters from home'." We need to always remember who we are, and why we're here. By rereading these "letters from home," we can reconnect with our Father and our Savior, who love us, and are there to help us find the way back "Home."

2) "To find our way back home, we must find 'The Way.'" There truly is only ONE WAY, and most of the world around us is still searching for it. I'm so grateful for predecessors who "found" it and showed it to me.

3) "Lead, Guide, Walk Beside." If we learn to walk beside our Savior, He will lead and guide us, and enable us to do the same for others. Since none of us live in a vacuum, there are always others watching us. It is emphatic that we walk in a way that is exemplary to those around us, even if we don't realize anyone is watching. Someone is always watching.

4) "Fill up, go on, and pray again." This is a quote from a brother Dan Jones, who was one of the brethren sent to scout parts of Arizona prior to pioneers being sent to colonize in this state. I'm not sure, but since we are related to some of the Jones' by marriage, we could be indirectly related, but I AM SURE that this philosophy works.

We have so much to do, and so far to go, it is utterly impossible to carry with us all we need to make the entire journey. If we are not able to learn how to fill and refill our stores of faith, knowledge, and determination, we will not make it. Of these three, I believe determination is the most important. Without it, we may not be willing to do the work to gain the knowledge, and we may not store up enough faith to keep believing we can do it. We CAN, but not without a lot of help. Fortunately, through the gospel tools we've been given, there is always a renewable source of strength and help.

5) Last, but MOST IMPORTANT: The Gospel is TRUE. I know it. I have ALWAYS known it. Though I am imperfect, I know God has a plan for me, and will give me all the help I need to complete whatever my missions are here in this place we call earth life.