A Tribute to My Mom

So today I sat down and immediately I knew I wanted to post about my Mom, it being Mother's Day and all, but I wasn't sure about what I should say.  My Mom is kind of funny about mushy things like this.  She doesn't like anyone to make a fuss about her, but sometimes we need to fuss anyway.  So here it goes...

My mom is a no nonsense kind of lady.  She likes things neat and orderly, everything has a place and everything in its place.  Which is kind of funny because she married a man who is just the opposite.  Dad is usually full of nonsense and doesn't really care about where anything is placed, as long as he can eventually find it.  Mom has to be pretty patient sometimes.

One of the earliest memories I have is of my mom tickling my arm as I sat in her lap.  She would run her finger up a down my arm and I would get the chills. I loved it. I must have been pretty little, but still remember it.

Another early memory was how Mom would take us shopping at ZCMI.  She had a passion for divinity nut rolls with a cherry inside.  I didn't like the cherry, so she would buy me a plain divinity nut roll all for myself.  Sometimes she would share with me, but more often than not she let me have my own. mmmmmm... I can still taste them.

Dad was a farmer and when it was time for harvesting the beets, Mom would help him out by driving the big dump trucks to haul the beets to wherever they were suppose to go.  The problem is that Mom is only 4'11'' and the seats didn't move that far forward, so she would have to use a large pillow behind her so that she could reach the petals on the trucks.  We often think about the picture that it would present and it makes me smile.

Mom is really good at playing the piano and organ.  She graciously teaches my children piano lessons now.  I am so gratefull, because piano lessons can get pretty expensive. I am honored to say that she taught Jessica everything she knows.  She has played the organ in church for as long as I can remember.  She says it still makes her nervous sometimes. I don't know why, she always plays perfectly. I remember when she would practice the organ at home.  She would play through the numbers that she was practicing, but then she would play some of her favorites.  One of them was also my favorite.  She would play "Sing a Song" on the organ and every time I heard it I would come running.  She knew it was one of my favorites.  I would climb up on the organ next to her and watch her play.  Sometimes we would even sing together.

Mom helped me to truly appriciate good music.  She always had music playing.  Some of her favorite singers were Neil Diamond, and Barbara Streisand.  I listen to their songs now and it reminds me of my Mom and when I was little.

Mom's most recent calling in church is with the Special Needs Mutual.  She helps with the music and their productions.  Recently she wrote the script for their Production.  She wrote it about the life of President Monson.  I got to go to the show and film it for Dad, because Dad is currently layed up with an infection in his knees, and Mom was home watching out for him.  The program was wonderful.  It was very heartfelt.  The Special Needs kids really love participating in it.  It gives them an opportunity to shine. The Spirit was definately felt.  Mom gets so stressed about it when she is in charge, but that is truly where she needs to be, because everything is done and done right when she is in charge, and that makes her happy.  The SN mutual couldn't stop praising Mom and Dad for all their hard work.   It was a wonderful production.

Mom also is currently helps in taking care of Jenny's beautiful girls.  She makes sure they get to Mindy's house in the morning, that they are well fed and properly dressed, well cared for when they are sick, and that the school work is taken care of.  I'm sure she does more for them than even that.  She is totally dedicated to them.  I know she does it because she loves Jenny and wants to help raise them for Jenny.  I know she loves those girls, and I know that Erin and Pheonix love her just as much. Mom is the best grandma anyone could ask for.

These are just a few of the things I thought of in blogging about my Mom. If I wrote everything I could remember, you would be reading this blog for days, but I just want her to know how much I love and appriciate her and everything she does for me and for my family.  Happy Mother's Day Mom!