Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Today is my Mom's birthday and I always like to spend some quite time thinking about her on this day since she passed away.
Birthday's are great they give us a special day out of the year to let people know how glad we are that they came to this earth.

I am grateful for my mom for so many reasons here are few...

My love for the Temple. I remember the look on her face when I was getting ready to enter the house of the Lord for the first time and how excited she was for me she said that it was her favorite place to be. I always like to go to the Temple close to her birthday because I know that is how she would want me to celebrate her.

My testimony. We all have no doubt she had one. Yes, I do make mistakes but Mom clearly taught us that you can not be happy saying you are LDS when you don't live the standards. I don't know how many times she could have just gave up teaching by example and through Family Home Evening but she didn't.

My love for General Conference. We didn't get the option of staying home and watching it (no cable). We got dressed up for all four sessions and went to the Church all day with a picnic lunch because the church was to far away to drive back and forth in between sessions. From that example of going I have learned to love General Conference it is my most favorite meetings of the year.

My love for the Prophets. When I was 4 years old my mom was on the phone crying when she got off I remember looking at her and she said the prophet died. Right then and there I know that the Prophet was a great man.

Her love for the scriptures. I remember her siting in her blue recliner reading often, with the navy blue and pink plastic canvas cover on them that she made herself.

My family, what would we do without each other we are the best family ever, even with all our difficulties.

The gift of gab... my whole family can talk and talk and talk and talk over each other and none of us care, our spouses might but we don't mind.

All the dolls she made me. She made me a doll every Christmas until I got married.

The little notes and presents she would send me when I was at Ricks just because she loved me. I pull them out now when I want a good cry and memories.

Her hugs. When I was at Ricks I remember craving for her hugs. When things were hard I just wanted a hug from her sometimes I still do.

Her sewing room. I now understand why she would get so upset with us when we went in there and tinkered with all her stuff. I remember sitting in there and talking for hours. She was a good listener. I use to tell her I felt like I was gossiping, I told her everything and she would say it's not gossip because she was not going to tell anyone. If my friends only new all that my Mom new about them :).

That we don't take anything with us when we die. After she died we cleaned out her sewing room and believe me she took nothing but herself with her. I have learned that I can get rid of a lot of things because I am not going to have them forever.

I am grateful for the memories and the fact that she was a person worth missing.

I am most grateful for the knowledge that I will see her again and that families are eternal. I imagine that when I die she will be there with her arms stretched open for me.

I love you, Mom!!!!!!!!!!