Mother's Day
Forgot to post this on Monday but here it is a few days late:
I have very low expectations for Mother's Day but yesterday was actually very nice. The best thing is that Josh had no church responsibilities, which was wonderful. He could completely devote his time to me and the kids and for one Sunday a year, it is fabulous. I woke up, took a shower and came downstairs to waffles on the table, flowers and lots of cute cards taped to my chair. It was very sweet and thoughtful.
We had our church meetings and it was nice to have just the women for a week while the men had their own meeting. The RS presidency taught a thoughtful and spiritual lesson and I'm grateful for their leadership and testimony. Michelle is especially awesome and I can't imagine who is going to replace her. Then the youth had their class and I spent that time sending texts to my friends. I really have been blessed with wonderful friends who help me so much. They watch my kids when I need help, they laugh with me or cry with me or play with me so I can relax. They love my kids and support them and have raised good friends for my kids. I feel very grateful to them and appreciate that there is no way I could be a good mother without my village.
Then I watched the video that Josh literally spent all week making. He asked the dads of the ward to interview their children and then he edited it all together but because of computer problems it literally took about 35 hours and at least three nights where he didn't come to bed until 1am, but finally at 3 am Sunday morning, it was done. What a relief! It did turn out well, not quite as well as he had imagined it but he just ran out of time, and it was hopefully a fun surprise for all the women of the ward. One question is what makes your mom happy and a lot of kids said things like snuggling with me, watching movies with me, playing with me and my kids said, "She likes to be alone." Juxtaposed with all the other sweet answers, it kind of made me feel like a not very loving mother but they aren't wrong. I like my alone time and appreciate that they recognize I need it sometimes to be a happy and functioning mother. Also Josh asked what do you talk about with your mom and Brandon answered underwear, which was totally random. I think it was because we had just been talking with the Wiests about Joel maybe getting underwear for his 3rd birthday and for some reason it was on his mind. But whatever. I guess my kids should feel comfortable talking to me about anything, even underwear.
Then we had primary and we sang all of my favorite songs, then sacrament meeting where we talked about the Proclamation to the World on the Family. It is such an inspired document that teaches truth and it was good to discuss it with the kids. Then they ran off to play Legos and Josh and I went for a nice walk around the neighborhood. He called his mom and then we had a zoom meeting with all of my family. It was fun to see everyone and watch our family dynamics play out.
I am very grateful to my mom and how she has taught me to love and serve others, how to make bread and can peaches, to do whatever you say you are going to do, to be kind and selfless and above all committed to family and Jesus Christ. She is tough and never let anyone say she couldn't do something without proving them wrong. She came from an abusive home and endured a lot as a child but never let it scar her. She lost a baby just hours after the birth and with complete faith that she will have that baby to raise someday, she moved on and never let it weigh her down or keep her from having another baby (me!). I am amazed by her even though as a child I was often embarassed that she would talk to anyone and tell them anything. It made it hard for me to always be open with her because I knew the grocery store clerk might hear about it and everyone in my family certainly would, but it is my mom's openness that also makes it easy for her to love others.
After our zoom meeting, Josh made his delicious pizza (BBQ chicken for me since it is my favorite of his and also a California Club from CPK and then a white pizza for the boys) and Lily made brownies so we had brownie sundaes while watching the British Baking show. It was a relaxing day and the kids got along pretty well and I got to connect with my family and some friends. I enjoyed church and I felt great gratitude knowing that I am spending my life doing what is important and noble and will bring me great joy in the life to come. It brings me joy now too and even on days that are hard, I am exactly where I want to be. I never had great career aspirations but always wanted to be a mom and it was a journey to get these kids here and I'm grateful that they are (and that I never have to be pregnant again!) and that they are pretty wonderful.
I have very low expectations for Mother's Day but yesterday was actually very nice. The best thing is that Josh had no church responsibilities, which was wonderful. He could completely devote his time to me and the kids and for one Sunday a year, it is fabulous. I woke up, took a shower and came downstairs to waffles on the table, flowers and lots of cute cards taped to my chair. It was very sweet and thoughtful.
We had our church meetings and it was nice to have just the women for a week while the men had their own meeting. The RS presidency taught a thoughtful and spiritual lesson and I'm grateful for their leadership and testimony. Michelle is especially awesome and I can't imagine who is going to replace her. Then the youth had their class and I spent that time sending texts to my friends. I really have been blessed with wonderful friends who help me so much. They watch my kids when I need help, they laugh with me or cry with me or play with me so I can relax. They love my kids and support them and have raised good friends for my kids. I feel very grateful to them and appreciate that there is no way I could be a good mother without my village.
Then I watched the video that Josh literally spent all week making. He asked the dads of the ward to interview their children and then he edited it all together but because of computer problems it literally took about 35 hours and at least three nights where he didn't come to bed until 1am, but finally at 3 am Sunday morning, it was done. What a relief! It did turn out well, not quite as well as he had imagined it but he just ran out of time, and it was hopefully a fun surprise for all the women of the ward. One question is what makes your mom happy and a lot of kids said things like snuggling with me, watching movies with me, playing with me and my kids said, "She likes to be alone." Juxtaposed with all the other sweet answers, it kind of made me feel like a not very loving mother but they aren't wrong. I like my alone time and appreciate that they recognize I need it sometimes to be a happy and functioning mother. Also Josh asked what do you talk about with your mom and Brandon answered underwear, which was totally random. I think it was because we had just been talking with the Wiests about Joel maybe getting underwear for his 3rd birthday and for some reason it was on his mind. But whatever. I guess my kids should feel comfortable talking to me about anything, even underwear.
Then we had primary and we sang all of my favorite songs, then sacrament meeting where we talked about the Proclamation to the World on the Family. It is such an inspired document that teaches truth and it was good to discuss it with the kids. Then they ran off to play Legos and Josh and I went for a nice walk around the neighborhood. He called his mom and then we had a zoom meeting with all of my family. It was fun to see everyone and watch our family dynamics play out.
I am very grateful to my mom and how she has taught me to love and serve others, how to make bread and can peaches, to do whatever you say you are going to do, to be kind and selfless and above all committed to family and Jesus Christ. She is tough and never let anyone say she couldn't do something without proving them wrong. She came from an abusive home and endured a lot as a child but never let it scar her. She lost a baby just hours after the birth and with complete faith that she will have that baby to raise someday, she moved on and never let it weigh her down or keep her from having another baby (me!). I am amazed by her even though as a child I was often embarassed that she would talk to anyone and tell them anything. It made it hard for me to always be open with her because I knew the grocery store clerk might hear about it and everyone in my family certainly would, but it is my mom's openness that also makes it easy for her to love others.
After our zoom meeting, Josh made his delicious pizza (BBQ chicken for me since it is my favorite of his and also a California Club from CPK and then a white pizza for the boys) and Lily made brownies so we had brownie sundaes while watching the British Baking show. It was a relaxing day and the kids got along pretty well and I got to connect with my family and some friends. I enjoyed church and I felt great gratitude knowing that I am spending my life doing what is important and noble and will bring me great joy in the life to come. It brings me joy now too and even on days that are hard, I am exactly where I want to be. I never had great career aspirations but always wanted to be a mom and it was a journey to get these kids here and I'm grateful that they are (and that I never have to be pregnant again!) and that they are pretty wonderful.
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