Angel

I tried and tried to write a post that would do justice to my amazing momma.  But this was impossible to do in just one post, so I turned to my usual solution.  Music!  I sang this song in Relief Society on Mothers' Day about five years ago.  I believe it was the first time (and one of the only times) that I've cried when singing.  I didn't realize then just how much this song would come to mean to me.  It represents everything that I believe in!  God sent an angel to watch over me, and she will never stop doing just that!  She will always love me and look after me.  I have felt her in my life more times than I could have ever imagined I would.  She's been in the flowers, the scriptures, the warm sunshine, and beautiful music.  She lives on through everything that she taught me and through the many ways that I am so like her.  I love her forever and always.  I am so grateful for my guardian angel on a daily basis.  I love you, Momma!

Things my momma always said

Everyone can relate to this.  Our parents have those certain sayings that only they seem to say.  Often they are met by eye-rolls from the children they are directed at.   But despite this fact, we learn incredibly valuable lessons from each and every one of them. 

Ah the classic momma saying.  "Don't give up what you want most for what you want now" was something I heard probably about once a week.  I don't know if that's how it was with all my siblings, or if she just knew how often I would need to hear this.  Yes, at the time it annoyed me.  But now I am so grateful to have been taught this!  Any time this phrase comes to mind, I know Mom is up there telling me to take a second look at my goals and the steps I'm taking to get there.

Every time I had a problem that I was freaking out about, I heard this at least once.  And it was probably the most annoying thing in the world.  Little did I know, however, that I was learning not to sweat the small stuff, something I've never been any good at.  Mom must have recognized this fault in me and always tried to help me find a way to calm down when freaking out was not necessary.  Which, she taught me, it never is.  I'll be working on this one my entire life!  But she definitely gave me a head start when I was younger.

Here's another one I heard while I was stressed about things.  This one annoyed me too, but it is such an important lesson to learn!  Mom taught me to love, and to love unconditionally.  She taught that love is the best way to solve any problem and that anger only creates more problems.  She showed me that when someone hurt you or made life difficult for you, you don't retaliate.  You kill them with kindness.  You find a way to serve them.  I've learned that, not only does this act help me to forgive the wrong-doer, it also takes away some of the stress and hurt that they caused.

After Sister Dalton's talk on doing hard things, this became Mom's moto.  We had plaques with this phrase on it in several places throughout the house.  She even wrote a song about it.  I think if Mom could have only left me with one message, it would have been that I can do anything I set my mind to.  Nothing is too difficult or out of reach.  Anything can be done with a bit of hard work.

Most importantly, my momma taught me to look at the big picture.  This life is far from easy.  But, in the end it will all be worth it!  When I can look up at my Heavenly Father and know he is proud of me, when I can once again kiss my mom on the cheek and tell her I love her, I know that I will look back on the tough times I had here on earth and say, "It really was worth it!"  I will always be grateful to have been raised in a home where the gospel was not only the focus, but the way of life.