Thoughts on Mother's Day 2022

This Mother's Day I am very grateful for all the mother examples in my life. Those young and those old. Those women who influenced and helped me when I was a child, in my teens as a young woman, and when I became married but without children of my own. I appreciate examples around me as a young mother, and even now as a mother with grown children. I know the next five years will probably bring grandchildren so I will need examples for that season too.

I'm grateful for my own mother who at different seasons was not only the mother but a full-time, working outside of the home working mom; the gardener; the beautician that cut and permed hair and had a busy Saturday evening doing a wash and blowout session with four girls; the pristine housekeeper and taskmaster; the cake decorator; the cook and baker, including a warm breakfast every morning. She is the mom that sewed and canned; shopped and budgeted; and rarely got a break. My mom is a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and an example of keeping on and keeping on when life is not always easy. She is a person who likes to sing, loves God, loves her family, and loves the temple.

I'm grateful God has blessed me to be a mom. There was a season I longed to be a mom and it didn't happen for a few years and Mother's Day was difficult. I'm honored and blessed to be the mother of Emily, Abbey, Andrew, and Eliza. I am thankful for the many things they have taught me.

I thank Heavenly Father that I'm married to a man that has always supported and respected me being a mother. He is one who supports womanhood and motherhood. It has made all the difference!

I am appreciative of many other mothers and women who have helped to mother my own children – teachers, leaders, neighbors, the mothers of my children’s friends, grandmothers, and aunts. Including my own sister, Nancy, who doesn't have children of her own, but has and continues to love and support and help to mother my children. What a blessing it has been to have many good women in their lives.

I appreciate and value my involvement in Mothers Who Know and Mom Power Training, which has helped me in many ways to be a more peaceful and confident mother. It is wonderful to connect with, learn from, and support other moms.

There are many things I have not gotten right as a mother. Actions I look back on that I should have done differently or better. Satan will try to torment me with this. The work of every mother is to give her best, which as moms we most often do. But when not at our best, we strive to extend ourselves grace and forgive ourselves. Hoping that our children and spouse will also forgive when we are not quite our finest. Picking ourselves up and going at it again. Doing so with God's help and with Jesus Christ’s mercy and redeeming love. They make all the difference in my mothering! I am understanding, a home is a place for learning not a place for perfection, and while we are learning, we are loved.

The world would try to define who I am or who I should be. But I am grateful for a prophet of God who reminds me of my truth. President Nelson also admires women and motherhood and seeks to praise women. He inspires and encourages women in our important work. Several weeks ago, I posted on my blog (https://rejoicerecordandremember.blogspot.com/2022/04/declarations-of-truth-for-me-from.html) a list of many of these truths that I have personalized for me from a message President Nelson gave in October 2020. It has been a significant reminder to me that I review quite often.

To all of my women friends, thank you!! May you stand in your truth and keep shining your light. I need your example, so do my children and many more do too.  Happy Mother’s Day!