Happy Mother's Day, Mom
It's been wonderful to read all of the memories that everyone has contributed to honor you on this special day. This past week has been rather stressful with sick children, uncertainty about Dan's job and Daniel's school work. During some of the tense moments I thought about you and how you would've handled it, especially with 8 children to care for and Dad sometimes gone on business trips while growing up. How did you ever do it?
One of the most wonderful things I remember about you is your fun spirit. I always remember you being pretty active. Not like these moms nowadays who have to go to the gym but just in general always physically active (except like most of the girls have said when you used to fall asleep while reading to us :) ) I remember in Midland (and maybe Grand Island, too) you would wear these pastel colored scarves around your hair while cleaning the house. I think the girls and I sometimes would try to dress up in them while checking out your closet wardrobe. We always had a duty chart or something to teach us how to help you try to keep the house clean also and although we might not have been perfect about "doing our duties" it installed in me a good work ethic that I hope my children will have also (we're working on it little by little).
Since Renaye included a lot of the memories of Grand Island that I cherish I'll try to include some of Midland (where I consider the place I "grew up").
I remember:
The first week in Midland...You took us through the drive through at McDonald's or Wendy's or something like that since we were almost late for school. I think we were staying in a hotel room or apartment at the time. I couldn't believe it since we had hardly ever eaten out before then, except if Grammy and Grampy came to town. Dad had just called you to tell you about the 7 tornados that had hit Grand Island, Nebraska 3 days after we moved. I remember how dramatic you were and surprised as we flipped on the T.V. to see all the damage.
I remember you as an awesome Primary chorister (as Rebecca mentioned). I loved your enthusiasm, your visual aids (and helping make them), the variety of fun songs, reverent songs, games (stop and go or loud and soft), and creative ways to help us learn the songs. To this day I have never seen a more energetic, dramatic, fun chorister who truly magnified her calling in every way (even with all of us as young as we were). Do you remember when you tied paper raindrops onto each point of your umbrella with yarn and you walked up and down the middle aisle twirling it around waiting for reverent children so they could snatch off a raindrop with the songs on each one? Or when you would rest one of your hands on your huge pregnant belly (when you were pregnant with Craig, I'm sure :) while directing the music?
I remember you out in the garden on your hands and knees being very pregnant with Craig and having us help you with snapping beans, shucking peas, etc. I loved when the summer rolled around and you would do a lot of canning. I loved watching the peaches boil in the big pot and then pour them into the sink in cool water to take the skins off. I always wanted to peel the skin off in one big piece and always cringed when I wasn't fortunate to get a peach that had the skin slide right off. I loved watching you cut up the peaches with your slender fingers, dropping them into the mason jars with a cup of sugar and water and screwing on the lids to seal them and can them.
I remember your weekly bread-making ordeals too. Sometimes you would let us knead a miniature ball of dough as well as help you shape the 8 loaves you made every week for our school lunches. I loved coming home from school to the smell of fresh homemade whole wheat bread. Most of the time you would give in to our pleadings of having "one slice" before dinner. Yum. Boy, what biceps you had while kneading that dough on the pull-out cutting board from the countertop.
I remember the nights dad would be gone on a business trip and after having done the paper route, duties, etc you would make just a simple dinner of yorkshire pudding. I've never ever had it since and would love to learn how to make it.
I remember you playing an active part in the yearly roadshows the stake put on and how you displayed your creative, dramatic self when you directed it one year (I think). Go Saginaw!!!!! (or was that Midland?) I vowed after my experience of being the white faced clown and having to put on all of Sister Long's MaryKay makeup (white base, ahh) that I would never wear base again..ya right, now look whose wearing base every week to church now).
I remember your beautiful singing voice and how you reminded me of Julie Andrews with your short hair. The Sound of Music is probably in the top 3 of my favorite movies because of our exposure to all of the Roger and Hammerstein music and movies that we watched and learned the songs from out of your huge blue book. Of course our trips to the temple theater to see these movies will always be a memory to cherish (I can just see the little lady on the organ coming up out of the floor while playing the prelude music and the announcement made "Welcome to the temple... where your feet don't stick to the floor" ).
What wonderful memories. Well, I could go on and on, mom. I realize now as I am grown up and out of the house that although I wasn't a perfect child, I know I had a mother who loved me, took care of me, was always home for me and wanted the best for me. Sometimes I feel guilty that although I'm now living the life as a mother like you that I'm not putting my heart into really teaching my children daily about life...I guess I tend to get so task-oriented that I forget to stop and notice the little things the kids are doing or saying. But I think one of the most important things that matters to a child is that his mom is at home and physically there in his or her presence most of the time. Sometimes, obviously, this might feel annoying for the child but I'm sure someday the child will appreciate it, as do I, that you were always there at home with me.
It's been wonderful to read all of the memories that everyone has contributed to honor you on this special day. This past week has been rather stressful with sick children, uncertainty about Dan's job and Daniel's school work. During some of the tense moments I thought about you and how you would've handled it, especially with 8 children to care for and Dad sometimes gone on business trips while growing up. How did you ever do it?
One of the most wonderful things I remember about you is your fun spirit. I always remember you being pretty active. Not like these moms nowadays who have to go to the gym but just in general always physically active (except like most of the girls have said when you used to fall asleep while reading to us :) ) I remember in Midland (and maybe Grand Island, too) you would wear these pastel colored scarves around your hair while cleaning the house. I think the girls and I sometimes would try to dress up in them while checking out your closet wardrobe. We always had a duty chart or something to teach us how to help you try to keep the house clean also and although we might not have been perfect about "doing our duties" it installed in me a good work ethic that I hope my children will have also (we're working on it little by little).
Since Renaye included a lot of the memories of Grand Island that I cherish I'll try to include some of Midland (where I consider the place I "grew up").
I remember:
The first week in Midland...You took us through the drive through at McDonald's or Wendy's or something like that since we were almost late for school. I think we were staying in a hotel room or apartment at the time. I couldn't believe it since we had hardly ever eaten out before then, except if Grammy and Grampy came to town. Dad had just called you to tell you about the 7 tornados that had hit Grand Island, Nebraska 3 days after we moved. I remember how dramatic you were and surprised as we flipped on the T.V. to see all the damage.
I remember you as an awesome Primary chorister (as Rebecca mentioned). I loved your enthusiasm, your visual aids (and helping make them), the variety of fun songs, reverent songs, games (stop and go or loud and soft), and creative ways to help us learn the songs. To this day I have never seen a more energetic, dramatic, fun chorister who truly magnified her calling in every way (even with all of us as young as we were). Do you remember when you tied paper raindrops onto each point of your umbrella with yarn and you walked up and down the middle aisle twirling it around waiting for reverent children so they could snatch off a raindrop with the songs on each one? Or when you would rest one of your hands on your huge pregnant belly (when you were pregnant with Craig, I'm sure :) while directing the music?
I remember you out in the garden on your hands and knees being very pregnant with Craig and having us help you with snapping beans, shucking peas, etc. I loved when the summer rolled around and you would do a lot of canning. I loved watching the peaches boil in the big pot and then pour them into the sink in cool water to take the skins off. I always wanted to peel the skin off in one big piece and always cringed when I wasn't fortunate to get a peach that had the skin slide right off. I loved watching you cut up the peaches with your slender fingers, dropping them into the mason jars with a cup of sugar and water and screwing on the lids to seal them and can them.
I remember your weekly bread-making ordeals too. Sometimes you would let us knead a miniature ball of dough as well as help you shape the 8 loaves you made every week for our school lunches. I loved coming home from school to the smell of fresh homemade whole wheat bread. Most of the time you would give in to our pleadings of having "one slice" before dinner. Yum. Boy, what biceps you had while kneading that dough on the pull-out cutting board from the countertop.
I remember the nights dad would be gone on a business trip and after having done the paper route, duties, etc you would make just a simple dinner of yorkshire pudding. I've never ever had it since and would love to learn how to make it.
I remember you playing an active part in the yearly roadshows the stake put on and how you displayed your creative, dramatic self when you directed it one year (I think). Go Saginaw!!!!! (or was that Midland?) I vowed after my experience of being the white faced clown and having to put on all of Sister Long's MaryKay makeup (white base, ahh) that I would never wear base again..ya right, now look whose wearing base every week to church now).
I remember your beautiful singing voice and how you reminded me of Julie Andrews with your short hair. The Sound of Music is probably in the top 3 of my favorite movies because of our exposure to all of the Roger and Hammerstein music and movies that we watched and learned the songs from out of your huge blue book. Of course our trips to the temple theater to see these movies will always be a memory to cherish (I can just see the little lady on the organ coming up out of the floor while playing the prelude music and the announcement made "Welcome to the temple... where your feet don't stick to the floor" ).
What wonderful memories. Well, I could go on and on, mom. I realize now as I am grown up and out of the house that although I wasn't a perfect child, I know I had a mother who loved me, took care of me, was always home for me and wanted the best for me. Sometimes I feel guilty that although I'm now living the life as a mother like you that I'm not putting my heart into really teaching my children daily about life...I guess I tend to get so task-oriented that I forget to stop and notice the little things the kids are doing or saying. But I think one of the most important things that matters to a child is that his mom is at home and physically there in his or her presence most of the time. Sometimes, obviously, this might feel annoying for the child but I'm sure someday the child will appreciate it, as do I, that you were always there at home with me.
Thank you, mom, for all of the wonderful memories, lessons taught, and love shown for me. Love, RaeLyn
They rhapsodize about it all the long way home. And we know what it's like, because we did it ourselves. And because grandma loves our children so well, we, the in-law feel loved and accepted by her just the same. It would seem, then, that the mother-in-law/grandma assumes the awesome task of bridging the gap between two stranger families to make them one. She is the "in" in "In-law".So world, you who are so politically minded, easily swayed by the winds of change, time, and temperance, we will make our own definition of "Mother-in-law". One that is three-fold: she prepares a way for our happiness through raising her own children, she provides us with knowledge gained over a life-time, and she makes strangers into friends and loved ones. And that, strange world, is a mysterious fortune.
I am grateful for the strong example that you and Dad have always provided for me throughout the years. The gospel is a marvelous thing, and I thank you for your testimony.Perhaps the best and greatest gift I can offer you today is the love and gratitude of members, converts, and friends that I received and felt upon returning to Chihuahua where I served my mission. The experiences I had were simple and probably not overly interesting to anyone else but Bryce Craig and me. But to feel the love of a people that I used to serve constantly was overwhelming. Yes, people remembered us; yes, they missed us; and yes, they loved us for the hard work, example, and love that we showed them. I do not wish to speak so vaguely, but one example will suffice: Laura Fierro Munoz. After church one day, a less active member wanted to take me to give a blessing to his dying brother-in-law. Elder Craig and I quickly set up an exchange so that we would be able to do so while maintaining our previous plans. When I arrived at the home of the brother-in-law, the whole family was waiting for me. I gave the brother-in-law, Memo, a blessing and proceeded to teach a simple lesson about the church and the restoration. The family was very kind and generous, and from that point on, Elder Craig and I taught Memo and his niece, Laura, the missonary lessons. Memo started a miraculous recovery from cirrhosis of the liver while Laura was diligent in reading the Book of Mormon. Both were soon baptized and within a short time, I had finished my mission. Laura was a surprise. She was the only person to ever stay in contact with me on a consistent basis since the mission. She was baptized at age 23, and I wondered how she would fare in the outside world without having other active members in her home. Nevertheless, she continued to send emails and pictures every month or so. She was working hard in her studies of dentistry as well as being active with the young, single adults. Later, she was surprised and a bit overwhelmed to be called as a counselor in the young women's presidency. Again, after several months, she told me that she had been called to be the young women's president. I thought it amazing that quiet Laura had independently gained such a strong testimony and such a strong desire to serve. About a month ago, she told me of her intentions to serve a mission.