(Mother's Day 2009)
My sister is so cool.... She buys a fun toy each year for Mother's Day and then gives it to her kid-os that day. Really if it wasn't for these monkeys of ours we wouldn't be moms, and being a mom is truly something beautiful. As I've thought about the women in my life and how cool they all are, There are a few genes I admire and hope to share with them.
My sister Sue... Not only is she such a fun mom, but she is so pure and deeply good. I always felt like the rebel growing up compared to her and her goodness. But I didn't care, because she is my role model, ideal woman and (next to Mike) has always been my best friend. If there is one gene I hope I share with her it is her ability to Love. She loves people so well and her love of others and family overshadows anything else. She is glue that keeps people sweetly connected to each other and reminds us of sweet times shared and cherished.
My Grandma Smith.... This woman was a firecracker. I love her to the core and probably along with the rest of her grand kids felt like I was her favorite. She had such a deep testimony of the gospel and loved her family. I miss her so much. I miss the times she would sit and listen to me talk as she brushed my hair. She was a hard worker and although she was barely 5 feet tall, and petite as can be, she could keep up and surpass anyone's energy. She didn't hesitate telling people what she thought, yet could build them up and push them to be better. However, the genes I hope I share with her are her faith and endurance. She pressed on through so many challenges, and possible sorrows and did it with faith emerging the cheerful conqueror. Her loyalty to Heavenly Father were etched into her makeup to the point that she never could sway. She taught that love conquers all. And her charity towards people was unmatched.
My Grandma Isaacson..... She amazes me. If there is one talented woman it is her. I always felt so proud of this grandma growing up because she could do so many neat things. She is an artist and paints and decorates beautifully. Sadly, I did not inherit any of these skills, but there are many characteristics of hers that I hope to share. She is intelligent, and loves to learn. She is smart and has kept herself educated throughout life. She is loyal, yet has a twinkle and good rebellious little glitter to her that is always fun to watch emerge. She is her own woman. Perhaps her one characteristics I love best is her humor. It is always a treat to get grandma laughing or watch her laugh. She enjoys a good joke and I've always enjoyed watching her enjoy it.
A few Woman I don't share genes with, but hope some jump off on me....
Grandma Anderson.... I admire so much Mike's grandma and her ability to work. That is one thing I think she is famous (or maybe infamous) for, her work ethic. she can make things beautiful and does it again and again. She has always been very thoughtful to us. My boys though they rarely get to see her, have enjoyed some fun little packages in the mail from her.
Grandma Powell..... If there is one person who will be translated to Heaven it is grandma Powell. She is the epitome of sweetness. I have never heard her say anything that hasn't been uplifting or left you feeling like the most amazing, talented, beautiful person. She loves her family so much, and can build you up so fast. She is good to the core. If there is one gene I hope to share with her it is her gratitude. She is a grateful person, and I am honored and blessed to have met her and now call her grandma.
My Mother in Law...... Mutsi is so accepting and good. It's no surprise she is grandma Powell's daughter. I am so grateful to have married into Mike's family. I don't understand how some people don't have a good relationship with their in laws, because mine are amazing. Evelyn Anderson is a giant of a Woman. I admire so much her testimony and Faith. Her righteous decisions and steadfastness is inspiring. My gratitude to her is indescribable. She is the reason I love Mike so much, she raised him to be the Man he is today. She is the epitome of service, hard work and love. She is flexible and I've seen her change her plans so many times, yet she has such a good attitude. She is fun and takes time to come up with fun things to do. If there is one characteristic I hope to share with Mutsi, it is her flexibility and patience, her patience with change.
Lastly, the woman who really is my Angel... My Mom
Mom... She is my greatest champion and I can't even begin to describe her and her goodness. If there is any worth in me I owe it to her. She has picked me up again and again and taught me that it's more important to be sincerely nice and act like a daughter of God (at all times and in all things and in all places) than anything else. She has been my sounding board for years. She is deeply Loyal, loyal to her family, her ideas, the Lord, and Cache Valley :) Mom lovingly gave me life and it pleased her to do so. Her millions of sacrifices on my behalf, she doesn't even view as sacrifices. Her family is her treasure. I was thinking today how she never missed a day writing me a note on my lunch napkin and then made me my lunch, even when I was in High School. I loved reading those daily notes, even in High School. She makes every day fun and beautiful. She has a talent of knowing how to play and her grand kids know it too. She knows that it's the little things that count. She has a warm heart and takes care of so many people. She is forgiving and I hope I can be like her. She is pretty much perfect! I hope I share many things with her. But perhaps it's her loyalty that I hope I share with her today.
So to all the woman in my life, I love you and thank you for being wonderful mothers. I want to be like you in so many ways.
This year, I especially wanted to be as cool as Aunt Sue and so we are now anxiously awaiting a non rainy day so we can try out the new "Water Park Slip in Slide!" gift my boys got for Mother's Day.
My boys treated me like a queen on Sunday! They usually do treat me like one and I love them. I love that because of them, I can have this adventure of being called Mom! I am humbled by that and so grateful to Heavenly Father for that trust and blessing.
Playing in the leaves is always a hit!
This has been a happy thing. We are lucky enough to have a tree big enough for a tire swing. Not only was this a great FHE one Monday night, but it has been a life saver for all of us.
Of course going back to Manhattan a couple of times to tie up some loose ends. Every time we go back it's harder to leave. Man we miss and love everyone there. 
We had an incredible Halloween and we looked Super! It's true, you can have two
Our first party in our new ward, the much loved Trunk or Treat. We'd only been to church once. Driving to the church all dressed up, Mike and I had a horrible thought; what if no other adults were dressed up? Maybe in this ward only the kids had fun. How funny and awful that would be if we were the only ones to dress up... Well lets just say that we stood out a little bit. No one missed that we were the new family. 
