Mom

The best thing that the Gospel has done for me is turn my heart toward my family. It has allowed me an absolute recognition that family is THE MOST important thing we have been given on all this earth.

My relationship with my mother has been TERRIBLE for most of my life, but after I joined the church, I found an amazing desire to befriend and love my mom. I had so many memories of the young me come to mind often.

Once when wondering what the difference is between my brother and I who are 11 (mere) months apart and I have been successful in the things I wanted most, and he has had a much harder existence, I think it was the embrace I had of my mom.

I remember clearly, that my mom and my mom's approval was the only thing that mattered to me until I was in first grade. I remember her teaching me my letters and numbers, colors, shapes and how to read, write, cut and paste- so well, in fact that I did not have to go to kindergarten.
I knew early on that she LOVED seeing me learn and master things and from as early as I can remember, her approval for those things drove me to success in all things academic. She is such an intelligent person with amazing abilities, but sadly not nearly the opportunities I had for a formal education. That being said though, I still can't figure out crossword puzzles like she does. I have never been able to, yet every time I see one, I think of her and try my best. She used to buy the Sunday Kansas City Star newspapers just FOR the "hard" crossword puzzles. She also watches TV- but only educational programs. I never appreciated that much growing up (wanting to watch Family Ties and the like), but now I am much like her in that regard... though I watch Bill O'Reilly and she watches the blond chick on Headline News... whose name I can not remember... she talks about "tot mom" a lot... Anyway.

I remember playing with my brothers. I remember the baby she baby-sat laughing and laughing as she played with him. I have heard every other baby she holds do the same thing. The thing I remember the most though, is her voice. She is an incredible singer. She used to sing all the time and I used to think, "I want to sing like my mom when I am bigger."

She loves her children and she loves her grandchildren. Valerie ADORES "Gramma Anne," and Asher thought she was his mom because she took care of him for 2 months so I could finish my semester after he was born in the fall of 2008. She was happy to come and help us with him- she slept on an air mattress for two months with no car, no friends, and no one home except her and a baby for most of the day. I am so grateful for my mom and that she loves her kiddos.