Grandma D. turned 60 yesterday! The six of us kids all wrote 10 things about her for her birthday. I called her yesterday to wish her a happy birthday and she was finishing up making dinner for a girl in her ward who just had her fifth baby. That pretty much describes her life right there. Here are my 10 things.
1. Service: When I think of Mom, I think of a beautiful person who finds her greatest joy in her family and serving others. These last few years have been spent teaching struggeling neighborhood children how to read, having waffle breakfasts to get her primary class to church, tackeling the messy kitchen at a neighbors house or giving rides to the elderly people in the neighborhood.
2. Mothering and homemaking: Giving me life, siblings, food, clothes and attention. Doing the tough day to day that no one else wants to do. Always up early with breakfast and home for an after-school-snack, sewing Halloween customs, canning, playing the piano while I would sing, putting curlers in hair and finding ways to get us to serve. She'd use flannel board materials, books and songs to teach us gospel principles. She'd scratch our backs before bed and always make sure we were all clean and ready for church as well as getting herself ready and the house clean. Family vacations, using produce from our garden, grocery shopping, putting up with tantrums, making birthdays and holidays special and having very few breaks must have been especially demanding. She and Dad came toall of my sports events and choir concerts they could make during highschool.
3. Comforting: She is keenly aware of those around her and always looks out for the underdog. Even though she has had plenty of health difficulties rather than complain she has always focused on helping others.
4. Grandmaing: She is such a source of strength and support to me as a mom. She has great advise and an uncanny ability to love her grandchildren even when they aren't on their best behavior. I always feel like I can talk to her about whatever struggles I am having as a mom and she will be a support and give sound advise. She visits us and always makes things so nice when we visit her. Whereas many "older" women seem to want to avoid children as they are out of that stage, she puts up with her grandkids and looks for the best in them.
5. Beauty: She loves nature, books, and music, and giving me a love for them as well. She has always been very beautiful in every stage of her life, aging with grace.
6. Cooking: She has always made such wonderful tasting, healthy food growing up and continues to make it. Fancy Sunday meals, picnics and holidays are always especially delicious. I think all of the son-in-laws if not openly express, secretly hope we will all be making meals as yummy as hers.
7. Example: Whereas it is easy for many women to become self consumed, mom has always been focused on helping those around her. She truly exemplifies being our brother's keeper and lifting the hands that hang down (even without anyone else knowing). She went out of the way to care for Grandma before she passed away (published her book) and she's also been especially good to Grandpa these last few years. Dad has supported her in making huge family meals, visiting the sick, giving rides, cleaning rooms, changing sheets, reading with children and really meeting the needs of those who really are in need.
8. God and Family First
9. Gospel: Taught us the gospel and principles of the gospel in day-to-day events. True to the faith.
10. Supporting Dad: This is true in work and church callings as well as making sure he is dressed nice, and putting up with the difficulties of marriage and parenting throughout the years. It must have been especially demanding to have so many children so young and not having Dad around much. Making their marriage work has been a huge blessing to us children.
Thanks Mom!
