Mother..50 and counting..

Picture taken during the first year of marriage

Mother turned 50 on Saturday. Saw her sunday for a short while, caught up, and went  through some old photos of the family.

I'm so grateful to have such an amazing, beautiful, caring mother in my life.

She's taught me so much:

- How to cook

Mother assigned us a day to help cook a meal once a week. (I don't know how many times I asked her to help me make pineapple grilled cheese sandwiches. Granted, I mostly just didn't want to make it so she'd "show" me, but really I just let her do all the work- even though she knew it, she still was patient with me. ) 

- How to clean

As kids, we each had responsibilities around the house everyday. Mother was great about helping us in the process. 

- How important it is to laugh

(us kids give her a hard time, but she always laughs along with us)

But more importantly she taught me:

- patience

- unconditional love
- how to work hard

- how important service is

- how to fully engulf yourself in the gospel

- to always see the good in others

- to trust my instincts

- to step outside my comfort zone

- to listen

- how to have a good relationship with my husband

and some day,

- how to be a good mom

I can't thank her enough for her amazing example.