Meaning of Motherhood

Happy Mother's Day! I am surrounded by amazing women in my life. My mother tops my list of amazing women. Some days it seems hard to survive the crush of family, home chores, errands, hobbies, and everything else that crams our days. My mom has surmounted the odds and produced a gaggle of 8 kids, all of us amazing in our own ways. Wow! What a feat! I think of all the amazing women like Miekka, Alison, Sarah, Catherine, Diana, Grandma Jean, Grandma Baerwaldt, Charity, etc who provide endless advice and support. Thank you so much.

My favorite moments of motherhood include:
giving birth to my kids
snuggling, kissing, and hugging my babies
listening to Amelia chatter
teaching my kids about the gospel, music, reading, playing, discovering this amazing world
tickles
night time routines
going on walks
singing songs and reading books
and sharing these moments with Justin

Justin sent me some lovely tulips for Mother's Day along with a romantic note saying: "Thanks for birthin' our babies!!!" Funny guy. The top picture is the epitome of Motherhood: holding our sick baby all night, tired out of my wits, but loving every moment of his warm snuggles.

Here is a quote from Eliza R Snow from April's General Conference:

“We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.”