A Tribute to My Mother

I didn't get a chance to do much for my mother on this particular Mothers' Day.  However, I have made an effort over the past several months to express to her my gratitude for all that she's done for me.  Back in January, I had the impression that I should write a long thank-you note to my mom, telling her all the reasons I love her and am grateful for her.  I originally thought it would be a good birthday or Mothers' Day present, but then I decided that I didn't want to wait that long to give it to her, so I just sent it to her the night I wrote it.  In tribute to my incredible mother, I'd like to talk about a couple of the things that I mentioned in that letter so those who read this blog can also see how amazing she is.

I can trace everything good that has ever happened in my life back to either my mom or my dad, or both: music, the Gospel, reading, school, cooking, living within my means, compassion for others, and a “high-water table” (meaning I cry easily, which I count among the best of my blessings! :) ), just to name a few.

One of the blessings to which my mother has contributed in a huge way is my excelling in school.  Not only did my mom help make sure I got to school day after day, help me register for classes semester after semester, and pay for my school lunches year after year, but she helped immeasurably with school itself.  She spent countless hours a week helping me with my homework and quizzing me as I prepared for tests.  She helped me apply for Sterling Scholar and supported to me as I participated in all my other extracurricular activities.  She attended nearly every school event in which I participated, from preschool graduati0n to the state Sterling Scholar assembly.  I would never have been able to do so much in school without her.

Another blessing I have which I know I would never have without my mother is my music.  She "forced" me to keep going with my piano lessons until I got to the point where I enjoyed it enough that I no longer needed to be forced.  She made sure I regularly practiced my piano and, later on, my cello.  She paid for my cello and all of the accompanying equipment and paid for countless piano and cello lessons.  She played silly violin/cello duets with me when I was first learning the cello, and she has often accompanied me on the piano while I play cello numbers for recitals and auditions.  She has attended all of my concerts and recitals through the years, and she even came all the way to Provo in November to listen when my friends and I played an arrangement of "I Believe in Christ" that I had written for two cellos, a bassoon, and a piano!  I inherited her talent and her love of music, and it has blessed my life immeasurably.

Finally, and most importantly, from my mother I have inherited a love of the gospel.  In our household, church attendance has always been mandatory; I love that I have developed the habit of going to church so that it's never a question in my mind whether I go.  But more importantly, I love my mother's testimony and closeness to the Spirit.  I know that I can follow her example because I know that she is always striving to do what's right.  I have been amazed at the revelations she has received, both for herself and sometimes for her children.  She knew before I did that I would choose to go to BYU, and she knew before I did that I would choose a career in speech language pathology.  I'll bet she'll know before I do who I'm supposed to marry!  ;)  She is such an amazing example to me, and I have loved learning from and growing with her.

I love the relationship that I have with my mother.  I love laughing with her, crying with her, chatting with her, and goofing off with her.  I even love it when we're just in the same room together, even if we don't say a thing to each other.  :)  She is one of my best friends.  I'm so grateful for her guidance and love in my life.  Happy Mothers' Day, Mom!  I love you so much!