Prized letters and a green thumb...

Several weeks ago I mentioned in this post
how my Mom
has managed to stay connected to her children
through a weekly letter
she sends to all of her children
every SUNDAY night for the last 24 years.

When I left for college during the middle of my senior year
to a far away college in UTAH...
I boarded that airplane thinking I was OUT of that small town...
for good and I would never look back!

But every week my mom reminded me of her love for me and of the happenings the rest of the family was
doing at home.
It helped me stay connected to her and to my family...
and to my hometown.
It also helped that she sent a $20 bill in each envelope to help me get through that first semester of college.

Now my mom's letters are no longer handwritten,
or typed on a typewriter...
but a faster version
with the ease of technology and the internet...
and of course, no money is attached...
but her letters are still my prized possessions.
Yes mom...
we do read them!

Recently she has been sending her letters filled with her beautiful
GREEN
yard and her amazing ability to garden!
In another post I will have to show pictures of our yard
BEFORE...
right after our house was built and finished when I was only 2 years old.
 You would know how far this yard has come over the course of all those years.
But for now I just want to brag about what a green thumb
my mom has become!

She literally spends hours a day working
on her flower and vegetable gardens.

 My parents have enjoyed unseasonably cool temperatures that have kept their yard a beautiful green this year.
I love how beautiful these pictures are that she keeps sending...
and love my nieces and nephews enjoying it all.
Oh how much I love
my mom's flower gardens!

Now if only she could rub some of that green thumb onto me!

A Mother's Day Tribute...late!

My sister, my mom and me!

It has been almost three years ago that during a

"routine"

hysterectomy surgery

that I had something go terribly wrong.

I spent the next nine weeks in and out of the hospital

trying to repair what had been broken!

It was one of the hardest times

(not THE hardest time...but a close 2nd)

in my life!

Ron had already taken off two long weeks of work

and couldn't take anymore.

Unfortunately I had already had four surgeries and they hadn't been able to fix me!

So my MOM came to help me out!

It was during this visit that my relationship with my mom changed.

We don't have the relationship where I call her everyday,

in fact sometimes we don't talk for weeks.

We don't go shopping together...

because we don't really like to shop!

And I don't live by her so we don't do lunch dates or even spend holidays together!

But we do LOVE each other very much and I've learned how much I can count on my mom.

For the last 24 years since I moved away from home...

I have received a weekly letter from her.

For the last 24 years I knew I could call my mom anytime...

and she would answer.

And I learned that when it REALLY, REALLY mattered...

she would come!

I remember when she had to help me tape up my bandages on my back to keep them from getting wet 

so I could take a shower...

knowing that something so intimate could have totally felt awkward but it didn't because

she was the woman who had brought me into this world.

She had given me life

and LOTS and LOTS of love.

I've always known how much my mom loved me...

but this act of total love and compassion

sealed it for me.

I know it hasn't been easy for her to have me be her daughter...

but I love you mom

for all the sacrifices, heartache, support, confidence, and love you have given me for 42 years!

I hope you had a Happy Mother's Day...

and thanks for our chat today and understanding everything I was sharing...
it was exactly what I needed! 

                 

The HOUSE I grew up in...

PROUD of where I'm FROM. I had the opportunity to go to Missouri this last weekend to visit my MOM and DAD. I have NEVER been without my kids...so it was just little ole' me. It gave me the chance to LOOK around and see my CHILDHOOD home in a way I had never seen before. And when I was DONE...I looked around and felt PROUD of where I'm from.

THE SAC RIVER around the corner from our house.

THE OLD CHURCH that still sits by the SAC RIVER!

PROUD of who my PARENTS are. One of the best parts of my trip was the opportunity I had to just SIT and talk with my parents. They are REALLY great parents...and I feel really lucky that I can say so! I was EVEN more proud that my parents show LOVE for each other after 48 years.

PROUD of being a COUNTRY girl at heart. Now mind you I have lived in the city for more than half my life...and I do love all that their is to do in a city. However, I was perfectly content sitting in my parents house...looking out their big, beautiful windows and seeing turkey pass right by! And when I told my family I had never seen that growing up...they thought I had lost my mind. Really, I don't remember it...but would I have appreciated it if I had?

My little FAMILY of TURKEYS!!!

PROUD of spending an afternoon with my dad. I've been really worried about my dad. He hasn't been feeling very well...which is why I needed to visit. I was very relieved to find my dad feeling better...and why spending an afternoon doing what my dad does made this trip worth it.

Lucky and Charlie...the two horses getting fed.

Feeding the cows...with my dad.

I'm safely taking the picture from the truck! :)

PROUD of being my parent's daughter. But the thing I'm most proud of is being able to have such wonderful parents who taught me the Gospel and then did it by living it themselves. I'm truly grateful that after all my mistakes, and all I've been through that I can say, "I'm NOW the daughter my parent's raised me to be."

My Mom and Me laughing because my dad doesn't know how to operate the camera!

Proud of my Dad and Me.

What is a FATHER?

A father is loving and kind,
Playing catch in the backyard,
And giving his time.

Faithful, compassionate, just and true,
There are so many things for a father to do.

Forgiving, honest, a hardworking example,
These are just a few things children need to sample.

Laughing and humble, teacher of skills,
Kissing an "ouchie" and paying the bills.

Wise and knowledgeable, fun beyond measure,
Thankful each day for God's dearest treasure.

Devoted, undaunted in guiding them so,
Pointing to Jesus, the Way they should go.

By Vicki Mazelin

Happy 70th BIRTHDAY...to my FATHER!

Love,

ME

A Lasting Legacy

 

Several years ago for Christmas my siblings and I wrote letters/testimonies to my parents and bound them and made a book titled, "A Lasting Legacy". I have treasured this book as if it was my own gift at Christmas. It is a reminder to me of how grateful I am to have such great parents.

They taught me things like MY LOVE OF READING, how to gain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (especially through those teenage years!), MISSIONARY WORK, prayer, SCRIPTURE STUDY, attending the temple, FAMILY HOME EVENINGS, fulfilling your callings, HONORING PRIESTHOOD.

MY parents gift to me --- THIER LEGACY of Sprititual Strength!