Memory Mondays~Thanks Mom!

When I was a little girl I was just sure that I had the best mother in the whole world! I just want to list some of my memories of Mom and why I thought she was the best then and now.

1. I remember birthday parties both in the shady back and front yards of our home on the dairy. I remember wanting to play "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" at my 9th birthday. Mom said she couldn't draw a donkey but she made the cutest Cat's head and we "pinned the ears on the cat " instead! There were always balloons, games, cousins, friends, and the best cakes and cupcakes in the world!

2. I remember home remedies that actually worked! Once I was naughty and went in the milk tank room to play. I was bare-footed and stepped on some broken glass. My cousin Matt went into the milking room to get my Dad. He set me up on the steel counter, pulled out his pocket knife (does that sound familiar to any of you?) and used it to get the glass out of my foot. Then he took me to Mom who was the only person in the world who could fix me. He knew it and I knew it! Mom tenderly cleaned my wound (which was huge!) and bandaged me up. It hurt so badly I cried all afternoon. She then did something I will never forget...she put me up on the kitchen counter and applied an old-fashioned poultice of white bread soaked in cold milk to my foot. I thought this was very strange but do you know what? It took the pain away and I felt much better!

Many nights I woke up with ear aches and she would warm up olive oil in a spoon with a match held under it.. She then poured the warm oil in my ear and sealed it off with cotton. That always felt so good but the best part was being held in her arms and hearing her sing lullaby's to me to help me go back to sleep.

3. I remember home-made Halloween costumes. One year I was a scary witch with the best long black dress and cape. Once I was a black cat with a wired tail safety pinned to my backside and pipe cleaner whiskers scotch taped to my cheeks! In third grade I was a girl ghost with a pink bow on my head! That was the year she brought jack-o-lantern cookies to the class party and I was SO proud she was my Mom!

4. I remember how she always read bedtime stories to Gena and me. "Rumpelstiltskin", Little Golden Books, & "Red Riding Hood" were some of my favorites. She made them all come to life! When she went to work to help pay for the boy's missions she would record the stories on tape and we still had our mommy with us at bedtime!

5. I remember her being the Primary President for many years. I always tried very hard to be the most reverent child because I knew how important that was to her. I also policed the grounds outside of the church before we all lined up to go inside. I would tell kids they had to listen to me because "My Mom is the Primary President and she will get you in trouble if you don't stop that!"

6. I remember crochet and sewing lessons. She was so patient with me as she tried to teach a left-handed daughter how to do everything backward. We soon discovered that I liked to crochet better with my right hand which suited her just fine! I learned to make so many useful things and lots of my own clothes in high school. She was always delighted with my accomplishments and looked for new and exciting things to keep me busy.

7. She was always there for me whether it was school orchestra concerts, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Mother-Daughter week at Ricks College, church talks and assignments, & teaching me my duty as a daughter of God.

8. She taught me how to drive with nerves of steel and many stomps on her phantom brake pedal! I nearly killed us both the first time she made me drive down University and turn right on Gilbert Road! The light turned green and I didn't slow down enough! Pump those brakes Mom!!!

9. She was there to help me with my babies and teach me how to care for them. How could I go wrong with the example she has been to me all of these year? Who could ask for more?

Thanks Mom! ~I love YOU!