Like Mother Like Daughter

While at my parents home this weekend, I had a major flashback. Claire has just entered the adventurous stage of climbing and thinks that any couch, bench, chair or stool needs to be conquered. On Monday, right before Dallin and I hit the road, Claire climbed up onto my parents piano bench and sat at the piano playing to her hearts content. I didn't get a very good picture at their home, but today, she did the same thing at our house and I was lucky enough to snap a photo or two. I was amazed at the similarities of a picture that was taken of me when I was maybe 3 at my old house on Wernett. Good memories in that little old house! Anyway, here is the side by side that I created. Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Apparently when I was that age, I would sit at the piano and sing "I am a Child of God" and plunk out the melody on the piano. My mom was convinced I was the next child prodigy. Unfortunately, I am still at the plunking stage as I gave up on piano lessons when I was 8. Ahh well, maybe Claire can be that next child prodigy!

Thoughts on Motherhood

Yesterday was a whirlwind kind of a day. Up at 7:00, church at 9:00, Marcus' graduation at 11:30, lunch following, and mingling with family until everyone went their separate ways. By 5:00 I was wondering if I could just go to bed. Instead, I lounged on the couch, played with my baby girl (who was equally, if not more tired than mom and dad) and held off bed time {for her} until 7:45 and {for us} 9:30. I didn't really have a chance to reflect much on being a mom yesterday or reflect on the mothers in my life. But today has been {slightly} less hectic and so I feel like maybe I can organize my thoughts a little.

{February 2012}

I have always wanted to be a mother. Granted, when I was younger, I had various occupations in mind when people asked {paleontologist, nurse, lawyer, professional singer, to name a few} but I knew in my heart that being a mother was always the end goal. As I grew older, I discovered that I couldn't find a major to settle on, as I always thought, "I'm gonna be a mom, what's the point?" Nothing interested me more than the thoughts of one day having my own little brood, teaching them, loving them, nurturing them. I realize the value of education, don't get me wrong, but thoughts of Motherhood seemed to fill my mind, pushing other thoughts like career and education out the window.

{October 2010}

 Now, as I am in the 2nd year of being a mom, I am starting to see me in a whole new way. I've realized my strengths and weaknesses, I've figured out how Claire ticks, only for her to start ticking a whole new way the next day. I've learned that relying on the Lord to help me through my difficult moments is the only way I can make it through and that even in those hard places, I am still completely, 100% in love with being mom. The slobbery kisses, the messy faces, the scraped knees, the cuddles and loves, the whining and complaining, I really do love it all. And at the end of the day, when that sweet little 19 month old is in bed, I look at the toys on the floor, the cheerios crunched into the carpet, the snot on my shoulder, and I know that I was made to be a mother. No other occupation or career could compare to this life I have chosen. No amount of money or benefit plan could possibly be as wonderful as the reward of my little girls face lighting up when she understands something new. So even when the days are long, I'm tired and grumpy, when I don't want to make dinner or clean up yet another mess, I wouldn't trade my station in life for anything else.

{October 2011}

Now, as for the mothers in my own life- To my Mother-in-law, thank you for devoting your life to raising your children, for being so selfless in your service and for loving me right alongside your own children.

To my Mother- Thank you for being the wonderful example of faithful service, loving children, and constant faith in all things. You have been and continue to be the light I look to when things get foggy.

And to all other women who have helped raise me- Sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmas, aunts, cousins, Young Women leaders, Sunday School teachers, Visiting teachers, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for caring about me. You have been mothers to me in so many different ways, all of which I am profoundly grateful for. So, to all the mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day.