My Mom

I was thinking the other day about how wonderful my Mother is. You've never met such a good hostess. She can have 5 extra kids living in her house and she still gets up and makes breakfast for all of us. She doesn't do all the formal hostess stuff. Nobody cares though, because she makes everyone feel welcome and enough great food to feed a small army (which is exactly what she is often feeding). Nobody feels that they are imposing because there's obviously such an abundance of food, and she does so good at engaging them in conversation, teasing them, etc.

She's also great at teaching. When mom decides she's going to teach you a lesson, you get taught it whether you like it or not. If you're lucky, its just a good gospel message from the scriptures, or a conversation about something you're going through at the time. If you're not so lucky, it includes a paraphrased-scripture laced lecture, reminiscent of fiery sermons delivered from wagon boxes in pioneer days... an art I think only Pearces have preserved to the present day. But even if you don't like it, or agree, there's usually enough cautioning and "whoa, hold your horses" that if you do go ahead in spite of Mom's warnings, you're pretty certain you've given it the proper consideration and prayer.

Which leads to another amazing quality my Mom has: her nearly unconditional love. Mom may not like something you've done or are doing, but she'll love you anyway. She'll get up and make you breakfast before early morning seminary, then drive you there, then go home just to make more breakfasts for other kids with later school. Or she'll turn around and support you in something she was against, because she sees its important to you and a good thing, in the proper balance.

That's how our Mom rolls. She literally gives her life to make her children's better. We like to give her a hard time about impulsively buying lame movies or jewelery off the discount racks, just because they're on the discount racks; or her seemingly endless supply of fabric, accumulated over years of collecting. But if all we have to do is watch a lame movie now and then, then throw it away as we tell Mom how dumb it is--because she was busy sewing us a costume and didn't watch it with us--that's a pretty small price to pay to keep such a wonderful Mom happy.

Our Mom is special because she raised 8 of us, and made sure each one of us got her attention and felt loved. At times she has made each one of us feel like we were her favorite--even Shawnee--even though we all know its Jackson.

One of my favorite things to do these days is call my Mom. She's great to talk to, unless something gets her on politics, but the rest of the time, talking to her its great! Hopefully everyone who's not home for Mother's day called her today, but you should try it sometime when there's no special occasion. Just reserve an hour or two, then call her up and say "hey." Or if you're still living at home, take some time out to ride in the car with her on one of her many errands, or on a walk, or have a quiet conversation in the library. You'll probably enjoy it more than you want to admit because we have such a great Mom. Sure do love you Mom! Thanks for being great.