{Dear Mom,}

Dear Mom,

I love you so much and I am so grateful for you and to you for all you do for me. You are the best mom that Heavenly Father could have sent me to. I know you work so hard for us (your children), and I'm sure I don't see a huge chunk of what you constantly do for us. You are the ultimate woman & such a great example. I couldn't imagine life with out you. You are always there for me when I need you. You are always there for my boys when I have overlooked one or many of their needs. How lucky they are to have 2 women caring for and loving them. Thank you for opening your home to me and helping me get back on my feet. I know that I am not a picture perfect child. Your patience & unselfishness is overwhelming. I don't know how you do it & I can only hope & pray that as I go thru this life I will gain those qualities that you possess. I feel so lucky when others tell me that I look like you because to me you are the most beautiful woman & I love that we share the same "ernie" laugh too. Thank you for your example in the gospel. It truly has defined who I am & I have looked up to you over the years for your strength in the church and your testimony. I love you... I love you... I love you!

Love your daughter,

Lisa <3

{Before I was a Mom}

M'boys, m'mama & I took a lil' hike thru Ogden's Nature Center North earlier today. I really do love being a mom to m'boys, even though I could have you fooled a lot of the time. They really are my world & I would do anything for them. I sure wish I were a better mommy to them. They deserve so much and I feel just horrible that this world is not gonna treat them fairly. I pray that I will have the strength and talent to raise them well and that they will be self-reliant, responsible adults who will always visit their mommy. <3



A good friend of mine e-mailed this touching poem to me & I thought I'd share. May I also add to this: Before I was a mom, I never sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" every night from December to May (maybe even longer, we'll see) all with a smile on my face (even though I absolutely hate that song now) just because my youngest requests it before falling to sleep and I just can't deny him that comfort... Here it is, Happy Mother's day to all you mommies out there.


Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.!
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .