Happy Mother's Day!

4 years ago, the day before Mother's Day, I was in a frenzy to find my mother-in-law a Mother's Day present.
Backtrack:
About a week prior, I was shopping w/my husband and father-in-law for Mother's Day gifts, and we were at Williams Sonoma. Benji picked out a set of bowls and said that Donna had been wanting them for years, but she thought they were too expensive to buy. So, this year was going to be the year that he was going to buy that set of bowls for her. After looking around the store a bit, he decided against it, that he would buy her a new Kitchen Aid instead. So, I decided to get the bowls for her. Perfect. It was something that she wanted, and something that she would use!
So, the day before Mother's Day, Iwas just getting off work at 5pm, and I was checking my voice-mail. I had a message from Benji saying that Donna was baking a cake that morning, and using the same bowls that I had just bought. He had forgotton that he bought them for her the year before! So, now I was in a pickle. What do I do about a gift? I went to the mall, searching. Nothing. The mall was crowded. I didn't know what to get. I was starting to get a headache. So, I drove home empty handed. In tears, I ask Ben what we should get for his mother. He suggests that maybe we could take a pregnancy test, because I was a couple days late. If we were pregnant, then that could be our gift! :)
So, the next morning, I woke up (very nervous), and peed on the tiny little strip. Right away, I saw one line (not two) and figured I wasn't prego. I went back to bed, disappointed. Thinking about the direction that the line was going (up and down vs. side to side) I realized I was indeed pregnant!
I remember sitting in Sacrament meeting and being the only one to know that I was going to be a Mom. :)
Here's a picture of my first Mother's Day:


And now, my Mother. She is such an amazing person. I am in awe of her strength, her testimony, and her unconditional love. There have been many times these past couple of years (especially on my way home from an exhausting day at church) that I think about my Mom and how she managed to raise 10 children. How did she attend church every Sunday? It would have been so easy for her just to stay home. :) But she didn't. She continued to go. And because of that, I too, have that desire to raise my children in the Church. I am so proud of her for choosing to serve a mission. She is such a wonderful example to me and my children. I am so lucky to have her as my Mom!
I look forward to seeing her in just a few more weeks! :) I miss her so much. I can't wait for her to meet Paisley. (And I'll have some updated pictures of her. These ones are from when Preston was born!)




The boys wanted to tell you something, Mom!



I have also been very blessed to have such a wonderful Mother-in-law. She is such an amazing person. She blesses our little family in so many ways. She, too, is an example of faith and strength to me. She, also, raised such a wonderful son! :)

I love you, Mom and Donna. Thank you for all that you do for me. I love you both so much. Happy Mother's Day!




*A note about the bowls. I kept them. It was a set of 3 bowls. The last one just broke about a week ago. It breaks my heart because those were the reason why I found out I was pregnant.
**And, since Donna had gotton a new Kitchen Aid, she gave me her old one, and I have loved it ever since!