I appreciate my Mother for having rules for us.
My Mother is beautiful. I mean, truly, not just because she is my mom. She never left the house without doing her hair and her makeup. I am such a slob... I should have picked up this habit from her, but unfortunately, I didn't. I leave the house in sweats and a messy bun all the time. Poor people in wal-mart that actually have to look at me on those days. Thank goodness I don't have to look at myself! Perhaps my mother was so good at this because she is a cosmetologist.
I appreciate my Mother for always cutting my hair like the girl in the magazine.
My Mother had this AMAZING ( I capitalize for extreme emphasis) sewing machine. A Bernina, that she bought when I was eight. Infact, I am still waiting around for her to die, just so I can inherit her sewing machine. Ok, that is a bit extreme. But even though I have a pretty sweet PFAFF, that wasn't at all cheap... her 17 year old Bernina is a Rolls Royce compared to it. She also had this sweet Bernina Serger... which I actually did inherit (Thanks MOM!), and with these two machines my mother was unstoppable! Watch out fabric! And to her great credit, even though her machines were amazing... she let me use them ALL ...THE ...TIME. She would stay up late with me, and help sew WWII Nurse outfits for my social studies projects, and quilts I just had to make for a boyfriend, and the occasional skirt for my sister for Christmas.
I appreciate my mom for always telling me "No, I will not sew your prom dress for you, I know you can do it yourself."
My Mother is a great cook. She didn't start that way (or so I'm told, but don't believe). But growing up with her in the kitchen was mouthwatering. And she wasn't prejudiced against frying, I'm pretty sure she lovingly encouraged extra calories it hop right in that hot oil. I can't say that about her now, but at one time... it was true. Anything that came out of my mom's cast iron frying pan was scrumptious...to the umpth degree.
I appreciate my Mother for NEVER showing me how to cook on Teflon. And this is not sarcastic.
My Mother nurtured all of our creativity. And we were all creative in different ways... some of us liked to use traditional mediums like crayons, or sculpey clay, while others liked to use permanent ink and flesh. But she loves us all anyways. No matter where our creativity took us.
I appreciate my mother for teaching me that good people can make bad choices, but that doesn't make them bad people.
Growing up I can say I never saw my Mother watch television, unless it was late at night, with my dad. During the day my mom didn't sit around at all. Literally, she was working all the time. I thought every mom was like her, but now that I am grown, I can see she was a gem. There are alot of Lazy Daisies out there, that complain about EVERYTHING that they have to do. I must say I got this curse. I am forever running around picking up, and scrubbing something, or trying in some way to be productive, but I am forever complaining about it. My mother never complained. And our house was sparkly, and so were our cars, and our garage, and our yard, and our barn. And the last one is true, I had a friend say she would rather eat off our barn floor than her own mothers kitchen floor. Gross. And sad. And gross.
I appreciate my mother teaching me how to work, and work hard.
My mother is so stinking smart. A financial planner at the institution where my mother used to invest our family's money spontaneously offered her a job. And then when my Mother told him she only had a high school diploma, he rescinded the offer. Stupid man. My mother, without the degree is so much smarter than people with the paper. She teaches herself all kinds of things, and she is good. Ask her, she knows. And now, at 47 (I hope) she is going back to school. I am so proud of her.
I appreciate my mother for emphasizing not only education, but a desire for knowledge.
My mother didn't "shop." She went grocery shopping. But she didn't shop just to get out with the girls, or because she just had to spend some dough! She was meticulous with money. She taught me it was ok to "shop" just not all the time, and only when you need something.
I appreciate my mother for teaching me the clothes on my body don't indicate my self worth.
My Mom raised 4 kids. She did all our laundry...till we moved out. She made us a hot breakfast for us every morning (Well until we had to leave the house at 5:30 to get to early morning seminary). Dinner was on the table every night... and we never got take out. She made sure we knew we were loved. She was never too busy to put me to bed with a back scratch and a story. Every calling she ever had at church she did so well you would have thought she wrote the book on how it was done. She truly was, and still is AMAZING (again I capitalize for extreme emphasis).
Mom... when I grow up... I still want to be just like you. I love you!
My Mother Dear, Me (and little Spencer), and my Granny
