Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Since I can’t be with my mom on Mother’s Day - I decided I didn’t want to send her a gift... But it’s because one of the reasons why I give gifts is to ACTUALLY, physically give it to them, to be able explain to them why I chose it. So my gift to my mom is a blog post! I can think of a million things to buy my mom, she’s actually pretty easy to buy for if you know her (which makes her pretty fun to gift-shop for), but I figured this would be the best thing to do this year.

I really hope that when I am a mom I end up having the wonderful qualities she has..

Mom is thoughtful.


My Mom has always made every Christmas memorable. I remember opening my gifts and never feeling let down. She puts a lot of thought into every thing she buys, thinking about our personalities... Even when she would buy me and Heather the same thing, she’d choose the color or pattern or model that she knew would match our personalities best. That can’t be easy, to buy gifts for her children and to be spot on with every single thing.

Any time Mom has a surplus of something, or retires a purse she knows that I would love, or giving me retired dishes (!) she always tries to make sure she gives it to me. As a single college student I didn’t exactly find a lot of gratitude in this gesture, but as a poor married gal I LIVE for this kind of thing. I think it shows a lot about her thoughtful personality to give me these lovely things, especially because I hardly ever ask her for it.

Birthdays were always so fun. Mom has made sure that we had a good, celebrated, wonderful full day where we felt special and very loved.

Aside from holidays, gifts and celebrations, Mom is a very thoughtful person with those around her. In high school, I often had large groups of friends over at our house after school. Because it was important to me, Mom always made sure to stay downstairs, talking to my friends, making them feel welcome in our home, cooking them Tombstone pizzas and cookies. This is something I’ve always thought was really great, and is a quality I want to implement as a mother. I want my children to WANT to be home, I want my children’s friends to love being in our house, to feel like family. That’s something else that my mom did. My best friends feel like my mom is like THEIR mom. She was always warm and loving to them, and still very much cares about them. Still, to this day, I have friends who talk about mom’s kindness, sense of humor, and warmth she provided them with. Thanks, Mom. That has always meant so much to me.

Mom is fair.

Anything mom has ever done for one kid is always done for the other. She never wants to make any of us feel left out or favored. To me, this is a pretty cool attribute. I’m sure sometimes it is a difficult thing to balance, making sure we all feel equal, and it truly has never gone unnoticed for me. I want to make sure my kids always feel equally loved the way you have.

Mom is has standards.

When I was a teenager I may not have appreciated this aspect as much, but I have full confidence that a lot of my embedded truths, morals, and standards have been driven and taught by her - and I am so grateful for them. Thank you for even planting the idea that righteous PRINCIPLES are essential in life.

Mom likes pretty things.

I used to fight the frill, the floral and the color, but I love it now. Because of Mom, I can decorate a table, I can cater a party, I can make vintage christmas ornaments. Mom is always up for crafting, learning a new creative skill, and then teaching everyone how to do it. We’ve done a lot of crafting projects together - a quilt or two, hair pins, ornaments....she’s encouraged my (unhealthy?) obsession with glitter. I love crafting with my mom - she’s full of great ideas. Seriously. ALSO, Mom has always been someone I can do girly things with. She’s always up for a pedicure or helping me figure out how to get tan (spray on tan anyone?), she’s always got amazing face cream or ultra moisturizing lotion, and she always smells good. I know if I ever have smelly breath or need a freshening-up, mom’s for SURE got atleast a travel-size something in her purse...because of Mom, my sense of smell has been heightened (which is a double-edged sword...bad smells are my arch-nemeses). Mom is always up for a good shopping trip too, which I love, even if I leave with out buying anything.


Over all, I give a lot of my positive qualities to her. I LOVE love, and I know I get that from her. I love talking and listening to people, and truly caring about them, and ANYONE who knows mom even a LITTLE can very much vouch for this fact about her. She is the ultimate friend - she will stay and listen to you until you can’t talk any more. I think everyone could use a friend like her. I like to curl my hair and look cute when I leave the house, and y’all know Mom isn’t going ANYWHERE with out looking great.

Thanks Mom, for teaching me a lot of things I hold dear to me....and these things are only skimming the surface of things I’m starting to learn about myself that are totally connected to you. Thanks for always being such a great example, for being a mom, for being vulnerable and strong at the same time. For being stronger from the trials you have been through, for not letting negative experiences define who you are. For being a convert to the church who loves the gospel more than anything, and for being a wonderful member of the church. I am positive you have touched more lives than you are aware of.

Happy Mother’s day mom!
Love you!


(The following post is from Lance. Most of you know that he's not one for words, so his little letter is actually a LOT coming from him. Enjoy)


Kim,
U are funny and a loud texan, and that’s why we love you so much. Never a dull moment with you. You have raised 4 of the most opinionated people on the planet, and I hope someday we have many grandchildren you can continue to influence. You cook well-especially that delicious oreo ice cream cake - yum, you are beautiful, and (even though I dont want to admit it) you really do have great taste in decorating. I hope when ashley is your age she looks as great as you. With your higher level of spirituality you have been a great example to us, and i appreciate your presence in our lives. You're a great person and i'm so glad that YOU are my motherinlaw. Thank you for everything. Love you KIMMMMM
lance