Who knew the tears would come so quickly...

       I've always been protective of children. Especially since my parents added Daniel and Matthew to our family. They taught me what it meant to be an older sister, and what it meant to have someone younger then to care for. They are the ones that taught me how precious life really is. Matt is the one that made me want to adopt a child, and provide a better home and stable environment to grow in.

       Then Eric came into my life, and I learned about a new kind of love. The love a mother has for her children. I knew that loving a my own children would be different then how I feel about my nieces and nephews. But I didn't realize that having a child of my own would affect every other part of my life. I didn't know that once I had a child that I would grow to be more protective of children. I didn't even know that I could be more protective of children then I already was!! Then books that my dad used to read through his tears to me as a child made me start crying as I read them to Eric. Songs on the radio about children started touching me in different ways. Stories on the news about children being abused made me angrier and want to save the children from their abusers. Posts on blogs about children with incurable diseases brought me to tears, just from the pictures, and crying uncontrollably from their stories.

       I used to think that crying over anything was a sign of weakness. But now I know that crying for the right reasons is not weakness. If anything it's a sign of a loving heart. I hope that is something that I can teach my children as they grow. I'm sure when they are young they will be as baffled as I was when my dad cried reading us stories at night. I hope to teach them to embrace the caring natures they are born with, and use it to better the world around them in anyway they can.

Daddy :)

       This is my wonderful Dad. Growing up Dad and I did a lot together. We'd fix cars together, fix plumbing problems, build furniture and do repairs around the house. While we'd be fixing things together Dad would always ask about my day and how things were going. He'd give me tips on life and how to be a better daughter and future wife. He'd always say, no matter what you think is wrong with your marriage, it's nothing compared to everything good in your marriage. Granted, he'd say it in different words and in his actions, but that's the jist of it. My dad was always someone I could go talk to when I was having a hard time or just needed someone to listen to me vent about a problem I was having with my siblings. His response was always the same (said about 1,000 different ways), "so what's the problem? And you really think it's worth the fight? I know how much you love your sibling, go apologize for what you did and try to patch things up." He was always right. Growing up I was always close to my siblings, and very protective of them all. Yes it may be weird that the youngest girl is protective of her older siblings, but it's something that I picked up from my dad.

       I've always looked up to my dad for being such a hard worker, and always willing to serve anyone in need. Even if it was just taking me out with him to work on the car so that I could tell him what was bothering me, or teaching me how to repair all the holes in the walls so I wouldn't have to hire someone to come fix things in my house. He was, and is, always there for me and I love him so much.

       Thanks for being amazing Dad!!!!!

My Wonderful Mom

       Since tomorrow is mother's day I thought I would take a min to tell you about my amazing mom.

       My Mom knew from a very young age that the church she was attending wasn't the right one. The true church wouldn't change it's doctrine based on who was preaching that Sunday or have it's name changed based on the priest at the time. Because of this she kept looking for the true church. When she was 19 two missionaries knocked on her door, and she knew from that moment that what they were going to tell her was true. She worked hard with her family and the missionaries and to this day remembers the missionaries that baptized her and the gospel they taught her. She was baptized on September 7 at the age of 19 and converted my Dad at the age of 21. Her and my dad were married in a chapel in MN (before the temple was built there) and then later were sealed in Idaho Falls. My mom has the strongest testimony out of everyone I know. She is continually striving to learn and grow in the gospel.
   
       My mother has been a source of inspiration to me though out my life (struggle as we may with communication). She has been there to help and teach me every step of my life. She is the one who taught me that anything worth doing was worth sacrificing for. She is a beautiful strong woman who raised 11 children, and is now the grandmother to 23. She is so caring and compassionate that she will often go without to make sure that her children and grandchildren are taken care of. Together with my sister (and even before we could help) she has made several blankets and clothing items for everyone in my family. I can't think of one person that she hasn't helped in someway shape or form. She is always working and trying to be the best person she can be. I'm so grateful to my mother for not giving up when all I did was fight with her as a child. I'm so grateful that she took the time to teach me how to sew, knit, cook, clean, work and try. Her example has taught me to keep going and to never give up. Her example in service has taught me to serve and given me a grater desire to serve and to find the true joy that comes out of service. My Mom is always doing anything she can to serve and help people grow. She is always willing to teach anyone who is willing to learn. She is a wonderful caring daughter of God who knows the true joy of teaching children. She loves music and enjoys teaching the many children in her ward. For her the joy comes not just from the music, but from the look on each child's face when they get the chance to show how far they have come and the joy that they express in their own individual ways. She often holds piano recitals in her home for the children so they can have a chance to play for their grandparents/parents and siblings. Each of the recitals that I've attended I've personally seen the pride and joy on each child's face as they walk away from the piano after playing for their family and the applause that follows.

     I hope someday to be as strong as she is.

    I love you Mom!!