Mom

In my life I have been very blessed to have a wonderful mother. She has taught me so many things, some she might not even remember. She has helped significantly to shape me into the person I am today.

She taught me charity through her example. I would see how she was always willing to help those around her, even when it meant she had to go out of her way. She was always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt when others have weird habits or are seen as awkward to most people. She tried to befriend the outcasts and the seemingly forgotten. And it is because of my mother that I know how important visiting teaching is.

She taught me forgiveness. I think a mother has to be the third most forgiving person to exist. After Heavenly Father and Christ. Children put their mothers through a lot. And my mom has 6 kids! That's a lot of crap to wade through. I have witnessed my siblings and myself make my mother cry but she always comes back loving us more than ever. Outside of our family, I've seen people say dumb things to my mother that others may find offensive, but she forgives. It has helped me to learn to be more forgiving.

My mother also taught me how to have fun. Every time my family gets together it is fun. We laugh, sing, and play games. We make things (check out this blog) and try new things together. Once my mom took me to try a sushi burrito because it was something new!

My mother taught me how to work. Success isn't just handed to you, you have to work for it. This is what my mother instilled in me. My mother works hard at everything she does, because she understands doing something halfway is almost worse than not doing it at all. Your work is a reflection of you.

She taught me service. Similar to charity I have seen my mother serve throughout her whole life. She sacrificed for her family. When I had my baby, my mom came and spent months without my father to help me as I worked on my master's program and my husband moved to California for an internship. I am forever grateful.

Now that I am a mother, I hope I can pass on these traits to my children. I love you mom!