TWO TRIBUTES FOR MOTHERS' DAY

Mothers' Day makes me reflect on two things.  The first is these six children.  They may hate me for posting this cute picture.  (It really is the worst of me.) The other day Ashley asked me why I was "encouraging" her to have more children.  The immediate short answer is that my children have brought me so much joy and happiness, I want her to have as much as I have had.

My children and my continuing experience at being a mother, in partnership with Alan and our Father in Heaven, is without doubt the best thing on this earth to happen to me.  I would have loved to have more children and they always wanted more brothers and sisters.  As my last grew up, the loss I felt at not directly parenting left such an empty place.  The love I feel for them knows no limits or boundaries.  It is the most eternal connection I feel on this earth.  As hard as infinite is to comprehend, I cannot imagine my love for them ever ending and I have a shadow of a memory that lets me know I have loved them before they came into this world.

Look who they grew up to be!  Could I be more blessed? 

The answer is a resounding YES!  Look who they have brought into my life, that I love also for all eternity.  We are 37 in this picture and we have grown to 41 and counting as of today. 

At the same time I have been missing my sweet mother today.  It is Mothers' Day and I have no one to call and apolgize for being slow mailing my card or gift.  I still have a file of Mothers' Day cards I did not get to send.  I can't tell her any more times that she was the best mother anyone could have and that she has been my example for all the good things I have tried to do.

Marjorie Paulson was 16 years old here.

After a whirlwind WWII romance she married Reed E. Price in the Salt Lake Temple.

A few years later Ron arrived followed by their favorite child:  Nancy Ann

Eventually, there were six of us.  Living in this family was and is a blessing in my life that I am so grateful for.

At their 50th Wedding Anniversary Party.

No one has made me feel as loved unconditionally as my mother.  No one else believed in me as much as my mother.  NO ONE has ever been as blind to my faults as my mother.  No one I know has been as consistently cheerful throughout their life as my mother.  No one was as genuinely interested in other people as Mom.  Her charitable, unselfish, loving life will always be my shining star example to try to emulate, as she emulated the Savior.  I am trying to pass that tradition on through the ages, though I fall short.  Luckily, I have daughters that see beyond themselves and are naturally charitable themselves.  I miss my Mom.  I know she is so happy where she is, because she was happy wherever she might be.  I hope to have enough time left to become worthy of being where she is.  I hope she can see this wonderful family she left behind and take joy in their many accomplishments.  She would be so proud of  her grandchildren that she loved so much and now great grandchildren.  I love you Mom. Happy Mothers' Day.