For our Moms

From Jenni-

I love this picture of you Mom, you are so beautuful!

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of you. Your expression says a thousand words.
And, who looks this amazing after you have a baby?

I just want to tell my Mom Happy Mother's Day. There are too many reasons to count why she means so much to me. At this time in my life I am especially grateful for her friendship and the support she gives me while I am trying to figure out motherhood. It also gives me a greater understanding of what an amazing mom she was while I was young. I never appreciated the little things like preparing the family dinner every night, packing our school lunches everyday, keeping the house clean, having a snack ready for us when we got home, greeting us with a smile and a how was your day, having scripture study and family prayer. I now know that those things are hard and I am amazed as how flawlessly she did them.
Mom, I am very grateful for all you taught me as a child, for teaching me right from wrong, for teaching me manors, for teaching me about the gospel, for teaching me how to get along with others, for teaching me the value of honesty and in all you taught me, you taught me how to be a Mom. I really have the perfect example to follow and I pray often that I can be like you.

Here are a few other things I love about you:

-Your energy. I remember often as a child people telling me that my mom was one of the most energetic people they knew and it is true. You and Dad always kept us busy hiking, camping, playing games, going on Sunday drives and just being active.
-Your desire to be the best. I have always known that you expect the best of yourself and your kids. Because of that I always held myself to high standards and never wanted to let you down. I think that saved me from many mistakes.
-Your ability to show love. I always know and have always known you love me. I always knew what you did was always in my best interest even if it seemed unfair at times or made me angry.
-Your selflessness. You live your life for those around you and you think of others first. At the same time taking care of yourself too, which is just as important.
-You amazing taste- That includes your taste in food, clothing, decor and men (Dad).
-You are very supportive. You have always encouraged me in everything I have wanted to do and helped me make my dreams possible.
I love you and Happy Mothers Day!

From Brad-

Happy Mother's day mom. I hope you know how much you mean to me and how much I love you even though I am not the best at conveying this with words. Like a lot of boys, I am absolutely a mamma's boy and always have been. When I was a boy it was my mother that I longed for when I was sick, hurt or scared. On my first day of school I remember asking the teacher if I could go to the bathroom so I could cry, and it was my mother I was crying for. One of the funny things my brother and I have discovered in our recent conversations is that in the traumatic events in my early childhood my memory of the event is different than how it actually played out. Like the time my older brother wanted to make me think there was a large fish in the canal I was playing next to (my mother disapproved of our playing near the canal). He launched a rock about 6" in diameter from about 8-10 feet above me, attempting to project the rock over my head directly in front of me into the water, hitting me in the back of my head. My memory of the event is seeing a flash of white and being immediately carried up the canal bank by my mother (who in reality didn't see me until a little later). The exact scenario in my mind played out when I was hit by a car at about the age of 7. My mother has long been a source of great comfort in my life.

My mom has always believed in me. She has always somehow known, when most believed I would be a complete failure, that I would succeed in this life. She has always been supportive of my dreams, aspirations and goals. She is the most selfless person I know.

Thank you mom for all that you have done for me. I love that we can go fishing and sit and talk about life, politics, economics, family or whatever is on our minds. I hope that I am as good a son as you are a mother. I love you and happy mother's day.