no one perfect way...

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children...What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." ~Elder M. Russell Ballard

[self portrait | 8 May]

There have been many years where the weight of motherhood pressed heavily on me. I never felt like a good mother. Never felt I measured up to this sacred roll I was given. I've definitely grown a lot as a woman and mother these last 10 years. I'm not perfect, never going to be perfect, and I no longer feel the pressure that I have to be. I love my three girls completely and that love is what motivates me to do my best and keep going even when I think I can't. Bella sent me an email a few months ago asking me, "Is it hard being a mother?" It really made me think. I didn't know what to say so I told her the truth. Motherhood is the most challenging, yet greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I wouldn't change it for anything.

I am who I am today because of them and what they've taught me. Girls I love you more than words can express and I thank God daily that they're mine forever.

I love girls.
I love you mom.


Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there fighting the good fight!

Dear Mom,

[just to clarify the Tess in the letter is her friend, not sister. ps she gave me the ok to post it.]

This letter from Bella was waiting for me on my bed. It was a very tender moment for me as a mom as I realized a) more is going on in my daughters life than what I can see and b) my little girl is not so little anymore. She's almost ten and has ten year old thoughts and feelings (even though sometimes I'm convinced she's wise beyond her years).

Her thoughtfulness and desire to want to do the right thing constantly amazes me. I hope and pray everyday that I can be the mother she needs, that she will leave the house everyday knowing she is love, that I can provided her with the right kind of information so she can make the best decision. I thought it was so cute when she said, "you aren't trying to tell me what to do, I just want an opinion." I guess at the end of the day they just want someone who will listen to them without judgments and understand who they are. I guess somethings never change...we all do.

We talked about her letter this morning and she left for school feeling good with a smile on her face. She could not be sweeter and I admire so much how she wants to be a better friend and wants them to be happy. I'll I kept thinking as I watch Bella and Tess get farther and farther out of my site was, "Never change sweet Bella girl, never change".

She wrote

Bella has been writing a lot of letters lately to us and her friends. Just yesterday she was preparing to mail a few. So it was no surprise when I found this letter (below) quietly being slipped under my door.



it reads:

Dear Mom and Dad,

I must ask you have you ever thought about writing me letters? You haven't been sending me any! I want to know how you feel, what your trouble most with, and if you want me to spend time with you.
(P.S. Please write a letter back!)

Love, Your Loving Daughter, Bella

When you get a letter like this what else can you do, but sit down and write her a letter back. I hope when she gets my letter it will make her smile as much as this letter made me.