Breaking The Rules!

While we are in isolation for the Covid-19 pandemic, we are not allowed to go to each other's homes or have anyone over to our house. Sounds like we are imprisoned, right? Well, it really is kind of like being on house arrest. Since there has been a decline in recorded cases of the coronavirus of late, Cheryl, Parker, and Kessler decided to visit us over Mother's Day weekend. They arrived on Saturday morning and left on Sunday afternoon, so basically we only broke the rule for about a 28 hour period of time. The visit was well worth breaking the rules for...as long as we didn't pass the virus to each other, which I hope is the case.

It was so much fun to hear baby noises around here again. We hadn't seen Kessler since early February - he's grown a lot since then. He is actually 10 months old today. Kessler got to swim in Grandma's pool....

He got to get all messy while eating an avocado....

And he got to go on a walk - Cheryl even tried out my new scooter.

Sunday morning we were able to hold church in our home while Kessler took his morning nap. Since it was Mother's Day, after the sacrament was blessed and passed, we watch a talk by Elder Holland entitled "Behold Thy Mother." After the talk, we took turns sharing memories and things we admired about our mothers. 

This was Cheryl's first official Mother's Day. It was great to share that special day with her. She surprised me with some flowers and a gift card from her and the boys. They are so beautiful! 

Cheryl also surprised me with a slide-show video put to music that she compiled with pictures of me and my children when they were young as well as more current pictures. It also included pictures of my wonderful grandchildren. It was very touching. I struggled to hold back the tears. I have had so many wonderful memories with my children and grandchildren over the last 43 years. 

Every mother is unique. I adored my own mother. She was the epitome of an elect woman. Her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ was strong and it never wavered. She always had a smile on her face. She was a kind, gentle woman who quietly went about serving others. Although she was never supposed to be able to have children, because of a miracle, she gave birth to and raised seven rambunctious children (including twins) who kept her busy from morning until evening, and she did it all on a shoestring budget. She was such a hard worker, just like my dad was.

As for me, I'm grateful that I was blessed with four sons and one daughter. They are truly a gift to me from God. Although being a mother is the most difficult job in the world, it is also the most rewarding. I don't regret one minute I spent in the service of my children. I'm glad that they are all honorable men and woman who are happy with the paths they have chosen in life. 

We only get one chance at life, so we need to make the best of it. Choosing to get married and bearing children are some of my best choices so far. Much joy has filled my soul because of those decisions. Yes, there has been heartache along the way, but the good always outweighs the bad. Being a mother and grandmother has molded me into the person I am today. Every experience has helped grow. Every tear, every laugh, every accomplishment, and every struggle are cherished memories. Oh, the joy of motherhood!