Wicked

Once upon a time, I was a HORRIBLE daughter and didn't get my mom anything for Christmas. Turns out, most of my siblings did the same thing and in the end I was racked with guilt about not showing my mom how awesome she is and how much she deserves pretty much anything her giant heart desires; we didn't shower her with gifts like she should be...

Six months later, Mother's Day was coming up and my mom mentioned that Wicked was coming to Dayton and that she wanted to see it. I looked up the schedule, and saw that the show was also coming to Salt Lake City, and asked if she planned on being in town.

She was. So I bought tickets! Happy Christmas and Merry Mother's Day!

So my mom flew in to town to visit me...and mostly her parents...and we made a night of it. (Sorry, Amy, wish you could have been there, too.) Mom and I went to La Jolla Groves, which is a favorite of mine... or I should say, has the best salmon dish (and lemon cake) ever. And then we headed up to the Capitol Theatre and enjoyed the show.

I had anticipated not liking Wicked very much. I don't know why. It was a totally silly thought. I think it had something to do with the fact that it was SO hyped up when it first came out (duh, it really is that good) and I knew that it couldn't be a lot like the book that it is based off of, and they had done a reality show of sorts for it on MTV, and all of that just made me really nervous.

Aside from quite literally melting in the Capitol Theatre, we enjoyed the show a lot. A lot. A lot. The two female leads were spectacular; and as much as I am a fan of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, I think that I'm an even bigger fan of Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker.

Alli was absolutely, incredibly brilliant at playing Glinda ("the 'ga' is silent). I've pulled up the videos on youtube.com, and they are all of Kristen, and really, I just loved Alli so much more. Sigh. Anyway, FANTASTIC.

It was really fun to spend the evening with my mom, doing something that she enjoys doing (and doesn't get to do often) and I admit, I'm totally on the Wicked bandwagon now. Although, I don't think you'll ever catch me with the soundtrack on my iPod.

Pancakes

When I was growing up, my mom always made us breakfast.

Really, I think she was making breakfast for Dad, and we benefited. She would make scrambled eggs and bacon or French toast or pancakes. Sometimes she made oatmeal with raisins in it. There were waffles. There was rarely cereal.

Around the time of junior high, my sister and I started to get self conscious. We didn't want to go to school smelling like pancakes. We had a good reason, too. Most the time, a friend or person would say that "something smells like pancakes", and we would know that it was us! After all, the hot griddle and the cooking spray made for a  really bad perfume. So we asked our mom not to cook so much. Or to warn us when she did, so that we could walk around the house in her robes, trying to keep the smell off of us.

We were lucky that when we started seminary, our house was close enough to the school that we could swing back by after seminary to eat a quick breakfast and finish putting on make-up or clothes. Friends of ours started swinging by too, and suddenly my mom was feeding our cousins and our church friends breakfast.

Whenever I go home, I like when my mom cooks breakfast. She doesn't do it as often, I don't think, because she has since started working and helping out with a grandbaby, and she is a lot busier than when she used to be. But she knows that I like the pancakes with the crispy edges and my waffles to be a little crispier and that I don't put butter on anything. I miss walking down the stairs and seeing my mom standing by a griddle asking us if we want pancakes or waffles.

This morning my roommate decided to make pancakes for breakfast, and she called up asking if I wanted a couple. Of course, I said yes.

Even though, now, I smell like pancakes.

What are you doing here!?

Over the years I have tried to surprise my family by showing up in Ohio when they least expect it. I've been unsuccessful every time. Every time. I guess I always made the mistake of telling someone in my immediate family, thinking that I needed a ride home from the airport, only to have said person blab it to someone else, thinking that they needed to know... Most the time, I'm just too excited and have to tell my mom or dad.

Our family reunion happens every year the first weekend in August. We've been going to Camp Wesley Woods for as long as I can remember, and for longer than most of the kids have been alive. I thought for sure I wasn't going to make it this year, and I sent an email letting everyone know.

But then a series of rather fortunate events took place, and I found myself with a plane ticket in to Columbus and no direct reason to tell my immediate family. The game was set. I was going to surpise my family, and this time, I wasn't going to tell anyone.

I told my cousin Chloe and she arranged a way to pick me up at the airport. We drove -- and by we, I mean, she did. I slept for probably two out of the four hours to Kentucky -- and ended up at Wesley Woods at 4:15 a.m. We almost didn't get lost at all. (Turns out Old Ruckerville road is a LOOP! Who knew?!) Aunt Elouise had been nice enough to have our bunks all set up and ready, and we literally got out of the car and fell in to our beds.

When we woke up in the morning, I casually walked out and everyone was like, "Wait a second, you aren't supposed to be here." But Brad and Mackenzie's faces were priceless, as they recognized me and couldn't believe that I was there.

My parents and Amy came later that afternoon. And it couldn't have been planned better. It was raining and so they were trying to quickly unload the van. All I did was walk up to my mom, who was looking down, and put my finger out and said, "So I have this thing on my finger..."

(A red spot that has been irritated for the past week, and that I had told her about on the phone a few times.)

She looked up and practically yelled, "What are you doing here?"

I think there were tears in her eyes. She really had no idea that I was going to be there and I had even called her while she was driving down and threw her off her guard.

It was so fun to actually get away with surprising everyone -- and I'm so glad that I made it to the reunion!

Good-Bye, So Soon

The last few weeks have been hectic and busy, and wonderful. I started out the craziness with a trip to Ohio to see my brother graduate. Brad gets cooler all the time. He's so easy going and hilarious, and fun to be around. He's so good-natured, and he gets along with everyone.

Graduations are pretty boring. I don't recommend them. I do recommend trips to the motherland whenever you get the chance, though. It was fun to be home, see everyone, and participate in a the time-honored tradition of going to Kentucky to decorate headstones of family members past. I haven't been to my grandmother's gravesite since she died in 2003.

You know you are in Kentucky, because they memorialize your rockin' mullet when you die.

It was great to be around cousins and aunts and uncles. I grew up with them always around, and these last seven years, I haven't been as much a part of all the traditions and get togethers that we have, and I've missed it. The weather couldn't have been more perfect - mid-nineties with only a titch of humidity - and the only thing that was really bothersome was the discovery of ticks. Yes, ticks! [Take the time to shudder. It's appropriate, I promise.] We found one on Kelsie's back two days later! And it was probably more traumatizing for the adults than it was for Kelso; she was so good about leaning forward and letting everyone inspect and work to get it out.

I started reading the book Creeker while at my Aunt's house, and found that Memorial Day has long been called Decoration Day in the hills of Kentucky. The explanation the author gave of what the holiday consists of: decorating graves, talking about loved ones passed, etc., coincided with our own family tradition. I love that we have just a little bit of hillybilly roots.

I stayed for almost a week, and was still sad to leave. I just missed the Troy Strawberry Festival, which was sad. Even more so, because I didn't get to go pick berries like I wanted to. It helped to know that just a week later, my family would be coming to visit me in Utah. All except Mark, who is recovering from ACL surgery.

We started out their visit with a trip to Bear River Lodge. If you are ever looking for a beautiful area to ride ATVs or get away in a luxury cabin in the mountains, I recommend it. It was beautiful. And just a little bit cold. There was still snow, and Brad's shorts froze over night after he hung them out to dry. We went for a mini-hike, took a couple ATV rides, sat in the hot tub and had a really good time. The owner is a friend of my dad's (an old mission buddy) and he totally hooked us up.

Kelsie was hilarious because she climbed on the king-sized bed and immediately did this little dance and laughed.... non-stop for five minutes as she shifted from one foot to the other. It was contagious, and we were all doubled over, laughing.

Afterward, we headed down and spent some time with my Grandparents in Clearfield. We went to church and then headed down to hang out with some friends, the Belnaps. They have been friends with my parents  for some 20 odd years.

The Bollschweiler Family Reunion started on Monday in Bryce Canyon area. We stayed at the KOA. I don't have tons of experience staying at KOAs, but this is by far the nicest one. The restrooms were remarkably clean - which is the most important factor of anywhere I "camp". (I'm no camper.) Much to Dad's chagrin, we did a lot of hiking. But the area is beautiful, and unlike anything I've ever seen before. We made sure to take lots of pictures (Amy and Mackenzie, you need to get me copies of the ones I don't have ASAP) and hang out with the family. All the siblings were there, and with only a few cousins missing, it was really great to having everyone there and Utah really is a geologically interesting place. There are so many different places and things to see in one state - all different. It is incredible.

Mackenzie had to take off a day early because she was headed to basketball camp, and so Dad, Brad, Mackenzie and I left and stayed in a hotel in order to get them to the airport in time the next morning. Only, ask my dad, flying stand-by is a pain in the rear, and even though I had to go to work, their flight wasn't set to take off until later that night. I left them in Salt Lake to visit Temple Square, and decided to show my face at work.

Mom, Amy and Kelsie came and stayed with me for a few days. It was fun having Kelsie at church with me, because she's a turkey. I had to take her on the elevator in order to find a suitable place to change her diaper in between classes. She decided that the elevator was super fun, and later told us that she needed to be changed again. We believed her. So I let her push the elevator button, and up we went, only to discover that she really didn't need to be changed at all. When I said, "Kelsie! You just lied to me! You don't need to be changed!" She responded with laughter. Peals of giggles, that made me laugh right back. Because she's sneaky and cute.

She obviously had too much energy to go back to class, so I stood in the hallway while she ran up and down saying, "You can't catch me - I'm a gingerbread man!"

Everyone at church thought she was cute. And of course she is, but she is also distracting. I didn't mind, though.

Mom left Amy down in Provo so that she could spend some time with her parents, and so I went back to work while Amy met up with some old friends. We made sugar cookie dough, that has yet to be transformed into actual cookies.

It was just so great having them all around, and now that they have left, I wonder what the heck I'm still doing in Utah? Who's idea was it for me to come out here in the first place! Why am I so far away from my family!?!!! It is torture to say good-bye, and I swear it gets harder every time.

I miss them already.

Drawing Challenge Day #5

Drawing your best friend is hard, because it is hard to determine who you want to draw. And who will or won't be offended at how you depict them. My mom is my best friend, because she won't mind that this looks nothing like her at all. And she'd still let me post it on the fridge if I wanted to. She'd never do that herself, but she wouldn't take it down if I did.

In which she proves that she is not nearly as talented as her mother...

My mom is very talented - or as I was thinking in a Scottish accent just now, "verra talented" - when it comes to lots of things, but right now I am discussing cakes. My recent adventures with decorating cupcakes made me want to make more and to have fun experimenting with different tips and different things my mom has attempted to teach me over the years.

I'm not even close.

For some reason, I can't ever get the frosting consistency anywhere near to where it is supposed to be. It's usually so runny that the Crisco and the water start separating. This is not good for any sort of decorating purposes. Even when I think I have it close... I don't.

I can never get the cake out of the pan. So my cake usually looks like this:

Yup. That's yummy looking.

And by the end of it all, I get frustrated that my roses won't turn out (have I ever been able to make a rose? No. Does that keep me from trying? No.) And then I just get bored, because everything I want to do, I can't actually execute.

So then my cake looks like this:

The important thing is that in the end, it usually tastes fine. Good even. My mom did teach me how to bake a cake properly (one box + good timing = deliciously moist cake ((p.s. if you can come up with a better word than moist to describe a perfectly cooked cake that isn't dry, I'll give you bonus points))) and the frosting's flavor is never really off. It has been, but this time it wasn't.

In the end, I'm always looking something along the lines of this:

Wondering why I even bothered to decorate the cake in the first place. Next time, I should just buy the frosting with the rainbow chips. I feel sorry for my children.... they are going to have ugly birthday cakes.

Sunday Dinner and Baking

It is fairly known that I've given up baking and cooking since moving into my new apartment. I want to blame the fact that it is because of a messy kitchen, but since two of my roommates have moved out, it hasn't been as bad as it was. And I want to blame that I haven't been grocery shopping for over two months, but I actually did go and pick some things up yesterday. So... I guess it's time to pick it up again.

I kicked off my new cooking/baking practices today with Colin. He has been introduced to my mom's chicken enchiladas before, but we were totally able to top what I made last time into something even more delicious. You see, at home, there is little we can eat by way of flavor: no onions, no peppers, no spices, etc. Not because of my mom, oh no, but because of the pickier eaters living under the roof. (Imagine what my life was like five years ago when I discovered green peppers and spices and herbs! A bloody miracle, that's what.) But it doesn't matter - my mom is a GREAT cook. And her food, even if it could be considered bland, is DELICIOUS.

But...that doesn't stop me from making my own tweaks when I make those familiar meals for myself. So I took her regular chicken enchiladas: tortillas covered in cream of chicken soup with chicken and cheese in the middle and more cheese on the top, and I added black beans, green peppers and tomatoes on a fresh flour tortilla. Instant culinary masterpiece! They were seriously the best enchiladas I have ever made.

Afterward, Colin and I took our skills to baking and made some cherry chip cupcakes. While making Mom's dinners with a little more pizazz seems to work out for me, for the LIFE I can't get her frosting right. Mom, what does it mean when the color and everything starts to separate? I always make the frosting just a little too runny. Sigh. It doesn't matter.... Colin and I had fun decorating the cupcakes and in the end, when I tasted them, they were so rich and moist and delicious that it didn't matter that the frosting had been too soft. * shrugs shoulders* I guess I'll figure it out eventually. The truth is, I'll never have the patience to be as amazing as my mom, so I don't know why I even bother.

The worst part about doing all this in the kitchen is the clean up. It's an absolute wreck out there, and I really do not want to go and clean up. In fact, I'm feeling the need to go to bed on time tonight...which means getting ready in eight minutes.

Sigh.

Florida 2010

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to go to Florida and visit one of my best friends who's husband is studying at Ave Maria Law School down in Naples. It was so good to see her and spend time in the warm weather (I heard it snowed in Utah while I was away, and I was not sorry to have missed that...)

While I was there I got to just relax, which was fabulous. I read out by the pool. We played tennis. We went to the beach. Walked through a nature preserve on Sanibel Island. Got attacked by a shark....that turned out to only be a friendly dolphin. And I met Jessica and Tyler's friends from Mississippi: Amanda and Daniel. They were really fun!

I haven't seen my uncle Fred for years, and so I called him up and he offered to take us out on a little boat ride. It was really pleasant, and beautiful to go through the "no wake" zone and then just relax on our own little (literally, very little) beach. Jess and Amanda are the most economical, frugal people I have ever met, and so we did everything for basically free. Which meant, the only money I spent was on my ticket and a few books to read at the pool and on the plane. Fabulous.

I got some sun. And I've been molting for the past two weeks, though I've kept some of the color thus far. I really didn't want to leave. ESPECIALLY when I checked in at the airport and the monitor read, "Current temperature in Salt Lake City: 42 degrees." It's taken these two weeks to actually start warming up...UUUUGH.

On my lay-over in Cincinnati, I was able to switch my flight to a later one and my Mom, sisters and baby Kelsie came to see me for an hour. It was seriously almost the highlight of the trip, because I really do miss my family on a daily basis.

I can't wait until the next cheap plane ticket to pop up! Maybe next time I will go visit my cousin Simon in North Carolina!

Mother's Day

I don't think this year's tribute to Mom will by as eloquent as this was last year. All that I listed then is still true. I will simply give the latest reason of why my mom is the best.

On my return flight from Florida, I had a layover in Cincinnati. Cincinnati airport happens to be about an hour and a half away from home, and when we flew over the Ohio river it made me utterly homesick, and I had this heartbreaking pain from missing my family. I was trapped at an airport, and only an hour and a half away from them! And there was no way I was going to be able to see them before my next flight took me to freaking Utah.

When I'm flying, I hate being in a rush. So I typically go straight to my gate and entertain myself there. That way, if any changes are made in the gates, I have plenty of time to find out and relocate. So I found my gate, made sure it was close and then called my mom to tell her how much I missed her. How much it was killing me that we were so close.

I walked over to the departure screen and noticed that there was another flight that left at 6:50 p.m. instead of the scheduled 4:20 p.m.

"If I pay to change my flight to the later one, will you come?" I ask. Knowing it's a long shot. Knowing that even if she leaves right that second, she won't make it until 5 p.m. and we'd only have an hour. Knowing that it's probably not worth the gas. And there isn't much we can do around the airport or in the airport or for that short amount of time.

"Sure," she responds.

That "sure" was enough. Within minutes, I had switched flights (for absolute FREE) and Mom had gathered all the girls so that they could head to Cincinnati. They hit traffic. We couldn't find anywhere nearby to eat (no one coming/going to the Cincinnati airport likes to eat apparently) and by the time they got there we literally had 60 minutes to spend time with each other.

If this isn't an example of pure love and devotion to her children, I'm not sure what is. I know that I felt incontestably loved.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Thank you for being you. Thank you for loving us so well. You're truly the best!!!

Late December back in '63

December 10 is probably one of the most underrated days of the year. But it should be celebrated with GUSTO! (GUSTO I SAY!) Because it is my mom's birthday and she deserves to be celebrated. I was trying to find a poem or song or something that fit here, but they were all really gay and my mom just doesn't deserve a gay poem on her commemorative post.

That being said, well, there isn't much more to say. My mom is the most awesome, caring, faithful woman I know and I love her more than life. She is literally my best friend. I hope that she knows how much she means to me. (She should, I only call her six times a day in order to tell her! That's right Mom, my calling you and telling you every mundane thing that happens in my life is just a way for me to tell you how much I love you!)

So, Happy Birthday, Mom! You deserve a very wonderful day!

Mommy Sense

A month or so ago, my mom and sister came to visit and stayed in my room. I loved having them here, of course, but Amy left the remnants - and when I say remnants, I mean the whole thing set up and ready for use - of a "Play'n'Go" or a play pen for a baby.

They had borrowed it from my aunt and uncle in Idaho for Kelsie, and of course, I am the one who is responsible for getting it back to them. However, leaving it fully operational left me in quite a bind. I have never been able to figure out, without difficulty, the safety snaps, car seats, strollers, high chairs and play pens that are necessary to keep a baby restrained.

I'm convinced that along with lactating and a mother's intuition, also comes the ability to figure out all of those things.

Since I have never had a baby - I am still clueless.

The play pen is now sitting in the corner, happily put away in its little covering, but really...I won't admit how long it took me for it to get that way. The only thing I will say, is that I didn't say any swear words in trying to get it there - almost, but not quite. Amy made fun of me while she was here (or maybe the last time I was in Ohio) because I couldn't figure our the car seat or the stroller or something... but really, I am convinced that I may never figure out how to do it. Especially if I don't ever become a mother...then again, I won't really have a lot of use for knowing how... until Amy comes and visits again. But I think I will insist on her taking it down herself.

meus decorus matris

I've been thinking about my mother all day today. Of course, I'm sure that it is not a wholly original idea - after all, my mom had already been told four times before I even called that she is the best mother in the world. Novel idea or not - it's hard not to think of your mum, when she has had such a huge impact on your life.

From the moment we are conceived, we become little parasites that feed off our moms. Did you know that if a mother doesn't get enough calcium, a fetus will start to take from the mother's bones? The unequal balance of give and take from mother to child doesn't stop there. It continues for the rest of our lives. Mothers give counsel, wisdom, unconditional love. They offer advice, support and and guidance. Mothers are there to wipe tears, give hugs and vigilantly defend their children.

My mom is no different. In fact, I argue that she is the very best. She has been my very best friend for many, many years.

Top 5 Reasons I love meus matris:

1. My mom is one of the most obedient and non-rebellious spirits I have ever met. She was born and raised in the Church, and has never questioned anything. She is upstanding in the Church, has always held a current temple recommend and has done her best to teach me to do the same. I'm not as good as she is. I like to question things. I like to understand why. She doesn't need to know why. She just does.
   
2. My mom indulges me. Every time I call, every email I send she will (at least pretend to) be interested in what I have to say. She read Twilight on my insistence. She will make an hour long conversation last, just so I can hear her voice and pretend that I am home for a little while.
3. My mom loves her children unconditionally. Unconditionally. Infinitely unconditionally. I don't know how else to describe it - but I know that no matter what I do she will continue to love and serve. I know that she prays and cries for us as her kids when we are retarded. But she never stops loving us.
   
4. I know that my mom offers her whole heart to us and serves us in whatever way she can. She will sit and do homework with us, even if she doesn't understand or want to do the assignment. But she will sit there, just so we can have the extra "brain power." Anything that is within her capabilities, she will do it. She has been a great example of how to treat a husband. And how to respect and honor your own parents. She knows what it means to be a good spouse and daughter. Because of her, I strive to do the same.
   
5. I just love her so much. And whenever I think about how much I love her - I love her even more. I am so proud to be her daughter. To have been raised by her. To be loved by her. To look like her. To have been taught by her. What an amazing woman! My heart is so full, so grateful to be her daughter.
   

Thank you Mom. Thank you for everything. I love you more than words can say.

Yours forever,
Shelli

The Lanyard

The Lanyard - Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly -
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother

I had never once seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that's what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sikc room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Her are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift - not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-tone lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a [girl] could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.

My Mom is Cooler than your Mom

Today... is my mom's birthday.

I'm sure that she doesn't want to be reminded, mostly because birthdays are not a HUGE thing at my house, and sometimes it is just a reminder that perhaps even though we are a year older, nothing much has changed. I won't make an annoucement as to how old she is...becuase some people don't like that. What I will do, is explain to her why I love her so gosh dang much.

1. My mom is my best friend. The absolute best friend in the entire world.
2. My mom is a great listener. She will pick up the phone 9 out of 10 times when I call her, and then proceed to listen for at least an hour of what is going on in my life. Everyday.
3. My mom cares about her kids.
4. My mom is generous. With her time, with what little money she has. My mom will give her kids everything. And does, on a quite regular basis.
5. My mom is talented. From baking to decorating cakes, to keeping the house clean, to staying up all night helping with projects she knows nothing about... I don't know, she can figure out ANYTHING and do it.
6. My mom is handy. It must be from living with my dad, but she's learned how to roof a house, fix disposals, build shelves, hang drywall, putty walls, install tile (ok, maybe Dad did that...)
7. My mom is prayerful. I know she hits her knees hard, every night. Mostly praying for the sake of her kids, which we all appreciate (whether we know we do or not).
8. My mom is funny. Need I say more? We laugh, a lot.
9. My mom is patient. When she has five kids, who are all as idiotic as the first, it takes a lot of patience.
10. My mom is forgiving. We don't treat her the way she deserves to be treated, always, and yet, she still lets us come back. Amazing.
11. My mom is peacekeeping.
12. My mom is clean. Thank you for teaching me how to have a clean bathroom. And that you need a clean kitchen to cook in. I am a little sorry that I never picked up on the clean bedroom thing.
13. My mom is loyal.
14. My mom is a hard worker.
15. My mom is a good daughter.
16. My mom is loved by everyone - I don't know a single person who doesn't like her, and who wouldn't? Honestly, she is the coolest.
17. My mom is sporty. From attending all of my brothers' and sisters' football, basketball, and soccer games, she knows a little bit about sports. But on top of that, she is a mean raquetball player and used to play basketball, volleyball, and (sometimes still does) softball.
18. My mom is a cheerleader. See above. And then know, that my mom would go to my dad's games that he refereed and would be in the stands cheering for him.
19. My mom sets traditions by not setting traditions. We never know when we are going to put up the Christmas tree, but that doesn't matter - it's whenever we feel like it.
20. My mom has a testimony of the true Church of Jesus Christ. This shouldn't be number 20, it's so important.
21. My mom knows how to do Thanksgiving the RIGHT way.
22. My mom loves her parents.
23. My mom gives good directions. Even if she is 2,000 miles away, she can still get me to the Bishop's house in Lindon. Amazing.
24. My mom is a confidant. I can talk to her about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. And often do...twice.
25. My mom knows how to make food, the right way. I don't care what you say, if pecan pie, crescent rolls, cake frosting, strawberry pie, and chili aren't made the way my mom makes them...they're wrong.
26. My mom likes to try new things - sometimes it takes a little persuasion, but she'll do it.
27. My mom will go on all the rides.
28. My mom is beautiful.
29. My mom is a good travel buddy.
30. My mom is helpful.
31. My mom is sensitive.
32. My mom is temple worthy.
33. My mom has great taste in men. Have you met my dad? He's pretty fantastic.
34. My mom is spontaneous. I always love when she decides that it is time to switch the furniture around. I get that from her.
35. My mom is wise. Even if I don't listen... I often find, she knows her stuff.
36. My mom is a good wife. Faithful, true, and she knows who her priority is. I think my husband will be very grateful to my mom for showing me who really matters in life.
37. My mom is a trooper. With back problems, lack of sleep, or whatever ailment, she's still up and moving around doing whatever needs to be done.
38. My mom is exclusive. She has her small group of friends, and likes it that way. And it's no coincidence that at family reunions, our family all stays together in the same cabin or with each other. We're pretty tight-knit and it's because of her.
39. My mom has good taste in music - mostly, because she lets me listen to what I want to in the car. Whether she listens to the same stuff or not when I'm out, there would be know way of knowing... (I'll just overlook the Keith Urban CD in your car.)
40. My mom is faithful.
41. My mom is obedient.
42. My mom is cool.
43. My mom is good to have around at a doctor's appointment. Let's just cut to the chase, it's the real reason I don't go to the doctor - because she isn't around. Hehe
44. My mom is easy to be around. I don't think I could ever get sick of her. In fact, I wish she were here with me RIGHT NOW.
45. My mom is absolutely, the most wonderful person on the face of this earth.

I love you Mom. I hope you have a good day, even though you are working; even though you are poor; and even though I am not home to celebrate with you for the fourth year in a row. I miss you, but you know I am thinking about you all of the time. Else, why would I call so much?



Talk to you soon...