I am the Luckiest...

I don't know what I did to deserve her. I love her and consider her my best friend. She has a profoundly calming effect on me and has lifted me my whole life and showed me by example to believe in my dreams and work for them. She has demonstrated how to rejoice in the good times and learn in the harder times and has never faltered in her love of the Savior. Her lessons have been innumerable and I am the woman I am because of the mother she is. I adore her and feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have her as my mom.



There are many stories I could record here to honor my mom but one of my favorite memories that illustrates how amazing she is to me happened in November of 2000. She flew to Hawaii for a business reward trip. She had looked forward to the trip for months and was excited to be completely pampered by the USANA home office. She had earned the trip and deserved it, I was excited for her too. I hadn't been feeling well but downplayed it because I knew if she thought I was sick she would stay home. However, the day she left, things went downhill fast as they tend to do when I get a lung infection. I knew it was serious and was scared by the serious conversations I had with my doctors. I knew I needed to let my mom know what was going on but I didn't want to ruin her trip. I left a message telling her I was at the hospital. I can't remember if I asked her to come home, I just remember that the next morning when I awoke she was sitting next to my hospital bed. I gasped when I opened my eyes and saw her there and then tears of relief overflowed. I knew once I saw her that I could get through this and that everything would be alright. She came to me and kissed me on the forehead and whispered, " I'm sorry I wasn't here for you yesterday, I had to fly to Hawaii to get you this lei."

She had flown to Hawaii, and traveled to the stunning resort. Before she unpacked her bags, she listened to her voicemail messages. After she heard my message she took her bags right back down to the front desk and asked them to call an airport shuttle. She received a Priesthood blessing from some of her dear friends before she left for the airport and then she flew all night and came straight to the hospital and sat by my bed until I woke up.



This is a passionately dedicated mother to all five of her children and now an amazing Grandma to her 11 grandchildren. She has inspired me to be a loving, accepting, nurturing, adoring and fun mother to Harrison and all I have to do if I am ever stuck is ask myself, "what would my mom do or how would she handle this?" Above all her qualities, the one that is the most fun is what a spaz she is... no shame. I have peed my pants more than once laughing at her spaziness. Watching her take this photo was one of those gut splitting, leg crossing times:



Her Christlike love for everyone around her draws people to her which is why she was destined to succeed. She has influenced the lives of thousands and is a mentor to all who wish to make a difference in the world by blessing others. She does so quietly but abundantly. She is the most generous person I know. It may be easy to be generous with your family and loved ones but what I admire is her anonymous generosity to complete strangers or any random person or cause that touches her heart. This is her in Africa sharing the love.



As lucky as I feel to have her as my mom, I am even more grateful that Harrison has her as his Grandma. He is a blessed little boy to have her and I know they will continue to develop a deep relationship.



Happy Birthday mom. Thank you for everything! I am the Luckiest...