Speaking of sisters, the weekend before last my sisters and my mom came to visit. We had some “business meetings” planned. We have all kinds of big ideas for helping mothers any way we can, and we needed to get serious about some of them.

And we did…more on that later.

In anticipation of their arrival I spent hours jabbering on to my kids and Dave about how excited I was.

You see, I really, really love them.

With sisters it’s more than just that you love them for who they are right now. You adore them because their lives are all tangled up inseparably from yours. They make up the fibers of the tapestry of your life. Like it or not, you’re attached to them at the hip.

And you are a better person because of it.

They’ve seen the good and the bad. They remember the fights and the laughter. They know the inner “you” and can help you become your best self even if you don’t quite know what that is yet.

And my Mom? Well, every time I am with her I become more and more thankful that her blood runs through me. Her example of pure humility and extra-centeredness is something I strive to inch toward every day of my life. She makes me wonder why none of us got her “go with the flow” attitude.

She is also a great “jumper:”
Seriously, are those not the cutest four women ever? I LOVE my Mom’s expression. I want to blow this picture up to the size of a wall in my house so we can enjoy it every single day.

And since you must know that I can jump too, here’s another one:Love my Mom’s face even more in that one…

Anyway, I digress.

We talked and talked and talked and got all inspired and made some motherhood podcasts that my sister Saren will post on Power of Moms soon (maybe I’ll post them here too).

I learned that podcasts are fun to make…especially at 1:00 in the morning when you’re a little bit punchy with people you love. I’m not a podcast kind of girl yet because I don’t know enough to even download the things onto anywhere, but I’m gonna learn, because man alive I’ve heard there are some good inspirational things out there.

We walked around downtown and window-shopped all kinds of cool art.

They accompanied our family to church (it was no small feat to get NINE women ready for 8:00 church I’ll have you know).

We explored some of the gorgeous hotels and grounds in the city:

We visited the art museum (we all adore art):
We found this series there at the museum of the four “Brown sisters” through the years. There was one picture of them from each year for like thirty years.

We tried to make our own serious sisters portrait:
I’m obviously no good at being serious.

I don’t know why this particular portrait in the photography gallery spoke to me, but it did:
Do you not think this guy is the cutest thing ever? (Aside from that jumping picture at the top of this post, of course.) What a proud little Dad (or Grandpa) with those little knee patches on.


We stayed one night at a hotel so we could really get some work done.

By the pool…

I stole an idea from my creative brother-in-law and taught these lovely ladies that I get to be related to all about the “Five C’s” of the desert that kids learn in school here. (It’s all part of my sneaky plot to help brainwash them into falling in love with the desert so that they will gravitate toward it and move next to me some day.)

I gave them each a “lucky” necklace made by the talented Kara to symbolize the “C” for all the copper produced here in the desert. I totally think that now they will move here.

But in the meantime, my eyes are misting over at how “lucky” I really am to have these women in my life.

Love you guys with all my heart.

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12 Comments

  1. I so need to find a way to get you guys out this way. I am sure besides my self there are plenty of moms here in Georgia who could use your advise. Love your family!

  2. You guys are gorg…every last one of you!

    I know what you mean about sisters…the only thing that I regret about not having any more kids is not giving my daughter a sister…just a crazy twin brother!

    Glad you enjoyed every minute!

  3. Okay this is a bit of random comment, but the neatest thing about that ol' fella with the patchy pants is that he knew to cover up the baby with a blanket so that it didn't get a sun burn from its little legs and arms sticking out from under the stroller. Now how many fellas that age know to do that. Whatta guy!

  4. Shas:
    I showed Eliza the photos from our time together and she got a little teary and said, "Who can I do that with when I'm a grown up?" I said – "with me of course!" but judging by the look on her face, I could tell that after seeing these pictures, she was looking for more of a group experience in her future. So I quickly assured her that between Saydi's girls and Shawni's girls, we'd definitely have some fun group girls' get-aways in our future. But it made my heart hurt a little that it wasn't in the cards for Liza to get a sister. She couldn't have better cousins and friends – but there's nothing quite like a sister!

  5. how fuN!
    I have one sister who is 10 months older than me *and 5 brothers all older than me. I LOVE having a big family! YOu look the most like your mom out of all the group! but you are all gorgeous!
    tara

  6. I've said this before, but I CRAVE that sisterhood for my daughter. She got stuck with four brothers! Hopefully she can grow up with some great friends.
    Can't wait to hear about the Power of Moms fun!

  7. Can you guys adopt me? Just kidding! You guys look like you had so much fun! My own sis is coming with me to the St. George Power of Moms retreat and I CANNOT WAIT! Sisters are the best!

  8. I am SO glad you posted this…It makes me so much more appreciative of my sister and my mother..they too are amazing women and even though I just spent a weekend with my sis (who also lives in Phoenix), I am more resolved to do it more often! You have a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us:)
    ~Mary

  9. Man I would just LOVE to see that jumping picture of me posted all over your walls! Just remember that your life might be in danger if you do!

    Thanks for saying that I'm a "go with the flow" because that means your forgot that I'm actually a witch!

  10. Did you stay at the Biltmore? I am staying there in August… hope it's as beautiful as it looks in the pics! Laughing at your mom's comment… I've been meaning to read that book! Sometimes I feel that way too (I didn't mean to be a witch)

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