My heart is spilling over with love for motherhood and mothers today.

Please excuse this old photo, but let’s just take a look at those lovely ladies there in the middle of our couch:They are two of the most amazing mothers I know.

They have taught me things that have changed my life forever.

I am so grateful for them.

My mother-in-law raised my husband just exactly perfectly for me, for which I will be in her debt forever and ever. She leads with Christ-like love. She is wise. She has taught me countless mothering lessons through her example. Things like how important it is to be careful what I threaten my kids with and how important it is to honor the Priesthood in our home. She has given each of my children hand-made blankets that signify her love wrapped around them even when we are far away. They have been “loved” so much that each of them has disintegrated as they have been used and used as a reminder of her love. My husband and each of my children wear the twinkle she has in her eye like jewels in their own. It is one of my most favorite things they have inherited from her.
My own dear mother’s favorite word from the scriptures is “Remember” and she has mastered that task. She is the best person I know at truly remembering…everything from the stories of mothers in all the countries she visits (teaching parenting seminars with my dad) to what kind of food each grandchild likes when they come visit her. (Here she is in Bolivia with a mother she has no-doubt learned from and taught much.)
Her example reaches and changes everyone she meets, elevating them higher. But I’d venture to say that as much as she has touched the hearts of people all over the world she has “mothered” with her listening ears, the people she has mothered and influenced the very most are her own children. Words cannot express how much I love my mother.

Then there are my sisters:…and sister-in-laws…
…from both sides of the family:Married with children or not, their examples of mothering have influenced my life so much. I adore each of them and I’m so grateful that I’m lucky enough to have them in my life.

My friends, married or with children or not, teach me every day through how they mother those around them, how they sacrifice, how they love. People from this blog who I have never even met have influenced and enhanced how I feel about motherhood. For all that I am so very, very grateful.

Like I said, my heart is overflowing with love of motherhood today.

Mothers make the world go around.

Happy Mother’s Day!

8 Comments

  1. Your mother once wrote something that made a huge impact on me. She said something about not giving into the temptation to save errands until after-school hours so that the older kids could babysit, but to go ahead and take the preschoolers in the morning, and be home with your teenagers in the afternoon. It was amazing counsel and I strived to consciously follow it, particularly since it was emphasized by President Benson as well – to be there at the cross-roads of your child's life. I definitely think it helped our family, so thank her for me.

    Happy Mother's Day to you and all the wonderful mothers out there in internet land!

  2. I also have tried to take that counsel (about after-school errands) to heart. It has made a big difference. I too am thankful for your mom's influence) thru her books) on my mothering, she has made a very big positive impact on our family! Happy Mothers Day Shawni!

  3. Shawni,
    You're such an amazing mother, and I aspire to become a mother like you someday- your positivity, love, and overall sweetness shines in every one of your children! Thank you for being you, and Happy Mother's Day!

    Love,
    Alicia 🙂

  4. Happy Mother's Day, Shawni! It was so great to meet you in person at the national AMI convention last Saturday, and to give you a hug. I really do love following your blog.

  5. I just love your Dad's smile. I know it's mother's day and I so thankful you still have your moms and love them so much. I just had to say how much I love your Dad's smile.

  6. Hey Shawni, we're moving to Arizona, Tempe area to be exact. My husband just got a job at Marcos De Niza high school.
    Anyway, just wondering if you have thoughts on the area — do you live in the Chandler, etc area? I can't remember.
    I'm a friend of Saren's, and a blog reader/lover. 🙂

  7. When in the world did you find time to do this with all that other wild mother's day stuff that was swirling around? Thanks for you sweet words but you are now MY teacher!

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