A Mother's Love

Thought I would share a story I wrote. It's not true but it could have very well happened for all of you that know my wonderful mother. Enjoy.
A Mother’s Love

Christmas was coming. Mom was busy sewing dresses for the girls, jeans and shirts for the boys. These new clothes would have to last us all year. We didn’t mind too much because mom was an extraordinary seamstress. She would create patterns to make us the latest fashions after looking through the current catalogs.
This Christmas was extra special for me, I had been asked to sing a solo in the school’s choir concert. I could hardly wait to see what my new dress would look like. I was so excited. About a week before the concert, mom took me aside and told me she had run out of fabric and didn’t have any money to buy more fabric for my new fancy dress. She said she had made over some of the older girls’ dresses so I would have something new to wear. I pouted and said in a whinny voice, “Why does this always happen to me?” Being the last of four girls, I ended up with all the hand me downs, and never got anything new, or so it seemed to me. I ran off to my room crying, feeling sorry for myself.
All week I avoided my mom. I would only talk to her if I had to and then it was in short statements like no or yes. I was hurt. I didn’t realize at the time that mom was hurting as well. She wanted to make that special dress for me because she knew how important it was for me. She worried and stewed but didn’t know what to do because they just didn’t have the money for extra fabric. She had all the scraps from the other dresses and shirts, but that wouldn’t make a very pretty dress. Then, the night before the concert she kneeled to pray, asking for inspiration and pleading for help. As she slipped into bed, she noticed the quilt covering the bed. On the back of the quilt was the most beautiful red material. She treasured this quilt because her mom had made it for her as a wedding gift and it was a part of her mom. Suddenly, she knew what she needed do. She took her scissors and started taking apart the back of the quilt, making sure not to ruin the front of it. She worked until the early morning hours taking apart the quilt and making a beautiful red dress.
That night mom asked me to come into her room. At this point, I had resigned myself to wearing the old dress mom had altered and fixed up as best she could. It was okay, but it wasn’t what I had wanted. I went into the room and told mom I was sorry for the way I had behaved. She talked to me about how she felt and how she had prayed for inspiration. Just then, she pulled out the most vibrant, gorgeous red dress and said, “I love you!” I felt like a royal princess! She never told me where the material had come from and I didn’t think to ask because I was just so excited to get something that was my very own.
Throughout the years my mom taught me many skills I put to use as a new mother with very little money. Years later as my sisters and I were going through mom’s things after her passing, I found an old quilt top with a scrap of the red fabric from my beloved dress. I asked my sisters why the quilt top had never been quilted and why there was a piece of material from my Christmas dress pinned to it. It was then they told me the story about that special Christmas dress. That evening as I looked at the red dress still hanging in my closet and the old quilt top I now held in my arms, the tears flowed freely. I once again realized how deep a mother’s love is for her children.

Taking time continued

Talk about taking time, well I took the time to go over to Gillett to see part of my family there. I was over in Sheridan for a Reading Recovery conference and thought I would make a quick trip over there. I loved it and enjoyed seeing the three H's as well as Bryan and Chelsey. I spent a lot of time outside just watching the little ones play in the dirt and at
Hannah's school playground. Bryan performed for us all. Sorry I forgot to take my camera so no pictures of him showing off.

I loved conference! What a feast provided for us. There were so many messages that spoke to me personally. I am so grateful for those who serve day after day for me.

I had the privilege of watching my new grandson, Weston come into this world. I marveled at how perfect he was from the moment he took his first breath. I could see physical traits of his parents. Then I thought about his spiritual traits. Will he be kind to others, will he serve others? Will he follow in the Savior’s footsteps?
At the beginning of Christ’s mortal ministry, Christ instructed Peter and Andrew, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I can only imagine the inadequacy they might have felt at that moment. Yet, they “straightway left their nets,” and followed him. Then when He saw James and John and called to them they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
I love that word immediately. They didn’t have to stop and wonder if it was convenient for them or think, “If I follow Him will my life be harder, or will people ridicule or mock me”. No, they dropped everything and followed Him at once or instantly.
What would I do if the Savior came to me directly and said, “Come, follow me?” Would I drop everything and immediately follow Him? Most of us have not or will not be asked to drop everything and immediately follow Him but the invitation is still there, “Come, follow me.”
So how do I follow Him?