Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Guido Sarducci and other such nonsense...

My mother is quite possibly one of the most fabulous people that I know. And I know a whole lot of people. Seriously. Just check Facebook. Anyway, there are about a million stories that I could tell you to illustrate this point. I've shared a few of them beforeThis is the woman who made me a Barbie cake for my fourth birthday, complete with a real Barbie standing in the middle. 
That in and of its self isn't exactly a feat, but when you know that exactly one week before she gave birth to an almost 10 lb. baby and also managed to throw me the type of party that every four year old girl dreams of (complete with streamers, cupcakes, a crown, confetti, and about 15 screaming kids), you realize that this woman must have super powers. 
She has a master's degree and managed to obtain it while teaching full time and taking care of 9 kids (yes, I count my father as one of the kids in our family. It's part of his charm). Here's just another example of why my mother is completely awesome:
When I was 15, my youngest brother had open heart surgery. He was barely 6 months old and possibly the cutest kid I'd ever seen. To complete the procedure, Mckay's heart had to be stopped and a machine had to breath for him. As with all major surgeries, there was a chance that we might loose him the the process of trying to make him better. All of us were nervous; my parents most of all. Because of ballet company obligations, I was staying with a neighbor while the rest of my family went to Salt Lake: my other siblings to stay with my aunt and my parents to the hospital with baby Mckay. The afternoon before they were all leaving I curled up next to my mom on the couch and watched Oprah. She, with her amazing super powers, could tell that something was up and instead of pestering me for an answer, handed a very snoozy Mckay to one of my other waiting siblings and spent the next few hours scratching my back and playing with my hair. I was nervous, upset and anxious. Being left behind was never something I excelled at, even if the circumstances couldn't be helped.
 At 15, it meant a lot to me, but I don't think that I really grasped exactly how selfless a gesture it was. Instead of focusing on herself, like so many people do, my wonderful mom took the time and energy to comfort me and assure me that everything was going to work out for the best. 
I really will never understand how I got so lucky.  

3 comments:

Corey said...

Your mom really is amazing!! Love her to death! Tell your parents "HI!" from us and the rest of them fam too. We'll be coming down in a couple months and hope to see you guys. Love reading your posts, by the way.

aubrie said...

Your mom is amazing. I hope to be half as wonderful a mother as she is. I think it's great that you're writing this memories down so you can remember them and tell them to your own kids someday. :)

Ashley said...

Yes, your mom is SuperWoman. She always opens her home to people who need a good meal even when she already has plenty of mouths to feed! I will always appreciate all the meals and support your parents gave us when we were in Provo, so far from our immediate families. AND they came to the hospital to visit when Boston was born when neither of our families were there.

One more thought-I interviewed your mom one time for a nursing assignment about families. I don't remember everything she said, but I do remember her talking about how unity and balance were 2 of the most important principles to her. I have never forgotten that. I try to focus on those things in my family too!

What a great mother and example you have. We miss all you guys!

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