Sisters

We are all sisters, and sisters love and help each other. I have been so overwhelmed at how much I have been affected by my so many of my sisters that have made such an amazing impact on me this week. It started with the comments from the last post (if you haven't read them, you need to-thank you BOM Brooke and BOM Maren), then it went to my friend that I was visiting teaching who gave me some insights that were just what I was needing, and then it continued as I opened an email from a friend sharing a wonderful email with me, and offering to let me use some of it for the blog.

So here is part of that email. I guess I didn't even pay attention to who wrote it, but thank you. Welcome to the BOM Clan. :)

Roxxy, our horse, delivered a healthy and beautiful little foal on Tuesday the 27th of May. She did it all on her own, no vet required! I asked! I arrived on the scene about an hour after the birth. It was amazing to me to see how attentive and responsible this first time mother was. Who trained her? How did she know how to behave toward this new miniature version of herself? She never left the side of the baby, knew right what to do to help the baby adjust to her new life and Roxxy also seemed to develop a new language just for the baby, different than anything I'd heard her voice before. It made me think about our natural abilities as mothers. God has given us all the attributes we need to be good mothers and if we have the desire, we can accomplish that task quite well. Mothers naturally seem to know if a child has a special need or is in trouble or hurting. I think it is a wonderful gift God gives to mothers.

How true is this! I loved it. All we need is the desire, because God has already given us the gift. The gift of motherhood and innate attributes and capabilities, allowing us to accomplish the task. To be a mother, could there be a greater gift?

Thank you to all my sisters that helped me to be a better mother this week.

Patience Please

Sometimes as a mother it is so hard to be patient. Why do we have to deal with the things we do sometimes? It's all part of being a mother, I guess. Although I don't have any great advice on how we can become more patient, David B. Haight offered these great words on the matter..."When a mohter exhibits these qualities of patience and unselfishness before her children and does it as though it was a privilege, she has said more to her children of her love for them than she ever could with words."

That goes back to the old saying, actions speak louder than words. Let's all try to enjoy this privilege of showing patience instead of losing it. Tell us what you did this week as you exemplified your love for your children through your actions of patience. (Am I the only one who could use a little more patience?)

Drum Roll Please...

T.S. May, it's your lucky day! You are the winner of our monthly drawing. Congratulations! You win the cute book from Lynae. Lucky! Email me and let me know the initial you want on the outside cover, and the address you want it shipped to. (btw...L4 in the picture is code for It's All About the LOVE, commentor #4)

Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and keep it up. Another month and another prize is coming your way. And let's not forget what it's really all about; mothers helping mothers. Oh and because Kambrie had so much fun drawing out the winner, she wanted to keep picking. So I let her...Jenni Foo Foo came in 2nd and Wade came in 3rd. Sorry, no consolation prizes, but I thought you wouldn't mind knowing that you were really close to winning :)

Lastly, don't be too disappointed if you really wanted that book and didn't win. Lynae will make you one. So check out our BOM Boutique to see how you can have your very own.

1st Ever Giveaway, Coming Right Up

So this will be yours if you're the lucky BOM that wins this month's giveaway. It's a dang cute little book meant for recording all the fun little things that your kids say and do that you want to remember, but never have anything on which you can write them. It was created by our beautifully ordinary mother, Lynae. Yours will have your initial on the cover, of course. Hope you win! :)

Eternal Role

There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood. ~Elder M. Russel Ballard

A couple days ago I was reading the talk where he said this and it really struck me. I love the entire talk and I think every mom should read it weekly, but for some reason this really stood out to me this time as I read. Just wanted to share.

Summer Fun

Smile. It's almost officially summer. Aren't many of your favorite childhood memories from those long summer days? What are you doing to make those fun childhood memories for your littles? Disney Land, Sea World, Lake Powell? Big vacations equal big fun, right? Great, that's all great, but don't forget to take time for the little things. Think about the things that you remember most as a little child. What made you happy? What made you smile? Popsicles, Kool-Aid, running through the sprinklers?

Last night we popped some popcorn and sat and watched a movie together (first time ever that I've watched an entire movie with my kids) and it was a lot of fun. I think I need to do that more often. Do you have a favorite, fun, simple little thing that you do with your kids that's creating those fun summer memories?

Comments Anyone?

Don't forget that the monthly prize will be randomly selected from the comments that have been posted. Our first prize giveaway is just around the corner. So don't forget to comment, and remember, it's mothers helping mothers here...you could have the perfect words for that mother needing you today.

Do it and do it now!

I've developed a new motto to live by after my procrastination kept me from sending my letter to my grandma...Do it and do it now! I'm one who tends to feel overwhelmed even by the smallest daily tasks, and I often let them build upon each other, piling them high in my mind of things that I need to do. So, I've decided to try to combat the procrastinating, anxiety causing, "I need to do that" way of living by taking action and doing it now. Give it a try, see if it works. If something comes to your mind that needs to be done, do it. Then you will be more free to focus better on the next thing that needs your attention, keeping that pile of things to do shorter and more easily accomplished.

If you have any ideas for me to help me conquer or at least cope with the busy life of a mother of four young kids, please, share your secrets. I could use all the help I can get.

Random Acts of Kindness

When I was in high school we were required to perform one random act of kindness a week for our Leadership Class. So I did. Sometimes they were definitely random, even sometimes a bit strange, usually they were simple, but always the recipient was grateful. So I had the opportunity to perform a random act of kindness this past weekend at a football game. My little Kambrie helped me out and we were able to make a difference in a family's night out at the game. It was a great feeling. Something that was so simple to me, I think made a big difference to them. I was happy that I acted on the feeling that I had to reach out and put into action the thought that had come into my mind. So many times I miss an opportunity to do something, even little as it may seem, that could help make a difference in someone's day.

Last Thursday I had the thought that I needed to write my Grandma a letter. I felt that it was important, so I did it right away. In the letter I expressed my heartfelt love and gratitude for her and the example she had been to me, along with the wonderful positive impact she has had on my life. I have truly been blessed to have her as my grandma and I wanted to let her know. Well, my grandma unexpectedly died today, and the letter still sits on my desk along with an envelope full of pictures addressed to Grandma D. Had I sent the letter the day I wrote it, or even the day after, Grandma would have read that letter and got to see the pictures that she so loved to get in the mail.

Although there is nothing I can do to change what happened, I can offer this plea to you. Act on those thoughts. Carry out those random acts. Do them as you are prompted. They will make a difference, I am sure.

It's All About the LOVE

Happy Mother's Day to all you B.O.M. Moms!

Speaking of Mother's Day. . . I received a gift from my mother-in-law that really meant a lot to me. It was a small book titled Love that Never Ends by Lucile Johnson. On the inside cover she left me a special message and she said, "...you are the best mother. How do I know this? Because you love your children. This book is great because it reminds us mothers that we don't have to be perfect to love our children and love is what counts." I couldn't have had a better reminder about what is so important in the lives of our children. LOVE, yes, simply love. Loving our children is what we must do in order to be the best moms, and better yet, we don't have to be perfect to love our children. Wow. Simple, profound, true.

Think about the love that you have for your children (I know it's immense) and strive to show them this love through simple actions. An extra hug, listening, really listening when they talk, making a favorite meal, playing a little catch or maybe singing or playing the piano with them, or anything else that you know they will love. Love them, simply love them.

So you have to check out the first ever comment on the last post from one of our beautifully ordinary mother's husband. It's pretty powerful.

Finally

I did it! I finally started my blog for mothers; beautifully ordinary mothers, just like me and you. I've been wanting to do this for a few months now, but have debated whether or not it would be a good idea, if it would have a good response, or if it would be worth my time. Then today, I finally decided, "why not?" If it ends up helping even just one mother by making her journey down the pathway of life a little bit better, a little bit easier or a little bit more worth it, then, yes, it would be worth it to me. Let's do it!