Memorial Day

What do you do for Memorial Day? Dad, Mom and Geri spent the weekend before with Mark and Tasha's family in Price visiting loved one's grave sights, and showing their respect.  

 While there they visited a museum featuring mining history on Helper Main St that was very educational and interesting, especially to these two.  Their father's were both miners.

Mom got teary eyed when seeing the pictures (detailing the Castle Gate explosion) that brought back so many memories of her own Dad. She pointed to the helmet and lunch pail and said, "that's what my Dad use to wear."

Memorial Day BBQ and swim day at the Morley's

There was also chores done before heading to the pool and...

in WA hay was being stacked while...

in OR a garden was planted and they enjoyed their own (slightly scaled down:) pool party...

until they were all tuckered out!

Hope your Memorial Day was just as memorable!

Family Happenings

 Emily got married! (Michele's)

 Hyrum average 2nd in team roping for the rodeo over the weekend and 7th for the year! (Audra's)

 Brandon with his grandparents

 Brandon graduates (Gina's)

Morley's team takes it all! (Cathy's)

 Ella wins class president! Yay Ella! (Tasha's)

 Kimball places several times in track (Krystin's)

 Clara is region 16 champion for the 1600 meter and the 800 meter races! (Audra's)

 Sandy-Kaye took first in her ball room competition held in Portland, OR (above picture is of prom- Chrisy's)

Brett and Seth went bear hunting and were successful!  Having a great time and bringing home a bear. (Mary's)

Motherhood

All I ever wanted to be was a mother surrounded by a lot of children of my own. My Ellie asks me all the time if dreams really come true and I must say, "yes! I am surrounded by my 10 children and wonderful husband daily. A dream come true, so yes, Dreams do come true."  Being a mom is the most rewarding job in the world. It's also the hardest and most thankless job. 

Everyone goes through periods of time when they wonder if the dishes will wash themselves or if the laundry could sprout legs and walk into the laundry room, jump in the washing machine and wash itself. A mom has to make a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner that appeals to all the children and the husband and don't forget to account for food allergies. There are times when the children are cranky and rude and argue and fight. What about the times when the school work is not getting done just because they don't see how it will relate to their life.? There are also times when you are up all night with a sick child or with another child because they had a bad dream or with another child who just can't sleep because they are anxious about something. A mom can't forget about developing talents so we take our children to lessons and practices so they can be the star of the show or the all star athletes. Lets not forget to teach them to pray and do personal scripture study and have a testimony of the gospel.  A mom is the maid, the chef, the referee, the teacher and tutor, the comforter, the doctor, the psychologist, the taxi driver, the cheerleader, the spiritual coach, the center of the children's life. A mother is the world to her children. 

As women we look at other moms with their completely together life and we compare ourselves. We fall into those times when we feel like we need to do more and that everything we do is not enough or not as good as Sally, or Mary, or Martha, or all the other moms. President Uchtdorf said it best when he said, "Stop it!" We can't compare ourselves to someone else. In October 2001, President Hinckley counseled us that "life is to be enjoyed, not just endured". We must enjoy life, we must find joy in the little things. 

Recently my eyes were opened to the view of a mother from the child's perspective. This happened over the last few months as our primary children and young women  in our ward have been learning a song for Mother's Day. My children practiced the song throughout the week and would sing it as they went about their day. They were practicing so they were prepared to sing it in sacrament meeting. I started singing the song myself and reflecting on what the words were saying as I went through my busy day of caring for my family and home. 

"More than Enough" by Shawna Edwards and Rebecca Edwards Woolf. I use the lyrics here with permission from Shawna Edwards. 

Maybe I'll never know the love it takes

To make me a happy home that's warm and safe, 

And maybe I'll never see how you pray for my every need,

And wonder what more you could do for me. 

But when you walk by my side,

Read me stories at night,

And teach me to trust in Gods love.

You give me a hug, maybe two,

And you say "I love you!"

Then I think that you're doing enough. 

Maybe you wonder if you're teaching me

Every good thing that I can someday be. 

But all that I know of faith, and of kindness and love and strength 

I've learned just by watching you everyday. 

So when you stay by my side,

Hear my stories at night. 

And teach me to trust in Gods love,

You give me a hug, maybe two,

And you say "I love you,"

Then I think that you're doing enough. 

Someday I'll have a home, a family 

And I'll love them just as much as you love me. 

Then maybe you'll finally see,

You have given enough for me,

A gift that will last through eternity.

So  when you stay by my side,

Hear my stories at night. 

And teach me to trust in Gods love,

You give me a hug, maybe two,

And you say "I love you,"

Then I think that you're MORE than enough. 

And I'm blessed every step by your love.

When as a mother your life is crazy busy trying to care for the home and family, and you are sleep deprived and feel you never have enough time to get everything done, think of your little ones and the future mothers and fathers you are raising and just know you are doing More than Enough. 

President  Hinckley in October 2003 said, "You dear women, I say thanks to you. Thank you for being the kind of people you are and doing the things you do." I echo his words when I say thank you for being amazing women and mothers. In the craziness of raising a family we must keep doing the things we are doing. The little things matter most. As a mother we hold the future in our arms daily as we care for our family. Satan knows this and will do all he can to discourage us and make mothers feel they aren't doing enough. I'm grateful for tender mercies from our Heavenly Father when he gently reminds me through the simple words of a song sung by my children. They reminded me I was doing "More than Enough". 

 We cook.

 We plant.

 We eat.

 We play.  These crazy girls give me a heart attack

We hike and love to be together.

Love, Audra

Pictures of the Week

 Chrisy as guest speaker at Relief Society night while visiting Utah.  She has been asked to be a guest speaker several times because she always does an incredible job.  She is so creative and funny.

 Mom with her hot new ride!

Birthday lunch.  The girls in the family get together every so often to celebrate the birthdays of the month with lunch.  Those of us that don't make it, really miss out. :(  It's always a fun time.

Love Handed Down

In a family, a lot of things are handed down from one generation to another: Traditions, characteristics, genetics, etc. Some are good things that are passed down, and some are not so desirable. 

Our sweet missionary, Estee, gave us an assignment to help her get a book about her family completed. She gave each member of the family someone in the family tree to research, and report to her about, when we get to Face Time with her on Mother's Day. So, the other night, we had a Family Home Evening where we talked about some of our ancestors. 

My mom, Sandy, was here spending the evening with us. We utilized her knowledge and experience and asked her to tell us about her mom, Verda Craig, which is one of the names we were asked to research. I've heard about my Grandma Craig's life many times before, that's why she is, and always has been, one of my heroes. I love her for so many reasons, but that night as I listened to my mom talking, I realized something really important that she has handed down and it made me appreciate her even more.

Grandma Craig had what most would consider a "challenging life." From her mother dying when she was 10 days old due to complications from child birth, to being raped as a young teen aged girl and having to give up her first born child to be raised by a distant relative, she had her fair share of hard things to overcome. Many people would have become bitter because they didn't have a loving family life. Or they would become negative and pessimistic because life for her really was unfair. Not Verda Craig. Somehow, despite the horrible hand that had been dealt to her in life, she remained gentle and loving. 

Grandma Craig  showed affection to EVERYONE. It didn't matter if she had known you forever or if it was the first time you had met her, she kissed and hugged everyone. You couldn't be within arms length without her reaching out to hold your hand or rub your arm or some other loving affectionate act. And she handed that down to her children, who in turn, handed it down to their children. 

I was the blessed recipient of an affectionate mother. I can't imagine my life without my mom's loving touch. One day while she was visiting at my house, Mom watched as I interacted with my oldest son, Shideler, who was at the time turning into a teenager.  I found myself holding back from giving as much affection as I had done, only because I feared that he wouldn't want me to "smother" him. After he left, my mom pointed out the lack of affection I had shown to him and I explained my concerns to her. Her advice changed me and it's something I've never forgotten. She said, "Cath, they may act like they don't want those hugs and kisses, but believe me, they need them now more than ever. If you continue to show them affection, even if they act like they don't like it, you will remain close and have a strong bond throughout some of the toughest times of their lives." That has proved to be a true statement. 

Now there's never a day that I don't see my big, strong 24 and 22 year-old sons, that they don't come and give me a huge hug and kiss. All my children know that many times throughout the day, every day, if they are within arms length, they will be lovingly touched by me. That is something that has created a wonderful, loving environment in our home and a sweet bond with each of my kids, which I am so grateful for. And I have my Grandma Craig to thank for that. She's the one that passed love down. 

-Cathy