To Mom(s)

Dear mama,

Indebted, blessed, grateful, humbled. These are a few words that come to mind when I think of the inspiring influence you have over me. Heavenly Father saw fit for our relationship to be mother-daughter. I am so grateful He blessed me with you.

I still remember when I was little and I would lay on your stomach while you would scratch my back every night before bed. I still remember when you had me put ketchup on my lima beans because for a crazy while ketchup made everything taste good. I still remember when I broke my arm riding a bike and you were so compassionate towards what I thought was a huge mistake. I still remember you calling me sweet pea every night before bed. I still remember you yelling at me through gritted teeth for being mean to Rachael. I still remember when you surprised Rachael and me with Grady, the best dog ever. I still remember seeing you in the stands at all of the football games.

All of these little moments over time have created an amazing relationship and wonderful example of motherhood. You are dedicated. You are kind. You are fierce. You are passionate. You are submissive. You are faithful. You are selfless. You love your family. You sacrifice daily. And most importantly you love the Lord.

I am so grateful for all of the skills, characteristics, principles, lessons and game show trivia you have taught me.

Thank you for signing me up for soccer, gymnastics and swimming. Thank you for forcing me to be in marching band. Thank you for going to all of my games and cheering me on. Thank you for reading to me. Thank you for serving others. Thank you for singing Journey in the car with me and helping me fall in love with 90's country. Thank you for working 3+ jobs as long as I can remember so that we didn’t go without. Thank you for loving dad no matter what and standing with us when even when it seemed impossible.

Thank you for exercising your God given gifts, found in the sacred calling of motherhood, and letting those shine through us.

To all the other moms out there who have done so much for me. Thank you. I promise it does not go unnoticed. I love yall and am so grateful for the sacrifices yall made for me as well.

I love you to the moon a million times over and I can’t wait to see you next month.

When you feel down read this to remind yourself how important you are and that you are needed.

Love,

Hannah

New Year New Job New Home

I am overwhelmed. I am fearful. I am avoidant of possibilities. I am questioning all of my adapted philosophies on life and people.

I have been looking forward to 2017 since 2016 began. 2016 was rigorous, tight, near impossible and made me cry myself to sleep one too many times. Oh, but how great is the hand of the Lord in my life to help me learn why.

2017 can be described as a new home, new friends, new job, new town and comes with ample amounts of questions. I had no desires to live here but yet here I am loving how hard I have to work to learn. I was intimidated by my new job but I LOVE my relationship with my boss. Wisdom does not come with age, it comes with experience and choice and she is a prime example. I was worried that I would not fit expectations that the kids have of their teacher. Somehow here I am, being me, learning in the job and realizing that there is a reason Christ lists the attributes of a child as things that will be worth your while. They teach me, mold me, humble me, humor me and somehow through the tension I know they feel, they still love me.

Jagger is beautiful. Her spirit is designed to love and to be loved. That is all I have ever wanted out of life and here it is manifesting itself in the form of a fiery, sassy, confident, blonde blue-eyed 5 year old.

Weston is soulful. He is care free and works hard to make people smile and laugh. He can play the guitar and when he does he sings from his gut and heart because the passion is begging to show. He loves to read and understands his scriptures better that any child I know.

Boston wants to be accepted by everyone. He will work so hard in any capacity he can to please people. Whether is is figuring out a problem in math or dancing in the kitchen to Mulan and The Goofy Movie he will find a way to go the extra mile for others.

I love knowing that I can accept criticism and correction and be okay with it. I didn't even know I possessed that talent. It is definitely a new one. 2016 prepared me for 2017. I was consistently being humbled by the Lord's will for my life. I am so grateful he took the stubborn in me and beat it up a few times to take the pride out. It has made a world of difference.

At this point all I can say is bless my heart for taking this long to figure out some obvious flaws and bless my heart because now comes the task of refining them into strengths.

HRJ