Today David and I both woke up early. He had to prepare his lesson and I had to get things ready for dinner for the elders and senior missionary couple (which ended up going very well thanks to a mock Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe). Because of the time difference, we did not get to call our mothers before church, although they were in our minds all morning. We also did not get to call them after work because the missionaries were using our Vonage phone to call their families. Later this evening we finally enjoyed talking to our sweet moms.
Today was such a great Sunday. We were pleasantly reminded of how wonderful mothers are and what a blessing they are in our lives during our meetings at church. Two wonderful talks were given today during Sacrament meeting and a very special musical number took place in between. The primary children and their mothers sang "Mother Tell me the Story." This is one of the many Primary duets that Emerald and I would sing while Asialene played the piano when we were young. It was so sweet to hear the children and their mothers sing it today. At the close of the meeting, President Johnson (1st counselor in the branch presidency) shared a very tender story. I've heard him talk about his mother before. She sounds like an amazing woman. She recently turned 90 years old. Murray began to say that when he was eleven years old his father passed away. It was a cold January night. His mother called the doctor who lived a few blocks away and also her sister who lived next door. Both came over and the doctor pronounced his father dead. Murray pretended to be asleep during the entire thing. He was just a small boy and didn't know what to do, so he just pretended to be sleeping. His mom and aunt came into his room and knelt by his bed. His mother offered a prayer for her children. He said she never asked for anything for herself, but prayed only for her children. This story really, really hit me today! I immediately started crying and I could not stop for maybe fifteen minutes! I was even playing the closing hymn (in front of everyone) and crying my eyes out (not just tears, but the actual crying face you make when you are really crying). I guess it was just the picture of a child pretending to be asleep because he was too scared to face what was happening and then the thought of his sweet mother praying right at his bedside for him and his brothers and sisters. I was so thankful to have heard this story today. My crying then turned into homesick tears for a few minutes. I was missing my own mother. I've been away from her for several Mother's Days, but this time seemed to be extra hard.
The primary children were very sweet today and only made me more excited to have my own children someday. We had an activity where they wrote down five things they love about their moms. In fact, they were so sweet that they even made one for me. These are reasons they gave...
1) I love you because you are like our mother- Ashley
2) I love you because you are like a mother to me and you make me smile- Haviana
3) I love you because you are like a nice, loving mother- Monique
4) I love you because you are the best piano teacher ever- Joanna
5) I love you because you give me treats- Mariah
6) I love you because you teach me piano, are like a big sister, tell us you love us, watch movies with us, and feed us- Walter
My heart melted. I love these children so much. I am grateful for a day that is set apart for us to be able to recognize our wonderful mothers. They are amazing and hold such a beautiful calling.
12 comments:
Such a sweet story! Can I have the cafe rio sweet pork recipe? Please please!! :)
I love that story. Thanks for sharing since i hardly got to listen to church with little annabelle. you are such a sweetheart, i can totally see you playing the piano while balling!
that necklace is so pretty!
I loved the lunchbox post. I just saw it so i will comment right here: I do not remember any of my lunch boxes, I normally bought my lunch with change scrounged up from my house.
One memory: 3rd grade, Amber sirrine gave me a chocolate easter egg on the playground and I put it in my pocket. Later as a went to purchase my school lunch, i stuck my hand in my pocket to pull out probably fifty pennies and a few dimes and nickels that were covered in melted chocolate. The scary, krusty-old cafeteria lady said, "ahhh, just keep it" in a marge simpson voice. I think I've never been more embarrassed than at that moment!
It sounds like Mother's Day was an emotional day for many of us! Sometimes it feels good to get those tears out! K, I loved the little girl that loves you because you bring treats! Haha. That is too funny! But it was sweet to hear that so many of the children love you for sweet reasons! You're going to make a great mother one day! And oh my gosh, I'm dying laughing right now at Jessica's memory of the krusty-old cafeteria lady with the marge simpson voice!! She really was SO scary!
Very sweet and touching talk. Thanks for sharing it. And what cute things your primary kids had to say. Walter's is my favorite.
I love that story. I dont know how single mom's do it, that would probably be the hardest thing ever. You will be such a great mom, I know how much my own sister's love you from when you taught them piano lessons!
that is such a sweet story!! so many people love and adore you, even little kids!! you are so sweet!!
I liked that story a lot. Mothers sacrifice so much for their children. I'm so grateful for all the wonderful moms out there, especially ours.
Our primary sang the same song. However, Savanna was too shy and wouldn't get up. I was sort of sad, but oh well! I already talked to her about going up for Father's Day to help her feel prepared for it. Maybe this time she'll do it. (By the way, I love the beautiful necklace and darling picture!)
:) Cute.
oh shalynna i can picture you now crying while playing the piano, that ward must love you. i went up to bare( dont know how to spell this form of it for the life of me) my testimony after elizabeth was blessed and i could not get that scrunched up crying face to go away, i was so embarassed and only got like 2 words out so at least you were facing the piano instead of the whole congragation! and i too enjoyed jessicas lunch lady story. ha ha
oh and good job putting "you're my inspiration" with nikis post title about inspiration. i didnt catch that until i read your comment. you always notice the small stuff.
Come on! I'm sick of seeing "A Few Thoughts" at the top of your blog. I don't think I can wait any longer. Get with it!
It was so good to hear from you. Your so cute and I love that story!You two look like your really happy!!And why is it that our husbands think blogging is so dumb. Don't worry Mike is the same way. Make sure you tell David I said hi!!
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