I've been doing a lot of records indexing on Familysearch lately and my favorite records have been military registration records. They're quite fascinating because a great deal of them have physical descriptions of the applicants. I was interested to see that many of the WWII enlistees were 5 ft 7 in and SHORTER. We're definitely becoming a taller people.


Today I was very struck by a line on a New York WWII Draft Registration card. It asked for the "Name and Address of the Person Who Will Always Know Your Address." The answer on this card was obviously the man's mother.


I got a little teary in thinking about how my own mother plays this roll. Have a high school reunion coming up? Call the person's mother. Big family event? Call the mom for the addresses of her grown children.
Right?

Is this one of the reasons that it's so hard to lose a mother, even knowing we will be with them again someday? The thought that the someone who pretty much always knows where you are isn't there to tell anyone else. It's a piece of the care that mothers give that somehow never leaves their responsibility while on earth.
I am so humbly grateful for my mom. It's so easy to take her for granted in my busy life, but she just does so much. To examine her as a person and not just the one who raised me and taught me and wiped off my face when I was young (and not so young), I see an amazing, giving person who never hesitates to help others. She sacrifices her peace of mind daily to get along with an ex-daughter-in-law and her own children for the sake of her grandbabies. She is always thinking of ways she can ease the burdens of others and yet her own are so great.

Mom, you simply rock.

I love you.

I love being a daughter. I love being a sister.

Seems like kind of an irreverent title, but when Dane was baptized last Saturday, it seemed to plunge our entire family into a whole new stage.
Suddenly, it was the year that all kids would be in school (Bryce: preschool, Ella: kindergarten, Dane: third).
Suddenly, they were all in Primary classes, not the nursery.
Suddenly, they were all articulate, intelligent, amazing little people.Our family is growing up way too fast, but yet it feels good to see them progress and stretch into who they are.

The baptism was wonderful. We had a peaceful, easy-going morning arriving at the Stake Center at 10 AM. We were joined by my parents Ron & Cindy, my in-laws David & Kathy, my brothers Eric and Ryan and nephew Kyler. My aunt Laurie brought her grandson Brady. Dane's great-grandma Sharon came and so did Cameron's sister Alesha and her family. I was also grateful to have the support of my three dear friends as well as their children.

Two prospective missionaries gave talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost.

It was such a sweet moment to see my husband and my son standing in the baptismal font together, seeing that they were both very touched by such a sacred moment.

While we waited for Dane and Cameron to dry off and dress, the bishopric asked the grandparents to either bear their testimony of the gospel or share memories of Dane. It was so wonderful to hear my mother and mother-in-law share such sweet feelings they had. I enjoyed what my father-in-law had to say about Dane. My father missed his opportunity. I don't know if he'd say he missed it, but I would've like to hear what he might have shared.

Dane received the gift of the Holy Ghost during a blessing from his Grandpa Stringham. He was counseled about many good things during the blessing. There was definitely something wonderful coming from Dane that day. It seemed like every time I caught his eye, there was a greater wisdom in his face. We all agreed that the morning passed way too quickly.

Afterwards, we all returned to our home for lunch and birthday cake. Dane loves being with his cousins, so it really was the perfect day for him. Hours later we bid farewell to our last guests and none of us could stop smiling about this amazing day.

Thank you for making this wonderful choice, Dane! Happy Birthday, we love you!!!

I'm afraid I find this comic somewhat disturbing to my perceptions.

Is this mother/daughter reality?

As a daughter, I assume that my mother is always thrilled to hear from me. (see left frame) However, as a mother, I have felt like the frame on the right (although my kids just call me from the other room and not on the telephone). As much as I want to cry out "My Mother doesn't really love me!" I'm pretty sure that I can be pretty annoying to her as well.

There is definitely a mothering lesson in this for me.

I also want to be a better daughter.