From Sharee (daughter)

Dear Mom,

How do I count all the ways I love you?  You have sacrificed so much for me!  You are the greatest example to me of Christlike love.  As a parent, I have come to love and appreciate your sacrifices for me even more.  Often times I will think to myself.  What would my mom do in this situation? It is amazing to me how much long-suffering, patience and kindness that you have exhibited throughout your life.  I remember how you’d never go to bed unless the kitchen had “gone to bed” or was all cleaned up.  Many nights I have gone to bed with dirty dishes and thought to myself, “How did mom have the strength and energy with 10 kids to stay up and clean the kitchen?” I honestly don’t know how you did it! Also, I remember how organized you were and how you’d always make your bed.  I don’t ever remember seeing your bed not made.  That is something that I try to do every day, because my mama taught me. :) I’m not perfect at it, but it always makes me feel better when I walk into a room with a made up bed.

I remember those long nights that you’d stay up with me, helping me write my essays for Ms.Cunningham’s class. Then, once it was written, you’d let me go to bed while you stayed up and typed it up for me.  I can’t believe how sweet you were to do that.  Also, I still cant figure out where you got the energy for it! :)

I am so thankful that you made sure our family had Family Home Evening every Monday night.  We also had scripture study every morning!  I remember I’d bring the curling iron into the living room and curl my hair in the mirror until it was my turn to read my verse.  I think we’d read an entire chapter every morning.  I remember we’d have to get up super early on Fridays because I had Seminary Student Council before school, but you still had us get up, even earlier than that, so we’d be able to get our scriptures in for the day. Now I look back on how consistant you were with that and I KNOW that is why none of your children have strayed from the gospel.  There is a promise from the Brethren that if you have Family Home Evening and Family Scripture Study on a daily basis, your children will NOT fall away.  They may lose their way for a bit, but eventually they will come back to the Gospel.  What a beautiful promise that is.

I remember that you agreed to find a way for me to have braces even though is was SO expensive.  But you knew how desperately I needed it to help my self-esteem. Somehow you were able to find a dentist in Showlow that agreed to take chopped wood in payment for braces. So Dad and Steve and I’m sure the other boys would go out every Saturday for weeks and cut wood and haul it to Showlow. I think he gave us $100-200 credit per load. It seems like Dad took him 10 Cords of wood.  Wow!  Still to this day that touches my heart that you loved me so much that you found a way to make that possible for me.

You also wanted your children to grow up educated, not only in the gospel, but also in the Arts with plays, musicals, piano lessons, and dance lessons.  Remember how Heather and I got to take clog lessons from Sis.Ellsworth? In turn for that, we would go to her house and clean, or babysit.  You somehow were able to “wheel and deal” with these people of Snowflake to get the things for your children that you felt were important, and they were things that we treasure to this day.  Because I knew how to clog, I made the Clogging Team at Ricks and was able to go perform with them. Heather made a team at Ricks and was able to tour internationally with them. Somehow we took piano lessons and you found money for that.:) Because I know we wouldn’t be willing to do a trade for that!. Ha! Ha! Except for Holly! I know somehow you paid for her to have lessons with a famous guy in Showlow.  Anyways, the point is, you always put your children first and not yourself.  I don’t remember ever once you going and getting a new dress, or your nails done, or going out to lunch with your lady friends.  You were always thinking about your children and how you could enhance their lives.

Well mom, I love you SO MUCH and am so grateful I was blessed to come to your home.  I must have done something right in Heaven to be so priviledged!  I hope that I can be just like you when I grow up someday!  I love you more than words can express! You are an elect lady that I will honor the rest of my life.

Happy Birthday!

Love forever,

Sharee