My Mo!

Today my Mo is having a birthday. Six decades of amazing living! She is living so far away right now but if I were living next door to her in Sweden, here is what we would be doing:

1) We'd start with a delicious breakfast in bed. A big heart shaped homemade waffle with some yummy lingonberry syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cherry on top. She'd have a mug of steaming Stephen's hot chocolate...her favorite flavor! We'd fluff her pillows, sing to her in a couple different languages, and have Chris do the end of the Swedish birthday song where  it sounds like he is giving orders to a German army. Then she'd blow out the candle.

2) Next we'd shower her with gifts...the gifts that are sitting downstairs on our guest room bed...and unfortunately we don't live next door. So she would have to imagine how wonderful opening that birthday box is going to be when she gets it in a couple of weeks...

3) I'd give her a little hug as I sent her out the door to go work at the temple. I don't feel bad that she has to go to "work" on her birthday because she loves it so much! It isn't work...it is joy. And I love that about my Mo. While she was gone, I'd get to work on the rest of the day.


4) When she arrived home, there would be candlelight, a little Ella & Louis playing on the CD player, a cold glass of mineral water (that would be mine) and a delicious dinner waiting.

We would eat until we felt fat and happy and then we would sit around the table and everyone would take a turn telling Mo what they loved about her. Here is what I would say...

My Mo is remarkable because of the life she has chosen to lead. It is a life filled with amazing choices and consistent, remarkable dedication to the Lord. From the time she was young, she has been hard-working, dedicated, devoted, focused, determined, and persistent.

I love that she was willing to put her education on hold to marry the man of her dreams and start a family. She never gave up that dream of finishing college but had faith that her life was filled with times and seasons and our righteous dreams are never in vain but may have a different "order" then we had imagined.

I love that she had 7 children...and loved each and every one of them.

I love that she moved to a foreign country with 4 small children without hesitation because that is what the Lord asked her to do. I love that she learned the language, had another baby, took care of missionaries, and served the Lord in every capacity despite her "youth" and the enormity of the task she was asked to do. She is courageous, spunky, and gutsy.

I love that she let me dress up in her jean skirt and be Mother Superior after seeing Sound of Music. Really...how cool is that? And later, after seeing Ghandi, she let me borrow her yellow silk pajamas and wander around barefoot for a couple of weeks. She encouraged us to have imagination and dream big.

I love that no matter where we lived, she and my dad always made sure there was room for my "school room".

I love that she taught me to be confident and believe I could do and be anything.

I love that every time I call she answers the phone.

I love that she finished her college degree and let all 7 of her children sit in the audience and cry because we were so proud of her.

I love how many years she taught morning seminary without complaint. I loved watching her sit at her desk with her scriptures open preparing for those lessons that would touch and inspire so many youth. Her testimony has blessed so many individuals across so many states!

I love her passion for books and reading...she shared that gift with me and it has brought so much joy.

I love that she would always come stay with me after I had my babies even though she knew I would be a little crazy.

I love that she always knows what to say to comfort and support me. That is a gift...and I've been blessed time and time again by her sensitivity and guidance.

I love her testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. That testimony provided a solid foundation for my testimony. I love that I could always count on her to do what was right...nothing wavering.

I love when she would imitate Solveig the dog.

I love that Hannah was her dog and how she was able to understand and appreciate her neurotic, protective canine personality.

I love the memory of her singing Olivia Newton John and John Denver songs. "I'll walk in the rain by your side" will always be my personal lullaby.

I love that she is my mom. I love that she has supported me through all the times and seasons of my life and been my biggest cheerleader. I love how much time she has spent on her knees praying for me. I am aware that so much of my life has been blessed by the faith, prayers, and love of my parents.

I love my Mo. And while I miss her desperately, I wouldn't wish for her to be any other place than where she is. I love her tenacity in learning and speaking Swedish. I love her determination to be the best she can be and do all the Lord has asked her to do. I love that she gets frustrated and discouraged and keeps on going. I love her blogs and insights and her beautiful face.

I think it might be time for more singing and some princess torte...

Oh dear...what a tiny princess torte! But we'll sing some more and this time we'll have Papa do the part at the end of the Swedish birthday song (no offense Chris!). After cake, we'll go upstairs and lay on the guest room bed and maybe she'll be willing to read me a story before bed. Then maybe we'll watch an episode of the Simpsons in German before taking our full bellies and turning in for the night.

Yeah, that is exactly how I'd do it.

Happy, happy birthday my wonderful mom! I am so glad you were born! What a wonderful life! We love you and are so grateful you in our lives!!!!

All my love,
Amy

P.S. Go visit my Mo at her blog...she has pictures...which is more than I have since my laptop is visiting the "computer doctor" right now. She is really pretty...go see!