One of my favorite things to do is to "rub shoulders" with Great Women. Smart Women. Strong Women. Kind Women. Women-Who-Know.
This Spring I had the opportunity to go with Eric to Area Husband and Wife (in Spokane) & EFY Session Director Training (in SLC). In the past I have always felt like the biggest perk of those trips were free tickets "home" to see either Eric's parents or Mine. This year, we stayed just for the meetings and I found myself feeling so blessed simply by associating with the Women.
The meetings themselves were GREAT, but the women at those meetings were even GREATER.
I'm not sure how to describe it . . . but just being around these GREAT women make me want to be better. Most of my interactions with them were simple. A conversation during lunch. A hello in the hallway. Just observing them from afar.
Most of my heroes are just ordinary, family loving, family defending, hard working, good-seeking women. Many of who don't even know that they are my heroes. So in honor of Mother's Day, I thought I'd pay tribute to a few "unknown" mothers that I adore:
Susan Fox-Mother of 9. So genuine. I remember one Sunday at church Susan came up to me and asked if she could take my twins for an afternoon. I cannot tell you how many well kind and willing people I had over the years say, "I'd love to take your boys sometime for you." or "Let me know if I can ever do anything to help." But it usually stops there, because I never ask. Susan was one of a handful that MADE it happen. I was so touched by that kindness. I had the chance to watch her for several years in Flagstaff and quickly realized that I was just one of hundreds that she reached out to and helped.
Megan Speaks-Mother of 3. Someone who has such an intimate relationship with the Atonement. She is wise and humble and seeking to do what is right. I love that she is so real and honest and a great example of not just knowing what she should be doing but DOING it.
Trish Freeman-Mother of 4 (we've already called dibs on her two girls and hope that someday they will each fall in love with a Bacon boy). Someone who just oozes goodness. I love how Trish doesn't conform to the norm, but stretches so much HIGHER. Take Sundays for example, at the Freeman house they don't play with their lightsabers, or toys or even read their everyday books. They've transformed Sunday into a truly different, special, amazing day. When she shared the idea with me, it was just something that seemed so obvious, so true, so right. . . I felt like a light when on and I was suddenly freed from my "cruise-control" just survive the day mentality. I know I am a better mom because I know Trish.
Tiffany Hopkinson-Mother of 4. I always really admired that Tiffany is a thinker. She really, REALLY thinks about things and internalizes their meaning, their value, their application. When Tiffany shares something I really try to listen because there always is a depth, born out of wisdom and complete sincerity, in her opinion. I think as I mature, I am slowly learning this art, this skill of really thinking.
Trish Beames-Mother of 5 (we've called dibs on four of her girls). She and her family just moved to Alaska, her husband is the "new" seminary teacher, taking over Eric's old position. We've been blessed to do a few things with them and I'm just amazed at her. . . she's like the FamilyFun magazine in action.
Stacey Lyon-Mother of 8. I get the impression that Stacey knows who she is and what she is suppose to be. She's not concerned with being at every social event. She's not concerned about having the latest fashions, the hippest hairstyle, the flock of friends following her. I doubt she has a cell phone or a ipod. But it only takes about 30 seconds to realize that Stacey is a great mother, a great teacher, someone who is very calm and kind and true.
Tammi Moon-Mother of 5. We had our twins just days apart, our husbands have the same job and so we share a lot in common. I love to just talk to her about what is working in their family. Like us, they would LOVE to have their family involved in a million things, but money and time and priorities (good, better, best) just doesn't allow it. Sometimes it feels good to just have back up that they way you are doing or struggling with something is okay and others understand.
Lisa Lee-Mother of 12. Sister Flake-Mother of 8. Two women that I get to visit with once every two years at our Area Husband & Wife Meetings. I don't really know either of them very well. But the spirit that they both carry with them buoys me and I find myself months after our meetings thinking of them and still aspiring to be like them. I always feel so encouraged in my role as a wife and mother after being around them.
