One Great Mother

This past week Jeff and I had the opportunity of having lunch with one of the sisters in his ward who is leaving on a mission along with her dear mother.  They live in Kansas, but the daughter was attending our ward when she applied for and received her mission call.  She had shared with Jeff some stories about her mom so when they flew out so she could check in at the MTC we jumped at the chance to have lunch with them.  This incredible lady has been a widow for nineteen years.  Her husband was on his way to a stake church meeting when he was involved in a head on crash with a semi.  She needed to go to the meeting earlier so she was already at the stake when she was notified of the accident.  At the time her youngest was 2 1/2 years old and she her two oldest children were in college.  She instantly became the single mother of nine children.  In the hour we spent with them she shared with us, after much prompting from me, a few of her idioms about life.  She told us she always taught her children to have an "Gratitude Attitude" and to be thankful for all the many blessing in their life.  She shared with us stories of when she needed to have Faith instead of Fear and how they can't be together simultaneously so she always tried to choose Faith.  She mentioned experiences when her children needed to "Bloom where they were planted" instead of being dissatisfied with their circumstances.  Oh how I wish I could of spent hours or even days with this remarkable mother and her daughter.  They were so simple in regards to material wealth and possessions but so rich with the spirit and with eternal beliefs.  I'm certain she has had many difficult and trying times while raising nine children.  I'm sure they haven't all always made wise choices.  I would love to hear her expound on marriage, motherhood and being sisters in the gospel.  There is so much sage wisdom wrapped up in this dear lady.  I'm constantly amazed at the strong women and mothers that I have the opportunity to meet. Many many families are in good hands with incredible mothers throughout the world.  I would love to learn everything they know about loving and sharing and helping those whose lives they touch.