One of the greatest things hands down of moving to Utah has been living close to my parents. My mom turned 79 years old today and we celebrated this morning by taking some quick pictures. Here are 79 reasons why I love her so…
- She makes the best rolls ever,
- she is an amazing artist,
- best waffle maker,
- comes from Holbrook AZ,
- a lady of great great faith,
- gardener,
- good at watercolor,
- amazing school teacher,
- loves to read,
- has a beautiful soprano voice,
- made the lead in a play in St. George after having baby number five (you go girl),
- she wears red lipstick,
- has beautiful silver hair,
- has a crazy-fun sense of humor,
- she says double damn (inherited it from Grandma Gibbons),
- has worked with the BYU alumni for years,
- taught me how to sew, crochet & quilt,
- can put food away & stay rail thin,
- has the cutest little bird legs,
- would practice herkie jumps with me when I was trying out for cheerleader in high school (she was in her 60’s people),
- used to play make me laugh with my girlfriends until we would cry with laughter from her famous gorilla face that she could make,
- makes the best German Chocolate cake,
- shares her birthday with her older sister Sandi and Michael Elcock,
- she had 9 children (God bless her that she didn’t stop with 8),
- she has a crazy fun sense of humor,
- she can work like a work horse,
- she’s effortlessly beautiful,
- she’s part of the “Greatest Generation”,
- lived through the depression,
- is thrifty and frugal,
- can make a meal out of anything,
- has held numerous callings within the church all while raising a great family,
- is a sweet companion to my father,
- taught us to be honest always,
- played the piccolo in jr. high and was a majorette,
- didn’t know how to make a sandwich when she got married,
- killed a rattle snake with a shovel,
- taught me to love tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and squash,
- found her on her knees many a time,
- is politically knowledgeable and not “apathetic”,
- wants to jump hurdles and play basketball in the hereafter,
- her eyes sparkle,
- crazy BYU fan,
- never told me I couldn’t do something,
- has volumes of journals,
- always believed in me and expected great things,
- best foot massager in the world (sorry Brian),
- she is loved by many,
- wants to make everything better for everyone,
- I remember her rocking me in the rocker when I was little and she still tries to rock me on occasion,
- has 42 and counting grandchildren,
- she loves the ocean and jumping waves,
- taught me how girls should behave,
- let me wallpaper my room and pick out my own carpet when I was in high school (wow),
- was girls camp director @ age 67 and made it so much fun!,
- truly makes the best raspberry jam in the world (Brian will vouch),
- I was her do-it-yourself grandchild,
- I watched her care for her mother with a horrible bout of cancer,
- she chased my brother, Jim, in a foot race several years back & caught him,
- has amazing arm muscles,
- is spontaneous (like jumping in the hot tub with all her clothes on just for kicks),
- always had FHE & daily scripture study,
- is a genealogy nut,
- loves animals,
- loves to camp,
- has a tender heart,
- can clean like a hurricane running through a house,
- makes awesome potato salad,
- put up with me as a teenager,
- used to play Candyland over and over with me when I was 5,
- she would wake me early in the summer and make me work in the garden,
- devoted and unwavering in her faith in God,
- loves this great country,
- can calm Lucy Ann like no on else can,
- served a mission in Thailand,
- saw 9 kids through CLOTH diapers,
- she comes from a musical family and she loves music,
- she makes a mean taco,
- I love her because she’s true blue one of a kind and she’s mine—my mother!
How lucky am I?!! I love you Mom!
Happy Birthday, Michael–we love you and miss you mucho! For more photos of my mama:
