Mothers Come In Many Forms ...

Mother's Day is almost here! I love this holiday because, even though I may not have my own mother here to pamper and celebrate, I get to pay tribute to all the beautiful women in my life who have been such great examples of love, service, and motherhood.

I am blessed with a wonderful step-mother who took on eight children when she married my Dad ... and she has stayed with us for 18 years! That alone is worth celebrating. She has been, and continues to be, a great companion to my father, a wonderful grandmother to my children, and a caring and loving step-mother and friend to my siblings and me. I don't know what we would do without her.

I am blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. I am grateful for the mother she was and is to her kids and for the wonderful son she raised. I admire the friendship she has with her children and the relationship she strives to maintain with her growing grandchildren.

I am blessed with beautiful aunts who have always been so loving and supportive. They have always shown they love my siblings and me as though we were their own.

I am blessed with an "other mother". She was one of my mother's closest friends and she was always there with a listening ear and a helping hand.

I am blessed with my mother's dear friends. These women have remained close friends to my siblings and me and feel as close as family.

I am blessed with wonderful young women leaders from my youth who remain friends with me today. These women were great examples of how to serve those around you and be an example of Christ wherever you are.

I am blessed with sweet visiting teachers, neighbors, and friends in my neighborhood who are the kind of friends and neighbors I want to be. They love and serve with full hearts and I am grateful for each one of them.

I am blessed with sisters and sisters-in-law, whom I love and think of as my own sisters. I love the friendships that we share and the memories we have made over our years of being mothers side by side.

So, this Mother's Day, I want to say "Thank You!" to all these beautiful women in my life. Thank you for shaping me, influencing me, lifting me, and loving me. Thank you for your example and friendship. I feel very blessed that I have so many wonderful mother figures in my life to celebrate!
Happy Mother's Day!

(I want to thank LDS Bookstore for helping make this Mother's Day special for those who entered to win the Mother's Day Give-A-Way. We had a huge response and I know four lucky moms will be a little happier on Mother's Day. To find your mom ... or yourself ... something special, go to ldsbookstore.com).

Mothers