our mothers

Today is a very special day where we are able to celebrate our wonderful mothers and all that they have done for us.  Grant and I are both blessed to have exceptional mothers, which means that we both have great mothers-in-law as well!  We would like to take some time today to express our love and appreciation for our great moms!

Mother Parker:
Ever since I was little I have always been "Mommy's little girl."  We've always been close.  I was lucky, or should I say my parents were lucky, that I never went through that teenage stage where I wasn't close to my parents.  My mom has always meant a lot to me and I valued her opinion more than anything.  I've always looked up to my mom and hoped that I would become like her someday.

I remember when I was little and too scared to sleep in my own room, my mom would come upstairs and "lay with us" until my brother and I were ready to fall asleep in his room.  Those are some of my favorite memories.  She would tell us stories and jokes and most nights we would end up laughing until we cried.  I am grateful for all of the learning opportunities my mom would make even when we didn't notice at the time that we were learning anything.

I have learned so much from my mom.  She is an amazing example of compassion, optimism, and seeing the good in others.  I have learned from her to notice the little things people do that make them special.  This has really come in handy as I've been teaching and sometimes struggle to see how my students are cute.  My mom should've been a teacher.  When she was here for graduation she was able to visit my class and they were completely captivated by her.  She is amazing with children.  

I admire my mom's creativity and do-it-yourself attitude.  She's the handyman in the home and always willing to find ways to fix things or do her own projects.  Those are some traits that I wish I would've inherited from her, but I am still learning.

My mom has a strong testimony of the gospel.  She is understanding and loving, which helps her to work with anyone and everyone.  She always strives to do the best with anything she undertakes.

Mom, know that you have a family that loves you.  We're grateful for you and your example and all that you have done for us.  Happy Mother's Day!

Mother Zinn:

It's a pretty amazing feat to go through 10 pregnancies.  The difficulties and hardships of having a baby inside of you for some 90 months your life does say something about you.  (I'm just glad you made it to number 8 :)  I thought I'd put up a picture that I think does a pretty good job portraying these difficult times of pregnancy...

(That baby in there did come out to be 11 pounds...)

I am so grateful for my mother.  To have the patience to raise 8 children is pretty remarkable, and we all turned out to be pretty good kids if you ask me.  And I don't think that is a coincidence.  We all had a loving mother that taught us the principles of the gospel through her example.  One thing I learned from my mother is the importance of loving others through service.  She would do anything for her children and sacrificed a great deal for us all.  And she still continues to be a great influence in my life.

Just look at how we've all grown up over the years!  It just seemed like yesterday that we all still lived under the same roof!

And I couldn't go without giving thanks to my other mothers that helped raise me as well.  All of those times you had to take me to your friends houses and those Taco Bell trips may have been a drag for you but you know you love it too :)

Thanks Mom for all that you've done and continue to still do for your children.  I'm so blessed to have you as my mother!