Aloha 5/15/13

Aloha!

I am going to see if I can finally catch up on my blog!  I wanted to say thank you family for having a work detail on the 4th for Mom's pre-birthday celebration. You all did great and it was fun to hear from you.

On the 8th, we had our District meeting in Waianae, but I was still jet lagging and in pain so I stayed home.  They had interviews w/ the President on Tuesday the 7th while I was winging my way back to Oahu.

The 9th was my mother's 93rd birthday and visited w/ her on the phone.  I am inserting my talk that I gave on Mother's Day. Sis McGiven attended the temple and that evening we attended the Tongan Branch "break the fast" and listened to a Tongan brother from SLC discuss Family HIstory.  

Friday, I bit the dust and got my hair cut.

Saturday morning we attended the Stake Seminary breakfast and graduation program.  We had two girls from the Tongan Branch graduating.  Kesia Fifita and Solove Naufahu.  They are such cute girls.

Saturday afternoon I received a beautiful bouquet of red roses from Kevin for Mother's Day.  I was wondering if I was going to get some flowers.  He came through.  Thank you, Bud. 

At 5:30 pm we met the Sr. couples at Hale'iwa Joes for dinner.  It was a fun evening of dining and visiting.   Home to finish up our talks.

Sunday, on Mother's Day I was able to hear from all my children. Kevin... his family had just left on a Disney cruise, Shane, Erika and Josh were having dinner w/ Erika.  Jared had just finished fixing a huge meal for Heather.  The girls weighed in late.   Genise had her children down and Matt and London had fixed dinner.  Michelle was exhausted from a long day of work.  I love all my children and grand-children and the happiness they bring me.

My Mother's Day didn't start off too great.  I started getting a low grade fever and then chills.  I called the Elder's to give me a blessing before church so I could give my talk.  After the meetings, I went directly to the car and waited for Sis McGiven to attend Sunday School and Relief Society. The nice dinner I had planned got derailed.  I came home and hit the sack and have pretty much laid low all week.

I am going to add my talk....

The Importance of Mothers'

Are We All Not Mothers'... some thoughts of Sheri Dew

What happened in our Pre-mortal home?  We were taught by Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother and then came into our second estate to be tried, tested and to see if we would do all that we promised.  Eve was called the Mother of All Living.  Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed pre-mortally with the privilege of motherhood.

Pres. Hinckley stated, "God planted within women something divine.  That something is the gift and the gifts of motherhood."  John A. Widstoe commented on those that are never to be mothers here... "Women who through no fault of their own cannot exercise the gift of motherhood directly, may do so vicariously."  Some of us, must simply find other ways to mother and all around us are those who need to be loved and led.

In Relief Society General Meeting on September 23, 1995, Pres. Gordon B Hinckley issued to the women, "The Family:  A Proclamation to the World." AND then made this statement.... "You are the guardians of the hearth. You are the bearers of the children.  You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives.  No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God." Satan has declared war on motherhood and the family.  We are nurturers. From Daughters in My Kingdom, page 156 it reads: "Nurture is a rich word.  It means to train, to teach, to educate, to foster development, to promote growth, and to nourish or feed."

Sister Julie B. Beck taught about the role of nurturing:  "To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow.  Therefore, mothers should create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes.  Another word for nurturing is homemaking.  Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes and keeping and orderly home.  Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world.  Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate."

I would like to tell about two special mothers' in my life.  I lost this special friend on January 7, 2013.  When I went home in December 2012 for my grandson's farewell, I was able to go to St George UT w/ my daughter Genise and tell Lynn goodbye.  She was such a stalwart mother, wife and friend.  As she battled cancer for 4 years... she remained faithful, strong and a great example to all her children, grand-children and all those whom she called friends.  She showed us that no matter how hard the trial, YOU forge ahead hanging onto that iron rod.  To me she showed how to endure to the end.   Then I read my poem, My Friend, Lynn that can be found on my blog dated 1/7/13.

The other mother I would like to talk about is my mother.

She just celebrated her 93rd birthday on May 9th.  What did she do to celebrate?  She went fishing.  She sat in a wheelchair, with oxygen bottles and her daughter Diane and her son Lee helping her bait the hook and take off the trout.  She only has a little vision left in her right eye.  She was really catching those trout.  Before she knew it she already had her limit of 5, so her son let her catch his 5 and her daughter let her catch one.  She caught 11 trout.  Talk about a fisher of men!!!

What I remember most about my mother as I grew up were:

1.  Learning to pray at her knee.  She has always had such tremendous faith.

2.  Her loving arms always ready to hug and encourage.

3.  Making each one of us feel special. There were 6 boys and 3 girls.

4.  When we did something bad we had to copy "The 23 Psalm"

5.  If we fought... we had to sit on the floor w/our arms around each other... usually we ended up laughing

6.  Joining the LDS church in 1959 and being sealed in the SL temple in Oct. 1960.

7.  Having spiritual discussions after joining the church.  It was like a light bulb went on.

8.  She was my friend and supported me in all my school activities.

9.  She was my Seminary teacher for 3 years.

10. She loved teaching and began in a 1 room school house.

11. She loves writing poetry and still can recite many of her poems.

12. She loves her family, get togethers and playing games; especially word games.

I have tried to emulate her love, laughter and ZEST for life.  I told her I'd see her in 3 months... to hang on.  Her health is getting fragile and I LOVE her greatly.  

I will close with a statement from Heber J. Grant.

"Motherhood is near to divinity.  It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.  It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.  To you mothers in Israel we say God bless and protect you, and give you strength and courage, the faith and knowledge, the holy love and consecration to duty, that shall enable you to fill to the fullest measure the sacred calling which is yours.

I hope all you mothers enjoy your special day.  Thank you, Sis Fifita for our beautiful leis.

To my daughters and daughter-in-laws, I love each of you and you are a joy to me and our family.  Love, Mom

Mahalo,

Sis Morris