Happy Mom's Day

So, I promised I would write a diddy about my mommy-not just because I did about my dad, but because I don't think I tell her often enough how much she means to me and how grateful I am to have her in my life! She really is an inspiration to me and has been to so many others. I am going to do bullet points because I feel that I sort out my feelings better that way. (Not in any particular order...)

Nola Dorothea Matthews Collier

• She is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She has the sweetest most gentle and contagious smile. She is graceful and as my dad would say, FOXY!
• She will always be honest with you, even if you don't expect it!
• She has the most beautiful singing voice in the world. I miss hearing it as much as I used to when I was a kid. She'd sing in Sacrament meetings frequently. Our little friends used to come to us and tell us they wanted a CD of her singing. I'd love it when she'd sing "O, Divine Redeemer" with my sister Delinda accompanying it. And especially when my brother Greg would sing it with her. So beautiful.
• When I was little, I used to love laying on her tummy and loved hearing it make noises. It was the most comfortable place for me to be. Especially when she'd stroke my brow and play with my hair. I remember her telling me she wanted to lose weight once and being so distraught that I'd have no where to rest anymore! (I still to this day like my brow to be stroked though, "'Troke Mama"!)
• You cheeky little thing you!
• Her stories from South Africa as a child and what it was like for her there and back then -it seemed like a fairy tale to me. I still love to hear them over and over.
• She listens when you have something to get off your chest and always offers profound advise. It's not always what I'm ready to hear- but 85% of the time it's applicable!
• She has a love of history and books and loves to learn.
• She has a wonderful and strong testimony of the Gospel, and has Faith enough for all of us. She loves the Lord and knows that he will always watch over her as long as she's doing her part.
• She's always been such a good teacher, not only to her children- but to her voice and piano students. There have been countless times I'd hear a student come to the house for a lesson and instead of music I'd her soft talking or laughing as my mom coached them in life and/or just listened to them. Her students always loved and admired her and looked up to her. Most of them still keep in touch with her because of the profound affect she's had on their lives.
• She has a good, good heart and wants the best for all.
• I love her laugh, especially when she gets going really good and you can't stop her! Her little nose and eyes scrunch up and her face turns red and it's so cute!
• She loves all of her 6 children SO much. She is always so interested in what's going on in our lives and wants to know how to help us make it even better.
• She is SO talented musically. She can sing your pants off, has a song for everything, and can teach a tone-deaf teenager to sing like a bird!
• Is a wonderful cook and has taught me lots about it all. I hope I can be as good a cook as she is someday!
• Has a wonderful sense of humor and knows how to make you smile and laugh.
• I am so glad that she got to be here for my wedding and to see me get married. It was the most wonderful thing to have my family here that could come to see me and my love get married, and one thing I will always remember is her helping me get ready before hand. My bouquet had lace from her wedding dress wrapped around where I held it. That was an extra special touch! I loved it!
• She's a wonderful Grandma and loves her grandchildren oh so much! I can't wait for her to know my little kiddies and to love them and cuddle them and to sing them to sleep!
• Another favorite memory: singing "Go To Sleep My Baby" to me... I will keep that going mom! My kids will know and love that song too!
• If you're a guy, and you know my mom, don't worry if she calls you "ugly thing". That means she likes you. If she doesn't call you that... well, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe that means she only kind of likes you! he, he!
• She has taught me so much; good values, good principles, manners (in certain situations), gracefulness, and dignity...always dignity!
• I think my mom has always worried about being an older mom to me since she had me when she was 42, but it's never even crossed my mind as something that's bothered me. I remember a teacher's aide at school saying "Oh look, you're grandma is here to pick you up" one time in elementary school when really it was my mom- but I am proud to have an older mom. We keep each other going!

I love my mom a lot. I am such a lucky girl to have parents that love me and my siblings, each other and the Lord all so very much. I could go on and on... in fact, I'll probably remember something else to go on the list even after this is published- but I hope you and she will get the picture! I am such a fortunate and blessed woman to have the people in my life that I do. Especially my parents who have been amazing examples to me. I want to be a good wife, mother, friend and daughter because of my mom. I want to be as supportive of my husband as my mom is of my dad. I want to be a good mommy and love my kids and teach them as much as my mom has. I want to be a strong minded and happy woman like my mom is. I want to keep the spice of life in my bones for as long as my mom has! Happy Mother's Day Momma and to all of you who are mothers too! (And to those who aren't quite mother's yet but want to be and will be someday!)