Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Treasuring my mom

I had the unexpected pleasure of keeping my mom at my house last weekend. I picked my mom up Saturday morning to take her to a family baptism but got a text a few hours later that her caretakers Sam and Marla were headed to the hospital to greet their baby boy Parker! It was actually great timing - we came home later in the day, I got my mom resting while Riley mowed the lawn and I went to her house in Springville to gather up some things thinking she'd only stay one night but getting pills and clothes that would last through Monday, if needed. She was already in church clothes for the baptism so I only needed to get casual clothes, plus all the rest of her gear.

Having her for the weekend was a treat! She always has a smile on her face, even if she can't hear well or join in like she used to. She loved seeing Devin Watson get baptized and enjoyed visiting with family after that event. She relaxed with us Saturday night, watching the birds as she likes to do in our sunroom where Riley has bird feeders set up just outside our big windows.

I sat next to her in church the next day and thought back to times when I was young. My best memories are in the old 8th ward church in Springville. I'd sit next to my mom and my twin brother Kelly and take the sacrament as she or dad passed it to us. I passed it to her on Sunday, grateful for her honest, reverent heart and love of the gospel. The woman next to her said, "I knew you when you lived in Brookside many years ago" and they proceeded to chat about that. Fun for my mom! My ward friends have always been so kind and friendly to my mom - she's attended our ward or other activities many times in the past 14 years. She was happy so many came up and said hi to her.

Sunday was our daughter Amy's birthday and we were having a party for her that my mom would have attended anyway so having her at the house already was great. She sat in the kitchen and talked to me while I got food and decorations ready. Our house was full of family, friends, fun and food for many hours and my mom never got tired of being in the middle of it. Later that evening I told her I wanted to keep her one more night and she agreed, (although she was concerned about her cats. Amy said she'd check in on them). I also tempted her with a shoe shopping trip on Monday morning and we were able to find her some new, comfortable shoes that day.

It was fun to tuck my mom into bed and wake her in the morning. She did that for me so many times - it was my turn to do that for her. I love my mom. She tells me she is sad she is old and can't do things like she used to do. I am sad for her. But I tell her it's her time to relax and let others do things and to enjoy the things she can. I think she believes that but wishes she could do more. I just treasure the time I get to spend with her since we don't know how much longer we have together.