Motherhood

It’s hard for me to describe myself without mentioning that I’m a wife and a mother. It’s who I’ve always planned on being ever since I was a little girl and I’m doing it. I’m might not be as wonderful at it as I’ve imagined…some days worse, other’s better, but it’s who I am. It’s what I’m most proud of and brings me the fullest joy. I am thankful to Laun and our children for letting me be me- wife and mother.

We didn’t get a digital camera until 2007, right before Cooper was born.

Here’s just some pictures of my motherhood journey:

Cooper and I

All these pictures were taken in UMC in Tucson, AZ.

We never got to bring Cooper home- He was taken by c-section at 31 weeks and only lived for 2 weeks.

This was when we lived in Whitney, Idaho. It’s what makes me want to buy a home in the country. I was pregnant with Marlee and my boys all looked sharp in their suits (they all wore them for Cooper’s funeral).

Turley Family Reunion (Marlee was just a little baby still)- Yellowstone & Jackson Hole.

Back in Tucson again- I still can’t believe how much Clayton has grown since then! He’s way taller than me now!

A fun spot in Tucson- one of the Saguaro National Parks.

Carter was born in the same hospital as Cooper, pretty special.

And today, not only do we have these cute kids, but we have another sister due on July 11th and we are excited. I forgot to get a picture with the kids after church, so car selfie it was, on our way to Aunt Julie’s for dinner.

 

And how can I have a Mother’s Day without thinking of my own mother, who was such a great example to me of motherhood.

I love this picture of my family growing up. My dad was really 35 years old, not 36, they didn’t realize the candles were wrong until after the picture. I truly love this mom of mine who packed me around in so many body casts. I’ve never felt that I can repay her, but I guess I am in another sort of way as I follow her example and have cared for Carter in his body casts.

mom & her girls

I’ve often called my mom angel, because she is.

Some things I’ve really appreciated her for is:

reading to me as a child

teaching me to turn to the scriptures when I was scared

caring for me after all my surgeries

home cooked meals & treats

sewing me so many dresses for school dances

loving me unconditionally

talking with me

being so content and positive

raising me with the gospel and living the gospel

l love you mom!

 

And I am ever so grateful for my mother in law, Lucy.

I love this picture of her with her Hall children. It wasn’t taken long after Mike passed away and if you look closely you can see a picture of Mike and her young family on the end table.

Clayton and Lucy- this was taken in 2008, right before we moved to Idaho.

Lucy with all her children, except for Jonathan-November 2015.

 

Some of the things I love and appreciate about her:

She gave birth to an amazing human being, my husband and father to my children, Laun.

She persevered so much while being a mother. Her husband died when she had 6 kids ages 7 years old to 7 months young. And she was a single mom for a long time and even finished her degree to care for her family, amazing! Even when she got married later on and had a 7th child and step children, she still worked and helped her family in endless ways.

Lucy was my young women's leader for awhile, she taught me a lot.

She can sew and has done a lot of it in her lifetime.

When we used to live close by, she was my grocery shopping buddy.

She is a wonderful grandma.

She’s thrifty and can cook pretty much anything.

She has amazing faith in God.

I love you Lucy!