Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

This post is dedicated to you and all your greatness!  We all took some time to answer a short questionnaire about you.  Enjoy!

Describe your first memory of mom.

Heather:  

My earliest memory of mom is her reading to me in bed.  I think we were living with Pam White or maybe Pam was just around a lot, Pam had a gecko or some other lizard & mom used to read to me & stroke my hair.  Another early memory I have is sitting on the porch of our 1st Provo house together in the evening – here is where is gets weird, eating raw potatoes w/ salt?!?  I’m wondering now if it was jamica or some other veg that I couldn’t ID at the time.  Before I moved from Provo last year, I took mom out for lunch & we drove around looking at all the places we’d lived.  I know the house that the potato memory comes from now which is really cool.  I don’t think I asked her about the potatoes at that time though – or I did and her answer was probably, perhaps I like the mystery.

Luke: 

Hard to say. I definitely have lots of early memories in general. Could be when I would go into her room because I had nightmares about INFINITY (NOT BIG NUMBERS FAMILY, THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY A 5-YEAR OLD COULD EXPRESS IT....INFINITY!!!!!!!) Could also be when she would say "ride em cowboy" when I was on my metal horse in Taiwan.

Mary: 

I was in 1st or 2nd grade and something had happened in school that had made me feel very sad and embarrassed.  I remember mom and I sitting on the stairs as I told her everything that had happened.  I cried and cried and mom hugged me and held me for a long time.  I was so sad and at the same time I remember loving being on the stairs, with mom holding me.

Liz:

First memory of mom is when she whispered to me I was her favorite and to never tell anyone else...I think I was like...1.....

HAHAHAHA JKJKJKK...no I remember how much I LOOVOVVEEEDD sleeping with mom since I could remember...SHAMU!!!  I just remember I loved being around her..going to her seminary class and sitting under the table and looking at all the cute boys..or driving in the car and stopping at the nearest Burger King for a Diet Coke...ahhhh..the days of just following mom...

Elena:

Picking me up from the orphanage.

Carlin:

Laying down in Liz swindles studio while she talks about what we'll be doing in Africa.

Jackson:

Zambia 2007

Describe a memorable conversation with mom.

Heather:

Just one?  All of my conversations with mom are memorable.  I regularly reach out to her for insight, advice, feedback…  She has always generously responded by connecting with her heart & telling me exactly what I needed to hear.  I love talking to mom about intention, personal power creating my life – I don’t love talking to her about the Democratic Party.  Once she explained to me how to focus on and be grateful for certain aspects in my partner, even though he did not at that time display those characteristics she convinced me to give gratitude.  Within a day, seemingly out of the blue & for the 1st time ever, I asked him to do a household chore & he did it in excellence without complaining.  I swear it was a miracle.  Mom is great about sharing her wisdom & inspiring me to grow as a person bc she herself is committed to personal growth.

Luke:

When she and I talked after Mary and Liz had just undergone an epic meltdown before going to see some concert together (don't remember which).

Mary:

  I was 17 and mom and I were in the car together.  I was complaining about how I felt so dysfunctional and so different from all my friends who seemed to have such normal lives and problems.  I said I felt as if I was full of holes.  Mom said, in a very firm tone, "Well, what do you think the atonement is for?  That is why we have the atonement of Jesus Christ - to fill in the holes.  So if there are holes in you, it is because you have not asked Christ to fill them."  That lesson changed my life.  I have thought back on that moment and that lesson throughout my life and it has dramatically influenced the decisions I have made.

Liz:

I remember the day in Africa a few years ago when I sat mom down and I have never felt more Christ like love in a conversation in my life.  It's like we both saw each other's real self.  We had had some crazy past weeks and I remember just wanting to tell her how amazing she was..and we cried...and laughed and it was the closest I've ever felt to her.

Jackson:

Talking at the chikusu's in Zambia this year 

Describe a memory with mom that makes you laugh out loud.

Heather:

When I was a freshman in HS & we were living in Ranch Penasquitos I ditched school frequently.  One mid morning – mom drove past me, walking from school to the local 7-11 smack in the middle of my school day.  Mom flipped an aggressive U-turn & came after me.  When she caught up with me she pulled me into our mini-van & returned me to school.  We stopped in the office where let the secretary know where she had found me, she also asked where I was supposed to be during that class period.  Math – a class I shared with several older students & one I was not doing particularly well in.  Mom marched me into the class, sat me down in an empty seat & introduced herself to the teacher – she then stood directly behind me for the remainder of the class.  What makes this story so ridiculous is that mom was driving home from teach her morning aerobics class.  She was wearing a pink tank, pastel pink & grey zebra striped skin tight capri’s – she even had the workout underwear on the outside of her pants as was fashionable at that time. 

I also remember going on the Allie & Jack show, we sat down on set & mom looked at me & said – it’s like I’ve forgotten how to sit, my body feels so awkward –  do I look like I am sitting OK?  I felt the same way, a combo of the cameras & awkward chairs – it was a great way to lighten the moment. 

Luke:

When we were in the Dominican Republic and spent about an hour trying to figure out how to get off this bridge (a special u-turn in our car) and we just kept going in circles, and every dominican that we asked would give us the worst instructions, to the point that Mom was unable to speak...she just closed her eyes and laughed and laughed while they were talking to us.

Mary:

  Being in India, silently screaming as boulders rolled down our tin roof hut.

Liz:

My guts are hanging out...nuff said.

Elena:

Mom making me read in the car right behind her, then a stinky smell came in the car.  I asked mom if she farted, she said i did it, and she could smell it from way up in the front. 

Jackson:

talking about how zambians phrase things

Tell about something you thought she was wrong about but later learned she was right.

Heather:

God

Luke:

That Liz's smell stemmed from IBS.

Mary:

Sex.  Mom told me about sex when I was 9 (I think) and I thought she was completely insane - I thought she was totally off her rocker and  there was no way anyone, anywhere would do that.  When I was 23 I took an anatomy class and learned she was right.

Liz:

Ha..I remember my sweet mother trying to tell me in high school that it was not the end of the world to not be at every event, party, thing going on...and as I would PANIC at the mere thought of "missing out" on the moments...she would tell me....someday..most if not all these people will not be in your life..but your family will...and I was like..YEAH RIGHT MOM!! WE'RE GONNA ALL BE BFFF'S FOR LIFE..but lo and behold she was right.

Jackson:

Anything I thought she was wrong about.

What is mom's theme song?

Heather:

John Legend – If You’re Out There

Luke:

"Ain't No Mountain high Enough"

or

"You've Got to Give a Little Bit to your Brother"

or

Anything by Reba McEntire

Mary:

  I'm Every Woman, Chaka Khan

Liz:

CONGA  Gloria Estefan..Hands down...if you've seen mom dance you know the rhythm has gotten her...and the music just reminds me of her

Elena:

you dont own me , first wives club

Carlin:

You lift me up -Josh Groban

Jackson:

whatever the song is that her ringtone is

What is her Hogwarts House and why?

Heather:

Ravenclaw – bc she values knowledge & wit above the other qualities & eagle is her mascot.

Luke:

Ravenclaw. "Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind;"

Mary:

  Ravenclaw - NO DUH!  Cuz she's so smart!

Liz:

RavenClaw...let's be honest...mom is the most obnoxiously least competitive person..and RavenClaw was never really in the running of any competition...Yes mom..this is a reminder that you cheering for the other teams in high school still boggles me to this day..:)

Elena:

 ravenclaw

Carlin:

Raven Claw because I think that's the super smart house.

Jackson:

Gryphindor. Shes too nice to be anything else

Name the celebrity that she most resembles.

Heather:

Jane Fonda – see above story. 

Luke:

Linda Cohn. Best female sportscaster ever.

Mary:

  Reba McEntire and Oprah Winfrey 

Liz:

I once saw a picture of mom in front of a van and thought..Man she looks like the foxy daughter on Partridge family....

Carlin:

A young attractive one that only plays strong female roles?

Would she be a werewolf or a vampire (Twilight)?

Heather:

I took a quiz online & it says she’s a vegetarian vampire, but my initial thought was werewolf – having zero idea what this question means. 

Luke:

Vampire

Mary:

Werewolf - Warm blooded and protector of the tribe

Liz:

Werewolf...cause if she was a whiny vampire..I couldn't be around her as much.

Elena:

vampire

Carlin:

Vampire

Jackson:

Vampire

List 3 words that describe mom.

Heather:

Inspirational, lovable, wise

Luke:

Loving. Giving. Motivated.

Mary:

Sassy, Smart, Loving

Liz:

Smart, hardworking, loving

Elena:

 vibrant, intelligent, compassionate

Carlin:

Knowledgable, patient, hardworking 

Jackson:

Loving. Generous. Kind. 

What is her catch phrase?

Heather:

Why are you creating that?

Luke:

I've got miles you can use.

Mary:

NOYDB

Liz:

Be the Change!

Elena:

oh sweetheart

Carlin:

Be the Change!

Jackson:

Be the Change!

Tell us her superhero name and power.

Heather:

Ginoheart – sharing love in abundance

Mary:

Divine Diva - elevating people to higher frequencies

Liz:

Word Warrior Light Queen-  Power to change and influence others with her words and light..and she can fly..cause she would really like that.

Elena:

Katio!

Jackson:

Kat-woman. Super smart-ness

What is her greatest talent?

Heather:

Her ability to self-reflect & embrace personal growth

Mary:

  Intelligence

Liz:

Public Speaking.

Elena:

Dancing

Carlin:

her ability to juggle her family, work, and church life

Jackson:

Getting things done

List a scripture or saying that makes you think of mom.

Heather:

Be the change you want to see in the world –  Gandhi & Which child is not mine…. 

Luke:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me"

Mary:

  Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Liz:

Those who say it can't be done need to get out of the way of those doing it.

-chinese proverb

Elena:

3 Nephi 3:7

Carlin:

Wether you think you can, or you hunk you can't, you're probably right.

Jackson:

Be the change you wish to see in the world!

What is her favorite Movie?

Heather:

Thornbirds – it’s a miniseries

Luke:

Overboard

Mary:

An Affair to Remember  

Liz:

Anything John Cusack or Goldie Hawn

Elena:

Steel Magnolias

Carlin:

Hancock

Jackson:

Anything but What to Expect When Your Expecting

What is her Favorite Song?

Heather:

Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight

Luke:

Good Vibrations

Mary:

 I Heard it through the Grapevine, Babylove, Proud Mary

Liz:

Anything Michael Bolton

Elena:

I Love to see the temple

Carlin:

She listens to music by her self?

Jackson:

I don't even have a guess

What is her favorite dessert?

Heather:

Hot Tamales & popcorn

Luke:

Skip dessert, let's do chips and salsa instead.

Mary:

Brownies

Liz:

Anything chocolate and nuts

Elena:

Brownies of M&Ms

Carlin:

Ice Cream

Jackson:

Cake

What is her favorite color?

Heather:

Blue

Luke:

Red

Mary:

Green

Liz:

Blue

Elena:

Red or Blue

Carlin:

Orange

Jackson:

Purple

What is her favorite thing to do on the weekends?

Heather:

Motorcycle ride with Phillip, be in nature, read, attend church.

Luke:

Watch a movie in a clean house

Mary:

Double feature with popcorn, hot tamales and a diet coke

Liz:

Hang with her family...and see movies..and clean..she loves to clean

Elena:

Read or go to the movies

Carlin:

Read

Jackson:

Movies

We love you!!!!