This Lady ...

... is one amazing person.

Today, Mom is 70+ years young, and she is as sharp, witty, sensible, kind, loving, gentle, thoughtful, cheerful, optimistic, funny, clever, smart, and graceful as they come. Happy birthday, Mom!

Some of Mom's favorite things include:
Reading (anything)
Writing
Listening to good music
Telling stories
Having "club" with Freda and Colleen
Creating memories
Spending time with her kids and grandkids
Eating (very important)
Being creative
Watching "The Price is Right", "Wheel of Fortune", and "Jeopardy"
Hanging out with our dog, Bear
Doing Family History
Sharing
Celebrating Christmas
Learning/Studying
Traveling
Spending time with her siblings
Shopping
Teaching
Doing missionary work
Attending the temple
Going to the movies
Indulging me (also very important)
Serving others
Being an awesome friend
Giving, giving, giving
Smiling

Some things Mom doesn't like include:
Planning meals
Cooking meals
Being cruel to anyone or anything
Swearing or using curse words
Learning anything new about the computer (although she can, and she does)
Being late
Sharing her fruit tart from Kneaders (or any dessert for that matter)
Frowning

Some of Mom's accomplishments include:
David Joe
Lisa Marne
Jonathan Paul
Andrea Kristine
Susan Elizabeth
Katherine Janae
Thirteen grandchildren
Three (and counting) great-grandchildren
Serving an individual mission to Chile
Marrying Joe in the Salt Lake Temple
Being a fantastic mother
Graduating from college
Sharing the gospel
Teaching middle school and high school
Supporting her family financially
Showing her children and grandchildren how important it is to have a good education
Loving and caring for her parents and two aunts
Serving two missions with Joe
Teaching Relief Society
Traveling to Europe twice - while chaperoning high school kids both times
Showing her children and grandchildren the importance of service and missionary work
Surviving the death of her husband, Joe, and her daughter, Susan
Finding lost ancestors and doing their temple work
Being a friend to everyone she meets

Some talents Mom has and shares:
Making Russian needle point creations
Writing
Playing Hooked on Words
Mastering the iPad
Creating pillows and other works of art with wool applique
Loving the scriptures and other good books
Studying gospel topics
Having an optimistic outlook about everything
Giving good advice - lots and lots of good advice
Making new friends
Being generous and kind

I could (and probably should) say a whole lot more about her, but it would take pages and pages of internet space. In fact, it would probably take up the whole internet to tell you everything I love about my mom. There would be no room for anyone else to share anything on the web. Not even Wikipedia could hold a candle to her quantity and quality of good attributes. She is an amazing mother, a loving and kind soul, an awesome sister and aunt, a gracious daughter, an incredible host, a classic entertainer, a funny-in-all-the-right-ways gal, an eternal optimist, a silver-lining finder, and the best friend I have ever had.

Here's to you, Mom. And here's to another 70+ years with us as long as you're healthy, happy, and want to be here. Happy birthday! I love you!!!