Happy Mother's Day!

In the spirit of Mother's Day, I've been reflecting on important lessons learned from the wonderful women in my life.

Although almost 5 years have come and gone since her passing, my dear grandma continues having a great influence on me. Elena Rosa Mesa was the coolest, classiest, and best grandma in the world. For the last 5 years of her life, she moved into our home. I find myself doing some of the things that she would do, though at the time I thought it was weird or didn't understand the reason why. For example, before heading out the door Abuela would always brush her teeth for like 10-15 minutes. Seriously, who brushes their teeth for that long? Well, now I do. I still don't think that I have a reason for brushing them for that long. I don't think I ever will. It just feels good. Another thing that I have found myself doing is deep cleaning the whole apartment before we go away on vacation. Now, there is wisdom in this. When you come back from a relaxing time away from home, the last thing you want to do is come home to a dirty house! You already have to unpack, do laundry, yadda yadda yadda. She passed away while on vacation in Daytona, FL. When we came back home, there was not a trace of dust in her little efficiency apartment. Abuela was also extremely punctual. I haven't mastered this yet but I'm working on it! She was never late to church, to pick me up from school, or anything. I really admired and appreciated that. One thing about Abuela that I admired was her amazing cooking skills. She cooked everyday. When I came home from school, I'd have a delicious, warm meal ready to devour. As most of you know, I am an extremely picky eater. She always witnessed me picking out onions from my plate. The next day, she cooked my favorite meal "carne con papas y arroz blanco." I told her that it was delicious but that the flavor wasn't the same. She told me in Spanish, "Well there you go. I didn't put onions in this time." I love onions. Sunday dinners were the best. But she would prepare as much as possible Saturday night to keep the Sabbath day as holy as possible. She never told me her reasoning until I asked her one day. That was the way my grandma was. She lived her life going about doing good in a quiet manner. Above all, my grandma showed me that there was nothing more important in life than family. My last memories of her were helping me put stickers on candy for my campaign for the Student Government Vice-President position late into the night. It was late and we'd just talk and she'd call me "La Senadora" (the Senator). Another thing that she did a lot was watch me and my sister get ready when we were going out on the weekends. She'd suggest outfits and always complain that our lip color was too plain. She was a fan of reds and oranges when we would just wear nude lip gloss. Now every once in a while, I go bold with pink. She found joy in the simplest things in life, like seeing her granddaughters get all dolled-up. She never missed a show, pep-rally, dance competition, church talk, etc. Finally, she taught me that you never stop being a mother. 

From my mother, I learned that Halloween costumes are way better when they're homemade. That in order to cook all you need to do is "uno, dos, tres - Sazon Completa!" I learned to love dance and music. Our house was always full of music. When I go back to visit, it still is. Science fair projects can be fun - especially when you always won 1st place. I learned that purple is the best color in the universe cause it's both of our favorites. I learned that picking out your clothes and laying it out the night before saves you a lot of time and hassle in the morning. I learned that it's okay to listen to Christmas music in July, especially when you're working on Christmas ornaments or stockings. My mother has a love for holidays. She would always decorate to the max and bring the holiday spirit into our home. It was definitely contagious. My sister and I both love decorating our apartments for each and every holiday. I learned that half of the things in the store can be made at home. Whenever I see something I like - a skirt, necklace, some decorative thing, etc. - she says that she knows how to make it. And she's right. She has the ability to see something and understand how it got to be that way. Lucky her. One thing I regret now that I'm away from home is not taking the time to learn more from her. She knows how to sew, crochet, cook great, make beautiful floral arrangements, gift wrap like if there was a Santa, and the list goes on forever. When I was younger and was learning about Leonardo da Vinci, I thought that my mom was as cool as he was. He knew how to do everything. So did she. So I called her the "Renaissance Woman." My mom always bugged me about making my bed every morning. Sometimes I did, other times I didn't. Now it is one of my greatest pet peeves. If the bed isn't made, it drives me insane. Poor Blaine hears my nagging and complaining about the bed not being done the days he sleeps in. Now that I have my own teeny apartment, I have come to appreciate my mother a lot more. There are only two of us and I feel that I'm always doing laundry, making the bed, cleaning, doing dishes, cooking, etc. I never understood how much hard work it takes to run a home! I wish I would've helped out more, instead of dodging chores like if it were some evil curse placed upon me. An adage that I will always associate my mother with is - "Be productive." Whenever I told her that I was bored, that's how she'd respond.

I'm blessed to have an aunt that is like my mom. She doesn't just send a card for my birthday and calls every other month. This woman is involved in my life. She knows me as well as I know myself. She cares for me like my mother does. She has shown me that love knows no bounds. When Blaine proposed back in December 2009, she was in Gatlingburg Tennessee. Although they had spoken before, she wasn't going to be able to meet Blaine till the summer. We were leaving Miami before her stay in Tennessee was over. With the support of her amazing husband, Ulises, they left a day early and drove 14 straight hours to catch us at the airport for just 5 minutes. Sounds crazy, maybe it is but it makes me feel so loved and special every time she does something like that. I have been the recipient of that love ever since I was born. She spoiled us growing up (and still does). Every Saturday she'd take Damaris and I to the mall. She was also there for every show or event. She helps me edit papers, talks, whatever is needed. She gives all of herself unconditionally - always. She was an aunt since age 19. She had 2 to 3 jobs at a time (to help provide for us) and went to school. And she still found the time to see us everyday. When we all lived together back in the day, I'd patiently wait for her to get home by the window. Having tia come home from work must've been the most exciting part of my day. She has given me wise counsel in times that I've needed it the most. She has taught me to "take it one day at a time" and to not care what people think. Tia has taught me the difference between a situation and a problem. A situation is something that has a solution. A problem is something that can't be fixed. Thanks to Tia, my life has a lot of situations and very, very few problems. One thing I've learned from Tia is that you can be a successful professional and a great mother. Not only is she involved in her nieces and nephews lives, but she has a family of her own! She is there for every school party, dance, show, award ceremony, little league practice, basketball game, karate class, field trip, etc. She's like the Energizer Bunny. She just keeps on going and going and going. When I first came out to BYU, my family had some trouble adjusting to the time change. Tia wakes up super early. So she'd text or call me when she woke up (never later than 6:00 AM). That is 4:00 AM Mountain  Standard Time. Once when I was already in Miami for the summer, I received a text from Tia at 3:30 AM. I was sleepy and was used to thinking that it was 2 hours earlier on the east coast. Later on I came to the realization that I wasn't in MST. She was awake at the time! She is one of the most productive persons that I know and also one of the happiest.

Now, my sister isn't a mother (yet) but I feel that she has been training since the day I was born. Obviously I don't remember this, but my mom would tell me that Damaris would bring two diapers out after our bath - one for herself and one for me. Although we're only a year and 8 months apart, she has always been there to support and comfort me. She gives me advice - from which lockers were the best in high school to how to file my taxes. She has been a guiding hand in my life. Damaris cares about Papo and I like if she were our mother. She was my escort at the temple and an example of a believer my whole life. When I was younger, I thought that all sisters had this type of relationship. Now, I realize that this isn't so. She doesn't have to care about us the way she does. There is rarely any fighting, jealousy, competition, or any of that sort of stuff that you see in TV shows. On the contrary, she is caring, nurturing, loving, supportive...just like a great mother would be!

In addition to the wonderful women in my family, I have been blessed with a mother-in-law that I truly love. I'm so grateful for her and for the relationship that we have. She also gives me advice and is just extremely supportive of both Blaine and I. I never imagined that I could chat with my mother-in-law on the phone for as long as we do and find it enjoyable! I really cherish those phone calls and the random packages that brighten my day. All of the women in Blaine's family are unique. Both grandmas are sweet yet strong women with admirable lives. The same can be said of his sisters and aunts. From being a single parent to having twins to surviving the deployment of her husband, I have learned lots from these mothers of all walks of life. It is my hope that I can prepare now as much as possible to be half of the mother that all these women are!

I saw this video last mother's day but I think that it's worth watching again (even on regular days!)

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there! 

You are greatly appreciated & loved!