MY MOM!!!!!! We celebrate 75 years of her life this year!! She is an amazing woman and I would be happy to turn out half as wonderful and her!!

She raised me and my two brothers for 7 years alone. It was not easy!!!! I'm sure it was hard!! I of course do not remember that because for me, I never felt cheated out of a mom or out of a wonderful upbringing. She continued to have family prayer and family home evening and kept us growing strong in the gospel. I am grateful!! She was blessed to find a wonderful husband who could see that she came with baggage but he says it was all good baggage. I love him for that!!! The day she married my dad (step dad) was one of the best days of my life. I think I was just as happy as she was!!! He has been a blessing in our lives from the day she (we) met him! She then continued to have more babies. The 4 sisters that I always wanted. My babies! She continued to raise us all strong in the gospel and a love for life, for each other, and for family togetherness. She is an inspiration to so many people! For her birthday we sent letters and e-mails to friends, family and neighbors and asked them to send a letter of love for her birthday. I was the one to receive all these. It was so fun to read them all. I was moved to tears every time I read another letter. She has influenced many people in her life. We had a "purple" party. It's her favorite color! We had purple tablecloths, balloons, cake, flowers, wrapping paper and bows. It was so fun. We enlarged pictures of her from childhood to the present and put them around the room. We gave her some cute clothes and pillows and Dad gave her some beautiful purple earrings and necklace which happen to be her birthstone too. We had soup and salad and Ashley's homemade bread!! All the adults... no kids except my 3 older kids. We had a great time!

Mom, I love you, you are my hero, I want to grow up to be just like you!!!!!