A Post for My Mom

It seems only fitting that I write a post for my mom. I would post it on Mother's Day, but I will be at my parents' home for most of the day and we will be having family gathering-ness going on.

Besides, I also got her a gift and a card.

So without further ado, here is a bulleted list of things I've learned from my mother--by word, deed, and example:

• Don't talk with your mouth full.
• If you decide to tell a lie, try to make it at least a little believable. But even if it is believable, it won't matter. Mothers always know when you're lying.
• A laugh can turn a day around.
• Sometimes all it takes to make a body laugh is the right newspaper clipping.
• Even if the pun is not funny, your reaction to the pun may be so hysterical people will laugh anyway.
• It's possible to learn a whole heck of a lot when you have a desire to learn it.
• You take a 'picture' (pik-tchur) with a camera. You pour water from a pitcher (pit-chur).
• Kraft.com has some excellent recipes.
• The best books leave you feeling better when you've finished reading them.
• It's good to live near relatives.
• Singing and dancing make the work go faster.
• Even if singing and dancing sometimes cause others a certain amount of aggravated embarrassment.
• Sometimes it's just best to ignore the annoying sibling.
• Your attitude determines a lot of your life circumstances.
• Mothers always want to be near their children. Even when their children are being pesky.
• Don't burp. Even if it's funny. Even if it's funny when mom burps.
• Pay attention to dad.
• Good relationships involve excellent communication. Such excellent communication that it's possible to play Mom against Dad. Or vice versa.
• Cinnamon and cocoa look and smell remarkably different.
• You can't add garlic to just anything.
• Self-rising yeast has different properties than regular yeast.
• It feels good to give things away.
• Having sewing skills makes for some pretty darn cheap formal dresses. Also matching shorts. But the matching shorts came long before the dresses.
• Books can never replace people.
• Musical talent should not be wasted.
• Talking about it makes things better. Yelling about it--not so much.
• Staying at home to look after munchkins is not ignoble.
• Cleanliness is next to godliness.
• All of the neighbors love surprise zucchini. But they love surprise zucchini bread even more.
• Shoes are optional during the summer. Feet need to breathe.
• Playing in the dirt can be fun. Especially when it involves enjoying the vegetables of your labors.
• Chew with your mouth closed.
• Always be polite.
• Speak to the people serving you. You never know what you'll learn from a random conversation.
• Everyone loves the person who knows everyone's name.
• You can't settle on the first sweater you see.
• Smiling makes even an ugly person's countenance pretty.
• Reading your scriptures every day will make life easier.
• If you bake five loaves of bread, give one of them away. Someone needs it.
• It's never a burden to watch the neighbor's kids or pick up their newspaper while they're on vacation.
• Prayer works.
• Prayer works even better when an earnest mother is praying for some of the same things you are.
• Scripture power does keep us safe from sin.
• The scriptures will never get old.
• The prophet and apostles are all nice old men and we should love them. Even if they ramble.
• It's not cool to sleep through church. Except it's kind of inevitable to nod off a little during the last session of General Conference.
• Some church-wide revelation is given just for us.
• The right spouse can do wonders for a difficult child.
• It is not completely heretical to laugh before, after, or during family prayer. Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.
• It is also not heretical to add, after saying amen, "And please bless the Jazz."
• Priesthood blessings make coping with life easier. Even when they don't make life itself easier.
• Questioning the doctrine is sometimes good, as long as it's done with a prayerful and open mind and a desire to understand.
• Worrying about the "deep doctrine" is pointless. Even if it does make for interesting dinnertime conversation.
• Families can be together forever. And that, by definition, is heaven. (I believe it when I think about my mom. I get a little iffy about the propositions sometimes about my siblings . . .)
• God and my mom love all of their children equally.
• Living a gospel-centered life means never being dissatisfied with how you're living.