Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's day!
Mine will be not quite as relaxing as I would like since I will be speaking in church and it doesn't start till 1 pm! I really do not like speaking in church...I know a few who do, but I absolutely dread it! But I actually liked writing this one...because it was about my thoughts of when my girls were born....I liked writing it so much that I would like to share it with you.

Good afternoon and Happy Mother’s Day! For those who do not know me, my name is Patrice Hill. My husband David and our two girls Amelia who is 3 and Bree who is almost 10 months have been in this ward since it changed about a year and a half ago, we have lived in Florida for almost 3 years. Before that we were in Rexburg, Idaho where David graduated with his Bachelors at BYU-I, and where Amelia was born

I was asked to speak to you today on thoughts of a new mother on the gift and miracle of a newborn child! This to me is an easy yet hard topic because, there were so MANY thoughts going through my mind when my girls were born. Many thoughts were the same but some were different.

As I think back to when my oldest, Amelia, was born I remember I had Thoughts of anticipation to see our little creation, relief that I was done being pregnant, thoughts of ‘AWE’ that I helped create something so amazing, thoughts of how the whole process is a miracle; that something so tiny can create a heart, brain, arms, legs, fingers and toes and all the other systems that is needs to be healthy and survive all inside a mother, and that the mother can give it EVERTHING it needs to grow to be healthy little baby; It is truly amazing! I had Thoughts of wonder of who she resembles the most, and if the name we have chosen fits her, thoughts of fear and worry of ‘will she be healthy’ and did I do everything I could for her, ‘what if it is really a boy when I was told it is girl (or vice versa), ‘What if I can’t do it’ and Thoughts of nervousness of ‘do I really get to take this tiny helpless baby home’, what do I do now?’, thoughts of thankfulness of how I get to be a mother! Thoughts of ‘I wonder what this little baby could tell me if she could talk’ and MANY thoughts of happiness and joy that I get to hold and nurture a child of GOD!

It is the most exciting and precious time to me when I get to hold the miracles that Heavenly Father has given to me and my husband David. On that glorious day when a new-born baby is placed in a new mothers arms, a sacred partnership between God is formed! I remember after Amelia was born she was just so cute and I had not a clue what to do with her…then as she was laying in her little bed in my hospital room she started to turn a dusky blue…David and I were so terrified and panicked!!!! We did not know what to do so David took her out to the nurses who then brought her back in our room to get her to breathe again and get her color back; they just thought that she still had some fluid that she couldn’t get out. After it happened again they decided she would need to be in the NICU until the problem was solved, I was so worried for my little angel that has only been with us a short time! We found out later that she had a GER, which is a reflux problem, and she would have to be on medicine for 6-9 months. I am thankful it wasn’t anything worse. It was so heart breaking when I got to see her in the NICU for the first time…she had heart monitors all over if you moved her wrong then a machine would go off. It was horrible! But I was excited that we were able to take her home the next day and that she has been a healthy girl ever since!

Then all the same thoughts and wonders and worries, fears and happy feelings happen all over again when another baby is born! At first you don’t know how much love you can give, then when you meet them for the first time and you learn VERY quickly that there was nothing to be worried about! With Bree it was fun to see the little differences and similarities the girls have. Like; Amelia had more hair; they both have the “Hill baby” look, they both have pretty blue eyes from me. Bree weighed more and still has higher stats then Amelia; they are both good tempered babies! Both experiences were great ones in their own way.

Women have a divine destiny to nurture children of God. We have responsibility to raise them up in righteous homes and teach them righteous principles.

President N. Eldon Tanner said,

“A Mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else has, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress, affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live, and the contribution he will make in society.”

WOW! What a job we have to do, to teach them the gospel and life principles. But what a great feeling it is when you see your child following in your footsteps and doing the right things that you have taught them. Like when see them roll over crawl or walk for the first time, when you hear them use their manners and say please and thank you, when you hear them say a little prayer all by themselves before bedtime or singing primary songs, Or my favorite, when you see them saying a prayer over lunch when you forget. Or when you hear them say their ABC’s, point out letters or count and when you see them loving their siblings and others, it is a great feeling that you have taught them well. These are just a few that I have experienced and there will be MANY more along with the many lessons have to teach!

But isn’t teaching by example the Lord’s way of teaching? For as long as I can remember I have always been told by my mother and Young Woman leaders to be a good example so that one day I can be a good example to others and my children. I hope and strive to be like a mother of one of the 2000 stripling warriors, in the book of Alma in the Book Of Mormon, to teach my children to not doubt God and to have Faith always, that one day my children can say “that they have been taught by their mother and they do not doubt that their Mother knew it”.

There are also discouragements that come with being a mother, like trying to get the breastfeeding thing down and trying to get your children to sleep through the night, teaching your children to listen and obey or my favorite these days, potty training…. I am sure there will be more but I hope not too many more.

Jeffrey R. Holland once said

“You are doing God’s work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, even-no, especially-when your days and your nights may be most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, so Christ will say to the woman who worry and wonder and weep over their responsibility as mothers, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole’ And it will make your children whole as well.”

I am very grateful for the Mothers in my life. My mother was a good example of Faith, Steadfast and Strength to me and my siblings, as she lost two husbands and did what was necessary to raise her large family. She is my Rock! My Mother in law who I love like a best friend is a good example of Patience, Compassion and Charity, who cares not only for her own family but for her 95 year old father.

BEAR TESTIMONY!

Well there you go...I am not the best writer by far but I did enjoy it. More Mother's Day Pictures to come!
I hope all you Mother's have fantastic Mother's Day!!