Could You be Replaced?

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home

are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."

Thomas Moore

Does anyone else feel the need to be super mom? Involved in the community, in the school, in your church? The need to shuttle kids to and from music classes, to sport's practice, and to the school family night? My question is, when did we get so over scheduled?


I don't remember my Mom doing all the things I do. It doesn't mean she was a bad mother, oh no, she was a fabulous mother, but I have contemplated often, what the difference is between us. I think that times were much simpler when I was a kid. I played sports and was very involved in many different activities, but I don't remember the constant stream of activity that my kids have today. And I must admit, that my kids, stay busy, but I do not allow them to be involved with more than one thing at a time. I have friends who spend their entire afternoon running several kids to different activities, practices and rehearsals in different parts of town. It pretty much consumes their entire life! I don't want to be that mom.!!


I had an interesting conversation today with a couple of good friends, and we were talking about how much women judge each other. It's sad, but true. We do judge one another. We judge ourselves against our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and the women we see on the street and in the grocery store.


It's easy to feel that you could be replaced. I feel that way often. Anyone could come in and do my dishes, cook, clean and all of the other things that I do on a daily basis. And some women, could probably do it much better than I do and make it look good!! My friend told me that I should make a list of all the things I do, that no one else could do. I couldn't think of any off the top of my head. And then she told me that no one else could be a wife to my husband the way that I am.

Okay, well, that got me thinking. No one could be the kind of mom I am to my kids. No one can kiss their owies, or read them stories the way I do, simply because they are not me. I am the perfect mom for my kids because I am me. I have qualities that attracted my husband to me and that he fell in love with me for. Others may have those same qualities, but they could never be me. No one could be a friend, like me. I have abilities and thoughts that are all my own to share and bless others with.

It's an interesting concept to think about. The list could go on and on. It was interesting to see how much I could come up with, when I thought about it. My list was full of little things and some pretty important, big things.

I love this quote by President Monson:

"My dear sisters, do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle."

We are truly miracles, each of us in our own right. We are blessed with the ability to be mothers, wives, friends, sisters, daughters and so much more. Why the judging?

Your Best Is Good Enough

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

M. Russell Ballard

Time Out For Women

Okay, so I'm leaving it up to ManDee to post some of our fun pictures. But I want to give you a rundown of our weekend. At least from my point of view. Note to ManDee (Fill in the blanks for me, would ya please?)

The theme was Joyful Life. They wanted to show us different ways to find joy in the lives that we have. To find the joy in our relationships, to find joy in our children, to find joy in our relationship with our Savior, to find joy in being a woman. It was chalk full of things that I needed to hear and I left feeling exceptionally well fed, spiritually anyway.

The amazing Hillary Weeks was the musical part of the program. She was also the commentator and we heard a lot from her. What a funny girl. She has such a great sense of humor and a charm about her. Loved to listen to her stories and her music. Amazing!! There are no words for her voice or her songs.

Friday night we had the opportunity to watch the The Nashville Tribute Band preform. AMAZING!!! ManDee could not believe that I had never heard them preform, because I am kind of a church history junkie. I knew a lot of the stories that were shared and it was a lot of fun. Jason Deere is amazing and this was his little pet project. I also found out today that he was in the same mission as my bishop. He left shortly after my bishop came in. Cool little tidbit. Anyway, I thought it was amazing that he could still get so emotional as he told the stories, that I am sure he has told hundreds of times. The spirit was so strong!!! We also had the chance to see Tim Gates. LOVE HIM! He had on his remember rock from girls camp. So cool. Mandee and I went and talked to him, but apparently the pictures didn't turn out.

All of the speakers were amazing. I don't think I could pick a favorite. Amanda Dickson had me laughing so hard. She said a lot of fun and insightful things. We also had the chance to listen to Virginia Hinckley Pearce, which was a great opportunity.

There was so much that I learned and I wish I could share it all here in this blog. I have pages of notes and right now I am on a spiritual high. If you ever get an opportunity to attend one of these conferences, I highly recommend it. Go to this link for more information.