Tribute to Mom

I always knew I would never truly appreciate my Mom until I had children of my own and now that I do, I still don't think I fully understand all of the sacrifices she made to make my life happy, fulfilled, and gospel centered.

For those of you who don't know, I was adopted. At six weeks old, my biological mother passed away. My father was in trouble with the law, in and out of jail, and very much addicted to drugs. When he was growing up, his mother had re-married a man who had two children. My father, at around 9 years old had a new step brother (14) and step sister (18). He looked up to his new older brother who, when my father turned 13 and had friends who were experimenting with drugs, always tried to keep him away from it. They would surf and play baseball and always participated in activities together that would not lead my father down a path that would ultimately change his life forever.

After my mother passed away, my father was in jail. At that time I was staying with my mother's best friend and her husband in Vancouver, WA (about 3 hours south of Seattle). At this point, my father's step brother was married with 7 children but had still been very much been in touch with him. When he and his wife learned that my mother had passed away, his wife got a burning feeling inside and instantly thought where's the baby??? She called my grandmother who told her where I was and without a thought they drove down from Seattle to Vancouver. When they arrived at this couple's home, the couple told them they wanted to keep me. They had even filed it with the county. They didn't know what to do until the phone rang. It was my father on the other end, calling from jail telling them to give me to his brother. He knew that was where I belonged. I was brought back to Seattle to live with my family.

At 2 years old, my father was released from jail and decided he was going to get a job and try and raise me on his own. He came to Washington to come and get me. When he took me back to California to live with him, my Mom was heartbroken. She still talks about how it was the single most devastating thing she has ever been through. She felt like she lost her child forever.

After about a year and a half of living with my father and grandmother, he was back into his old ways and unable to care for me. My grandmother who lost her husband during that time, became alcoholic, therefore was in no position to take care of a 3 year old. Another call was made to come and get me. Within 24 hours my Mom was there. How hard it must have been for her to open her heart when she could have lost me again. Although it was a struggle for my grandmother to let me go, I still remember her kneeling in front of me and asking me if it was what I wanted to do. When I told her yes, I know that she knew deep down that this was what was best for me.

I will never forget the day that I came back to live with my family. I was almost 5 and my brothers and sisters had all told their friends at school that day that they were getting a new sister and they were so excited. When they got off the bus, we hugged eachother and jumped on the bed all day. I'm sure we did other stuff but that's what I remember and will never be able to forget.

I was raised in a home that was although chaotic and crazy at times, was filled with love and filled with the spirit. We had family home evenings & family prayer. My parents taught me gospel principles from the time I can remember and took me to church every Sunday. I was able to live a life that I never would have dreamed of had I stayed with my father.

When I was 14 my father passed away in jail. The cause of death was undecided. Even though it was a difficult thing for me to go through at that age, I was able to be at peace because of the eternal perspective I was so blessed to have. I knew I would see him again and I knew that his life on earth ended for a reason. 6 months later I was legally adopted and sealed to my parents in the temple. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

I have been able to grow into the woman and mother that I never would have been had it not been for my Mom. She is such an inspiration to me and embodies everything I would have ever wished for in a mother. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't talk to her. As I get older, we get closer and I am so lucky to have that relationship with her. Everything I have become I owe to her. She is the ultimate example of selflessness and love. I love you, Mom!