On Easter, my grandma ended up in the emergency room with a 5mm kidney stone. That's not what anyone wants to have happen on a holiday, let alone any day. She had plans- a great-grandbaby was going to be blessed, it was Easter, you know lots of family plans. She didn't want to miss the blessing, so she got all of her medications, and they sent her home to pass her kidney stone on her own. So, what did she do? She went to that baby blessing!
I've been blessed to have amazing examples of strong women in my life! My mom was raised by really strong parents. My grandma Mamie was the first child born in America, in her family of 15 siblings. She had to drop out of school in the 8th grade to raise her young siblings- she was gifted, and could've gone far. She struggled with feeling like less of a person, because she never got to finish school. She didn't think she was as smart as all of those other women who lived around her. As her granddaughter, I can say I had no idea she had any of these insecurities. She never showed it!
My mom married my dad when she was 28 years old. She was a music teacher at a junior high. She was shy. She was called to serve in the Relief Society presidency- the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was so timid, that when she had to call people to ask them to bring something, like a casserole to a meeting, my dad would do the calling for her. Then her whole world changed, almost nine years after they got married. My dad died.
When my grandma JaNae was told about my dad passing away, she said, "We can do this good, or we can do this bad." Talk about strong! She had just lost her oldest son, but we all had a lifetime ahead of us without him.
My mom is the strongest woman I know! She raised two strong kids, that have made good choices. Her responsibilities have been enormous through all of her church callings, school work, and being a single parent. She's been able to influence thousands of people for the better.
I've been blessed to have amazing examples of strong women in my life! My mom was raised by really strong parents. My grandma Mamie was the first child born in America, in her family of 15 siblings. She had to drop out of school in the 8th grade to raise her young siblings- she was gifted, and could've gone far. She struggled with feeling like less of a person, because she never got to finish school. She didn't think she was as smart as all of those other women who lived around her. As her granddaughter, I can say I had no idea she had any of these insecurities. She never showed it!
My mom married my dad when she was 28 years old. She was a music teacher at a junior high. She was shy. She was called to serve in the Relief Society presidency- the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was so timid, that when she had to call people to ask them to bring something, like a casserole to a meeting, my dad would do the calling for her. Then her whole world changed, almost nine years after they got married. My dad died.
When my grandma JaNae was told about my dad passing away, she said, "We can do this good, or we can do this bad." Talk about strong! She had just lost her oldest son, but we all had a lifetime ahead of us without him.
My mom is the strongest woman I know! She raised two strong kids, that have made good choices. Her responsibilities have been enormous through all of her church callings, school work, and being a single parent. She's been able to influence thousands of people for the better.
So, when I feel weak, I can look back at these three ladies and see all that they have accomplished and overcome, and am strengthened because of them! Their light brightens me! Whether my grandma has lost her son or has a kidney stone, she doesn't let anything hold her back. My grandma Mamie was a rock, until she got dementia, and even during it her strength showed. My mom became strong, and watching her change helps me realize that when I'm scared, I can do hard things.
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