Edgley Family Happenings: Honoring Motherhood Event: Utah Valley American Mothers

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Honoring Motherhood Event:
Utah Valley American Mothers

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to participate in a pre-Mother's Day celebration. The "Honoring Motherhood" event was held in Provo, Utah on Saturday, May 7th. It was a beautiful event, organized by American Mother's Karmel Larsen, and held in a garden room filled with tasty food and tearful emotion. Speakers (including Sally Olsen, Jennilyn Jorgensen, Cherie Burton) shared unedited and emotional experiences with motherhood - and they talked of both the joys of motherhood as well as their personal battles against depression, physical depletion and even suicide.

A new friend of mine, Sariah Bailey, was in attendance. Sariah is a one-in-a-million kind of gal. She is currently pursuing her college education and -- although not yet a mother, and not yet married -- Sariah is impressively already preparing to become a mother.

On her own initiative, and with the financial constraints of a struggling student, Sariah purchased a ticket to attend this pre-Mother's Day celebration.

Beautiful Sariah Bailey

There were times at the event when the emotion was so strong that I worried, "What will Sariah think? Will she continue to want to pursue motherhood after hearing the unedited difficulties that can (and often do) accompany the joy of bearing and raising children?"

And yet, just recently I received this message from Sariah with her assessment of the event. She writes: "My overall impression of American Mothers is that of amazement and awe. When the pledge was recited, it was quite inspiring. However, being a mere 21 years old, single, and child-less, it was a little out there. I don’t know what it is like to be a mother, even though I have many mother-like experiences with my youngest siblings."

Sariah relates, "My friend Bobbi that came with me was very impressed as well. Bobbi said, 'It’s things like this that make me think about what I can change so that I can be a better mother.' Even though she is an astounding mother whose children love her very much."

Sariah concluded by saying: "The principles that are emphasized [within American Mothers] are invaluable. I am so grateful that you introduced me to this. I hope by reading blogs and communicating with wonderful mothers as well as taking positive qualities from my mother, that I will be able to be a great mother someday."

***

The American Mother's Pledge:

I Pledge...

To ask God's help as a parent in today's world...
To encourage honesty, integrity, patriotism and the application of moral values in every area of American life beginning in my own home...
To enhance the spiritual foundation of my home by precept and example...
To love, nurture and educate my children remembering the power and influence of a joyful home...
To see opportunities to strengthen my family by working, playing, serving and praying together...
To foster personal responsibility and respect in my home and community...
To serve my family and community through personal development as an individual, parent and citizen...
To support and promote positive programs for children and families...
To wage a vigorous campaign against abuse and violence in all its forms...
To remember that with God, all things are possible.

1 comments:

Kristin said...: Nice post!; 5:28 PM

Recent Quotables

Louisa, 7/5/2011:

About hugging... "The love goes from my hand to my heart... and then my heart beats fast!"

Ella, 6/12/2011:

After camping, "If a grain of sand got stuck in my pore, would it form a pearl?"

Ella, 6/2/2011:

"Mom, to make it the best summer break, you need to do your part too. You need to make getting dressed a priority."

Carpool Conversation, 5/25/2011:

"What would you do if you could do anything?"

Ella: I would live all summer at Jackson Lake!

Henry: I would build a chocolate factory the size of a skyscraper!

Louisa: I would be a person that climbs trees without any help!

Michael: I would carve my face on the moon so that the moon would look like me.

Ella, 5/22/2011:

During Church, Ella grabbed my hand and said, "I am holding your hand because I want to give Louisa [who was sitting on the opposite side of me] a big hug."

Louisa, 5/9/2011:

"Mom, how do you spell magical?

Me: M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Why?

"Cause I might be magic for Alice [cousin we are watching], because I told her if she wants her brain to grow, she needs to take a nap. And she went right to sleep!"

Ella, 5/7/2011:

About the line in "I am a Child of God" that is sung "I am a Child of God, rich blessings are in store", Ella said:

"When I was little I thought that rich blessings were being sold at the grocery store!"

Louisa, 4/24/2011

On Easter:

"I don't want to just be celebrating Jesus, I just want to have fun."

"I wish I could say this was my best Easter."

"I wish you were as nice as Mrs. Palmer [her wonderful preschool teacher from last year]."

Louisa, 4/23/2011:

Me: How are your poops lately?

Louisa: Good.

Me: Meaning?

Louisa: I haven't been doing any!

Louisa, 4/23/2011:

While climbing Pioneer Names in Snow Canyon:

I am half monkey!

You are?

Well, of course! I love bananas and I can climb really well.

Louisa, 4/18/2011:

"I picture heaven just like Jackson, except there is music and your feet don't get dirty."

Louisa, 4/17/2011:

"I hate dreams - because when there is a really wonderful dream that you want to be true, it never really is when you wake up."

Louisa, 4/8/2011:

Louisa, have you seen a miracle?

"Like the miracle that Grandma Schwartz could turn 90 and not die?"

Louisa, 4/8/2011:

"They have a peace sign on their door! Do you think that is because they want a piece of chocolate?"

Louisa, 4/7/2011:

"I'm so thankful to be grateful."

Ella, 4/2/2011:

"This is my favorite time of the year - luckily it comes 2 times a year!"

Louisa, 3/31/2011:

"It's not the dress that is pretty... It's me that is pretty... Which makes the dress pretty on me!"

Louisa, 3/30/2011:

"Mrs. Larsen said that if we are naughty she will hang us by our thumbs and tickle our toes. I believe her because she has a jump rope on her desk."

Louisa, 3/15/2011:

"If we didn't have mothers, there wouldn't be people!"

Louisa, 3/14/2011:

In her nightly prayers: "Dear Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that you sended me as a baby to come to this earth."

Louisa, 3/14/2011:

"Ella thinks we should set up a lemonade stand and give all the money to Japan. I think we should set up a lemonade stand and keep all the money."

Louisa, 3/13/2011:

Hearing Grandpa talk at the University of Utah Institute of "Sister Edgley" said, "Is Sister Edgley Nanna, Grandma, or you?"

Louisa, 3/7/2011:

How old are you going to be when you have your first boyfriend?

"Twenty. But I might have already picked my first boyfriend."

And who might be that first boyfriend?

"xxxxx {name of boy}. He is the cutest boy that I know."

Ella, 3/10/2011:

"Ella how does it feel to be ten years old?"

Her answer:

"It feels great! 9 is an odd year."

Louisa's Joke, 2/23/2011:

"What did the sunglasses say to the Mom?

You wear me out!"

Ella, 2/10/2011:

"The only bad thing about the word 'home' is that it is in 'homework'."

Ella, 2/7/2011:

In her nightly prayers: "Please bless me that I can flourish, expand and grow in beautiful ways."

Louisa, 2/2/2011:

"How do prayers break through the walls to get to heaven?"

Louisa, 1/31/2011:

On the eve on the month of February, while going through an extensive process of beautifying and readying herself for bed:

"It takes a lot of work to get ready for a new year."

Louisa, 1/30/2011:

Pointing to a doll: "She has an old looking head. Like you, mom."

Louisa, 1/23/2011:

"Today when Sister Robbins taught me about Joseph Smith, I felt like I was wrapped in a warm blankie."

Louisa, 11/20/2010:

In her nightly prayers: “We thank you that we can be alive and that we don’t have to be mean and that we can survive.”

Louisa, 11/7/2010:

“I don't really like hiking. You have to walk so much.”

Louisa, 11/7/2010:

“I am thankful for me. Because I am so pretty.”

Louisa, 10/26/2010:

“Reading is like a bird trying to fly - because you have to practice.”

Ella, 10/23/2010:

Favorite Prophet from the Scriptures:

"My favorite prophet from the scriptures is Moroni. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the very last person of your kind. It would be hard to witness the destruction of your own people. It took a lot of faith to bury sacred records and know that they would survive.”

Ella, 10/9/2010:

Upon finding the new container of Butter Pecan (Ella's favorite) ice cream practically empty, Ella says, “That's just what Daddy's do. They find and eat the yummiest things - candies, sodas and ice creams - before we even get a chance.” "Daddy is an overnight ice cream eater.”

Ella, 10/3/2010:

While praying: “Please bless the General Authorities as they prepare their high-pressure talks.”

Ella, 9/22/2010:

When told we now have TV service, she responded, “Yeah! Now we can watch general conference!”

Louisa, 9/21/2010:

To Louisa while dropping her off at Kindergarten, “What's going to be the best part of your day?”

“Going home.”

Louisa, 9/19/2010:

“When I am a grandma, I will give scriptures to my grandchildren. Just like the scriptures Nana gave me that I wrote my name on.”

Ella, 9/17/2010:

Ella has been learning about Holy Wars between religions in Europe during the time of Columbus.

Today when we saw a road sign, she read “Yield to Protestants” out loud, and then laughed when she realized it read “Yield to Pedestrians” instead.

Louisa, 9/17/2010:

“What is a boyfriend?”

My answer: Well you can't have a boyfriend until you are in college...

"Xxxxx {insert name here} is my boyfriend. He is the cutest boy in the class and I talked with him today when we were going to get hula hoops.”

(pause)

"Did you know that I can jump rope with a hula hoop?”

Louisa, 9/17/2010:

“When I grow up, I want to have a small gray house with a red door and yellow lawn chairs.”

Louisa, 9/13/2010:

“Is poo a bad word?”

Yes, when you use it improperly. It is not good to talk about or to use this word to call someone a name. But you can say “poo” when you are reading the “Winnie the Pooh” stories.

Later in the day: “Mom, when I say poo, I mean “Winnie the Pooh.”

Ella, 9/11/2010:

About the Battle of Jericho:

"Do you think we could use a trumpet to break down a small brick wall?”

Emi: that was a miracle. It would be terribly difficult to knock down even blocks with a trumpet.

Louisa: Maybe Heavenly Father helped them.

Ella: “Maybe Heavenly Father tuned the trumpets.”

Then Ella told of an experience in choir where Dr. Sorenson “taught that if we are perfectly in tune and all singing all the right notes, it will hit peoples hearts and give them goosebumps. The trumpets at Jericho hit the wall with the perfect vibration.”

Louisa, 9/8/2010:

"I will probably eat eighteen of these today!” about the yummy brownies she and Ella made together.

Ella, 9/6/2010:

Lesson learned from hiking: “We can do anything we want if we work hard. That”s an overall lesson in life.”

Ella, 9/6/2010:

While hiking states, “I now know that my legs can carry me as far as I want to go.”

Ella, 9/6/2010:

Ella woke this morning and was so cheerful! When I said, “Ella you are smiling” she responded, “I decided this morning when I awoke to be happy!”

Louisa, 9/5/2010:

Prayer tonight:

“I am so thankful for the minutes that we have, and for the instruments that we play. I am so thankful that we do not have to find food.”

Ella, 9/4/2010:

About cooking: “When you are adventurous, you can make a whole world of yummy possibilities!”

Louisa, 9/1/2010:

“When I am a mommy, I want to have 3 kids.”

Oh, but Louisa, I want you to have lots of kids.

“I just want 3 so that I will still have time to email my friends.”

Louisa, 9/1/2010:

“I know why my favorite store is called The Children’s Hour!

Because children have a lot of fun and they stay for an hour.”

Ella, 8/30/2010:

When talking to Ella about Louisa attending Carden, Ella said, “If I see Louisa at recess, I will have someone better than all the other girls to play with!”

Ella, 8/30/2010:

On Fasting:

“Great benefit can come in times of need, so that miraculous recoveries can happen.”

(Regarding sister LuJean Thompson)

Louisa, 8/29/2010:

Looking at a picture of the temple:

Why is this special to you?”

“It is where Heavenly Father and Jesus live.”

Louisa, 8/26/2010:

“How do you know if you are half fairy?”You can kiss your elbow.

“Oh. Let me try that.”A few minutes later...

“Momma, how do you know if you are half “maginary?”

Ella, 8/23/2010:

While driving next to a beautiful, vintage car: "That car has been redeemed!"

Ella, 8/23/2010:

What do you want to do today?

“I just want to have a really productive day.”

Louisa, 8/22/2010:

After making dinner together, a team effort, we say, “Daddy made the chicken, Ella made the noodles, mommy cut the vegetables...” Louisa adds, “And I waited patiently!”

Louisa, 8/22/2010:

“I want to be baptised.”

Why?

“Because Jesus is real to me.”

Louisa, 3/13/2010:

Yesterday, out of the blue, Louisa asked: "Do you think I am well-trained from Jesus?"When I responded, "Yes! Definitely!", she said:"He taught me: That we will come back to heaven. That he will watch over us."