Happy Mother’s Day

My Mom is awesome. She loves unconditionally, she’s involved without being overbearing, and she listens with compassion but without judgment. She is one of the strongest women I know. Her life has been challenging – and while I’m sure she’d agree she has been incredibly blessed, she has had experiences throughout her life that many of us couldn’t bear. She amazes me.

Me and my Mom

My Mom recently announced she was going on a mission with her husband Val. Of course we were thrilled, this is something she’s always wanted to do, but another thought I expressed was: “I guess that means were not having anymore kids”. My Mom has come up to help after each of my four children was born and I seriously couldn’t have managed without her. Those visits with her will always be some of the most cherished I will have with my Mom.

My Mom with Abigail and baby Carly. Abigail was born in the pre-digital ages and unfortunately all our old scrapbooks are still in storage so I couldn’t scan a picture of my Mom with Abigail as a newborn, but she was most definitely there.

Jason snuggling with Grandma just days old

Katie and Grandma

This summer my Mom and Val head off to Hong Kong to serve an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We will miss her. Lots. Unless we can convince her to make a trip to the NW before she leaves it will be over two years without a visit. We are used to only seeing her a few times each year, but this will be different.

Since retiring my Mom spends much of her time traveling the world. Carly made a cute card for my Mom for Mother’s Day – since I couldn’t send it in the mail (I believe she’s in San Francisco today) we decide to post it on the blog instead since we know she’ll check in on us on the road.

“Dear Grandma Kesler, You are a great grandma and you are loving and kind. You are always giving us things when we are at Utah at your house. You are always helping when you can when you give us a art project. Love Carly”

We LOVE you!