Cuteness!

Two Sunday's ago (Mother's Day) we had our quarterly Williams family (my Mom's side) dinner, it was so much fun. There was lots of people and many conversations spread throughout the house and evening. I loved having close and extended family all together. There were lots of adults but what made the evening extra special was getting to look at these cute faces!

Good-Bye Dinner

The Goa's left this week to visit his family and then to return to America. We had been wanting to have them over for dinner before they left, to say thank you, good-bye, and just because they are awesome people that we like. We realized that last Sunday would be our last chance and invited them over, it didn't hurt that it was Mother's Day and we could give her the day off from cooking. Along with the Goa's we also invited the Sister Missionaries.

Alan and William were watching TV and it was a nice warm day so we decided to move the table out to our "deck," it looked really strange in the kitchen without it so of course I had to take a picture.

We're not used to making large quantities of rice so we had the Sister's check it to make sure that it was ok.

A lot (Funny story about Alot--you should check it out HERE) of people equals a need for a lot of curry. It was a little more challenging trying to keep track of such a large quantity cooking, I now have more of an appreciation for the cook who cooks for 50+ everyday)

Sister Goa and Cougar arrived a little bit earlier than Bro Goa and Hyrum so we had some just stand around and talk time.

This is Cougar's cool hat that he had made, #26 was his number at school and on the back it said "GO USA!"

The Sister Missionaries and Cougar (and his cool hat :D)

The were sweet and brought watermelon for dessert. It was super yummy (and the leftovers lasted until Wednesday- watermelon everyday...YUMMY!) and kind of weird to see red watermelon again (we always eat yellow watermelon at school)

Hyrum looking sweet and cute (you know that somethings up :D)

We will miss the Goa's they have been good friends while we have been here (especially Sis Goa translating for us in Relief Society- it will be an interesting remaining month and a half without her)

Flowers for You

A little late in posting this...actually really late- the flowers have already died :(

But I wanted to let some very special people in my life know that I love them and am so grateful for them, their example and for the wonderful mothers that they are to me, my siblings, my nieces and nephews.

To: Mom, Sonia, Sallee, Libbey, and Becky

I hope that you had a wonderful Mother's Day, a flower for each of you! (sorry the last flower is hiding and didn't make it in the picture :D)

Talents for Mothers

For those of you that missed it, last Sunday was Mother's Day, a day that we should take extra time to honor our mothers, our own and any mother figure in our lives.

The Hualien and Ji-An Branches didn't forget, they had a wonderful activity on Saturday in honor of Mother's Day. It was a talent show/food/dancing/massage activity. They began with the talents, the choir sang, primary children sang, a family danced together, children played the piano, Stephanie and Eliza played the recorder.

After followed dancing, a lady from the other branch taught everyone, it was fun to just watch. Last they had all of the "mothers" sit in a row and the primary children all had lotion put in their hands, they came around gave everyone neck and arm massages (some were even sweet enough to give their mothers feet massages). Allie and Eliza made sure that Andrea and I were well massaged and moisturized, they came back to us a couple of times.

It was very fun and sweet to watch the children be gentle with their moms as they massaged them and lots of fun.

Oh and then to top it all off they gave us flowers on Sunday during Sacrament meeting (it was rather funny because they handed them out in the middle of sacrament, they played music to keep it "more reverent," I don't think that it ever got fully quiet again)

She

For all those wonderful Mothers out there, but particularly for my Mom and wonderful Sisters. Happy Mothers Day, I Love You and am extremely grateful for your example- I look forward to the day that I can use the lessons that I have learned from you with my own children.

Song "She" by Cherie Call

PhotoHunt: Mother/Mom

A year ago in accordance with what was going on in my life I wrote several posts about my Dad, the memories that I had with him and how grateful I was to have him. I haven't always been so forthcoming with positive things to say about my Mom. When I was younger we had a terrible relationship, I was down right mean to my Mom, causing problems between her and my Dad and between others in the family.

When my Dad fell down the stairs two of my brothers were home for Christmas but they soon had to return to school and it was only my Mom and I home. Our relationship changed drastically, we became each others support, crying, laughing, hugging, listening, and just sitting with each other. My Mom became one of my best friends, though she wasn't always with me I talked with her each day, I still do, even with us being thousands of miles away.

I love this picture of her with Erick's sisters Madelaine and Lily, it shows the love that my Mom has: for her children and for her "adopted children" (of which there are many).

My Mom continually volunteers for things, even if she doesn't have the time or energy. Almost daily when I call her she will say that we can't talk for very long because she has 7 or 8 things that need to be done before she goes to bed (and it's already 9 o'clock). She opens her arms, heart, and home to everyone that she meets.

I am so lucky to have my Mom, I know that Heavenly Father chose for me to have her and her to have me for a very specific reason and I am so grateful for his decision. I love her and am grateful for her example in my life.

I Love You Mommy! Happy Mothers Day!