Some weeks I spend my time counting down the hours until the weekend.
Fighting hard to keep my head above water, you know, anticipating the tap out. When it finally arrives, in the blink of an eye, it’s over. Just as fast as it arrived. This mindset drives me bonkers + I get frustrated when I slump into it. BUT, it happens. Making the sweet times that much sweeter when it does. I don’t want to read back in my journal 10 years from now page after page of “I can’t wait until Friday.”NOW IS NOW. A simple review of my mindset makes all the difference in the big picture. This week/weekend was one of these. Jon is the best at picking up my slack. He cooked breakfast with the boys + forced me to sleep in. We cancelled our plans for the weekend + WE STAYED HOME. Good for my heart, good for my mind + really good for refueling my patience levels.

Dear G,



What an amazing mother you are. I’m blown away by the amount of good you do in this world, especially as a mother. Today I’ve been thinking about the attributes you have that make you shine as the great mother you are. I’d like to share some of the virtues I see in you that make you such an important part of my life and set you apart as the incredible example you are to our two boys.



Selflessness. I don’t know that I’ve met a more selfless person. I think I overlook this virtue too much as I sometimes encourage you to reach out and take what might rightfully be yours; but the amount of service you do for our home, friends and family does not go unnoticed. I feel a bit silly tonight as I look over the past 24 hours and realize that what should have been a day centered around you as a mother, turned in to a day of shopping for me and for other people. I love you for being there for me, even though you had every right to claim the day for yourself.



Patient. Ah man how I wish I had your patience. You tend to our boys (and me) with such tender mercy and care that I can only wish to get there some day. Thank you for the patience you share with our family and more importantly, thank you for keeping me inline when I loose my patience.



Loving. The love you share for others in unreal. You hold your relationships as the most prized possession you have and tend to everyone with such care. You can tell by the way you talk about others that you care about them and their happiness. The boys know it, I know it, and we love you for it.



A bit off the wall.  Sometimes things that are sweet need just a hint of sour. I love your passion for life, for success, and the way you put yourself out there in vulnerable situations. I love your sporadic rap sessions, dance parties and sometimes failed attempts at boyhood sound effects.  You keep us on our toes, which is why life never gets old.



Faithful. When life gets you down, or things seem to fail, you put your trust in the lord. I admire your unwavering faith and dedication to the things you believe in. I love you for the example you are to our boys. In many ways you are the staple of this household, and our home is brighter because of it.



Funny. Happy. Kind. Thrifty (when you want to be). Clever. Smart. Did I mention sexy?… The list goes on and on.



If there’s one thing you get for Mother’s Day today, I hope it’s a pounding confirmation of the blessing you are to our family and a peaceful satisfaction that you are one incredible mother. Thank you for making our home so special.



I love you. Happy Mother’s Day.



-Jon

Shabby Apple is running a campaign right now that hit close to home for me. Have you seen the #GIRLSTRONG floating around on instagram? I’ll break it down here if not: For every #girlstrong hashtag used on Instagram, Shabby Apple will donate 10 cents to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. A charity that helps fight the tracking of girls worldwide. Elizabeth Smart is my age, her family lives in our stake + I’ve heard her tell her story in person. I get the chills every time I think about what she has been through. But the advice that her Mother gave her that very first night she was back home completely changed her life + I think of it often. She said to her “Elizabeth, what this man has done to you is terrible, and there aren’t words to describe how wicked and evil he is…but the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy.” That is exactly what Elizabeth has done + I admire her for it. She has completely turned her life around by choosing happiness every day since.

It is my job + my choice to be strong. To be happy. To live a life that I am proud of. To surround myself with strong women who love me for who I am. My responsibility to provide a safe haven for my family to come home to, to teach my boys how to be gentlemen + how all girls should be treated. To remember the things that my mom taught me . To wake up every day + choose happiness. To be as STRONG as I can be for myself + my family. This is a few quick snippets from my personal mission statement along with the constant thoughts that keep me going everyday.

The rain poured, the boys roared. A wild rumpus on a soggy day.  I didn’t picture this simple superhero lifestyle for myself as a mother when I was younger, but now that it’s here, I couldn’t love it more. In the playhouse all day every day —- that’s where our wild things are.

A quick story. Or maybe not so quick depending on how much time you have to read this. Jon + I had a one really big break up back in our dating days. Lots of little ones too, but the last one was “The real deal.” He broke up with me + took my heart with him. It all went down while I was in cosmetology school in Provo. He lived in SLC + uhhh he did it over the phone. Harsh? Harsh. Didn’t help that I had the flipping swine flu. I thought I was going to die. This was the man I wanted to marry you guys. I was heartbroken, in denial + begging all of my sisters to text him to tell him he had made a mistake. (monkey covering mouth emoji) It’s a little laughable now, but it wasn’t then. His bad for timing the break up 3 days before our school’s halloween fashion show that he had agreed to emcee for. There was NO way he would dare show his face, would he? Oh, he would. This is Jon Parrish in a brand new pair of black skinnies, a crisp white v-neck + a button down sweater with a striped hood. He never goes shopping — It was such a statement. He looked fly as fly + it made it THAT much worse. I dressed up as Peter Pan in my favorite green tights. Most of the girls at school didn’t know that we had broken up so when he knocked the show out of the park, it was super awkward. Everyone laughed at his witty jokes (if you know Jon, you know public speaking is his strong suit) my models worked it on the cat walk + there I sat alone in my puddle of pity on the front row with my green tights crossed tightly + my white face mask (swinepoohimeanflu) as my number one excuse not to talk to anybody. I knew he was nervous, my legs were jello, but I still couldn’t look at him. He bailed the minute it was over + I found a text on my phone – “You okay?” That night was my turning point. I was moving on. Haaa. We lasted about a month apart. He came crawling back like I never thought he would + when I was asked to emcee the BYU Fashion Show this year, he was eager to sit on the front row. Ky + Lo drove down all the way down to support me. We headed down early. I wore a fancy dress + my green Peter Pan tights. When I saw Jon walk through the door, I nervously kicked that little black lantern right off the stage. I had a grin on my face the whole night knowing that I came out on top of the dating battle. Wink wink. I hope that boy never stops giving me butterflies — + that’s the honest to goodness truth.