HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 12, 2013

                                 Happy Mother's Day

When thinking about what to say and do for a blog page on mothers, an idea possessed me that I thought might be interesting.  Why not do a match-up game on mothers and compliments paid them by their children.
Mothers come in many shapes and sizes, and possess different talents, abilities and personalities.  Some are quiet and shy, others robust and dramatic, and we have this complexity of mothers in our family tree, all blossoming and rich in traditions and generous with their love for their children.  
In the video on lds.org entitled "To Every Mother" I grabbed one quote I particularly liked.  "Every time a child is born, So is a mother."  To the mothers in our families, we wish you a happy Mother's day with love and kindness shown to you for all you do, the tucking in, the cheering up, the teaching, and the many other acts of motherhood. Below are pictures of mothers and compliments paid to them by their children.  See if you can match up compliment to the mother it was intended for and who submitted it.  Love, Arlene/wife/mother/grandma

#1.  My first memorable memory was going to school with her when I was only about three years old. The war was on and she was asked to be the school principal at the Plymouth elementary school. She accepted only when they agreed to let her take me with her to school. She taught the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades. I would sit with one of the boys in class and color pictures. When I had to go potty I would go to mothers desk and she would unbutton my trousers in the rear and I would trot off to the boys restroom. Once I had relieved myself I would trot back to the classroom and Mom would button me back up and I would go back to my desk. When I was sick it was Mom who sat up with me and always made me feel better. Mom was about as close as you could get here on earth to becoming an angel. I've often wonder why God had favored me with such a great mom.

#2.  My mom is a great grandma! She will do anything for her grand kids and always wants them to have the best. She works hard and loves her children no matter what. She is also a great friend that I can call up and chat to. Someone I trust. (I would like to add something.  Your mom has done an

magnificent job in family research, writing biographies for the families, our's and her's.  We appreciate it so much.)

#3.  My mom has the most beautiful flowers ever.  She plants so many flower pots and they always turn out so big and beautiful.  She knows just how to baby them.  Whenever I go to her house it is so fun to see all the different plants she has planted.  She has given me the love for flowers and I also plant a lot of flowers but they still do not compare to hers. She is as sweet and kind as the flowers are beautiful.  I love you mom.

#4.  My mom will be 88 yrs old this summer. She was a HS teacher for homemaking class and a student counselor who could listen if students needed to discuss some personal problems, etc. She always took care of and worried about her family. She doesn't care what people think about her. She loves nature like wild animals, flowers, the stars etc. She is very stubborn but the nicest person in my life. I am very lucky to have her for my mother.

#5.  Her talents were beautiful perfect button hole stitches and blankets and quilts. Her stuffing always had grated carrots and she always had chocolate chip cookies and snicker doodle cookies in the cookie jar. For Christmas she made divinity and fudge. Great cherry pies! 

I'll always remember Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, the farm, watering the lawn and running barefoot, and picking fruit and helping sell her apple cider.

She loved football, basketball was second to football. She always favored the “underdog.” It was she who brought the family together through family gatherings and having a home that allowed for visits anytime. Her character was exemplary. Never did I hear a cuss word from her mouth.  She was a hard worker and an early riser.

#6  If you should happen along some day and see a young lady standing on a chair on top of a table, scrubbing the ceiling, then see her hop down and run out and clean two big chicken coops, rush back and mow the lawn, after having milked a cow and fed the chickens, then tidy up her house and bake bread and 

a batch of cinnamon rolls, then complain about being so slow because it is already 10:30 in the morning that young lady is our 80 year “young” mother and grandmother. (this was written several years ago)

#7  Mom was what a mom is suppose to be so I think we all just took it for granted that she would be there to cook, to clean, to help us out with whatever the current project was, to make us hot jello to drink when we were sick, and to drop us off or pick us up from wherever we went.  My mom is all sorts of things.  She is intelligent (that's where we get it), selfless (ask ____ who once referred to her as an angel), faithful (four children to church every Sunday, what more needs to be said there) and caring (also known as the human seat belt because of her tendency to throw her arm across your body when applying the breaks suddenly!"  She is known for many things but the best mother in the world pretty much sums it up, don't you agree!":)   "Mothers give us life, love, and the heartfelt inclination to cry, 'I want my mommy,' no matter how old we get."

#A Irene Johnson Smith

#B Arlene Smith Starr

#C  Maxine Green Smith

#D Setsuko Takami

#E Nola Lucille Hopkins Starr

#F Carol Smith Grovesnor

#G Loretta Archibald Starr

Comments by Gary Starr, Hiromi Starr, Richelle Goodrich, Stefanie Giles, Cheryl Hill, Amy Kerksiek, Lanny Starr, Nola Starr's writings, Arlene Starr  (Hint, #7 comment includes comments from three submitters).