Mother my Mother

Ah Mothers Day!!! A day to remember our Mothers, Grandmothers, and to be remembered if we are indeed a Mother! One of my favorite memories from Mothers day was 2 years ago when the kids at church were asked to go up front and sing a song to the Mothers....we were telling my son Talon to go - he didn't want to but got up, as he was passing in front of me he whispered "Child Abuse"

I think about that every mother's day now.

I know that there are some women who struggle with Mothers day for them they review their faults and convince themselves that they are not a good Mommy....to the point that they cannot wait for the day to end. I used to think if it's so hard don't think about YOURSELF think about your Mother and Grandmother honor them not yourself.....for some that is where the original pain started, for others their Mother is no longer her to honor.  For those women I send you a hug and promise the sun will rise tomorrow and it will be okay. The later is now my path....how to celebrate Mothers day with out your Mother being here physically?!

*To borrow a line - at least words from my Brother Edwin's song for my Dad (I know work with me here)

Mother, did I tell you enough that I love you? Did you feel it in my touch? Did you know dear Mom that you're my hero? Oh Momma I hope you know! 

My Mother loved to read & write poetry, quotes, and little short "gems". I can remember coming home from school to the sound of the old "Royal" typewriter going 90 miles a minute Mother would be in there creating her "I P" (inspirational points) books that she would send out with missionaries to help them preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I remember that there were things my Mother would do that would just plain embarrass me to death however, I find myself doing them now. I love quotes!!! I find myself giving "gems" to my children, my favorite "Give nice Get nice"! I am not sure if it is helping or hurting them at this point but at any rate, here are a few quotes to help celebrate the life of your Mother, Grandmother, and or YOU!

 Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.  ~Aristotle

 Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.  ~T. DeWitt Talmage

 Children are a great comfort in your old age - and they help you reach it faster, too.  ~Lionel Kauffman

 Sing out loud -in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children.  ~Marilyn Penland

  Here's to strong women everywhere!!!  -May we know them -May we be them -May we raise them!!!

  May you walk with light and peace this Mothers day and always.

-Shelli

Donate Life - I DID!

Not to toot my own horn but I am pretty sure this is the BEST thing I have ever done in my life so far! Last June 06 I Donated a Kidney to one of my managers at work. WE are both doing Great! My life is just as cRaZy as ever I just drink MORE water. Below is the article that ran in the AZ Republic. Enjoy! 

People still help people

Jul. 7, 2007

Just when you think the world's gone insane, what with the warring and the ranting and the general overall nastiness that seems to permeate the air we breathe . . . Just when you wonder whether it's time to put on a flak jacket and assume the fetal position, you meet Shelli Bates, and the outlook for this planet seems to soften.

The Gilbert woman is not a glass-half-full sort. She's more the cup-runneth-over type, a 42-year-old single mother of four who is grateful for what she's been given and believes in the concept of payback. She shrugs at the idea that she's doing anything extraordinary.

"I grew up in a family where, if someone needs something and you had it, you gave it," she said.

Caryn Bebeau looks at Bates as if she's wondering what planet the woman departed before her arrival here.

"I kept saying, 'Are you sure? Are you sure?' " said Bebeau, a 55-year-old Mesa mother of four with six grandchildren and a seventh on the way. "I can't believe it. I can't believe it still. Do you realize she's saving my life?"

A couple of years ago, Bebeau's appendix ruptured, and soon after, her kidneys began to fail. Medication kept them working for a while, but over the past year, life has become mostly an exercise of just getting through the day, which is no way to live. She works, she trudges home, she's asleep before the 6 o'clock news.

It was time, her doctor said, to prepare for dialysis. Either that or find a new kidney.

Not so easy to do. There are 1,000 Arizonans waiting for kidneys, according to Stacy Underwood of the Donor Network of Arizona. The wait can be up to four or five years unless you're lucky enough to have a family member who's a match and willing to give up an organ.

Bebeau has a son who was eligible to donate. But his kidneys weren't fully functioning, and doctors ruled out the gift five months ago.

The day she found out, Bebeau came into the Mesa title company branch office she manages, and the look on her face told Bates all she needed to know.

Bates needed a job a few years ago after being a stay-at-home mom for 17 years. Bebeau gave it to her. Since then, Bates has risen from receptionist to marketing rep for LandAmerica Lawyers Title.

Now she's returning the favor.

"It wasn't even something to think about," she said. "She needed a kidney. I've got two. I don't need two, so I said go ahead and take one."

Underwood said such a reaction is rare. "It's a miracle," she said, "to have somebody willing to just say, 'Here, I'll give you my kidney.' "

Some in Bates' family cautioned about being overly generous, pointing out that someday she may need that kidney. But Bates isn't wired that way. Maybe it's the quote mounted on her bedroom wall. "Things happen for a reason," it says. "Just believe." And she does.

A week ago, the two women underwent surgery at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. From one woman to another, a gift unimaginable in this world.

Or, as it turns out, not so unimaginable at all.

Bates' friend, Greg Guthrie, told me that both women are home now, and Bebeau is feeling better than she has in years. As for Bates, she's already counting the days until she can take her son on the trip she gives to each of her kids when they turn 17 - a trip to ride roller coasters.

"Life is a journey," she said. "You have to enjoy the journey."

For a better understanding of donation visit:  http://www.donatelife.net    

For more information about Banner Transplant services visit: http://www.bannerhealth.com  

To become a donor register at: www.donatelife.net/CommitToDonation

VISITING ALL 50 STATES

I admit I am a little crazy! But what women isn't just a little bit crazy? I have these 4 amazing kids and about 5 years ago their Dad decides to make a choice and leave our home! So in order to have a little fun, we decided to travel to all 50 states! We have 7 more to go and we will have accomplished our goal. We just returned from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We went to the Mall of America in MN visited a Cheese Factory in WI and saw a very colorful Buffalo in ND

I have to admit althought I am not a Green Bay fan I did like the bra! I went to take a picture of my children in WI in front of some buffalo and I pulled the car over got out and took a step onto the snow and sunk up past my knees! You can take this farmers daughter out of the desert but she won't survive the snow!

My Favorite states so far have been CT, NY, HI, OK, and SD. WHERE have you Been!?

Here is a photo of my adorable children being HAPPY of all things!

Take a Hike!

Arizona is a Beautiful state and I have lived here my entire life! This is the time of year we love!!! The desert is in full bloom and the weather is just right. Time to lace up those hiking boots and hit the trail. Be sure to bring plenty of water, it will only do you good on the inside so drink up!

One of my favorite places to go is Fish Creek. I took my younger boys Trey & Talon along with two of their friends there last summer. To get there head towards Canyon Lake. If you are new to AZ be sure you are in a vehicle that you do not care if it gets dusty and be sure your brakes work! Once you enjoy the beauty of Canyon lake continue on the "old Apache Trail" toward Tortilla Flat your last chance for a beverage for a while. The pavement ends after Tortilla flat and you will continue on a dirt road that is wash board at times. YOU will be on a curvy MOUNTAIN road with sharp turns. Continue on though it is so worth it! Be sure to park as far off the road as possible once you are at the bottom of Fish Creek.

We hike up into the canyon and love to go to the "cave". I will let the boys run until they are spent. Then we will climb back in the car and continue on, I am not one to go back the same way so we "Loop" we stopped next at Apache Lake and let the boys jump in and swim around. Then on to Roosevelt Lake we just drove past that and headed on into Globe Miami Area. WE love to eat Burritos at the "Burger House" in Miami AZ the Red Mix and Green Mix are a family favorite. Don't forget the Chips WITH butter.

I enjoy hiking AZ and would love to have you join me on one of my Realtor/Lender hikes. We have been doing Silly Mountain and the Wind Cave trails lately. Contact me if you would like more information.