A Mother’s Day Tribute

Who is She?

That stood in the halls of the Gods

Whose voice rang out with courage

To defend the Plan and the right

To choose progression over oppression

Who is She?

Who was God’s culminating creation

Remembered eternal truths

And partook of the fruit

So that we might be

Who is She?

That spoke to an angel

Became a chosen vessel

And delivered Him in birth

So that He could deliver us all

Who is She?

Who was a sinner

But recognized the Savior

And offered her tears and hair

To prepare Him for the cross

Who is She?

Who discovered the empty tomb

Heard the angels proclaim His triumph

Refused to leave without Him

And was the first to see Him

Who is She?

Who was the first transcriber

Gently peeled the tar and feathers

Lost so many children

And gave her husband to Carthage

Who is She?

Who loves despite betrayals

Forgives and heals wounds

Defends the voiceless and vulnerable

And is the Keeper of all life

Who is She?

Whose hands take up the sword to battle

Yet are soft enough to cradle

Who gives body, mind, and soul

Yet in return asks for so little

Who is She?

Who carries the titles

Daughter

Mother

Queen

She is Woman

Comments

Let's Address the MOM in the Room

On August 24, 2012 I married the love of my life in the Manti Utah Temple. It is without a doubt one of the best days of my life. The two pictures below have come to be my absolute favorite from our wedding. If you've never been to the Manti Utah Temple it is on top of a very large, very steep hill (you can see the full size of it in the first picture of this post). These pictures do not do justice to just how tall and steep it is. Our photographer caught these two candid shots while we were climbing back up the hill after taking some photos at the bottom. It was very difficult for Emma to walk up the hill in her wedding dress, and her feet kept slipping. It was very slow going, because we did not want her to fall and get a grass stain on her dress. I had to help push her up the hill and keep her from falling when she slipped. Over the years these two pictures have become beautifully symbolic of our marriage. Our marriage is what may be ca...

Atwell Family Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a season FULL of tradition. Tradition is so important, because it brings people together. It provides opportunities to create memories. Traditions are an integral part of family culture, because it helps us feel a sense of belonging, safety, and love. Growing up, both Emma and I spent Christmas with only our immediate families. We didn't travel to grandparents' homes or others. We didn't host or go to parties. Christmas was always a simple, small, intimate holiday spent at home with just my parents and siblings. This tradition is something Emma and I have carried on with our family. We spent our very first Christmas in our 1-bedroom basement apartment. Just the two of us with our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We were between semesters at BYU-Idaho, and if you've ever been in Rexburg during the holidays it is practically a ghost town. All the students have gone home. Of the married students who lived in our complex we could have counted on one hand ...

You Are Not a Coincidence

I came across this beautiful video produced by FamilySearch for their 2014 RootTech conference earlier this week and I had to share it. I could share several more videos produced by FamilySearch that I love, but I'll let you go watch them yourself. I just love this and their other videos. They are so wonderfully done. This video got me thinking about how we all at one time or another feel isolated, alone, unwanted, unloved, rejected, scared, and not enough. Those feelings come to all of us. Some feel this way on a daily basis for many reasons. We feel like we don't have a purpose. Many of us have even felt that there's no reason to continue; that our family and friends would be better without us. This is simply not true. For anyone feeling any of the above I want you to read what I'm about to say very carefully. YOU ARE NOT A COINCIDENCE! If you don't believe me I want you to consider the following. This picture is what genealogists/family historians ...

Living In The Mix

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