Why are women just so amazing?

All of us girls making bracelets to help auntie dez raise money after she got diagnosed with cancer

Atkinson cousins girls annual retreat

My mother-in-law Teri

Lucy, Me, Tena, and Teresa

Mom and Dad singing karaoke to Celine Dion

Missy and Ruby

Audge Podge

So why all the pictures of these people...so i was doubting myself a little bit about my couselors for Relief Society because one will be out of town the first month we are in and another was gone the first week and one other was gone last week. I was doing a lot of it myself and starting to get a little discouraged. Then this week. We really just kicked butt. We are doing visits tomorrow to see the new girls. The girl who is on her month school thing has contacted me multiple times through email and text to find people to help on sundays or anything else. She also told me she was trying to memorize pictures and sisters names so she can jump in when she gets back! How great is that? I gave a lesson on Sunday about women and mothers and how we are unique and what makes us special. I think these examples show exactly what I was trying to portray. We love men but there is something about women where we go the extra mile and are just so charitable to others. Also this weekend we are doing our breast cancer walk in Salt Lake and it is so amazing to see all those women band together to really serve a great cause to celebrate with survivors and mourn with those who have lost loved ones but celebrate the lives they lived. So here is to those amazing women that we all know who have truly changed our lives. I know I don't tell them enough but here is my small attempt to give tribute to them.

My Mother: Colleen-She really knows how to make me cry and realize that it is okay. I have never met a woman who is more honest about her feelings and says what needs to be said when nobody else will say it. She has a way with people to make everyone involved. Even when I hate that she gets too involved in my life in certain ways I actually love it. Thanks mom for raising me and letting me go to start my own family!

My Mother: Teri-After this week with some things going on with my grandma my mom said to me, in tears, having grandma getting sicker and sicker was harder than losing her mom to cancer. I started balling because this is how I feel about Teri. I have only known Teri for 3 years but she has so graciously welcomed me into her life as her own daughter. She is one of the most faithful women I know.

My wonderful sisters: Tena, Teresa, Missy, Lucy, and Mindee

Tena-for letting me be the big sister sometimes. Even though there is 10 years difference sometimes I feel like there isn't any difference in her eyes and she treats me as equal. She is one of the greatest moms I know

Teresa-for being a woman of faith and knowing exactly what the Lord has in store for her and having such a great attitude about it

Missy-for being my little crafty friend who teaches me all her fun tricks. Also for being such a great influence of the joy of being a woman and mother

Lucy-for being my sidekick for most of those years. For not caring what other people say and for always treating me as your friend not just your little sister

Mindee-for making my brother a better man and for showing the power of womanhood

My aunt Nonie-for being my second mom and for spending all that time with us when we were younger. In my lesson on Sunday I used a talked called Are We Not All Mothers? by Sheri Dew and it reminded me of my aunt nonie. She has never had children of her own but she has adopted us in as her own.

My good friends Lis, Audrey, Jill, Stephanie, Sha, Jen

For showing me to look at life in a different way, realizing how amazing being a mother is, to trust yourself, to love yourself, and helping me realize how amazing I am

To all those other women who have touched my life in a small or huge way, thank you!