Happy Mother's day

Happy Mother's day to all of the women in my life who have taught me so much about being a mother and Thank You to my children who make me proud to be their MOM. Even being this far away I feel their love. Thank you all.

The flu has hit Antwerpen in the last week. Not the Mexican one but the run of the mill kind. It has been interesting to see the difference in cultures while here. Back home when someone in the ward is sick, the list to sign up for meals to be brought in to the "sick" family goes around in Relief Society and gets filled instantly. I remember Nancy W. complaining that the list always started on the right side of the room and the sisters on the left never got a chance to sign up because by the time the list got around to their side it was full. She asked that it start on the left once in a while. (The filled list never stopped her however) Yesterday it was announced that Sister "So n' So" and her husband were down with the flu and she would probably love a phone call or even a card to let her know we were thinking about her. Hello?............a phone call? so people don't eat while they are ill? When I brought in food to Sister "So n' So" you should have heard the Thank Yous and she asked why in the world would I do that, it is just "Not Done" here? We have some serious conversion needed here, and this crazy Americanized Dutch gal will not stop until they get the picture. I will always be grateful for the good examples of the sisters "back home"

Not only have my children let me know how much I am loved this Mother's day, but so have the Elders. We have some great warriors here and I am proud to by their mission MOM. They appreciate everything I prepare and even come back for more. This week I will probably be mending more than cooking. These guys are really hard on their suits and I just dread having to mend anything they have "tried" to mend themselves. Do they not know that suit pants cannot be sewn up with white or red thread and that torn shirt pockets should not be stapled? Oh well!!

I just hope that when my grandchildren go on their missions that some Senior couple Mom will be there for them.