Debbie Hiller

Leslie,

I am thrilled for you!  

Motherhood is rewarding, challenging, humbling, awesome, character building, a tutorial in unselfish service, fun, and a sacred trust….

Motherhood will help draw you closer to your husband and your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ, in wonderful ways.

I have attached a photo of our family, because I have come to understand better, as a grandmother, the great blessing that is ours through the miracle of life and posterity.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in 3 John 1:4:  " I have no greater joy that to hear that my children walk in truth.”  Let this be your goal as a mother, to love them and to teach them to ‘walk in truth’, so that your Family can be Together Forever.

You will be a wonderful mother!!!

I love you!

Debbie Hiller

Colleen Karren

This isn't the best picture, but it shows three of my greatest joys. I can not even begin to tell you how thankful I am for the blessing of motherhood. I remember being scared and overwhelmed with the responsibility, but never have I felt so much love as the day I held each of my daughters for the first time. I made mistakes along the way and shed many tears, but never have I felt so much JOY! I never knew that something so small could teach me so much!
CHERISH EACH SMALL MOMENT because it is fleeting and remember:
"There is no perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children....what matters most is that a mother loves her children deeply." Elder M. Russell Ballard.
Lots of love to you Leslie!!!

Kathy Cummings

I love this picture because it reminds me of the pioneer women who were so incredibly strong and courageous. It reminds me that I too am strong and can do hard things. We felt such an intimate connection with the pioneer families as we volunteered at This is the Place that summer. Love you Leslie - what an amazing mother you will be. 

Laurie Wirz

Dear Leslie, when Catie was 18 months old, she still hadn't learned to walk. I was concerned about her, but my pediatrician told me it was "normal," and we just kept encouraging her. She finally did, just a few weeks later. What I didn't know then was that Catie had Juvenile Arthritis, and walking would have been painful for her. There are many lessons I have learned and am learning from my sweet baby girl having an as yet incurable illness. First, I needed to pay attention. I couldn't have known at 18 months that Catie had arthritis, but I needed to be more interested in her and her timing than in what was "normal," by any book. Second, be my child's best advocate. Children can't survive in a world of adults. They need an adult to speak for them, to speak with them. Your child needs to know that they have someone "in their corner" always. Third, allow your child to learn his/her own lessons. That can be excrutiatingly painful, but Catie has learned to rely on the Lord through her pain and suffering in ways I could never have taught her by just "telling" her. Fourth, just as in this picture, walk with your kids. Let them take those steps with you before you let them stand and fall. Give them an opportunity to lean on you when they need to. And fifth, Heavenly Father doesn't mess around with families. This child is coming to you because you are the best mother for him. And because he will teach you things that you could learn in no other way. Those are just some of the lessons I have learned. Being a mother is the single greatest opportunity I have had in this life. It is the only career that really matters to me, and regardless of how my children "turn out," it is the greatest gift Heavenly Father has given me. May the Lord bless you as you become a mother. I'm so excited for you and your little one! With love, Laurie Wirz

Diana Barnett

Dear Leslie,

I am so happy for you.  Being a mother is the most wonderful thing in the world.

I first met you when your own mom was a fairly new mother herself. We moved into the ward in the fall of 1992.  At the time you were just a baby- a very cute baby! On my first Sunday in the ward I sat behind your mom in Relief Society and I watched her bounce you on her lap and play with you throughout the meeting. I had a few thoughts as I watched her.  The first- how beautiful your mom was. The second- how beautiful and adorable you were. The third- how much your mom loved you. It was a tender and sweet thing for me to watch you and her interact together. 

And because your mom and I became such close friends I have been able to watch you grow up- through play groups, elementary school, junior high and high school and then on to college and marriage and now to the next and most wonderful phase of your life- a mom.  

You will be a darling mom.  As you raise this sweet baby, do what feels right to you.  Listen to the Spirit and talk things over with your husband. It will be an amazing time in your life and it is a time that will never end!  You will be a mother forever. There is not a sweeter blessing.

I love this quote from Elder Holland:

"Remember, remember all the days of your motherhood: “Ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.” (2 Nephi 31:19) Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.” (2 Nephi 31:20) You are doing God’s work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even—no, especially—when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Matthew9:22) And it will make your children whole as well." General Conference 1997

Congratulations Leslie!!!!

Love, Diana Barnett

Trudy Hansen

I have loved being a mother!  I picked two values that I thought were very important and tried to instill them in my children.  The first was obedience.  I felt that if they learned to obey me, it would be easier to obey the laws of the land and the laws of God.  The second was honesty.  When they would tell me the truth I would try not to be upset for what they had done but praise them for telling me the truth.

You will be a wonderful mother!  Relax and try to enjoy each day!

Love, Trudy Hansen

Karen Schindler

Dear Leslie,

When your sister asked for advice all I could think of was ask Suzan she’s the best mom ever! So my advice would be to ask your mom if you have any questions she will know what advice to give you. I also wanted to tell you why I love being a mom. I was so lucky to be a stay at home mom with my kids. I was able to play every day. It was the best. I loved spending time with them just playing outside with rocks and dirt and bugs or whatever we could do together. I know people always say it goes so fast and to enjoy it and I agree. Leslie time does fly so just enjoy your little ones and PLAY. I love you and I can’t wait for you to be a mom you will be great and you will love it! Have fun and post lots of pictures.

Love you,

Karen Schindler