mamas

Happy Mother's Day to all! Time to shout out to my favorite mamas.

My mama is my absolute best friend. I have been told my whole life how much I look like her, but the older I get, I realize just how much I act like her. Nathan tells me all the time, "That was such a Dana thing to say." It makes me laugh but I am more than okay with becoming more and more like my mom. Because she is awesome! She is strong, faithful, funny, selfless, compassionate, honest, giving, loving.. I could go on and on. My mom has sacrificed her whole life for us kids, and I am so glad I am at the point now in my life where I can really realize all that she has done for me. I could not ask for a better mother. I love that I can go to her with my deepest sorrows and concerns, but I can also go to her to discuss Kim Kardashian's maternity wardrobe. She always seems to be exactly what I need. When everything went down last month and we lost Madelyn, she was on the first flight out to Utah. I can remember that the second the doctor told us the news, my first thought was, "I want my mom." 24 years old and I still need her for the hard times. I felt like I couldn't make sense of this until she was here. I knew she couldn't fix anything, but she could make it easier. And she did. Seeing her instantly brought me strength. She did so much of the dirty work (what to do with the body, medical questions, phone calls from family) so that Nathan and I didn't have to. She never left my side and even slept on a tiny love seat in my hospital room. She continues to check up on me every day and let's me rant my irrational and dramatic emotions to her. She is taking a care of me even as an adult. I could not be more grateful. I love my mom so much. She is the epitome of what I want to be when I grow up.

I could not ask for a better mother-in-law. I have heard so many friends tell horror stories of mother-in-laws and I used to be so afraid before I met Celeste. I was a young 19-year-old when I met her. I was just some little girl her son was dating and she didn't need to take me seriously. But she did, and made me feel at home and welcome from day one. When Nathan left on his mission, I was so worried I could be losing his family as well as him, but I didn't! Celeste invited me out and opened her home to me so often and I loved being there. They became my family before Nathan and I were ever married. She is such an example to me of a woman who has been through so much in her life and has stayed strong and grown through trials. She is the definition of patience and I hope to have just a tiny portion of that with my own children. She is so faithful and stalwart and I look up to her so much. She raised an amazing man and that can only be done by an amazing woman. I love her and am so thankful for what she does and continues to do for me and for Nathan. She's an incredible woman, wife, and mother.

 My big sister, Kelsey, is exactly what a big sister should be. A best friend, a clothes-sharer, a confidant, a hair dresser, a secret-keeper, a protector. We get closer every day and I am so happy and blessed to have her in my life. I really don't know where I would be without her. She is so thoughtful. I really don't know of someone who thinks of others more than she does. She basically planned my entire wedding. Not even kidding. She took all the stress away from me and worked so hard.She was also the amazing hair stylist who did my awesome wedding hair. She always makes sure I am feeling okay and have what I need. Her support, love, and words have gotten me through the past month. She is hundreds of miles away but I have felt like she is right here with me. She has been a mother to me since I was little and I have loved watching her become a mother to her own children. She made me an aunt for the first time 4-and-a-half years ago. I love her two babies like they are my own. She is such a loving and incredible mother and has been such an example to me of the kind of mother I want to be. She is always there when I need to talk. Whether I have a question, or some celebrity gossip, or if my heart is breaking- she is always there. Wonderful friend, wonderful sister, wonderful mama. I just love her!

And now my other big sister, Amanda. Like I said about Celeste, Amanda made me feel apart of the Merkley family immediately. She has become a best friend over the years and sometimes I forget that I haven't known her my entire life. She is a constant means of support; always making sure I am doing okay. She also keeps me laughing with random pictures and Clark quotes. She is one of the kindest and most selfless people I know. She cares so much about other people. She truly loves everyone and wants them to be happy. She just has a way of making me feel loved and happy. I really admire that about her. She made me an aunt for the second time, just a few weeks after Kelsey had Ava. I absolutely adore her two little boys with all my heart. I didn't know you could love little babies so much! They are two crazy little guys and I love how fun and patient she is with them. She is amazing. She was made to be a mother of little boys. A few weeks ago she sent us the most incredible package and my favorite part was a giant stack of envelopes to open when we were feeling sad or needed a pick-me-up. It was the most thoughtful and heartfelt gesture and has meant more than she could know. I have had so much fun opening them slowly over the last few weeks and remembering how much she loves us and how freaking lucky I am to have the in-laws I do.