Nova the Runner and Magnificent Moms

Two quick notes for you today. First of all, Nova took part in a race yesterday and, much to our surprise, ran over a kilometer by herself. Suzanne ran a 5K to support a fundraising effort for an ill friend, and organizers held a Kids K race after the adults finished. On a whim, Suzanne signed Nova up for the Kids K, fully expecting her to poop out after the first minute and need to be carried.

As you can see in the video below, it turns out that Nova got into the running spirit immediately. I think she was excited by seeing everyone else take off running, but whatever her motivation, she stood in awe for a few seconds when the other kids started and then ran after them, arms pumping wildly and Sunday-shoe-clad feet slapping the sidewalk.

Aside from being carried for 30 feet and subsequently demanding to be put back down so she could run, she ran well over a kilometer all by herself. Reportedly, she even stopped midway through the race, got down on hands and knees, and for reasons unknown did a little pushup before jumping to her feet and racing away once again. That's right, my little two-year-old isn't just tough enough to run a race without stopping, she's also confident enough to sacrifice her finishing time to stop and intimidate fellow runners with a display of upper body strength. She's not too proud to admit that she's completely terrified of men in soldier mascot costumes though, as you might have noticed when she crossed the finish line.

She's one of a kind, our little girl.
The second item that needs to be addressed today is mothers. They deserve our praise, thanks, and love every day, but today of all days I'd like to do it publicly. Too often we dismiss the roles of mothers in shaping our lives and assume that people would have turned out roughly the same regardless of who had mentored them.

Ridiculous, I say. Simply absurd.

I'm grateful that Nova has such a caring and hard-working mom to help her shape her future and become a brilliant and beautiful woman someday. And I'm equally grateful for a mother who was instrumental in shaping a man who isn't very brilliant or beautiful, but is as close as he could be considering what Heavenly Father gave his mom to work with.

Furthermore, thanks to all the moms out there who put endless hours, days, weeks, and years into raising upstanding children, no matter how hopeless it seemed at the time. We have wonderful friends and family because of you, and we can never thank you enough. Whether you're enduring the terrible twos or just wishing your twenty-something son would call you more often, remember that we need you and you truly are the epitome of charity and love.

Thank God for mothers.