A Tribute to My Mom - Elsie Bowler Nielson

It's Mother's Day once again and I think about my mother who passed away five years ago. She was an absolutely delightful woman. I have very fond memories of her, not just from growing up as the youngest child in Boise, but many memories of her from my adult life as well.

This is a picture of her when she was in her early 20's.

To name a few things that made her special to me:

1. She was a great candy maker
2. She always talked to strangers
3. She was a wonderful letter writer
4. She was a great poet and writer in general
5. She had an incredible sense of humor and sharp wit
6. She loved her family very much
7. She always said to me, whatever decision I make is okay with her, as long as I'm happy
8. She adored my Father
9. She baked wonderful cinnamon rolls which I would come home to after school
10. She had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ which she loved to share

I spent the weekend in Boise caring for her shortly before she passed away from Alzheimer's. Although I'm not sure she knew who I was and she couldn't talk much, when I tucked her into bed at night, she put her hand on my face and looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "pretty".

 

This is a lilac plant that was given to me by my step-daughters after she passed away. We have lovingly nicknamed it "Lc". It has spent most of it's years in a pot on the patio and this spring we found it a permanent spot in the backyard. Mom always loved turtles so we found a ceramic turtle which is at the base along with a butterfly.

If I could say anything to those of you who still have your Mothers around, it would be cherish the time you have with them, learn from them and love them.

 

Age 72