Choose Truth

When you are given a choice, always choose truth over a lie and honesty over deception. When you take the high road you will sleep better at night. – Caroline Rudy

When your babies get married...

After gaining a daughter or son in law, listen twice and speak once. — Sandy Costello

The three most important things

The important parts of life are God, Love, and Family. With God, all things are possible. With Love, you will understand the meaning of life. With Family, you are never alone. – Cayla Sanderlin

Prepare yourself

As a young woman, prepare yourself to be able to support yourself independently. It will give you freedom then to select who you might choose as a partner. It will give you confidence in yourself. An education is extremely important for a woman. Knowledge can be power when used wisely. – Caroline Rudy

Mind your butts

Do not walk around with a lighted cigarette. – Emily Passino

Live on a budget

Learn how to make a budget and stick to it. If you don't know how, ask for help. — Janell Wilson

Think for yourself

Don't follow the crowd — the crowd often leads to trouble. Be strong enough to be the only one to say 'NO!' if necessary; but you might be surprised. If you speak up first, you may have several standing right there beside you. — Monica Greenway

Mind your glassware

It’s an old sorority girl trick, but you’ll look more ladylike if you drink from a stemmed glass, such as a wine glass. Don’t be prissy about it – it’s okay to drink beer from the bottle – but when you know you want to look like a lady, drink whatever you’re drinking out of a wine glass. — Rebekah Sanderlin

Make-up 101

Always pluck your eyebrows and wear mascara. It’s a surprisingly effective way to look made up even when you’re not. — Rebekah Sanderlin

Just sleep

You don't need drugs (medication), you need rest. — Kelly Wright

Prayer

Pray with an open mind and an open heart and, nine times out of 10, God will give you a loud and clear answer. — Rebekah Sanderlin

The season of life

Be grateful for the "season" of life you are in.  I have often said "oh someday" and that is today. 
And always be nice to those who are ignored by others.  It will always pay off somewhere down the road. — Kim Roberts

Just do it

Who cares what these people think? We’ll probably never seen any of them ever again anyway. — Laura Mitchell

Pick a leader

Nothing gets done when you have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. — Laura Mitchell

Don't second guess yourself

Once you make a decision, don't second-guess yourself. I actually sometimes say this to myself when getting on an airplane. No point in worrying about this one crashing! A decision is a decision! Whether it's a major fork in the road or just some inconsequential choice, second-guessing can keep you from making that choice be a successful one. – Emily Passino

No rain, no rainbow!

Count your blessings when you start feeling sorry for yourself.  Consider the incredible gifts we have been given. Sure, there are awful times we have to deal with.  So deal with them, offer them up to the Lord; and move on. Be thankful you're tough enough to handle the hard times. No rain, no rainbow! My mother used to say, "Everybody else is tired of hearing you complain.  Get over it."  – Janan Dorris

Leave wanting more

My great aunt always said "leave wanting more" I was never sure what that meant when I was younger, but as I grew up I realized it means leave a party before you are the last guest left and leave a wonderful date before they know all of your secrets — in other words: Leave wanting more of what you enjoy and make others always want more of your time. — Valerie Allison

For Sarah and Rachel

In 2004 my aunt Gail died after years of suffering from lupus. Her two daughters, Sarah and Rachel, were only 14 and 11 years old at the time. Even worse, Aunt Gail died on the morning of the very day that we buried my grandmother. Sarah and Rachel lost their mother and a grandmother just days apart.

They are women now and their father, Jim, has done a beautiful job raising them. He is to be commended. But every now and then I think of something wise my mother said to me, much of it during my teen years, and I am reminded that Sarah and Rachel didn't get to hear that sort of advice.
Last year, on the eve of Rachel's graduation from high school, I had an idea for a guide book of sorts. It would be a collection of female wisdom, something I could give to Sarah and Rachel to, in some tiny way, make up for them not getting to hear those words from their own mother. Many of my friends pitched in and offered their own mom-wisdom, sharing things their mothers and grandmothers told them, and things they plan to tell their own daughters. And, since we all can learn from each other — and each other's mothers — I hope that others will share their mom-wisdom here, too.

This blog is for Sarah and Rachel. I love you both and I know your mother is smiling down on you today, just as proud and pleased as she can be.