Day 6 - Super Hero

30 Day Challenge Day 6 - Favorite super hero and why:

This one was a tough one - mostly because I'm really not into super heroes, and I'm guessing most of my readers are probably only familiar with Batman.  I grew up with Superman, though, and I worshiped him in my own way, the silent mild guy during the day turn rescuer at night.

But when Wonder Woman broke upon the scene, I have to admit she struck a cord.  For me, it was just nice seeing a woman greatly endowed who wasn't portrayed as a dumbo.  It was an issue I personally fought all through my high school years - come on guys, look me in the eye ... I really do have an ounce of intelligence in my head, and it is NOT on my chest.   So along comes Wonder Woman with dark hair, not blond, and a larger chest coupled with a smaller waist than any woman other than Barbie has a right to have, and guess what?  She's smart!  She fights criminals.  She stands up for the poor and the down trodden.  Yeah, my vote is for Wonder Woman!

But there are many real Wonder Women in my life, and you are the one's I'm really voting for - you women of the scriptures who made such a difference - Ruth, Esther, Elisabeth, Mary the mother of Christ, and Abish (Alma 19).

And you women in my life today who make such a difference - my mother, a righteous woman who has led her family by example of humble purity and always giving of herself to building us up and supporting us in our efforts. You are always here for me emotionally even when you can't be here physically.   Brent's mother who has always been here to rescue us in time of need, a dear second mother to me when my own lived so far away.

My daughters by birth and my daughters by marriage - you are each heroes to me for your many individual talents and gifts and what you bring to my life and the lives of your family members and friends. Tonya, Heather, Linzy, Stephanie, Makinzee - you are each so unique and so beautiful.  I could not imagine my life without you.  You strengthen me and teach me, and I have been so blessed because of you.

My sisters by birth and my sisters by marriage  - what an awesome family I have!  You each teach me so much and live Wonder Woman lives every day with all you do for your families and loved ones, and your communities.  Susie, Connie, Joy, Vicki, Ann, Petra, Kathy - each of you set such an example to me, of what a real super hero is.  Thank you for living such good lives, in spite of physical challenges.  In spite of all the things life has thrown at you (and we've been around together for quite a while now) you each stand tall and strong, and teach me so much!

I had two grandmothers who are heroes to me as well - my Grandma Heaps who joined the Church in spite of resistance from her parents, and gave up everything dear to her to come to America to be closer to the Church.  My Grandma Hansen who served a mission back when it was not a common thing for women to do, who lived her testimony of Christ by her actions, and her never ending service to her fellowmen.  I wish so bad you of the next generation could have known these two ancestors.

You nieces, who write blogs (and those who don't), I want you to know you are my heroes, too.  You share with me your trials and your successes, and I gain strength from them.  

And I cannot talk about heroes without talking about the women I call my friends.  I started naming names, and then I realized this post would go on forever. I've lived a long enough life that my list of friends is quite extensive.  I've had friends who have died, and friends who have moved away,  but they have never left my heart.  I have friends I take for granted, just knowing they are always there, even if we don't ever do things together.  I consider every woman I work with to be a friend.  The women in my ward are all dear friends.   I have friends my age and I have friends the age of my children, and I have friends the age of my mother.  Age knows no boundary when it comes to friends.  And I know this post isn't about friends - it's about heroes.  Well, my dear friends, you are all my heroes, too.

I guess the bottom line is that as we move through life it isn't the "super heroes" who make a difference.  It's the super people, the ones we rub shoulders with every day, our family members and our loved ones, our friends, our co-workers - the real people who live each day with their own personal set of challenges and rise above them, who wake up each morning and face the world anew, who give of themselves to make someone else's life better - each of you.  You are my real heroes, my real Wonder Women!  

Thank you each for the lives you live.