Lisa Beck Ure was chosen to represent the state of New Jersey as Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc.
American Mothers, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is committed to valuing mothers through service and education. As the official sponsor of Mother’s Day and the Mother of the Year®, American Mothers is the voice of 85 million mothers in America. Honoring the mission of the organization’s founders Eleanor Roosevelt, Sara Delano Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, JC Penney, and Norman Vincent Peale, American Mothers is dedicated to improving the lives of mothers and children in the US and around the world. Lisa Beck Ure is currently a full-time mom.
She was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. While earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University she met her husband John. The family first lived in Boston, MA. When John accepted a job in New Jersey in 2007, the couple could have chosen anywhere in the state to live. They chose New Providence and have lived here for 9 years since. Lisa recalls “It was so clear that New Providence is a wonderful place to raise a family. Every one we met was kind and welcoming to new people.” They lived in their first New Providence home for 5 years while raising 3 children, and decided to buy a larger home in town as their family grew to include 7 children – Kate, Emma, Sarah, Jane, Madeline, Ella and Johnny.
Lisa is one of five children, her mother emigrated from Germany at age 8; her father was born and raised on a farm in Oregon. Lisa has extensive international experience. She served a full-time mission to the island of Kosrae (Micronesian Islands) where she taught family values and provided service for 18 months. She also participated in a study abroad program in Jerusalem, and a humanitarian aid mission to Kenya.
In April Lisa traveled to Washington, DC to accept her award. During her acceptance speech Lisa stated “I am humbled to be here representing the women of New Jersey and to be among you devoted mothers.” The theme for the event was “Recognizing our strengths – serving others.” During her acceptance speech Lisa stated, “What a beautifully fitting topic for this gathering. Isn’t service what motherhood is all about? To set aside all consideration of personal gain and reach out with all of our strength, energy and all the love our hearts have to offer as we raise our precious children. I know the greatest service we render is within our own homes. Oh how each home desperately needs the nurturing touch of a mother, her encouraging words, her strength, her inspiration and the abundant love a mother has to offer.”
Her speech focused on recognizing our strengths and serving others. She shared three ways we can teach our children about service: Show: May we show our children that some of our finest work comes through service to others; Teach: It is our sacred duty to teach our children to serve; and Create: Create and cultivate opportunities to serve as families.
(above) The Ure Family, Lisa and John with their children Kate, Emma, Sarah, Jane, Madeline, Ella and Johnny.
