(here I am sporting the new apron the boys got me from William Sonoma)Life is going so fast, I feel like it's all a blur these days. I figured if I don't blog about it all, we'll look back on this year and think nothing but diabetes happened.
Mother's Day was over a week ago, but it was full of happy memories. Tyler made me a hand towel at preschool with his little hand print on it, along with a darling card that had a picture of our family drawn on it- minus Robby. He told me he ran out of time before he could draw Robby. I thought that was pretty funny. Tyler was very sweet and excited to give me a few gifts and celebrate with me. The Saturday before Mother's Day, he and John went out to do a little shopping. John said that Tyler was so funny, he randomly wished several women at the stores a happy mothers day...his idea, no coaching from John. Too cute!
I have such tender feelings each year on Mother's Day. I am overcome with gratitude for the blessing that I have to be a mother. I remember all those years when I wondered if I would ever be blessed with this opportunity. Year after year, mother's day would come and go and I wondered if I would ever be showered with handmade gifts and hugs from little ones. Oh how sweet it is to be living that dream.
Mother's Day is also bitter sweet because I am reminded that my joy in motherhood came at the expense of another mother's loss and sacrifice. The Saturday before Mother's Day is Birth Mother's Day. We honor birth mothers everywhere, but we have a deep respect and love for Tyler's birth mother on that special day. It is only fitting that Birth Mother's Day is first. She loved him first. She was his mother first. And it was that first love that she gave him that will bless his life for eternity. I am overwhelmed when I think of the mother's love that she has for Tyler. Only a mother could do what she did for him in placing him with his family over five years ago. That kind of sacrifice is the very essence of motherhood. When times get difficult for me as a mother (which is most of the time lately)- when I'm tired, out of energy, and don't feel like I have any more to give, I remember the example that she gave to me. Motherhood is selfless, giving, and completely focused on what is best for our children. With that example in mind, I plow forward.
I was also blessed with a wonderful example from my mom. When I don't want to do all the hard stuff that comes with mothering, I always think, "Well, someone else did this for you...now it's your turn." Being a mom makes me truly value and appreciate all that my mother has done for me. It's overwhelming. My mom is a rock. She is solid in her values and her testimony. She did a fantastic job of raising us kids, and it is impressive to see how she still blesses the lives of her children and grandchildren in many various ways. Where would we all be without the countless prayers of our mother?
Needless to say, mother's day is always a good day for me- tears of gratitude, joy, respect, awe, and love.
