Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day 2013

 
 

I woke up thanking the Lord for a day to celebrate the mother, grandmothers, and mother-in-law I have been blessed to have help raise me, mold me, and turn me into the person I am today. This was followed by the joyful thanksgiving of the sons I have been given that call me mom. 

"Mom!"
"Mom?"
"Mom.....?!?!?!"
"MMMMOOOOMMMM!!!!"
"Mom."

No matter the tone, when this word is uttered, it reminds me of what I longed for many years ago, what I asked the Lord for, and what I cherish.

The first time I heard this word it was something like "MOM!!!!!!!!!" from a 17 year old boy playing cards and he was yelling across the room because his cousins were cheating.

The most precious words a woman longs to hear and I won't lie, it made me cry. And how amazing that most moms have to wait months for their children to learn how to talk and I only had to wait a month! :)

But something about this day stirs up sadness in me. You see, for me to gain these two marvelous, handsome, precious boys that I call sons, 2 women had to part with them. 

There was a bond broken. A heart broken. A heart still broken between mother and son.

The birth mothers of my sons are two women that I pray for often, but this day the Lord hears them in abundance. My heart breaks that they don't get to see the smiles, giggles, and their milestones in person as I do. I pray that they will come to know the Lord my God so that in heaven we can hold hands and they will know that their son was loved. Well loved, by many.

The Lord my God has gifted me with a different kind of family. A family that I cherish with all of my heart and soul. On this mother's day, I celebrate with all of the other mothers out there, but I especially love seeing all of the other mothers that post pictures of their children that don't look like them. 

I know they get "it." They get this calling and longing to be a mom to children that were purely a gift from the Lord. Children that we loved the instant we saw them, whether they were 1 day old or 17. Children that we chose and as they grow older or if they were older when you chose them, children that chose us back!

You, my friends, are rock stars!
I admire you, I celebrate with you, and I love you!
May you ooze an abundance of love from your heart today!
Happy Mother's Day!

"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3 

And just for my friends and moms that understand my need to show off my beautiful family, here are some more of my favorites from today's photo shoot: