Five Years of Motherhood

Another Mother's Day has come and gone...and here I sit in awe at how God has blessed me with the chance to be what I thought I may never be...a mom.

Just a few years ago, Mother's Day did not bring the joy that it brings me now. I even remember staying home from church one year just to avoid the painful reminder that it was once again another Mother's Day with empty arms. Although I would never want to relive those years, I'm not sorry they occurred. It has forever softened my heart.

Our pastor did a wonderful job on Sunday acknowledging that Mother's Day though a joy-filled day for many, can also be a very painful day for others. Some are terribly missing their mothers or wives that are no longer here. Some have lost a child through miscarriage or early death. Some are just aching to hold a baby in their arms to call their own. And some have suffered terrible tragedies that are beyond what we could even imagine.

To these people I say, God has not forgotten you. He loves you and may He bring you abundant hope, comfort and joy that only He can bring.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. (Is 40:31)

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because We know that suffering produces endurance; endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us. (Rom 5:4-5)

On Friday, Caedmon's Pre-K class had a Mother's Day Tea. While the mothers waited in the hall, Mrs. Rose had each child come out, hold out there arms and escort their mothers to their seats inside the classroom. My little man was quite the gentlemen...my heart melted.

The kids made a cookbook for their moms. Here is the recipe submitted by Mr. Caedmon:

Ham and Noodles

Get noodle and ham from the store.

Put it in a pot and cook it 6 or 7 degrees for 20 minutes.

Take it off the stove and let it cool down for 8 hours.

Then eat it.

Here is Caedmon's teacher, Mrs. Rose. I seriously cannot believe that he only has one week left of school! I'm really going to miss Mrs. Rose. She has been amazing and has taught this little boy soooo much! What a change we've seen in him from the beginning of the year!
On Mother's Day morning, it was sweet to hear the kids Mother's Day wishes when they woke up. At age three, it's so hard to keep a secret. Kaiya told me several times that morning where my card from them was hidden. :) After church on Sunday, my husband planned a picnic lunch at Pokagon.

Grandpa teasing Kaiya

The grill master.

The icing on the cake that day was having both our mothers with us!!
While playing on the playground, our kids found some friends from church, Dawson & Branson. And I had fun chatting with their sweet mama, Nicole. Kaiya was in tears on our way home after church because she had forgotten the card she made for me in Sunday School. Nicole noticed she had left it and brought it to Pokagon knowing she would possibly see us there. So sweet!
What an amazing day of fun! Another highlight of my day...after we were home and had everything unpacked and put away, my kids snuggled with me on the couch to relax. I know these days are going so fast and the snuggling days will be gone before I know it...so I will soak it in while I can!
I thought as I am focusing on Mother's Day for this post, it would be a good opportunity to include a little adoption update. It was natural for me to let my mind wonder a few times throughout that day at how this Mother's Day would have been different had the adoptions taken place that we thought would take place. Since the twins, we've had a couple leads that have fizzled out. Some of our paperwork has expired after a year and we've begun updating that recently. Yesterday, the kids and I visited the police station to get fingerprinting and police checks done again. Other than that, nothing much has happened. We continue to pray for God's will for our family and continue to trust that His timing is perfect.

Happy Mother's Day!