mother's day

I feel so TOTALLY and AMAZINGLY BLESSED to be called mama by these three little sweeties. Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays for sure...another reminder of the best job in the world that I get to live out each day. There are certainly those days that are not the easiest in the world...days where I am humbled as a parent, days that I wish I could just have a moment to myself, days where it seems I haven't accomplished anything, days where I feel defeated and guilty because I yelled at the kids undeservedly. I'm not the perfect parent, but thankfully I have a heavenly Father that is perfect and helps me through each day of this mothering journey...gives me strength, patience, and forgiveness so freely. I certainly couldn't do it without Him! I wouldn't trade the bedtime kisses and hugs I get from my six-year old. I wouldn't trade my four-year old saying "I love you mommy" out of the blue almost daily. I wouldn't trade the big cheeked smiles and full open-mouthed kisses I get from my 9-month old....wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

This is my first Mother's Day with sweet little Luca Bella. What joy! And this woman has taught and modeled to me everything I know about what it means to be a mother. She is the reason why I wanted to be nothing more than a mother since I was a little girl. She continues to mother us all including my children. I feel so blessed to have her in my life. It's not an uncommon thing for her to stop by on a weekly basis with a meal, to take one of the kids or to mop my floor. She's such a breath of fresh air...so encouraging, so giving. I love you, mom!We had a great time and some fabulous food at a Mother's Day brunch at Pokagon on Mother's Day. When I got home I took a walk, got a massage and took a nap. It just couldn't have been a more perfect day!New Babies

We recently made a couple of home visits to meet new babies. Here is our newest little cousin, Michael FuWei, adopted from China and oh so cute. These two were so cute to watch interact together. They kept grabbing each other's face. This little guy was so so tiny and sweet. Baby Tyler was adopted by a friend recently that has been waiting a very long time for him. So good to see him in her arms. Kaiya was loving every minute.

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!

Mother's Day Traditions

Here is a picture of my very first Mother's Day as a mom in May 2004. I had gone through so many previous Mother's Days just aching to be a mom so this was a VERY special day for me. We had a picnic at Pokagon and took our bikes along as well. A beautiful day!Since then, we've been going back to Pokagon each year for Mother's Day. Sometimes having a picnic at the park and other times eating the special Mother's Day Brunch in the restaurant. I love it there! Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for the idea...they've been going for years as well. This year we ate at the restaurant and had their immaculate Mother's Day brunch buffet since the weather was rainy outside. My sister (seven months pregnant with baby Emmi), my mom & me.
This day was also my niece Lexi's 10th birthday. After lunch, we had a little birthday party for her in the hotel lobby. Lexi is such a sweetheart and I love her excitement and energy. She always has a beautiful smile on her face and just adores our children...we adore her too!
This cool kid just got his drivers license last week!
The rain certainly didn't put a damper on our day. Kevin drove my mom and I over to the Outlet Mall right down the road and let us shop while he and my Dad watched the kids. Thanks honey! You're the greatest!

Here's a picture we took at home before church. Caedmon gave me a little present he had made at school (Parents Day Out)...a scrapbook with pictures of him throughout the whole school year. I loved it! Here are more gifts from the kids.

And from my sweet husband...a purse, some bath & body stuff and a foot rub when we got home.

Happy Mother's Day to Mom Ruby

Finally getting a chance to post about our Mother's Day events last weekend. It's been a busy but good week this past week with dance practices & the three services all week and weekend long...more to come on that later.On the Saturday before Mother's Day, we went to Kevin's mom & dad's to spend the afternoon. The guys worked on adding a slide to Grandpa & Grandma's swing set. It was a nice relaxing afternoon and the highlight for me was watching and taking pictures of all the cousins running & playing on Grandpa & Grandma's beautiful property. Grandma always loves to give the little ones a ride in the red wagon, but little miss Karis thinks she's outgrown the wagon now I guess and thought Grandma needed some assistance. I got a big kick out of how she wanted to do big things and tried to keep up with the older boys that day. Here is Lincoln, Kaiya & Karis. Here she has totally taken over for Grandma. So cute! So hard to believe that she's going to be two next month! The boys were busy catching salamanders and those salamanders travelled home with us that evening in a cup. Caedmon was so concerned about them. Bowen is Curt & Sarah's nephew and was with them that day. You'll get a kick out of this one, Joyce. When Caedmon saw him at first and we said that his name was Bowen, he was confused and thought we said that it was Owen. He said "Mommy, he grew up and got bigger." I always enjoy walking around and admiring my mother-in-law's flowers. The tulips were blooming beautifully that day!

While I was admiring the tulips some handsome man came up behind me and gave me a squeeze.

Grandma Ruby had a special activity planned for the little ones. They planted marigold seeds in their own individual cups. The kids have really enjoyed watching them grow over the past week and ask every morning to see how they've changed.

The slide is finally ready to test out. A bumpy ride...I went down once and felt my body creek & crack in odd places. I think I'll let the kids enjoy it from now on. :)

Looks like Caedmon had a rough ride too.

These pictures were so fun to take of Caedmon, Easton & Kaiya playing in the old cart next to Grandpa while he grilled the chicken over the open fire. I am so amazingly blessed to have the privilege to be a part of this family. I love them all dearly! Thanks mom Ruby for all the motherly love you give to our family and the example you've shown of what it means to be a Godly mother. Happy Mother's Day!