the gift of motherhood

 It's Saturday afternoon, and I have umpteen million things calling for my attention. Not the least of which is a post-Valentine's banquet at our church tonight to cook for...we decorated last night with lights and banners and streamers and centerpieces, and I am just a wee bit excited for the event. I overheard Mackenzie telling my daughter-in-love that "my mom gets into party planning" as we were preparing the church sanctuary. She's right. I love making special occasions happen, especially for the people I love the most.

 But I also love the little, seemingly obscure moments that fill our days, because if life was just one big holiday, I don't think I'd enjoy it as much, you know? Every day can't be Disneyland. We'd get tired of it, and probably wouldn't appreciate it as much. I've heard this fluctuation between the ordinary and the extraordinary called a  lot of things...ying and yang, ebb and flow, etc... I think the ancient scribe nailed when he said "to every thing there is a season..."

 A season to celebrate and turn up the excitement level and yes, party plan...and a season to just relax and revel in the small things. And while sorting through pictures of the week just now, and smiling at the sweet little moments that were sandwiched in between the big ones, I realized again what a blessed mama I am.

Lily, pre-speech therapy

she's rockin' it big time. so proud of my girl

as always, she practices on her babies afterwards...and writes notes on their progress to give to their mama

 When I was little I watched Sesame Street a lot. There was a little segment once where a beautiful African-American mama was bathing her equally beautiful bronze baby in a galvanized tub. She had a little sponge that was oozing with baby bubbles, and she lovingly stroked her baby's shoulders and back as she sang a lullaby to him. He smiled up at her with water streaming down his chubby face, and she leaned over and kissed the top of his curly head. Even as a little girl I felt that instinctive mama-urge...the one that kind of squeezes your heart when you see that kind of unconditional love shared between a mother and her baby, and you want it for yourself. I couldn't wait for the day to have my own little chubby baby, to give baths to, and sing to, and swaddle in a soft baby towel...

 I'm living out my childhood dreams. I truly am.

 I had other dreams when I was younger...I wanted to be a teacher, an artist, a writer...

And it dawned on me today while I was sifting through photos and soaking it all up...I get to be all of those things too. Somehow God took all those desires, wrapped them all up in a beautiful package called motherhood, and gave it to me as a gift.

And every day I have the privilege of opening up that package again and again.

The contents may be different each day...silly antics or crazy laughing or intimate heart-to-heart discussions with my children...or just the simple, peaceful pleasure of bath-times in the sink.

They're mine to unwrap and enjoy and treasure, and nothing could replace the joy and fulfillment I feel because of this gift I've been given.

holding her baby up to say "cheese"

I'm a blessed woman. We may not have a mansion or drive the nicest car or dine at the finest restaurants. But we are the richest people on earth because of the blessings we've been given that are beyond measure.

An excerpt from my favorite book...



"Fancy you being contented there," smiled Christine. "Do you really never feel thatyou want a broader life? You used to be quite ambitious, if Iremember aright. Didn't you write some rather clever littlethings when you were at Redmond? A bit fantastic and whimsical,of course, but still . . ."

"I wrote them for the people who still believe in fairyland.There is a surprising lot of them, you know, and they like to getnews from that country."

"And you've quite given it up?"

"Not altogether . . . but I'm writing living epistles now,"said Anne.
~ Anne of Ingleside, L.M. Montgomery

Happy, happy weekend.