Happy Mother's Day!

Well...this was it...my very first Mother's Day. Was it all it was cracked up to be? In one word. YES! (Warning--it's a looongg post! And pictures won't load...I tried! Maybe tomorrow?)

We have had one busy, emotional week and so I was looking forward to a day just celebrating parenthood. My mom and mother-in-law were even nice enough to allow me to spend the day with just Tony and the girls. They said this would be the last time I could say that it was my first Mother's Day, so I could be selfish. Aren't they the best?

Let me give you a run-down of how my glorious day went. I knew today would be special because I had a hint of what was to come, last week. Tony and the girls showed up last Saturday with Boyd's bears for me to commemorate the day...a week early! Isn't that sweet? But on to today-Tony let me sleep in! (He's SO good to do this on a regular basis. He gets turns too!) So when I finally started stirring, it was to two giggly girls coming in and saying, "Happy Day, Mama!"

I opened my eyes and stretched. The house smelled simply YUMMY! So I wandered down the hall to a table set with eggs, potatoes, juice, AND a present! I sat down to read a beautiful letter that Tony wrote from he and the girls. It was very touching and I was already about to lose it. Then, I opened my present...a beautiful silver Pandora bracelet with two charms. One was a silver ladybug and one a little girl. It was so touching. This first Mother's Day was turning out to be pretty special.

After breakfast, we did the unthinkable...we left the dishes in the sink! We then just hung out and played--and we were still in our jammies! After reading, and playing, and wrestling, and snuggling, it was already time for naps-remember, I slept in. So the girls settled in and, amazingly, fell asleep immediately! I had an hour and a half of blissful silence where I actually sat and painted my fingernails! FUN!

After naps, we got down to some serious playing in the play room. Tony and I were served pretend meals, played with little people, and just snuggled some more with the girls. We ended the night with a dinner picnic on the floor! (Great suggestion, Mom. It was fun!) The girls didn't want the day to end (and neither do I) so it took some convincing to get them to sleep, but they are.

I know I don't have other Mother's Days to compare this to, but I have to say it was simply the best. I couldn't wrap my mind around what parenthood would be like. I could never have envisioned it as good as it is. We are blessed to have two wonderfully smart, funny, and beautiful girls. And although she will never read this, I have to thank our girls' birthmother. She chose life for our girls. She chose to bring them into this world and do the best thing for them she could. And for this, I will forever be grateful. She'll never get to feel their kisses, or reassure them they're loved. I pray wholeheartedly that she finds peace and knows her girls are loved. I still pray that she finds Jesus as well, so one day our girls and she will be reunited.

I have to admit, there was a bit of sadness this Mother's Day weekend. We went to church last night (where our girls went to children's church for the first time!) and I was torn during the service. I sat there in awe that a year ago at this time, I had NO idea God had our daughters waiting on us on the other side of the world. And this year, they were happily playing in the nursery while I got to celebrate motherhood.

However, every time our pastor made reference to Mother's Day, I almost cringed. I thought about how lucky I was to be a part of that sacred club of mothers. I also had a pang of sadness for those who are longing to be mothers, but for one reason or another, are not. And what about those mothers who have lost their children. What a painful time for them as well. I remember last year when I left the sanctuary in tears in the middle of the service because of how unfair it felt. This year I felt guilty that I had crossed that bridge and got to sit on the "other side" as a mother. Trust me, friends, I still felt that it was unfair that some could bask in motherhood, while others wouldn't even come to the service because it hurts to bad. I prayed fiercly for the not-yet-mothers. All I can say is that God's plan is perfect. Having the daughters I do makes me thankful God didn't answer my prayers any sooner than He did.

I have to end this post with something happy...afterall, you DO say HAPPY Mother's Day, right? I guess while I was peacefully snoozing the morning away, Tony was battling two very wild little girlies. At one point he said he saw them get into my fingernail polish. They love to have their toes painted, so he thought, "Oh, it's fine. They can't open those." WRONG! Laney worked one open and was skillfully painting her toes before long! Tony smelled the polish and dashed for her. She did paint some toenails and only got a little on the carpet. That's my girl!

Also, when we were getting the girls ready for bed tonight, we saw Abby had a diaper in her hands. Tony reached for it and realized it was wet and used. Hmmm, where'd that come from? Well, little Miss Houdini some how worked it off of her own body while she was wearing a pantsuit jumper. You know the kind that snaps between the legs and all the way down the inside of the pants. Yeah, she got it off and out the pant leg I guess. She did this WHILE standing in front of us and we had no clue! Look out David Copperfield!

A very Happy Mother's Day to all of our friends and family. Without you, I would have never survived to see my first Mother's Day. I love you.

For all the moms-to-be...hang on, God hasn't forgotten you!

To my sisters...you're like second moms to me. Thanks for setting good examples and loving your kids through it all. I hope I can do the same. I love you!

And to Kyna...you're the best. Thanks for caring so much. And thanks for giving me Tony. I'd be lost without him. I love you!

Mom, what can I say? Ok, what can I say without crying? Nothing. I love you more than this world. Thanks for being the best mom a girl can ask for. And thanks for being my bestest friend. I hope I can be at least half the mom you are. I hope I can make you proud. I love you.