Mother's Day 2008

Mother's Day this year was understandably very special for me. I have a beautiful and precious daughter - a gift from God. She is a living testimony to the power of prayer and is more wonderful than we could have ever dreamed. I finally understand what people mean when they say that motherhood "comes naturally", even to those of us who worried that the role wouldn't fit.

This post could end here...but it doesn't.

Mother's Day hasn't always been an enjoyable day for me. We had two miscarriages before Turner, one at 8 weeks August 9, 2007 and another at 12 weeks December 29, 2007. Last Mother's Day I remained seated, and watched as the Mothers in our church were presented with a flower by their spouse or children. I can't tell you my heart didn't hurt, and I can't tell you that I didn't sit there and think, "I should get a flower too." I don't dwell on what happened to us, and since Turner has been born I don't think about it as often as I used to. But it's still there. A very real hurt, a very painful time in our lives, and something I will talk with Jesus about in heaven (after I get to meet my other two babies). Now, I can see God's hand in it, and through this trial I learned more about trusting God's plan for my life. But it wasn't easy, it wasn't fun, and it's not something I wish for anyone to endure.

I admit, I was excited about getting "my flower" this year at church. I kept looking for the buckets of flowers and there were none - surely they hadn't forgotten!? Then they explained that rather than flowers, Mothers would get a "sweet treat" this year. They brought around baskets of chocolate candy bars and we picked our choice. I play piano in both morning services so I got my candy bar at 8:30, and I was going to"pretend" to get one at the 11:00 service. But as the bucket passed by me the music minister says, "Get another one - it's ok for you to have two." So, I did. And I haven't thought of it this way until now...but perhaps it wasn't coincidence that I got two "sweet treats" this year. I am going to think that those two candy bars represent our first two babies...and I got the privilege of taking the sweetest treat and the prettiest flower home with me in the carseat.

Here are some pictures from Mother's Day weekend, 2008. Enjoy!