Mother's Day 2013

{From left to right: My brother, mother, and I on my first Mother's Day 1986}

The Wide Spectrum of Mothering

To those who gave birth this year to their first child - we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year - we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge 

     of food stains - we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or 

     running away - we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, 

     tears, and disappointment - we walk with you. Forgive us when we say 

     foolish things. We don't mean to make this harder than it is

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms - we need 

     you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children - we 

     celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your 

     children - we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year - we grieve with you

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother - we 

     acknowledge your experience

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall 

     testing of motherhood - we are better for having you in our midst

To those who have aborted children - we remember them and you on this day

To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own 

     children - we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it 

     to be

To those who step-parent - we walk with you on these complex paths

To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is 

     not to be -we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year - we grieve and

      rejoice with you

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising - 

     we anticipate with you

This Mother's Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

by Amy Young (http://messymiddle.com)

This was in our bulletin at church this morning. I thought it was too beautiful not to share today :)

Two other groups I would like to celebrate:

Single parents who work hard every day to be both parents for their children.

Fur-baby parents who give just as much love and devotion as parents of human babies.

*****

To the girls I love most:

{Mother's Day 2008}

To the woman who brought me into the world - Thank you so much for the love and support you have given me over the last 27 years. You are a big piece of my heart, and I'm proud to call you mother and friend :)

{May 2008}

To the woman who raised my husband - I am so thankful to have you in my life. You are wonderful, beautiful, and the example of the kind of Godly woman I hope to become. Thank you for your love, and know that I look forward to the future as our relationship grows! 

{December 2011}

To the amazing little girl that I love most - I am so amazed by you. Watching you grow and learn has been pure joy for me! It has been hard at times, but we are in this together. Thank you for making my dreams of being a mommy come true! I love you my sweet girl :) 

{April 2013}

To the baby growing inside of me - Thank you for choosing me to be your mommy. I know I'm not perfect, but I promise to love you with every ounce of my being. Keep growing in there, and I will do everything I can to make sure you are healthy and safe in there. Hang on little tomato! I love you.