happy Mother's Day

I am blessed and very thankful.  It is at this time of year that I feel it most.  Because of mother's day or because my baby has a birthday in May, I always think about our first time to meet Tia, Espen's birth mom, and I am always thankful for the opportunity that brought us to be in each others lives.  Her gift of life allows me each an every one of the opportunities I am given as a mom.  It means I get to hear "I love you mommy" each and every day.  And it is not something I ever forget because it is the most beautiful exchange of love.  Her courage means I have a beautiful son. 

I am a mom.  Being a mom is a wildly loud messy experience.  It is a quiet snuggle.  It is a frustrating struggle.  There are tears and laughs.  It means I often have either snot or mud somewhere on my clothes.  Being a mom is often the most rewarding and exhausting thing I do.  It means I'm sometimes late, frazzled and tired.

It means I am here, I see you and I listen ~ with my eyes, ears and senses.  Being a mom means I am up when I don't want to be, playing things I may not want to play, looking at things I really don't want to see.  Motherhood means I have to be courageous and strong because children push the envelope of what is possible.  It means answering the hard questions and laughing at the silly things. 

Being a mom makes me thankful for the thankless days.  It makes me smile when I have been crying.  It makes me giggle when things are crazy.   Being a mom means you kiss away tears, wipe up spills and answer questions at the speed of light.  It means learning new things, eating healthy food and attempting to keep my body in good condition.  It doesn't matter how you arrive at being a mom, it means you live in this moment because the next one comes really fast. 

Even when faced with challenges and struggles, there are countless ways being a mother is rewarding.  Take time on this day to just be thankful for the mess, the noise, the laundry and the wild giggles.  Mother's Day may not mean anyone acknowledges your work and dedication ~ it may just mean that you stop and take a deep breath and recognize that you are doing the best you can at this moment and be thankful for that.  It doesn't give you a day off ~ it gives you a reminder to pause and be joyous for the special gift you were given.  I know I did.... and I stole a few extra kisses and hugs and was just proudly a mom.