Mother's Day

While earlier this week we celebrated our three year anniversary of being a family, today we got to celebrate again.  I woke up this morning late (6:20 a.m.) , thanks to Jarrett letting me "sleep in" and after that he let me take 30 minutes to myself and go for a walk.  The boys begged and pleaded to go with me saying, "Mom- PLEASE CAN I GO RUNNING WITH YOU, I PROMISE I'LL KEEP UP .  and so I gave in and let them come with me (knowing this would mean I'd barely make it to the end of the block without the boys wanting to turn back).  So along we went while Dad took Isabelle and Jack for a walk and yes it was 6:30 in the morning.

As Michael, Gabriel and I took off, the boys were full steam ahead, running as fast as they could, until Gabriel noticed I wasn't "racing" and decided to come back and walk with me so I wouldn't feel bad I was so slow.  Talking together, it wasn't 20 seconds later when I saw Michael 30 steps ahead,  bent in half, huffing and puffing.  He said, "Mom, can we turn around and go home?"  We seriously weren't even to the end of the block.  So we tracked down dad and sent the boys to go with him, which meant Mom got some quiet time, which as selfish as it sounds, was warmly welcomed. 

As I returned home and walked through the door, my family greeted me by singing Happy Mothers Day and immediately demanded that I open the slue of handmade gifts and cards waiting on the table.  There was the handmade drawing by Isabelle which Jarrett translated to show it was a picture of Pooh and Tigger sitting by a tree and a hill.  And for Gabriel, he made me two handmade cards, plus a flower shaped necklace made of out of clay and a painted flower pot with flowers in it.  Just one of the flowers happen to be holding a picture of him.  And then there were Michael's gifts that he had so patiently been holding onto for 5 days under his bed.  Everyday for the last week he'd wake up and ask, "Mom, is today Mother's Day?"  And when I'd say no he'd ask, "Well than how many more days do I have to wait to give you your presents?"  I'd answer and then he's say, "Mom, you are going to love it, your going to have so many presents it will be like your birthday."  Perhaps the most excited to give the gifts of all the kids, he presented me with a handmade necklace with six beads (even though they were only suppose to have 2, he said I got 6 because I was the bestest mom and the art teacher said it was okay) and then a hand print of his own with a cute saying on it.  He asked me to read it out loud and as I read it, I found myself choking up.  It talked about how they are little now but soon they will be grown and the fingerprints that are on every thing now that I complain about will one day be gone as they'll all be grown.  Again, makes me sad to think about.  The gifts were lovely and will be cherished gifts for ever. 

After the grand gift opening, which seemed like Christmas morning, we had a nice family breakfast where Jarrett ran off to the store to get me some of the needed ingredients we didn't have at home.  At  his return he made a comment that the store was filled with dad's, all helping each other find certain things at the store, obviously for their mom/wives waiting at home. 

After church Jarrett had to go to work so that meant the kids and I were home to enjoy a simple and quiet Mother's Day together.  We read books, we played Star Wars with light sabers, hide and seek and we even watched a rodeo show on TV.  The boys learned a lot about rodeos (we've never watched one before) and LOVED the names of the bulls, shouting the seconds that each rider was able to stay on.  Something new and yet so simple, we enjoyed just being together.  In a way I felt bad, lazy almost, that I didn't have something grand planned, that we didn't venture out, that I didn't leave the house after church.  And yet, while we didn't have the grandest of mother's day plans, it was wonderful. 

Simple.

Loving.

Genuine

Pure Quality Time

And while I didn't take pictures to recap the day, I did my best to just be in the moment.  There came a part in the day when I couldn't resist and had to record the moment.  After playing Star Wars Gabriel asked if we could dance.  Yes, Dance.

Maybe it is an Ellen thing.  Maybe it was just a spontaneous request or maybe that was just another way for us to celebrate us getting to be together. 

So you know what we did....

we danced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-poUiRTrkAM


And this mom recorded it, because, as Michael's poem reminded me, some day they'll be grown and celebrating with their own wives and families and I'll want to look back.  Because these are some truly special times.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. 

Until next time,
Angie

PS:  And to those who are praying and waiting to become a mom, I send prayers for patience, hope and peace.  I remember so badly wanting to be a mom and how much this holiday hurt.  And while my words can't take away the feelings that may be experienced today, I hope that you can look forward to the future and believe in a bigger plan.  However one becomes a mom, through birthing or through adoption, when that day happens, please trust me when I say, you heart will heal and overflow with love.  It is a love you've never experienced before and a love that will make this difficult process all worth it.  Thinking of those who are future mom's on this special day too.