a different kind of Mother's Day

May is a wonderful month for me! Not only does it hold Mother's Day, but also my birthday. Jim always makes each of those days special for me and I am always so grateful! This year, however, he traveled through the first couple weeks of May and was unable to give me the relaxing Mother's Day that he is so faithful to provide. As we went to church that morning, surrounded by refreshed, glowing women decorated in corsages, I would be lying if I said there wasn't a twinge of jealousy within me. I heard of mom's going out to brunches, having the day free from "duties" and going off for a day at the spa. I had to juggle the Sunday morning routine solo with my 4 kiddos and though I had asked that they provide me the gift of no arguing on this special day, it hadn't been granted. :)

After I had gathered all the kids from their classrooms and bustled them to the car, cooked them lunch and wiped up crumbs, we spent the afternoon playing baseball in the back yard and 4 square in the driveway. We later came back in to prepare dinner and snuggle up for Funniest Home Videos. After baths and bedtime, I came down stairs feeling pooped. I plopped myself down on the couch thinking, "well this will be a Mother's Day I won't forget!"

But then, something happened. I realized that this day, alone though I may have been, celebrated all that I had ever hoped to be when I was younger. I dreamed of being a mommy and here I had spent the day being just that!!! Suddenly, the exhaustion I felt turned into tears of deep, fulfilled gratitude at the way God has blessed me immensely. Yes, my house is full and busy and bustling... yes, it can become exhausting doing it alone for a prolonged period of time... yes, I did not get "the break" that Mother's Day usually provides... but this is motherhood, and motherhood I love!!!!