Parenting Builds Character: Some Thoughts On Mother's Day

I really love being a mom- I know that’s pretty obvious—I talk about it all the time, facebook and tweet about it all the time, it’s the whole reason I blog, and it probably constitutes the majority of my thoughts too. But raising our little men, growing and birthing babies, constantly fighting for their hearts, conversing with them, hugging them, and just watching them live is by far, the most amazing thing in this world.

Some things that play into all this and make it possible are

1 -- My wonderful husband, and their father, who just loves and Daddy’s like no other

2) -- My own Mom—who loves me and loves my kids so well that I just can’t help but to know how to do it myself (and when I don’t, she’s just a phone call away!) (This goes for my Dad, too!)

3) -- My mother-in-law—who probably is the biggest fan of the blog and easily one of the biggest fans of our family, who raised Chad and equipped him to be a man. She also completely gives him “permission” with her actions and words to treat me as the leading lady in his life—not many boy moms do that! (This goes for my Father-in-law, too!)

4) -- My grandmothers—who continue to care about me and my kids, send cards and gifts, visit, keep up with all our daily antics, and most importantly, continue to be with wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother that God called them to be (This goes for my grandfathers, too!)

5) -- Being a Stay-At-Home-Mom—which gives me the time, energy, and focus to make raising these kids my full-time job

6) -- My God—who blessed me with the gift of His Son, and then the gifts of my sons, and His Word to guide me until He calls me home

To Gabe- my helper—I thank God for your life and your energy. I love your brain and the way you think and figure things out. I know I didn’t come by you the normal way, but I’m SO glad that your Dad was a 2-for-1 deal—what a bonus! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you, as you continue to grow into the man he’s called you to be. I am honored to be your stepmom.

To Max- my little athlete- I thank God for making you my firstborn. Your vibrancy and love for life are invigorating. I learn from you everyday, and I am so thankful that God gave me you—not only do you bring me so much joy but He also uses you to teach me more about Him and draw me to Himself. I am honored to be your mom.

To Jack- my baby, my wild man, and my cuddle bug—I thank God for the gift that is you—your eyes, your smile, your personality, your dependency on me all point me back to the Lord. Thanks for making me laugh and thanks for taking over my heart. There is more than enough love, to love you, Max, and Gabe til I die… and then some! I am honored to be your mom.

I'm not as skinny as I used to be, my house isn't as clean as it used to be, my brain doesn't work like it used to work, my plans are not my own, like they used to be-- but I'm also not as selfish as I used to be, I'm not as impatient as I used to be, I'm not the control freak I used to be, and actually, I'm altogether not the person I used to be-- becoming a mom changed everything. For the better. And I love it. Thank you Lord for blessing me with children!

Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a Mom -I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the

satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

And lastly, a few cute thoughts from Pinterest from my friend Emily, sweet mom of 4 and finder of all true and funny mom things: