Mother's Day

Mother's day weekend really has been the best.  On Saturday we watched Max play his soccer game, I saw my hubby ride his bike for the first time post surgery (wahoo!  He finally had the go ahead to get on the bike and rode to the soccer game.  It was so nice to see him pedaling again!), Mike finished building our play set (more on that below!) and we had a great dinner out as a family.   Sunday continued with darling notes from the kiddos, a great day at church, and beautiful weather to enjoy the day with family.

We picked up the play set about 6 weeks ago and started the process of putting together the 3,000 (or bazillion!) parts that were included.  Mike's dad gave us a great start when they were in town.  But the weather didn't work out for them to finish.  

Yesterday we finished!  It's awesome.  I smile every time I look out the kitchen window.  Every time I see these little kiddos climbing around it.  I love hearing them talk about all of the games they are going to play on it, picnics they want to have under it.  I love the sound of them giggling away as they swing their heart out.  I love pushing, pushing, and pushing Alexis in the swing.  And seeing Tayler already figure her way in and out of the house.  And Max offer to help his baby sister down the slide.  Time well spent in my book.

With it all, this weekend has been a great time to reflect.  Man, we've had a lot happen.  I look back at this exact time last year trying to do the exact same things we did this weekend - showing a house, managing the soccer thing solo as Mike had started work in Omaha, taking turns walking a restaurant (or outside) if we ever attempted eating out (since Tayler would just cry the whole time), feeling so emotionally drained with the upcoming unknowns, trying to buy a house in a place I didn't know, and feeling so dang tired.

I remember hoping it would all fast forward.

Looking back, I'm glad it didn't.  While it was tough, I learned a ton.  While stressful and full of moving parts, all of it was good.  Lots to be happy about and recognize with gratitude.  We have been blessed to be able to do what we get to do, to enjoy good health (like a husband who can ride his bike again!), and to have supportive extended family who'll come visit those cute grandkids.

This Mother's day, I'd say that is exactly what I'm full of.  Gratitude.

Gratitude for our moms who've raised us to be who we are.  Gratitude for the chance I have to develop these little people.  A friend emailed me this quote that I just loved:

"Who wouldn't want to be a mom?" I wondered.  A career in motherhood had its elements of drudgery, but so did any other.  What other career could claim as its end product the elevation of a human soul?  Not just the enlightening of a mind or the development of a body, but the improvement of every aspect of a vibrant child of God?  I at least, wanted to be a mother because I believed, with Harold B. Lee, that the most important work I would ever do would be within the walls of my own home.  I chose to be a mother because I wanted to teach souls to fly."

-Lia Suttner Collings


Me too.  Here's to lots of flying.