Happy Mother's Day.

It all started here. 

That's my mom holding me. I think I'm just a few days old. 

And so began the journey of learning what it meant to be a mother and then becoming one.

now I get to be a mother to three beautiful souls.

how lucky I am.

After years of playing "mommy" with my dolls, now I really am one.

It still shocks me when I think about it sometimes.

I know what my mom means to me and how I viewed her when I was a child. 

It's strange to think I could be so important too.

But I am.

I love motherhood. I wouldn't change all that comes along with it. 

It pushes me beyond my limits. That's how I know children come from God. 

Never in my wildest dreams could I have known or imagined how much I could love, and how intensely, and how many times.

Never in my wildest dreams could I know how I could ache for them, or for me, or how I could feel utter joy just being in their presence.

Hailey opened my eyes to realize how important a mother is. 

I wanted to be that important to her. Let's just be truthful, I wanted to throw her real mother away and be her mother, but I'm not, and of course, that's not possible. 

Today, I really respect that I'm not and that she loves her mom. That's exactly what she is supposed to do. Love her mom. And she does. And she loves me too. And it's different. 

I've heard it said that God doesn't have grandchildren. I believe that, and it reminds me that I'm glad it wasn't up to me. Hailey needs her mom and her mom needs Hailey.

I'm glad I have that in perspective now.

Hey, It's not so bad having 2 mother figures. More love, more support and different makes room for an open mind, which I hope she embraces whole-heartedly. 

How much better my life is when I keep an open mind!

Ava. 

A child created out of two people who are in love. I mis-mash of both of us. A combination of that love and it's history, its family, is such a powerful truly, in the real sense of the word, awesome thing. Knowing her just makes our love grow stronger.

She teaches us about love. And tolerance.

And she brings the silliness and fun into motherhood.

And little Nathan.

He's sent from the angels who knew I needed a deserving lesson in calm and simple happiness.

He embodies those traits. 

I'm so grateful we get to spend life with him.

My children are my joy

I see the pureness in their eyes and how deeply it penetrates their being  

I admire their curiosity

and I relate to their crazy

Perhaps the most rewarding part of this journey is watching their relationships grow as siblings.

They love each other as much as Brad and I love them-- 

and right from the beginning of knowing each other, as if they knew that they would know each other . 

Their personalities compliment each other. Each of them very different, but in some ways the same.

All together we make up this family. 

I realize it's in it's early stages. There is so much more, but for today I am so happy to be the mother in this tribe. I wouldn't be a mother without them, so thanks to them I get this opportunity and I am grabbing onto the reins and enjoying the ride! 

It's not easy, but it's lessons, it's all lessons.

Happy Mother's Day.