Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was a very special day for me that brought with it a lot of raw emotions.  First of all, it was my first Mother's Day as a mom, and second of all, I am so blessed to have the mother that I do.  I know I am biased, but I have the best mom in the entire world!  She has been by my side through the good and the bad.

This past year and half have been the most challenging of my life.  From our house getting broken into, to all of the complications with the girls, my surgery, bedrest, hospital stay, c-section, NICU, and having the girls home, we have definitely had a long and crazy journey.  But as I went through all of these challenges, my mom was and continues to be right by my side.  She was in Ohio with me during my surgery and hospital stay, she came a few days a week, EACH week of my bedrest at home, and spent most of the week with me at the hospital, so I wouldn't have to be alone.  She did all of this, while going through some really tough stuff on her own... but no matter what, she was always there for me.

She is one of the strongest people I know.. which I believe to be her best and worst quality. :)  Sometimes the strong turns in to stubborn, but I suppose she takes after my Nana that way.  Who knows, maybe I'll be like that someday, too.  With all of that said, I hope to give my girls what she has given me!  I want them to grow up knowing that I will be there for them no matter what... because life can sure get messy sometimes, and even though mom's can't fix everything, they sure do make us feel better while we go through the mess!

So many people have told me how "strong" I was or how proud of me they were for all that I went through for the girls, but as I thought about it last week on Mother's Day, I realized something.  I believe that God gives women strength and courage to do whatever it takes for their children.  We don't do it because WE are strong, but because God is strong, and he give us strength to do what we HAVE to do.  Any loving mom would have done the exact same thing I had to do put in that situation.  Throughout life we are all challenged in different ways, and as moms, we just do it and make it through because of the strength God has given us.  To all you moms out there, keep fighting and staying strong for your kiddos.  You are making a difference! :)

Here are a couple of pictures from my first Mother's Day!

With my girls! :)