well, I survived all the hustle and bustle of yesterday. It was a bit stressful trying to get out the door to church, w/extra family here, a big cake, a 3yo having a fit about her socks...

I was moved to tears watching dd get baptized - her face was so full of wonder, excitement, joy - she has always been a "spiritual" child - actually, her first word was "amen"! She has that joy of learning that you hear about, and it applies to learning about the Lord, too. So it was with a full heart that we went to the altar, and then stood with her to be baptized. She also received her first communion, and I was overwhelmed at the idea of what the Lord is/will be doing in her.

On to Mother's Day: I have now been a mommy since Nov. 1999, and I have had a myriad of emotions about it. My girls were all born in less than 3 yrs, surrounded by lots of life-changing events: dfil died right after dd#1 was born, then dh had major surgery 6 mos. later. Then dh got a travelling job that took him out of the country, right when dd #2 was born. I absolutely floundered in life when that happened - handling a toddler and an infant alone, when the infant was a screamer for months on end! And then when pregnant w/dd #3, we decided to move - and it happened 6 wks before she was born. Add to that a miserable first yr of her life trying to adjust to a new town, 3 kids, etc.

That was a lot to say, I have struggled w/contentment as a mommy - when things got hard, I would moan and groan against my circumstances, against where the Lord has put me. I barely kept my head above water for a long time! But the Lord has brought me to a better place - in my heart, seeing His amazing blessings. More and more I am able to just enjoy my dc, watching them, interacting with them, just being grateful for the life God has given me. Several times in the gospels, Mary is mentioned as treasuring things in her heart - and I feel like that - something the girls do or say, and I feel like it is a little treasure for me to tuck away in my heart, to pull out and wonder at. I am thankful for the dc the Lord has given me, overwhelmed at the responsibility, but awed at watching Him move in their hearts.

And then there is my birthday. We are not big birthday people here - they are always low-key. But as the girls are getting older, they want to really celebrate birthdays - when I went up to get them up yesterday morning they came running, showering me w/kisses and hugs. Even dd 3yo, who is not "kissy" gave me a few. Last night as we were praying together, dd 6yo looked at me (tenderly, I thought) and said, "Mom, you look older." Gee, thanks! But then she added, "You don't look any bigger, just older" Dd 3yo really latched on to the birthday thing - Mother's Day is a bit ambiguous to a little one - she ran around yelling happy birthday all day. And last night, she hugged me and said it again, then turned to dh and said, "And happy Mother's Day, Daddy!"

I have a thankful heart right now - for where the Lord has brought me, for all He has given me, for the journey we are on.