Mother's Day

John and I are both so fortunate to have moms that loved us so deeply and taught us so much about family. As we sit here now with our precious--precocious, spirited and rebellious--child, we wonder how we could have done this without having had them in our lives. We wish things were different but we are thankful for the times we had.

In thinking of mothers and the gifts they give, I can't help but think of the other mothers in my life that make such an impact every day. My sisters in law who are wonderful mothers to their own children but who love Emmy dearly. Since John is so much younger than Cathy, she has been so supportive of us. And Becca, oh Emmy adores her Aunt Becca. But who doesn't?

There are the moms who have stepped up to be a surrogate grandmother for Emmy Ruth. I can never thank Nana, Mimi, and Gigi enough for loving her. They don't have to and they have no reason to but they do. And it means the world to us.

There is LynnLynn--what a ready made family she got when she met daddy! Two grown kids and two grandkids on the way. She is so good to us.

There are times when I look at my friends as mothers and I shake my head and wonder how in the world they learned to be so good at this. I see them with their kids and I take bits and pieces of what they do and I try to put it in our routines. I am humbled at the grace and the strength and the creativity and the smarts that they put into every day and I am thankful to be their friends. Emmy Ruth would not be the same little girl she is if it weren't for the AunTee, Mrs. Joy, Mrs. Beth and Nahnah in her life.

It's hard to believe that I am a mom and that this is a day that should be for me, when all I can do is be grateful for the beautiful--snitty, stubborn, and slightly spoiled--child that is mine and the people that love her.