Best. Date. Ever!

A night out on the town in NYC.

Sometimes I see a north star and I just feel a little zing of connection with my sweet Norah.  I saw this in a window and it made me smile.  

What a great date! 

What's mine is yours...

Today is a tender day for me.  It is the first Mother's Day I am celebrating with one of my children on the other side.  Mother's Day being hard for me is not a new sensation.  The years I spent battling infertility and praying for my babies to make it too us were long and hard. 

Hard does NOT equal bad!  Hard means I am very aware of all of the sacrifice and suffering that has occurred in order for me to even be able to celebrate today. 

Hard = Strong. 

Hard = Firm

Hard = Solid

Hard = Tough

Hard = Unbreakable

Hard = Worth it!

Hard = Motherhood

Anything good and worthwhile should be worked for, sacrificed for... Hard.  I am not saying that I appreciate motherhood more than anyone else because of my journey. Every good mother makes sacrifices and does the hard things.  We all have challenges in motherhood... But we do it for love...and because it is oh so worth it.  When something comes too easily we can run the risk of taking it for granted, maybe this is why we must labor to bring children to this earth or why adoption is not easy.  Let's face it... Those last few weeks of pregnancy try us all!  Going through the adoption process is rough... whew boy. The wonderful thing about parenthood is the things we fight for and sacrifice for become precious and priceless to us.

Having to bury my sweet Norah was the hardest thing I have had to face in my life. I am glad it has been hard... excruciatingly hard. I have a renewed sense wonder for the miracle of life. I recognize what an incredible privilege it is to be a mother. I am amazed at my wonderful and beautiful children. I am so humbled by the knowledge that this life is not the end.  Dave and I will be with our sweet Norah again. She will be with her siblings again. 

Families are Forever! 

I am beyond thankful that I have had the incredible privilege of being a mother.  I am so grateful that my journey has had so many detours, bumps, roadblocks and a crash or two.  Yet, if it weren't for this journey I've been on I wouldn't have met two of the bravest and most lovely women I know.  Through them I witnessed the ultimate sacrifice of motherhood.  Having them place their newborn babies into my arms, trusting me to love them as my own, was unfathomable.  Hard doesn't come close to describing their decision, they did it though.  They did it for LOVE. The faith that they demonstrated is awe inspiring and I will always be amazed at their bravery. 

Although it is a little heavy... and you will cry... this beautiful song has such an incredibly tender place in my heart.  It speaks to me on so many different levels as a mother.  Specifically some of my detours into motherhood.  It is a sacred song. If you'd like to hear it click the link below.

What's Mine is Yours.