Mothers Day

This holiday is so special to me. After 5 years of fertility struggles, we finally got to have sweet Lily in 2010.

I struggled with a lot of fear, thinking about trying to have a second child. I definitely wanted one, and had for a long time before Clay finally got on board ;) But, I was replaying in my mind all of the negative tests and all of the tears. I was imagining how it would feel if we even went one month without getting pregnant when we started trying - how painful that would be for me. 

I prayed this verse almost every day the couple months before I knew Clay and I were going to start trying to get pregnant again.

But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”

¹⁵ 

My times are in your hands.

Psalm 31:14-15a

 

So often we have to pray to God for comfort - I know I have. But, God knew my heart. He knew my fears and my desires. He protected me from having to go through all of that pain again. 


We got pregnant the very day we started trying. This time I have cried so many times out of pure amazement, and I pray to thank Him over and over.

When Clay and I were trying to have a baby the first time, I used to imagine myself with 2 little girls. I never really consciously thought about why - it was just the picture that came to mind when I imagined the future. When we found out we were having another girl this time, I just felt so full of joy. Not because the gender of my children is that important to me - I actually hope to have more children in the future - I would have tons of them if I could afford it! But, there was a time in my life when I really believed that I would never have any children at all, much less what I had pictured in my head. The fact that I will now have the very thing I dreamed about completely blows my mind. I feel like both my girls are miracles.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:27

 

This Mothers Day, I didn't want a present. Clay kept trying to look at things to get me, but I finally talked him out of it. I just wanted time with Lily, and with my mom and Gramma. He did end up putting a pretty fantastic post up on facebook about how he feels about me as a mom, and it made me cry like a baby :)

Everything started off with Juice and Jammies Friday morning at Lily's preschool. She loves the times when we get to hang out in her class with her.

That night we went to dinner at PF Changs.

 

Then she played on the pirate ship.

 

 

Saturday morning I really wanted to hang out with my mom and Gramma, so we all went to the Butterfly Estates, where we have an annual membership. 

 

This is her scary face:

 

What I really wanted for mother's day was to spend time with my child - to watch her smile and laugh and have fun - and a special bonus was watching her dance with her daddy in the candy store: 

 

Sunday morning was church, and she was in a pretty goofy mood.

 

 

 

Then we all went to Outback together.

 

After I tucked her into bed, I got to sit on the lanai for a half hour with my mom and Gramma and just chat.

 

It was a fantastic weekend. I am so proud to get to be Lily's and Penny's mom, and I am thankful for the examples I have in my life.