Mother's Day Blessings

Beautiful potted flowers from a daughter & her husband on Mother's Day ...

Thirty-eight years ago, two days before Mother's Day ... I held our beautiful dark-haired newborn daughter in my arms for the first time. And I entered into this blissful, wonderful thing called motherhood. And I love it ... after that first bundle of joy in our arms, God has blessed us with five more of His greatest blessings. I am so very blessed to be the mom of six!

Some say that you mother for 18 years, and then you are done. I am finding out that mothering does not end when our children turn 18 (which I am so grateful for!) ... although mothering looks very different when our children leave the nest, as it should. But our children, no matter what age they are, still remain in our hearts ... and part of our heart continues to be with each of them wherever they are. We are forever mothers ...

In a book I just received from my sweet husband for Mother's Day, I read: "Although there are different stages and seasons of parenting responsibilities, your heart and mind will always be with each one of your children for the rest of your life. And this is no easy task, for no matter where they go or what they do, a part of you goes with them. When they're happy, you're happy. When they suffer, you suffer. Even after they grow up and you are no longer with them physically on a daily basis, you are still concerned every day - and many nights, I might add - about their safety and struggles, their fears and weaknesses, their successes and failures, their choices and mistakes." (The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian)

I am filled with thanks for our six forever (grown) children, and for all the additional wonderful family members that they have blessed us with! And I am filled with gratitude for our great Forever God who gives us love, wisdom, and strength, and joy throughout all the seasons of life.

Thanking Him for His many blessings at this Mother's Day time ...

#400 - the miracle of birth, and of newborns placed in our arms ...

#401 - His great gift to me of the sweetest of husbands, and a wonderful father to our six ...

#402 - sweet gifts from my husband on Mother's Day ...

A beautiful card, along with two great books, and money to add to the fund for our
40th Anniversary trip to Quebec City this summer/fall!

#403 - the priceless gifts from God of four sweetest daughters and two greatest sons ... I love them more than they can even imagine ...

#404 - four wonderful sons-in-law, and nine grandchildren we have been blessed with so far ...

#405 - precious time spent with our family on Mother's Day ... in person, and also in conversation over the phone (calling from Texas) ...

With five of the six who have given me the amazing privilege of being mother ...

#406 - beautiful, meaningful cards from them, along with sweet, thoughtful gifts ...

#407 - the joy of sharing motherhood with my four daughters, and the sweetest of grandkids that they have given us ...

#408 - time spent together with these grandkids, and with our family at a beautiful park on Mother's Day ... and missing seven family members who could not be with us ...

#409 - and thankful most of all for our loving God, the giver of all these blessings ... and the source of all that I need for this wonderful, sometimes tear-filled, yet joyful role as forever mom ...

Linking up with others sharing gratitude at A Holy Experience ...