52 Things Kids need from a Mom

I had purchased a book a few weeks ago... written by Angela Thomas and titled "52 Things Kids Need from a Mom"... they have one for Dad's and Darren read that about a year ago... and loved it!  In light of the recent AMAZING progress in  our adoption journey... and with the thought that my daughters might be home in as soon as 5 weeks (ish)... I figured it a good time to read this in-lightening book and get some good "mom advice" before my world is turned up-side-down. 

Chapter 1~ To Pray in Secret with the Door Open
This chapter speaks about how we so strive to be picture perfect sometimes... and life is just not that way... our homes are turned backwards and torn apart... we are exhausted from work/school/meal time/bath time/homework time/bed time/errands/housework and then some...  how do we fit in the quiet time with the Lord that we used to cherish before we had kids?... Don't we still need that?.. YES... we sure do!  Even more so... to be filled by God's word and His amazing presence... to sit still and listen to His voice... Tell me - mothers out there reading...  does this picture of your "devotional time" look different than it did before you had kids?...  In the book the author talks about how she strived to have that same picture perfect quiet time and it just never happened...  and one day... as her 4 children were sitting down to watch a video...she went into her bedroom... sat on the floor with her to read her bible for a moment... then she stretched out... facedown on the carpet and began to pray... with her bedroom door OPEN!  Her children came searching for her...  long story short... they asked her what she was doing and in a quite voice she simply told them she was praying....  they crawled on her...laid on top of her...sat next to her and prayed too...
Come to Me messy.
Come when you're tired.
Let the children lie on top of you.
Let them interrupt you.
You do not have to be perfect... just come to Me and let them see.

This very first chapter... I believe and hope and pray... will be imbedded into my mind and heart as I open this home to my daughters... we will be busy... full... tired... weary... excited... laughing...crying... and REAL...  I pray I can be the kind of mother that let's them see....

Chapter Two~~Kids Need Their Mom... To never stop touching them
Simple...  this chapter talks about affection... touching them every day... in a loving-encouraging and un-conditional-love you madly way... I want my girls to know how deeply I love them... how safe they are with us... how much we desire good things for them and want them to feel our love always...

You are home.
You are safe.
You are accepted.
You are welcomed.
You are celebrated.

NUF SAID!

This is the moment that my heart became a "Mommy's heart"... that my world turned upside down and I fell head over heels for two little beautiful girls from Haiti that God hand-picked for me... I still find myself awestruck that God gave these girls to me... ME!  I am to be their mother.... this moment in my life was the most amazing, breathtaking and beautiful moment I think I will ever experience....  I remember every detail of that moment... it's as if the world stopped and it was just Darren and I... meeting our girls...What a gift this moment in time will always be for me..... I am guessing it would be just like the moment in a hospital room when a mother gives birth and the doctor places that newborn baby in her arms...  so overwhelming...  so beautiful...

it's been a very long three years in this adoption journey...  my heart has taken a beaten... I have tolerated more anguish than I thought I could...  more tears have flowed from my eyes than I thought I even had in me...  I have been prayed for...prayed over... encouraged... hugged and held by many...  God has taught me more than I expected and stretched me beyond what I thought I could handle....God has revealed to me the kind of husband I have... given me a deeper appreciation for Darren and a stronger love......God has so blessed me in this waiting...   today is Mothers Day... my daughters are in Haiti still and it's been a very bittersweet day... aaahhh, but I am blessed....  cards came in the mail... text message started this morning... and face book message have made me weep...I am blessed... beyond measure!  God has used so many people today to remind me I'm not forgotten... I am not alone... and that I am loved!!!   I think about next Mothers Day... knowing my girls will be here with me that day... and day dreaming about how that will be... (I've already put in my request with Papa... BREAKFAST IN BED!!!) 

I think about all the mothers in my life...  from my own Mom.. who is so loving, giving, caring and kind... who has turned from Mother to best friend... I think of my sister... my pal... my buddy... my right arm... what in the world would I do without the two of you!!!   My Grandmothers--- missing them so much today... all the wisdom they shared by just being Mom's...  by loving me unconditionally and speaking into my life when I needed it... All my faith-sisters... who walk in realness... humility... and honesty about their journey of motherhood--... all the aunts, friends, mothers of friends, mother-in-law, sisters-in-laws, adoptive mothers that are my new sisters...bosses, co-workers...phew... I know a lot of mothers... and I'm so grateful to have a piece of each of you to carry with me as I prepare to enter into this new journey of motherhood.... thank you!  We need each other... to love, encourage, listen, share life with... I look forward to doing what you all have done for me...  I look forward to pouring my motherhood journey with whomever God brings into my path....

I have also been thinking of the birth mothers...these two faceless women that gave birth to my daughters... we may never meet, but we will always be connected...  my heart is heavy for them... someone looses... and someone gains... I pray they will have a life of blessings.. that they will know, deep in their hearts that their daughters are ok..... if we never meet...  I pray God fills them with this knowledge...

SO... Happy Mother's Day to me...  it's been a quiet, reflective day ... filled with beauty, tears, sweet and kind words and well wishes...prayers... and a turkey burger from Ruby's!  Somewhere in PAP, Haiti are my sweet Sheldine & Nephtalie... Manmi (Mommy) loves you