Mother's Day 2013

I have been thinking about this post in my blog all week!!!  I am not even sure how to start it or where to begin.  I guess I will start with saying how grateful I am to have a mom who has sacrificed so much and encouraged my brother and I to do our best for 37 years!  Now that I am a mom I have so much more appreciation for the hard work, dedication, lack of sleep and selflessness it takes to be a mom!!!  We are blessed to be able to call you mom, and now for Josiah and baby Sandler to have you as their Grammie!

Ever since I was a little girl, as early as me playing with dolls, I knew I wanted to be a mommy!!!  I wanted to have the opportunity to have a little child to take care of and love.  Wow...being a mom is so much more than that, but what a blessing it is every single day - even the hard days!!!  I am so thankful that the Lord had Josh in His master plan for me to marry.  I am so blessed to be parenting along side of him - he is absolutely an amazing husband and father and I am in awe everyday when I see him interact with Josiah!!!  I wouldn't want to take this journey with anyone else...and I must add that I think he is pretty cute, too and I am glad Josiah mostly has his looks...lets face it: he looks just like him :)  I am going to go ahead and guess that the child coming late June/ early July will also have those Sandler genes...so excited!!

If I was asked at the age of 18 how many children I thought I would have by age 33 I would have definitely thought more than one (with one on the way).  I have always loved kids...starting with my dolls, then the children I babysat for years and then the ones I taught as an Elementary teacher.  I know that the Lord knows best and His will is perfect and I can honestly say that I am so grateful for His timing!!  I have had the best opportunities (being a military wife) to have met SO many amazing moms, who are my closest friends, along the way...ones who I have had the chance to watch and learn from.  I hope I can be half the mother they are!!  I love how we can call each other up, no matter where we all live, and just ask questions and encourage one another through the best and most important job we will ever have!  I am so glad that the Lord's plan was for us to have Josiah when we did and even more so to have the one on one time with him that we have gotten.  If it were in my hands we would have had another one by now, closer in age to Josiah, but I now know and realize how grateful I am for this time that we have had together.

On this Mother's Day I am blessed to be a mommy to such an amazing little boy, who loves others, legos, playing outside and his toys!  He is full of energy and always keeps me on my toes...which I am grateful for!  But, I also realize that Mother's Day can be a difficult day for some.  I realize this more than ever before!  I NEVER thought that this day could be a sad day for women, but I now know it definitely is!!  I am so glad that the Lord has allowed Josh and I to have had the path to parenthood that we have.  The joys, the struggles, the why's, everything!  I have had a heavy heart all week for friends I know struggling to get pregnant, dealing with miscarriage and the uncertainty of not knowing if they will be able to.  This past Friday, May 10th, was a year since I had my third (out of 4) miscarriage (and my fist D and C).  I know for a fact the Lord was with me that day more than I have ever felt before.  We were very new to this area, just had my first doctors appointment where we found out at 10 weeks the baby didn't have a heartbeat and I would be going into my first surgery.  I was blessed with the most amazing nurse who was extremely encouraging and sympathetic...and who even stayed after her shift was over to be with me to make sure I came out of surgery ok.  We didn't know anyone here yet, so Josh had to be with Josiah, but I honestly never felt alone!!!  What a relief!  So, if you are one of my friends who is experiencing these difficulties please know that I think about you often.  I pray for you - even if I don't know you are having issues.  I pray for women all over who have the desire to be a mother, but it hasn't been the right time yet!  May I encourage you to use this time to grow in your faith and trust in the ONE who makes life happen.  And, know that if you ever need to talk to someone about it....I am always here!!!  It isn't easy and I am sure this day is more difficult than other days for you!!  You are loved and prayed for!!!  May the Lord, who is the giver of Peace and Hope , give you PEACE and HOPE everyday, but specifically this day!!!