Mark and I have decided that since Mother’s Day is NOT in the Bible, that we can switch it to whatever day works for us. Sunday’s are really hard to take time out and actually honor each other and the jobs we do as moms and dads. For example, last Mother’s Day I had a MOPS Steering Team meeting and Mark and I had nursery that night. Now it just so happens there was a “special” called meeting that night for church and it did not end for three hours. I was pregnant, achy and tired by the time it ended. Oh, and did I mention that Mark had sound that day and night so I didn’t even get to see him except for the couple hours between services (which he usually does on Mother’s day and Father’s day). Needless to say, we decided to change our celebration day since our church doesn’t really want Mother’s (well, at least this mother) to have the day off.

Mark and I just realized that we were going to switch the days just now, so tonight, since MOPS was over today and Josiah has decided that screaming and yelling is a lot more fun than taking a nap, we are going out to eat! Mark is giving me Saturday to scrapbook and then we’ll head over to hear a free concert by our city’s symphony (which is an awesome concert)…which if it rains, will be held at our church…which means that when Mark has to do sound on Sunday he’ll have to get there extra early! Yet another good reason to not celebrate on Sunday.

Just thought I’d share…

In light of what I posted yesterday, I wanted to relate two comments I’ve heard this week.

First off, I was at the grocery store yesterday and a lady came back, looked at me with my brood, and said the typical, “Are they all yours?”

I was waiting for the sarcastic look and scoff when I said, “Yes ma’am.”

She smiled bigger and said, “Oh, you are so blessed!”

Ahhh, what a sweet comment, and always needed in light of the other comments and stares I’ve received in the past.

In contrast, at church tonight, I had the kids out on the playground before they went to class. A mom of three and I were discussing tattle telling (a ever growing problem around here lately) and a grandmother had her two grandchildren out there and chimed in.

“I’m glad I only had one. I always thought I wanted nine until after the first birth and I said no way, not again, do whatever you need to do to keep it from happening again.”

Now, I don’t know exactly what her situation was with her first birth, but I felt really sad for her. And like I was wrong for my sweet blessings! I know that I am truly blessed with my children and can’t wait to see how many more children God will bring into our lives, through adoption, through our children, and however else! They are true blessings and I love seeing their innocence, their sweetness, and even their sinful natures, as they try to be more like me, and hopefully more like Christ.

In The Message Bible, it translates Psalm 127:3 as saying, “Do you not know that children are God’s best gift?”

I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that. They are the best gift despite all the whining, diapering, snot wiping, and, yes, even tattle telling. Then, I read or see how some mothers and fathers have to struggle because they are losing their best gift. Or their best gift struggles to catch up with his/her peers…wow! My children are my best gift. I pray it doesn’t take losing them to see what a gift they are. I am reminded daily as I pray for our minister and his wife, what a blessing…what a gift, my children are. Thank you for my gifts!