Mother's Day 2009

Dear Friend.

This Sunday is Mother's Day and it will be a little different for my family.

I know that a lot of you have experienced the same feelings of those first holidays and celebrations with a missing family member. And now I know what you went through because that is what I am going through now.

I am the world's worst shopper. Looking for a greeting card drives me up the wall (especially the seasonal ones) and I never know what to give someone-gift cards are my gift of choice. But driving home yesterday, it dawned on me I hadn't got a Mother's Day card for mom yet-then I remembered.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Marla and I are driving to Vernon to celebrate a little Mother's Day with Judy and Dad. They have set the gravestone and we will go visit with Mom and place some flowers at her grave. I know she would appreciate that.

In the meantime, I am offering to you this wonderful piece about being a Mom because it brought so many memories and emotions back. Enjoy being a Mother. Treasure every minute of it and do not let a day go by without telling your children and your mother how much you love them.

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom ...

Happy Mother's Day to all of you.
Love, Jan