Happy Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies and mommies-to-be out there! 

Today always brings mixed emotions for me. For those of you that are new here, you may not know I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 8 years old. She was only 36 years old. I am approaching my 34th birthday next week and I can't even imagine that. I knew she was young when I was little, but the older I get the more I realize how young that truly is. I was only 4 when she was diagnosed. 

So, every year on Mother's Day, I miss my mom. (If we are being honest here, I miss her and think about her every day, but holidays and anniversaries always sting a little harder).  I wrote more about my mom here.

But, I am also so joyful! I have two great kids of my own now. My focus has shifted on this day to not spend my entire day mourning my loss but celebrating the fact that I am now a mom myself. It has been the most rewarding, frustrating, incredible, trying, and amazing journey I have ever been on. My kids teach me things about myself every day. Like, I have far less patience than I thought I did (oops!). Also, I have so much more love in my heart than I ever could have imagined.

I remember shortly before my daughter was born, wondering how in the world I would ever love another person as much as I loved my son. I was so worried about not having enough love to share with them both. But, your heart is an incredible thing. The more you give, the bigger and stronger it gets!

 

I am blessed to have other moms in my life. Of course, no one can ever take the place of my mom, but I have all these wonderful women in my life that make it a little easier. I have had a few friend's moms take me in over the years at different stages of my life and I appreciate each and every one of them.

 

I have a great stepmom. Our relationship was rocky at first (mainly because of the loss of my mom), but we have grown to be friends over the years and I wouldn't have it any other way! Today is her first Mother's Day without her mom, and I know how hard that is. So, I am sending her a little extra love today. 

 

My stepmom and her mom

And now, my husband surprised me with a spa day today, so I get to go and get pampered. I don't get much time away by myself and this will be a wonderful way to recharge my batteries. I am sure there will be a lot of laughter and joy today, as well as a few tears shed.

I hope all of you enjoy your Mother's Day. Celebrate your mom, either here on earth or up in heaven. Celebrate being a mom and what a joy that can be. Just celebrate! And thank you to all of you, who come here and allow me to share a little of my heart with you. I am so lucky to have made some of the connections I have from this blog.