Mothers

Mothers Day brings out so many emotions for me. In the past it was a day that was sad and reminded me of the fact that I was not a mother. We started going to Snowbird over Mothers Day each year because I hated sitting in sacrament meeting while I tried not to sob and then feeling like I always got the pity flower after church even though I wasn't actually a mom. Then came Hema, everything changed then and I was sobbing in sacrament meeting because I was so grateful to finally be a mom. But Mothers Day is also bittersweet because I know that it is a tough day for our sweet birth mothers. Yesterday was Birth Mothers Day (a little known fact) and we went down to Provo High and went to a Birth Mothers Walk that Families Supporting Adoption held. It was awesome to see all those families who had been blessed by adoption. The kids had a blast. They had games, food, balloons, frisbee and fun.

It was a great event!! I love anything that honors birth mothers. I love my birth moms so much. Katie and Chelise are two of the most amazing women I have ever met. It takes an incredible amount of faith and love to place a child for adoption. It is something that I think most people can't even begin to comprehend. You often hear the saying, It's About Love, and it really is. I know that Mothers Day is a difficult day for birth mothers and truly wish all birth mothers a day of peace and love today!!

And now a shout out to some of my favorite Mothers...
Katie is Hema's birth mother. We have know Katie for over 4 years now and she is amazing! We got to see her last night and it was wonderful to visit with her. Little Hema just loves Katie. She is doing so great. Little Hema fell asleep before we dropped her off, but she didn't mind. Words can't express our love for Katie - we wish everything wonderful for her and hope that she knows how very much she is loved!!

Chelise is Vela's birth mother. Chelise is such a good mom. She has a sweet daughter who is older than Vela and I have never seen Chelise be unkind or impatient with her. She works so hard and really dedicates herself to being a good mother. She is such a beautiful person and we love and respect her so much too. It is hard to really express in words the love and gratitude we have for her, the person that brought Vela into our family. We didn't have a chance to see Chelise, but wish her the best Mothers Day ever too!!

Then there are my mothers, Mom Hawkins (I love this picture of my mom and me)and Mom Katoa. Two strong women who are examples to me in so many ways! My mother has overcome so much in her lifetime. She really dedicated herself to being a mother. She was and is always there for me. I have learned so much from her. She is the best cook, keeps a seriously clean house, has the faith to create miracles, is an amazing gardener, is a loyal friend and a million other things. She really has been such a great example to me! I hope to be the kind of mother she is and to raise a righteous, loving family as she has. My other mom, Mom Katoa, is also amazing. She has never treated me as an in-law, but always as a daughter. I have learned so much from her. She is so talented (the best cook and can sew anything without a pattern) and such a dedicated mother and grandmother. She works faithfully in her service in the church and the temple. She is always cooking, sewing or crocheting things for others. And most importantly, she raised my husband to be the best husband ever and for that I owe her eternally.

Happy Mothers Day to all of you friends, sisters, family, strangers... anyone who may read this blog. Some of you may have already raised your children, some are raising them now, others hoping for children in the future, and some wishing it could be in this lifetime. To all of you amazing women: HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!