Mother's Day

I have such mixed feelings about Mother's Day. For so many years it was such a day of sadness, really more a day of feeling empty. Now I am so grateful to be a mother, but at the same time I know that there are many who have empty arms and sad hearts on this day and I feel for them. I sat in church and my heart ached for those dear to me who long to be mothers, but aren't yet. I hate how they pass out flowers or whatever and even thought they give one to everyone, it still is a painful reminder of what you don't have. One of the counselors in my primary presidency hasn't been able to have kids and the other recently adopted. They are such amazing women, sometimes it is so hard to understand the why to infertility! Also, I love my sweet birth mothers and know that this day certainly has a bit of an extra sting for them. 

Now that the kids are getting older, they really love to spoil me and are constantly planning and scheming with their dad all the things they can do. Vela told me about a week before Mother's Day that she told her dad he should take us all on a cruise for the holiday, but said the wasn't going to happen. Thanks for the awesome suggestion though Vela! Maybe one day! 

I may not have gotten the cruise, but I was spoiled nonstop for about a week, and really am so grateful to get to be the mom of these sweet kids that I feel loved and spoiled every day! 

On Friday Vela had her Mother's Day program at preschool. It is their big, end of the year program and she did so great. Here she is with her teacher Mrs. Yates, who has been wonderful for Vela. 

 Vela made the cutest card for me and gave me this cute plant. 

 I told my husband and kids I didn't want to go anywhere to do anything big on Mother's Day. Things have been so busy and I just wanted to take a nap on the trampoline and snuggle my kids and relax. My mom insisted that we come to her house for dinner and that we couldn't bring a thing. I'm so glad we went. She made ribs and sauerkraut and all kinds of tasty stuff.  I really am blessed to have her for a mother and to live close enough to be spoiled!  

 Hema made this cute little candle holder at school. He brought it home a Friday and asked me about every 10 minutes if I wanted to just go ahead and open it early. So I did, and we waited until it got dark and burned a candle with all the lights off for about 30 minutes while the girls oohed and awed about how talented he was for making it. He is so sweet! 

 Hema got me chocolate covered strawberries and pretzels from a ward fundraiser our Young Women did. They were gorgeous and yummy! 

 I haven't ever really been the type that loves flowers, but it is so fun to see how excited the kids are when I get them. It has made me love to get them. Vela always insists that Hema gets me flowers. I love these beautiful roses I received! 

I also got a great date night out on Saturday with my love for sushi! Yummm! 

Hema and the kids also cleaned the house, massaged my feet, planned a fun movie night with chinese take out on the trampoline in the back yard, gave me a 1,000 hugs, kisses and compliments and were basically pure angels all week long. 

Honestly, I was spoiled rotten! 

My favorite gift of all was an awesome video that Hema and the kids made for me telling me how much they love me and why I am a good mom. They did some sweet dance moves on it too! I'm keeping it close during their teenage years, just in case they are anything like me or Hema were as teenagers. It was so thoughtful and sweet. I can't figure out how to load it, but maybe when Hema gets home he can do it. 

I am beyond blessed and grateful to be a mother and for a loving family that makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive!  

And of course I am grateful beyond words for these 3 brave women who share the title of mother with me! My children's birth mothers are the best!! Love you women to the moon and back!