Motherhood. . .

(I actually started this post a few months ago, but haven't come back to it until now. . .yesterday being Mother's Day reminded me of it.)

is a GIFT! The first thing I find myself thanking Heavenly Father for in each of my prayers is the opportunity to have children in this life and for the freedom I’ve had to make the choice to be home with them to teach, serve, and LOVE them every day! I’ve realized that as I talk to friends about various difficult parts of raising children, I always point out that we would really have it no other way, as we would easily choose the problems we’re facing over NOT having our child/children. If I’m having a particularly hard time, I think of my step-mom who lost one of her children in a car accident when he was 6 years old! I know she feels that she would take ANY difficulty in raising him over not having him anymore. Or I think of a good friend who has tried to have children for many years and is not able to. I know she would also trade any difficulty over not being able to be a mother in this life. How difficult it must be for these two and others to watch so many of us take motherhood for granted. Before I got pregnant (8 months ago), I couldn’t believe my baby Darci was over 4 years old and only a year away from kindergarten. . .and I realized how fleeting our time really is with our children! Mark was nearing the end of “playing with toys” and my kids were almost all in school! Could the toy messes really end so soon? Could my time with little ones at home all day really end so soon? Have I done enough? Taught them, loved them and served them enough? I couldn’t believe it! Time had gone WAY too fast. I look back on every minute I’ve had with them and thankfully am grateful for all the time I’ve NOT been away.

If you know me, you know I’ve had my fair share of vacations, girls night outs, etc. It’s not that I haven’t done anything without my kids. I really think that doing things with my sisters and friends on a regular basis is serving my children as they need to have a healthy mother! But, I also know there’s a time and season for everything and soon enough I’ll have plenty of time to do things “for myself”. . .and if I really think about it, I’m not necessarily looking forward to that time. For now, I’m happy to be having a baby in a month and postponing that time a little longer. :)