Triple Blessed!

Mother's Day- for 8 years (well, lots longer than 8) I dreamed of being a mom.  I was so focused on becoming a momma, I probably missed out on a lot of time just hanging with my own momma.  Or, all my mommas.  Divorce causes you to loose many things, but in my life, divorce brought me another momma- Barbara. So, I have my momma momma (Jane) my in-law momma (Iris) and my step-momma (Barbara).  I love them all and am blessed that I get to love triple mommas.  And then there's my sister momma, my best friend momma, my niece mommas- oh, this could go on forever.  Let's just say that I truly appreciate Mother's Day, and all it brings.  And, I am always mindful of those who want want to be a mommy, but for whatever health reasons, they cannot.  I know and remember the pain of that desperation and I pray for their hurt. For years, I dreaded Mother's Day because it was a day that brought pain and disappointment for me.  I do not take for granted thee gift God gave me, and I know how blessed I am that I get to be a momma, and love many!

Momma Niece (Katie) Momma Sister (Nae), Kari and Audrey

Baby Owen

Dakota, Shayne's girlfriend and my boys 

Momma Momma... Jane & me

Momma Best Friend Teri

Momma Iris, Momma Ona & Me

Momma Barbara is in Tennessee- far from me in miles, but not in my thoughts.

So, this Monday indulge me as I make up for missing last week's list and continue to count the many ways I'm thankful...

somewhere over Denver, CO

1000 Gifts #332-357

• watching my kids make friends on the beach
• Elijah telling a tweener about Jesus, even when she told him Jesus wasn't real, he said "uh-huh, yes He is"
• family vacations
• transmission fluid and sealant- preventing vehicular breakdown on vacation
• sand covered toes
• life-long friends
• shell digging in the ocean, with Teri & Jay, using only our toes.  (yes, this adventure was so good Teri got her hair wet) 
• flight safety to and from Denver
• a look at the clouds, from above them- I just love that and wonder if that's what God sees when He looks down on us
• my sister stepping in for me while I'm gone, literally- she wore my slippers
• opportunity to love new people (Dakota)
• Owen snuggles
• my preschoolers Mother's Day perception of me-  50 lbs, 1 foot tall, favorite game is Hide & Seek, and so on
• fun dinner with Lane & Cheryl- and their patience with our loud rowdy boys
• sleeping in my own bed after two full weeks away from home
• a second monitor at work
• celebrating Iris' 89th Birthday
• love notes from my boys
• witnessing the baptism of about 20 kids we've watch grow up before our eyes- how precious to see their faith grow
• purple and pink and white petunias on my front porch
• clean bathrooms for emergency stops
• my new purse-size thankful journal- with sunflowers and roosters on the cover
• unexpected date with my hubby on Mother's Day

What 'ya thankful for?