Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day (a week late) to my lovely mother and my second mom Gloria, and to all those other mothers in my life!  Being a mother has been the hardest thing I have ever done (by far!) but also one of the most fun and most rewarding things that I have been blessed to do.  Eliana is my sweet sweet baby when she is sleeping and my crazy giggling monster when she is awake.  I read a little while ago that being a mom makes you more vulnerable.  It's so true.  Now a part of my heart is outside my body in this fragile little girl.  I want to hold her tight and keep her safe and secure in my arms forever.  I don't want her to get hurt falling off of the playground swing or have her heart broken by some silly boy.  I see danger lurking at every corner.  Now any time I hear of a tragedy or take care of a pediatric patient at work, I think, only by the grace of God was that not my child.  After the bombings in Boston, I had a nightmare that the three of us were living in Indianapolis again and terrorists were attacking the city.  We were driving in our car down the interstate and buildings were exploding to our right and left.  In my dream, I told David in a panic, "We have to go to the country! It's the only place where there aren't buildings that can be blown up!"  I woke up breathing heavily and I couldn't go back to sleep.  I've thought about that dream for a long time.  The thing is, even out in the country, even if there weren't buildings to blow up, there would be other things that could cause harm.  When a piece of your heart is outside your body, it is just so scary!  So I just have to cherish all the more the special moments that we have together.  Her tight hugs around my neck and loud wet kisses.  The scream giggles that she has when she sees a cat.  Her dancing and singing with David in the kitchen.  Her "mmmm" and toothy smile when she eats something yummy.  The way she carries all things with handles on her arm like a purse.  The weight of her warm body snuggled so close when she sleeps in my arms.  Yes, being a mother makes you so vulnerable because you love so much.  How have all these generations of mothers survived before me carrying so much around in their hearts?  God must give us women unbelievable strength to do this important task of being mothers.  I've said it many times before, but I am saying it again.  God has blessed me abundantly by giving me Eliana as a daughter. 

"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart."  Luke 2:19