Her small hands peel back the covers to see if my eyes are open. Gently, I feel her fingers against my cheek as she loudly whispers, “Time to wake up mommy!”
I smile {with my eyes closed} and roll over. It will take more than her sweetness to convince this tired mama to get out of bed. Hours of driving, sitting on wood bleachers, shouting and cheering for her big brother’s basketball games at a tournament the day before… has worn me out!
I tell Aster it’s still dark and that she needs to go back to sleep. Disappointed yet determined, she walks her little self over to the window, feels her way along the curtains to find the plastic wand so she can pull them back and show me it is NOT still dark.
Not only is it NOT dark, it is time for breakfast and she knows just what we can eat!
“Look Mommy!” She says, as she points her finger to the parking lot. “Wake up and eat popcorn. Seeeeeeeee. There’s a popcorn tree. When you shake it, popcorn falls off!”
Ahhh. Motherhood. It doesn’t come with much sleep, but it does come with popcorn trees! And so many other surprises.
Aster is one of God’s biggest surprises so far in this motherhood journey of mine. Only He could know how much I needed this girl of mine.
God birthed Aster in our hearts and brought her into our family four years ago, just as our boys crested the waves of teenage manhood. Obviously I needed a little more adventure, a lot more carpooling and a huge dose of unconditional love.
And God made sure I got it! All wrapped up in pink bows, giggles, snuggles, sleepless nights, developmental delays, sweet kisses, celebrations, questions, fears, happy tears, laughter and memories. So.many.memories.
Today I have a surprise just for you! Im giving away five copies of my new favorite book for the heart of moms, and those who mother in other capacities: “Surprised by Motherhood“ written by my friend Lisa-Jo Baker. I’m reading it now and it’s so much more than a book; it’s dessert and friendship for my soul! Today, Lisa-Jo’s publisher has offered to give away 5 copies to five of you!! But first {this}! For days when you wonder if what you do matters, when it feels like the same thing stuck on repeat 365 days a year! Let this be your reminder: you are braver than you know because you mother!
Whether you are a mother, have a mother, or have mothered in other capacities and felt inadequate for the job… this is a needed reminder that there is nothing ordinary about being a mother.
Enter to WIN: Simply click “Share Your Thoughts” below and do just that, or share your biggest “surprised by motherhood” moment or memory. We’ll randomly choose five winners and announce them here next week.
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Motherhood is challenging at times, but very rewarding. I am thankful for my children and grandchildren every day.
When one of my three boys (I don’t know which one) ranging from 8yrs old to 4 years old actually put the toilet paper roll on the holder! I mean one time is on the sink… The other it’s on the holder. 🙂
The biggest surprise of motherhood is how fast they grow up!
There are so many sweet & not-so-sweet surprises for me as a mom of 4, I can’t pick one. I have to say what I love the most are the ‘random’ (God-planned) compliments and “I love you”‘s every day.
As the mother of 3 children I’ve learned that it is the parent/parents, not the child/children, that are most blessed by adoption.Our world to be turned upside down with the addition of each child in a wonderful and positive way. I can truly say that my life that would have been extremely empty and much poorer without our son and daughters. They opened our hearts and home to an indescribable power of love.
I think the thing that has surprised me the most in my quest to become an adoptive mom is my unwavering commitment that this is the right thing to do. Do I have doubts, fears, anxieties? Of course I do. But I am steadfast in my belief that God is calling me to this vocation. So many times in my life there have been things I have wanted to do and I let my insecurities stop me but about this, nothing can stand in my way.
being a mom was great but being a grandma is awesome!! my surprise was just how much more being a grandma means.. the world stops when my grandchildren are in my care, no laundry, phone calls or fussing- just loving and enjoying my time before the world resumes and their parents return.. thank you, Renee and if I don’t win the book I surely will buy it!! may God continue to bless you and your work.
Love the popcorn tree!
It reminded me of when my daughter held her arm out the window going down the freeway and feeling the wind on her arm she said it felt like God was hugging her.
Next time you need a hug try it. Blessings to all.
Being a mother has been the hardest job I have ever had. However, it has also been the most rewarding. And being a grandmother has been a wonderful blessing!
I was 35 when our first precious child was born. The most beautiful, dark-haired, red, wrinkled bundle of sweetness I had ever seen. As the first grandchild on my side of the family and surrounded by so many ‘grands’ and ‘great-grands’ she never lacked for attention. Madison was four and a half when the twins were born. At 36, I wondered many times in those early years of sleepless nights and chaos, why God chose ME to carry twins to 39 weeks (and then still have to have labor induced!). Needless to say, Madison loved her brother and sister while they were in the hospital. It was after we brought them home and she realized that they were there to stay that her lip poked out! She did not like sharing the attention AT. ALL!! It was only 14 years later when this wonderful, Christian, cheerleader, beauty queen, college honor student died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident that God’s plan came into such clear focus for me. You see, I did not stop being a mother on May 22, 2009. I had two 14-year-olds who needed their mother more than they ever would, to help them navigate their grief over losing the big sister they adored. And I needed these two precious children to remind me again that in the end, God’s plan is perfect, even when we don’t see it at the beginning.
I wold LOVE this book. We also have two girls who were born from our hearts. My husband and I participarted in the Foster to Adopt program in our home town. What an abslolute joy our two girls have brought to us. Claire is now 10 years old and Emily is 8. I love these girls so very much, but love to see God working in their hearts! They are going to be wonderful women after God’s very own heart!!
I forgot to share my surprise – a bouncing baby boy after 10 years of having our daughter. What a wonderful journey in the waiting of having a beautiful daughter to share our lives for nine years before her brother arrived. As for mama, it’s been the most tiring, rewarding blessing I’ve ever had!
Amen! It’s the best kind of tired I’ve ever been!
I would love to get this book for my daughter-in-law. Both she and my son were definitely SURPRISED by motherhood when she recently discovered she was pregnant and had been taking birth control! She was just over 8 weeks pregnant when she found out. Everyone was stunned but joyous.
Oh she would love this book!
You always melt my heart with your Aster stories! Thanks for always sharing her.
Love ya and Aster too!
Telling her stories and sharing her photos just makes me want to squeeze her!!
It is one of the most unpredictable things in life being a mom, you don’t ever know what you children are going to say or do. Or if you will get to sleep through the night. Really grown me in my faith, that I know and I love every minute of it, even when I feel at the end of my rope! 🙂
Amen!
Every day with my boys is a joyful surprise, even when I am at my busiest I remind myself that these moments don’t last forever!
So wise. They don’t last long enough do they!? The days can sometimes feel long but the years go by so fast!
My biggest surprise in motherhood is how much I want to be home. I was the one, growing up, with dreams to work for National Geographic and travel all over the world writing. But motherhood has changed my heart. Nothing makes me more happy, more at peace and energizes me more than being at home after work with my hubby and two boys, playing balloon hockey in the living room, rearranging furniture for a game of “don’t touch the floor,” or having a water fight in the backyard and hearing giggles from over the fence as I stalk them with the hose. This is my happily ever after. I’m living my dream. Thank you Jesus, for my life.
Well you sound like a party waiting to happen! I wish I could come over and play at your house! Your kids are blessed and Im so glad God’s given you such a love for your family. I feel the same way. There is no place I’d rather be than with my husband JJ and our three kids.
After 2 kids, we decided that we were a perfect family. God had much different plans for us! We ended up with our third little surprise during a time we would NEVER have chosen ourselves, but of course, God provided for our every need!
Love that!! Only He knows. I would’ve never thought I’d have a 5 year old at the age of 47! But I am soooo glad I do!
Wanted to read this book and forgot the title….God, as always, reminded me through you!
Thank you!
🙂
Motherhood is sure a surprise and nothing can prepare you for it 🙂 We are a third unexpected surprise. Another boy for this sure tired mama. Thank you for your post and reminding us how great motherhood is.
Blessings!
Lisa-Jo’s book has helped me remember the gift of this time as a mom, and see even the hard things through HIS eyes of grace. To celebrate the craziness and chaos and call it good because it’s all a gift from Him.
I can remember times when my little brother and I used to wake my mom up early on the weekends. My mom loved to sleep in on the weekends, as she didn’t have to get up early fo…r work. My brother had a habit of waking her up early, especially on special occasions like Christmas. Nevertheless, my mom smiled and enjoyed the time she had with us as little ones. “Her small hands peel back the covers to see if my eyes are open. Gently, I feel her fingers against my cheek as she loudly whispers, “Time to wake up mommy!”
I smile {with my eyes closed} and roll over. It will take more than her sweetness to convince this tired mama to get out of bed. Hours of driving, sitting on wood bleachers, shouting and cheering for her big brother’s basketball games at a tournament the day before… has worn me out!
I tell Aster it’s still dark and that she needs to go back to sleep. Disappointed yet determined, she walks her little self over to the window, feels her way along the curtains to find the plastic wand so she can pull them back and show me it is NOT still dark.
Not only is it NOT dark, it is time for breakfast and she knows just what we can eat!
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“Look Mommy!” She says, as she points her finger to the parking lot. “Wake up and eat popcorn. Seeeeeeeee. There’s a popcorn tree. When you shake it, popcorn falls off!”
Ahhh. Motherhood. It doesn’t come with much sleep, but it does come with popcorn trees! And so many other surprises.
Aster is one of God’s biggest surprises so far in this motherhood journey of mine. Only He could know how much I needed this girl of mine.
God birthed Aster in our hearts and brought her into our family four years ago, just as our boys crested the waves of teenage manhood. Obviously I needed a little more adventure, a lot more carpooling and a huge dose of unconditional love.
And God made sure I got it! All wrapped up in pink bows, giggles, snuggles, sleepless nights, developmental delays, sweet kisses, celebrations, questions, fears, happy tears, laughter and memories. So.many.memories.
Today I have a surprise just for you! Im giving away five copies of my new favorite book for the heart of moms, and those who mother in other capacities: “Surprised by Motherhood“ written by my friend Lisa-Jo Baker. I’m reading it now and it’s so much more than a book; it’s dessert and friendship for my soul! Today, Lisa-Jo’s publisher has offered to give away 5 copies to five of you!! But first {this}! For days when you wonder if what you do matters, when it feels like the same thing stuck on repeat 365 days a year! Let this be your reminder: you are braver than you know because you mother!”~Renee Swope I would think that parenting is difficult work. I don’t have any natural children; however, I do have a leopard gecko. I consider him my child. aring for him is difficult work, though, which is why God gave me the very best husband in the entire universe.