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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Wonderful post, Renee!
Not only am I a mother of 4 ( 1 deceased), and a grandmother of 7, I am also called Mom by many of the young men and women in My neighborhood. It is such a blessing to show love, God’s love, to all of these gifts of God.
I am so happy that God created me female, a mother, grandmother, and most assuredly His child. I can honestly say that Motherhood is the best profession one can have.
Ahh, the surprises of motherhood. My most recent surprise was exactly one year ago today when I found out I was pregnant at the age of 38. I had been off of birth control for over 7 years and thought it just wasn’t God’s plan for us to have another. I have grown children and never thought I would be starting all over again. It’s ok though. We know we are blessed beyond words.
How sweet! What a beautiful story and a really precious daughter.
I never had a little girl, just twin boys. I had two miscarriages, so I had to give up the idea of ever having a daughter. But, I do remember on certain little girl that was so very dear to my heart. This was before I even had children of my own. My husband and I lived in Ft.Stewart, Georgia. We took some of the neighborhood children to church each week.
The little girl that lived across the street from us would go with us quite often, in fact she went with us on Sunday night. She was not always cleaned up, she had lost her front teeth, and hair was not always combed, but I loved her so much. I will never forget the time she fell asleep in my husband’s arms in church. On the way home, she said she was hunger, so we stopped and got her a cheeseburger from McDonald’s. Later, I noticed hundreds of beer cans around her house and I just wanted to cry, because I did not know what kind of conditions her home life might be like. I still pray for her sometimes. It breaks my heart when I think of the little girl that is so sweet and I just pray God has protected her over the years.
Children are from the Lord and so innocent. They need our love and comfort.
I thought I would share with you something I wrote when my boys were small:
Do other mother’s struggle as I do, Lord
Is their day filled with little voices that call “Mama”
every few minutes during the day?
Is Winnie the Pooh, Barney and cartoons apart of their day?
And do other mother’s see those little faces light up when
they are so anxious to share something they made at school?
Do they share in things like reading, playing games and prayer at night?
Do they enjoy warm, wonderful hugs that make their morning so bright, even while they are half-asleep?
God bless my children in a special way,
Those little eyes that watch everything I do,
Help them keep their eyes on You.
Those little hands and arms,
Help them not to push or shove
But help them reach out to others in love.
Those little hearts that are so very tender,
Help them be filled with Your Holy Word.
Those little feet that like to run and play,
Help them to follow You everyday.
Those little children, I love so dearly
Hold them tight
Keep them from Satan with all your might.
And when I make mistakes,
I raise my voice or I am unkind,
Take me too, Lord in Your arms
Give me the strength to be more like You.
Help me to do no harm, but give You the glory
How do other mother’s do it, Lord
Not without You
Help me raise my children for You.~joyce
Wow!! I think I was surprised at how difficult it could be sometimes raising 3 children and how relieved I felt when I realized that most mothers were going through and feeling the same things that I was. Never realized just how hard the teenager/young adult years would be. Sometimes so overwhelming and just feeling helpless. It is so hard learning to let go. But Proverbs 31 has been a Godsend during those difficult and trying times.
Also when my daughter was in a serious car accident, I was surprised at the strength and peace and love and comfort that God graced me with during such a difficult time. He knows just what we need and when we need it. Thank you God for always being here for me. And thank you Renee for this giveaway and all the wonderful ways you use your God given talent to serve God by serving us.
Your stories bring a smile to my face as I remember my two children growing up. The time goes by so fast. It’s hard for me to believe that my children are grown. I love being a mom and am blessed to be a grandma. I drop everything when given a chance to spend time with my grandson. I can’t get enough of his hugs, smiles, giggles and funny sayings. A book like this would have been helpful when my children were small and I can’t wait to share this book with my daughter.
My babies are now adults and searching for their path in life. Unfortunately we are going through a very rough time right now , they are not speaking to me. Watching this video reminded me of the ecial moments I shared with them when they were little. God is in charge and will guide them and protect them.
My fiancé and I just lost his 9-year-old son, Nicholas, in a fatal car crash that also took the life of his friend and attorney earlier this month. John was injured but has physically recovered. While Nick, who had been without a mother for 4 years (his mom died), was not of my body, he was and will always be of my heart. I never got to hold him but I know we will meet in heaven and he always kissed my picture before he went to bed. This has been hard on John and I both but I have the sense that God will bring us to a child who needs us in the future, much as you and your husband have done, Renee. We are not young but we have resources and when we have healed we will ask God to help us and give us His guidance and wisdom and great love for another child or children. Thanks be to God in all things.
I have been wanting to get this book since seeing it previewed by Lysa. My type A personality could use this book–the reminders of Gods grace and not needing to be “perfect.”
I was surprised the first time I realized my children with “special needs” – their needs are grace to me – somehow their additional needs are exactly what I need to love Jesus more. And God knew that I needed them, and that they needed me – exactly me, with all my faults and messiness. 🙂
Renee , I so enjoyed your writing . God knows how to bless us in unique and special ways.
From the time I was a young girl my dreams were to be a mom and a wife.
God had other plans for me . As a single gal I had a hysterectomy at the age of 41. The night before my surgery I was watching a reality program about critically ill babies. God spoke to my heart . He said , ” Mia I am sparing you this. ” I might say I assisted friends in the riasing of th eir children and they are now adults whom I am very proud of as they serve the LORD.
For several years my babies were my birds. I raised cockitiels, parakeets and one small parrot. I hand fed many of the babies. At age 50 , my job at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc. came to an end with the relocation to NC. . God sent me home to be my Mom’s care giver and to make peace with my past. In 2008 , Mom went home to be with the LORD in June. In August that year I met the man of my dreams online . We met and became engaged in October and married in December -the Sunday before Christmas. When I at the age of 56 said I do to my Joe I became a step mom to 4 men and grandmother to 4 grand children. In October we will be welcoming #5 who is a special miracle. Mom and Dad are not married and have gone thru some rough spots. The dad called his father to ask him his view on abortion. As we are Christians you know how he answered. I was near by praying a sI heard what they were discussing. Two days later, Joe called Joey back to see what was going on. When they were having that first conversation , mom and dad were in the parking lot of the abortion clinic. They realaized they couldn’t go thru with this . Afterall the mom did not believe in abortion. Today I bought a special journal. Its yellow and on the cover is a verse from the Bible —Every good gift …is from above. James 1 :17 ! This journal is being written with special messages to be given to this little one when he/she is old enough to understand that they are a precious miracle. Oh my other kids are 4 kitties and 3 dogs !
I had a bit of a rough time with my last pregnancy. My husband and I separated and it was just me my kids and this new baby growing. God kept me going becausr I know this baby has a purpose. When I delivered him earlier this year it was my most difficult birth but when I saw him it was all worth it. It didnt matter that his father was bot there God was there and had made him whole. They told ne at my 5 month ultrasound that he could had a brightspot in his heart that there was sonething in his brain and that he may have down syndrome but I rebuked all that in the name of Jesus from the moment I heard it I kbew God would bless my child. Today I claim my child is a miracle made whole by our Lord.
All I can say is that my 4 boys fill my heart with love and happiness each and every moment of the day.
Am so blessed to have a wonderful adult son, Brandon. Am looking forward to this summer to be a first time Nana to little Zoe.
Motherhood, still a surprise almost 20 years later! But I’m glad that he still trusts me enough to tell me when he’s afraid and to share his tears with me!
Oh my! I have to laugh because it was not even 2 hours ago that I called a friend and passionately said,”I just am so tired of doing the same thing every single day. I am so exhausted with having to say the same things over and over again I am just going to start making signs for them to read!” Looks like a refreshing read. Homeschooling mom of 6, soon to be 7… refreshing reads that make moms feel valued are always so encouraging! Thanks!
What a precious story! Thank you for sharing. My sweet babies are grown and living on their own. When I start to miss them horribly (which is often) I’m reminded that God misses me when I don’t “check in” with Him on a regular basis. I can’t imagine loving anyone like I love my children and it’s incomprehensible to me that. God loves me more.
One of my biggest Motherhood surprise was when I was told that in April of 2010 I was going to be a Mother again, what? at my age (45)! after my youngest of 3 was 17 years of age at that time and then God was not done with my surprise He was not only entrusting me again with a child, He will let him be born on the same day that his twin brother were born on January 1. You see one of the twins was called home in April 2006. It is challenging at times having a three year old running around and keeping up with although it just brings me joy when he reaches for my hand, and hugs and kisses me I just melt. I always say that there is never a dull moment in my house.
I Read the title and knew God wanted me to read this blog. We have been blessed with a newborn coming in August. We have a daughter who is a Senior in high school and will graduate in May. She will start college this fall. A little boy who is graduating pre-k in May and will start kindergarten in August. So we are starting all over. The title was perfect because yes our baby girl will be a surprised but oh the blessings that will come. God has decided He is still in control and knows what is best.
How just when I think I’ve figured everything out, it all changes again and again and again. God has grown me more through Motherhood than any other area of my life!
Love. The overwhelming capacity to love them. And not just unconditionally, but how it keeps growing and growing. I guess I never thought it was possible to love someone so much. I love my husband a ton, but this is different. I imagine it’s just a glimpse of God’s love for me and all of us. So precious
I agree!! I cried when our firstborn came home. I loved him so much it hurt, and it scared me that I could feel that much love for my son, knowing there were no guarantees in the days ahead. It’s overwhelming to think God loves us that much and then some!!