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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My biggest surprise of motherhood was that sometimes there is a lot of worry and pain which caused me to turn to The Lord. When our middle daughter was four years old, she was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastice leukemia) her white cell count was 142,000 where is should have been in the 20,000 range. When trying to do a bone aspiration her bone marrow was so thick and it was difficult to extract. She was extremely fatigued and often times in pain. The doctors pulled her chemotherapy proto col out of a hat, which was called The New York Protocol.” It was so very aggressive and even doing that and cranial radiation, the prognosis was a 20% chane of survival for a two year period. I made many trips to Primary Cildren’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah-some were late at night because her immune system was so low the she would spike fevers of 104 degrees, I remember crying while I was driving her, pleading to God that if he were going to take her, to just do it and take her out of her pain! She looked like the little girl on the copper tone ads before diagnosis; such a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty. By God’s Mercy and Grace, she beat the odds! After seven years in remission we were told that her chances of ever getting this again was one in three hundred and fifty thousand. The doctors told us that because of the aggressiveness of the chemo she probably would not be able to have children. Imagine our surprise when she told us she was pregnant and gave birth to sweet little Otto this past November! He is a beautiful, healthy baby boy who has the sweetest disposition! We are so very blessed and give praise and glory to our Lord and Saviour for this little miracle! Such a surprise for this mother and grandmother and, again, giving me the assurity that He truly had us in the palm of his hands! god always gave me the assurity that Lexy would survive, but to bless us with this sweet little grandson was one of the best gifts we were given!
For the last several years God has been whispering to my heart that He wants me to be an earthly mother to one of His children. Only recently am I allowing this calling to really sink in. I would LOVE to be a Mom but at the same time I feel totally unqualified. My husband and I are taking the prospects of parenthood slowly. We know there is brokenness between us that God wants to mend first so we can welcome our child into a safe and happy home. In the meantime, I believe God is preparing both of our hearts and shaping our characters for this next phase in our journey together. Renee, thanks for sharing this resource. It looks like an awesome book.
I was surprised by the crazy beautiful roller coaster ride in the everyday life of motherhood. How tiny arms hugging my neck can make all those negative thoughts disappear in an instant. 🙂
I can’t really say that my children were unexpected. God blessed me with the gift of a dream when I was around 9 years old and showed me my children. I anxiously awaited each one. =)
Motherhood is surprising in the way my children amaze me everyday. Literally!
Bridgette, my oldest, surprises and amazes me everyday after so many years of doctors telling us that she would have to live with these “special needs” like her allergies that used to get so bad that she’d land herself in the hospital for several days at a time. Or telling us her seizures are now a new constant in her life… even though, she’s now been seizure free for 1 year.
Kaeden, my son. Wow! He is so smart and comprehends so quickly, I rarely have to repeat myself when teaching him something new. However…. I repeat myself 20 times to brush his teeth or clean his room. Those 2 seem to be impossible for him to learn without mommy. LOL.
Elizabeth, my lil baby. We almost didn’t think we were going to have her since I had had a miscarriage a few years prior, which we thought was our 3rd child from the dream. Then… SURPRISE!!! One more!!! =) I love how smart she is at two years old in comprehending spiritual stories and prayers already. When she prays, she whispers and tells me that she’s telling God a secret or a story. Easter Sunday, after Sunday School, I pick her up from the nursery. “Baby,” I ask. “What did you learn today?”
With HUGE blue eyes, she says, “Momma!!! Jesus? Him was on the cross, but Him got down-did and then Him go u there momma!” she exclaims pointing up. “Oh really? He got off the cross and went to heaven?”
Hand on that hip and a serious look and tone, “No Momma! Him got down and go up in a cloud!” LOL! I love it. She’s so smart and so cute. =)
Renee… I’m not writing to try to get into the drawing {though that book sounds inspired and amazing.} I clicked on your name after reading your comment on the (in)courage piece, and your words are balm for my weary soul. I can’t even quite place it. You just feel safe. And authentic. And like someone I need for guidance right now. I just look at your picture, read your story, and tears spring to my eyes. So, I’ll be stopping by quite a bit. 🙂
I have been so blessed and so thankful to have happened on your blog. I love your thoughts and wriitng and your wriitng has inspired and encouraged me. Thank you.
I am a mom of 6 biological children and two step children and it sure has been challenging and exhausting. But being a mom was always my dream and God has truly blessed me. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The things that surprised me the most about motherhood were how you can love them so very much from that first flutter in the womb even before you ever see them, and how it can be the most difficult job yet the most rewarding. Thanks for sharing your story of Aster and the popcorn tree. Moments like that are truly priceless.
The surprises, for me, are like Aster’s popcorn tree; it’s those funny little things they say and do, having the opportunity to see life or the world thru their innocent little perspectives.
My “surprised by motherhood” moment holds a bit of guilt on my part.
When my now-nearly-13 year old daughter was about 4 or 5, she had a voice that was similar to what I would guess would be Minnie Mouse on helium, especially when she was excited.
One morning, I was exhausted, and it seemed that every 2 minutes, I would hear her yell, “MOM!” This would be followed by her asking for something or other.
After about the 10th time, my frazzled nerves snapped…I yelled, “WHAT!!???”
She looked at me, her sweet brown eyes meeting mine, and said in her sweetest voice, “I love you, Mommy.”
I gave her the biggest hug, and slunk my 1 inch tall self back to my room for a nap…
A Mom is so much more than SHE will ever know. We take them for granted but can’t do without them. They are more important than we or they will ever know
Motherhood always surprises me because things in our family life always changes. I think the most surprising thing that has happened tome as a Mother is when I finally let my daughter go her own way. I made a decision to let her make her own mistakes, go her own way and pray for God’s will in her life. Although I still worry sometimes I realize she is a grown-up now and I love her and I let God .
I miss the days of small kids and their love of daily life. Now I have young adults trying to find their way in the world. I still melt when they bless me with a hug and say I love you mommy.
I’m surprised at the confidence God has in us! Three boys under three (one and then 16 months later, twins!) has been a whirl wind. Motherhood is nothing what I expected, but I have learned so much and it is quite a journey, but I am so thankful for God’s direction and for His GRACE
Today I was just thinking how I used to be able to go shopping and do things by myself, but now I have two little ones and I enjoy them more than any thing. Yes there are moments where I want to pull my hair out, but I know I am blessed beyond belief.
My dear sweet friend Leanne would love this book. My friend and her husband took up an adventure 9 years ago when they decided to adopt. With no children of their own came the first sweet baby boy followed by only a few months later a request for another sweet baby boy. They are raising these precious boys in God’s unconditional love. God was calling the two of them this past year to foster and a few months of questions on exactly what that meant to them God blessed them with a 5 day old precious baby boy to love and care for in hopes that the young mother and boyfriend could get back on the right track. Jeremiah is almost 8 months and God had a plan for him and them as well. This precious boy has brought so much love, joy and the sense of God’s humorous ways into their household. Thanks for a chance to share something with someone who never imagined being a mother and the joy that adoption and fostering has brought her. Somedays we all need a simple reminder of God’s Greater LOVE for us all, HIS CHILDREN!
My sweet three and a half year old girl had a day of diarrhea and amongst all the fun and challenges of that during potty training season we had a Little Mermaid marathon. At one point I hear “No Ariel don’t do it! NO Don’t do it! Uggghhh…Ariel never listens to her father.” Made me smile for sure. So much joy we get as moms even on our hard days. Gotta love it! Thank.you for gentle reminders.
One of my biggest surprises was when our 5 year old son came down to dinner one night and started quoting parables word for word from Scripture. He had given our children the Bible tape to listen to when they went to bed. He quoted over 10 parables. He is our middle child and “challenged” in many ways. He turned 26 this year and is getting married the end of May!
I guess my biggest surprise of motherhood was that I could love someone so much who was so different from me. My son is a very quiet introvert, while I am a boisterous extrovert. Not until he was born did I even reach out to quiet people. He has taught me to appreciate different personalities better than anyone before him could. I love him, motherhood and the transformation he has helped me with.
Being a mom is the best thing that has happened to me I had 4 surprises (none of them planned) I have a son who is 12 a daughter who would be 9 ( she died in my 38 th week of pregnancy) while I was pregnant my ex had a daughter who I now help raise and she is 8 and I have a daughter who is 2. They all are very precious to me and even though it’s not how I planned it it all is so worth it.
The biggest surprises for me was first how my heart could grow with love as we added a second child to our family and secondly, how much love I would feel watching my firstborn fall in love with his baby sister. These are things just reading about could never prepare me for.