Josie Dedication

We had a big night last night. David and I had Josephine dedicated to the Lord. This means David and I will do our best to raise our little girl to have Christ in her life. The special ceremony for about 30 families took place at our church, where David's Mother used to run the day care(she passed away many years ago from cancer) and where his grandmother still attends and is known and loved by everyone. When the pastor approached us David told him this was Rose's Granddaughter. His eyes lit up. "Rose has held just about every child in this church," he said as he looked out into the congregation. "Where's Ms. Elise?" He laughed. I know David couldn't be happier than to have our daughter in the church that has meant so much to him and his family.

When we were leaving the stage in the auditorium, Josephine grabbed my face for the first time. She held her hand underneath my chin and starred at me and smiled. I could have stood there forever. There is something about the first time your child reaches out to hold your face. Its magical, the whole evening was. David's brother and his family were there, along with David's cousins Mrs. McKay, Robert, Anita and Beth, his Aunt Jean, our friends Denise and John, Kelly and Gretchen and of course Ms. Elise. The church gave Josie her first bible and a letter from the pastor, that is to be open when she accepts Christ. The only thing missing from the evening were my family who live in VA. I would say David's parents were missing as well but I know they were looking down upon us proudly.

MOM=WOW

Last year I "unofficially" celebrated Mother's Day since I had discovered I was pregnant the week before.

This year its official, I AM A MOM!
And I am in awe of the women who helped raise me, especially my mother. She did the majority of the raising after all.

My parent's separated when I was six and while they tried to make it work for many years after that, they eventually went their separate ways. They "always" worked to raise us the best they could, together but apart. And they did a fine job, thank you very much! But as it is with many families of divorce, my sister and I lived with my mom and our father saw us every other weekend and maybe a week night, if I remember correctly. My father remarried my fabulous Step mom, Maggie and she too was a huge influence on the person I am today, as are both my grandmothers, and even Maggie's Mom, Step-grammie, Marcie. Each of them played their part in rearing me and all of them molded me but there is something I have to say about my mom, WOW! MOM=WOW!

Working, keeping a house hold (very neat and tidy, all the time, something I will fail at miserably) and raising two daughters is no simple task. I can say that now... now, that I am "beginning" to understand it.

I never knew why my mom would get so upset when I didn't do the dishes after school, when I wouldn't hurry and take a bath, when I would take my ever-loving time getting ready in the morning, or when my little sister and I would call her at work arguing on the phone over something stupid. Uhhh...got it now Mom! And Boy, if Karma is as bad as they say she can be, I maybe in for a rough ride. I was a smart ass kid and I could pick a fight. If Mom said the sky was blue I said it was yellow. Yep its true, that's a quote from my mom. I know those arguments must have broken her heart over and over again. I am so sorry Mom! If I knew then...

I can't imagine those conversations with my own daughter but I know they are bound to happen.

How exhausted my mom must have been physically and emotionally. Day after day she would get us up for school and ready, then go to work and come straight home to make us dinner, help us with homework, clean up after us, bathe us, put us to bed and do it all over again the next day, baring any major hiccups like an illness, broken down car, or tantrum.

I know, I know, women do this every day with 3, 5, even 8 children and I am in awe of them too. It is tough to be a mom now more than ever cause that is not your only gig. We forget that! You are expected to work, run a household, be a fabulous lover and wife. Its exhausting, stressful and wonderful all that the same time. Mom's don't get the respect they deserve, at least mine didn't. I never fully understood. Oh, if I could only go back Mom!

I am so thankful to have had a mom like my mom who cared enough to put up with me good and bad. She is my best friend.

I take this new world, title, relationship, responsibility, and love I am discovering and I pray I do it justice.


Thanks MOM!