Baby Dedication and Other Thoughts.

Sunday, our church had baby dedication for Mother's Day, so we decided to dedicate Emma. She was probably the squirmiest one on the stage, although there were some other older kids up there. Pastor Chris tells what their names mean and then gives a verse that he has chosen for them.  I am not at home right now, so I cannot tell you what it is.  I will have to add it in later.  It really fit in with the meanings of her names.   Basically, we were the ones dedicating ourselves to teach Emma about God and raise her to be a girl/woman of godly character.    

The day  brought with it mixed emotions that I pretty much stuffed aside as I have had many a miserable Mother's Day over the past 7-8 years or so.  I would be so miserable in the past, that I would usually try to avoid church and Baby Dedications all together.  My dear sister (in-law), Sara, wrote a great post on the topic on her blog.  I really appreciate her thoughts, especially the empathy that she has for women who may be hurting on that day.  Not everyone gets that.  I know I didn't before we experienced hard times in our lives.  I was really pretty happy for the day, and thoroughly enjoyed the pampering (aka sitting on my bum all day and being served whatever I wanted/needed).  I just enjoyed the day for what it was.  But not everyone has that option, and I too feel sad for those for whom the holiday is a hard one.  I wish that we could re-name it to be "Mothering Day" or perhaps just "Woman's Day".  There are plenty of women in our lives who deserve to be honored.  Just because they may not have physically birthed a child or have a living child does not mean they have not mothered someone, somewhere along the way or made a difference in someone's life.  I read about a church that honored all of the women in their service by giving every woman present a flower, not just "mothers".  I thought that was pretty special.  I think it is important to acknowledge that the holiday may cause pain for some.

It was a year ago, the day before Mother's Day that we received some updated pictures of our Emma Mei.  That event enabled me to get through those final days before we could go get her and especially get through Mother's Day without tears.  Sometimes it is hard to believe as I look at that sad, serious little baby in the picture that it really is our Emma.   She has changed so much since she became a part of our family, and her personality is just so bubbly and happy. I think about her first mother in China and wonder.  We don't know what her circumstances are/were, but I hope that she is safe and lives a peaceful life.  

Then

Now

To all the women in my life who have made a difference:  thank you!  

To Josh and my 3 girls, Sunshine Joy, Katelyn Joy and Emma Mei:  thank you, Josh, for being such a great dad and husband--you truly are the best; and girls, for making me a Mom, Mommy, Mother, Ma-ma and all of you, for going on this crazy journey of life with me. 

To my mom who has made one of the biggest impacts in who I am today:  I love you!