Motherhood

If you asked me, “What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done”? The answer, hands down, would be motherhood. Trying out for school teams? Easy. Miss Russet? Easy. Marrying Randy? Easy. Interviews and jobs? Easy. Traveling and moving across the country? Easy. Meeting new people and learning new skills? Easy.

Motherhood? Hard.

Now, ask me “what is the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done”? The answer, hands down, would be motherhood.

No diamond develops without a little heat. No pearl forms without the grit of some sand. No bird flys without some crash landings. I believe you cannot grow, develop, learn, or blossom without a little tribulation. My pregnancies, deliveries and the arrival of my kids have all impacted me one way or another. My kids starting school and bringing home the stresses of the their day has impacted me. Navigating hard and sticky situations with other kids and parents has impacted me. Breaking apart fights and finding solutions to their problems has impacted me. Making their meals and cleaning their rooms has impacted me. Managing a family has impacted me. And everything has blessed me for the better.

Nothing else in this world has caused me to be stretched and grown in such a profound way. The things I’ve had to learn, the things I’ve had to let go of, the love that I’ve felt, the sorrow that I have felt, the pain, the pleasure, the sickness, the health and everything in between, has been a joy to experience. Because it’s brought me closer to myself, to Randy and most of all to God. God desires that I have joy in this life and I can’t deny that my family is my joy. These souls are the greatest gifts (and headaches 😅) that I have been given. I wouldn’t go back and change a single thing because each experience has brought learning and clarity. By small and simple things, great things have become of them. So while the days may be long and hard, in the long run, it's absolutely worth it.