How2Coupon: Happy Mother's Day!

(photo by Sarah Craig Photo)

"...And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." -Tina Fey, Bossypants

I've realized a lot in my few years as a mother. More than the blow-outs (and there are many), I've realized the daily sacrifices, big and small, my mother made for me and my brothers. She left a career and opened a small business. She forfeited a few hours of daily silence and solitude when she chose to homeschool my brothers and I. She gave me a pony at age six, and any horse-lover knows where that leads... $$$!

More than any of this, she taught through example what it means to be a wife and mother. I see her love for my sons and know I am richly blessed. And the biggest blessing of all, she loves the Lord and raised her family to follow Him. She is a best friend and I am so thankful for her.

This post would be greatly lacking if I were not to also thank my mother-in-law, Carol. She molded a rambunctious (and sometimes rebellious) son into the best husband and father a girl could ever hope for. I am often overwhelmed by the task of raising two boys, all at once charming and challenging, and it is in her example I find encouragement. Needless to say, her patience and dedication in raising my husband in the way of the Lord paid off, ten-fold.

Cheerleaders as they are, I am sure both of my moms will read this. Thank you, and I love you both!

And a Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers reading this! You will never regret the love and time you pour into your children.