Celebrating Mom

Mother's Day has always been a little favorite holiday of mine.  Since living on my own, I've always loved hosting a Mother's Day brunch, whether it was a spring lunch or English tea.  I feel incredibly blessed to have some pretty amazing women in my life, and I just always felt like Mother's Day was the perfect occasion to celebrate all of them.

A gift from Adam and Ella.

A surprise after-Mother's-Day gift from Adam & Ella.

This Mother's Day we decided to forego the brunch, and all the planning and prep, in favor of a quiet family dinner on Saturday and a luncheon picnic at the park on Sunday.  Saturday's dinner was hosted by my brother and sister-in-law, and we absolutely feasted on the Vietnamese grilled beef that was served.

Breadsticks to wet our appetites.

It's never a challenge to get Ella to eat carbs or veggies.  But protein is different, unless it's kobe beef.  Apparently she'll eat plenty of that.

With her doting grandmothers. 

Fresh, homemade mini donuts for dessert.

Sunday's cool but sunny weather was just perfect for a picnic.  We all enjoyed lazing around, and Ella got some more swing time.

I guess we were on a Vietnamese food kick, because banh mi and fried egg rolls was on the menu.

I love that Ella loves all kinds of food.  Here she's munching on a Chinese donut (hahm-jeem-beng).

All the food made for some snoozing.

The swing put her to sleep.

It's still a bit surreal that I'm celebrating my first Mother's Day.  While I have adapted to the new role that Ella gives me, I'm a bit surprised how easily I've embraced it.  I mean, motherhood has plenty of challenges and my life is definitely different now with a little one to care for, but I truly love being a mom.    I guess I say this because I feel like my career choice lately has been to stay home with my children.  I have slowly shed the desire to define myself by my profession, and instead define myself by the impact I can make on this world by raising human beings that will hopefully make change and leave their footprint on the lives around them.  I want to give this world adults who are compassionate and inspiring, with strong moral character and a servant's heart.  I want my children to find cures and spread kindness, to be leaders and creators and innovators.  I want them to forge paths for themselves that will glorify God, and I want them to truly experience His love and wonder.  Sometimes I get caught up in the little things--Ella must learn to eat Chinese food!--and I forget my greater duty as a mother.  I have been given this little being to nurture and raise and mold.  I look at her, grinning at me with four little teeth poking out, and can feel the weight of my responsibilities, far more important to me than any job can encompass.

There have been many articles recently swirling around the Internet about motherhood and feminism.  I'll save my comments for another post, but I just wanted to share how being a mom has empowered me to be the strongest woman I can be.  I have always had women in my life to inspire me.  And now suddenly, I am to be one of those women.  I am so incredibly honored and touched and moved to join this elite club.