Mother's Day 2012 - A Day for Romans 8:28

Mother's Day was a mixed bag of emotions this year.  As it always does, my heart melted as I remembered the day I became a Mom.  There is simply nothing like it.  And Margaret's birth was nothing any less joyful or exciting. See below for attempts to get a decent shot with a 20-month-old and a 4-yr-old:) 

Andrew helped me put the finishing touches on our first family garden.  Then we prayed that WE get to enjoy some watermelon, squash, and a variety of peppers someday and that our efforts are not merely encouraging our already ridiculous deer and bunny populations.  This is after I planted our window boxes on the deck for the first time!  Gardening again by moonlight, I planted these on Michael's birthday after the kids were down.  Some petunias, sweet potato vine, and some yellow flower "for height", the nursery told me, better do well this summer and give me some confidence!

Sadly, Mother's Day this year also came with some terrible news.  A dear friend here from church had just learned that her 4th pregnancy will not end in the "Happily Ever After" she had planned.  Her 20-week ultrasound revealed that the little boy is developing without a brain.  A small portion of his lower brain is in tact enough to explain the movement she's been feeling and allowing swallowing to keep him alive.  But these precious babies do not make it out of the delivery room, if the pregnancy even goes full term.  What's remarkable, though, is my friend's attitude.  After the sobbing and the shock wore off, she handed the situation over to God realizing that He had called baby Samuel home early for a reason...a reason she may not like and wouldn't have chosen, but a reality she is accepting already.  I am in awe of her strength.  She is truly letting God hold her in the palm of His hand.  Her "Footprint" poem would surely have only one set of footprints right now. 

I told her that I was reminded of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

We are not promised any answers this side of Heaven, as difficult of a pill as that is to swallow.  Later that very same day, one of the several daily emails I receive from Tandom.com shared with me the very verses following this:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Have truer words ever been written?

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Mother's Day Picture attempts - 3...it is only three people I am hoping will look at the camera simultaneously!  Not an army.  Just three!