I Am The Luckiest

Sarah and Leah at the Cabin on Christmas Morning

My entire life I have recognized and expressed gratitude for how blessed I am. I have been blessed with amazing parents that raised me in a balanced and loving manner. I am blessed with great brothers and and an awesome extended family as well. I am blessed to feel and realize my creators hand in all things. I am blessed with health and wealth to accomplish all I need. I am blessed. Truly Blessed.

I think the greatest blessings come in the form of womanhood. I am who I am because of my Mum. She has raised me to be who I have become. Her opinion of me matters so much. I have often said when considering decisions I make or opinions others may have of me and my actions, that "it matters not what others think, so long as my Heavenly Father, my Mother, Sarah and myself are pleased". I hope my Mother is pleased. I love you, Mum. Leah loves her Grandma!

My Grandma Brewer died right before my service in British Columbia. I miss her and hope she is watching over me day by day. I am so grateful to have my Grandma Baldwin with us still and am so happy that she shows no sign of leaving us soon! She is so fun and loving and I appreciate her example. I love you Grandma! Leah loves her Grandmama!

Sarah and Leah on Mother's Day

Mother-in-laws...They are often the butt of jokes among circles of men on the golf course or anywhere for that matter. We all enjoy the jokes of a bullying or nosy Mother-in-law. I have even jumped into those conversations sometimes with funny comments, but never rude or disrespectful comments. Anyone who knows my Mother-in-law would never believe me if I said something seriously negative about her. She is a great Mother to Sarah and the perfect Mother-in-law for this Son-in-law. I love her dearly and I hope she knows that.

I would be ungrateful if I didn't mention how blessed I am, as is Sarah, Leah and both our families, for Leah's birthmother, Caitlin. We are so blessed to have Leah in our lives. While we were prepared for her in our lives, and she has been exactly what we had hoped, we were not prepared for how much Caitlin would become part of our lives. We love Caitlin so much and we constantly pray for her and her happiness. I don't know if she will ever really understand that she has become more to us than the woman who provided us with Leah, but she has. I know she reads this blog, so let me again say, from me, Sarah and Leah, "Caitlin, we love you and hope you have a happy Mother's Day". Also, Caitlin's Mother is a big part of who Caitlin is and why we have Leah. Happy Mother's Day, Nancy!

Sarah in Hawaii - February 2010

I saved the best for last! Sarah is my everything. She is the perfect woman for me. She was made for me. It took me six years to realize just how meant to be it was, but I subscribe to the theory that late is better than never at all. At risk of sounding like a high school kid again, I believe the first verse of the Ben Folds Five song, "The Luckiest" sums it up best.

I don't get many things right the first time.

In fact I'm told that a lot.

Now I know all the wrong turns and stumbles and falls

Brought me here.

Where was I right before the day that I first saw your lovely face

Now I see it every day

And I know...

That I am...

The Luckiest.

I love you more than I have ever found the way to say to you.

I don't necessarily believe in luck. I do, however, know that I am blessed. Lucky? Blessed? Call it what you want. Sarah, I love you and am constantly amazed at how great a Mother you are to our Leah. Thank you for being you and letting me be me and helping Leah be Leah. I am the Luckiest.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mother's past, present and to be!