“Close your eyes!” Kiera bellowed as she ran into my bedroom.
“What?” I asked laughing as she skidded to a halt in front of me.
“Close your eyes!! Hurry!” she said as she bounced excitedly in front of me.
I closed my eyes and Kiera immediately grabbed my arm and began to drag me out of my room. She gave up dragging, got behind me and began pushing me. Thankfully, I know the layout of our house pretty well and managed to not fall on my face.
I made it to the front door where Aaron grabbed my arms and helped me step down outside before Kiera pushed me off the step.
“Keep your eyes closed!” Kiera yelled.
Aaron turned me a few more steps and Kiera hollered, “Now open them!”
It was Friday night, two days before Mother’s Day. I had been home for a while but Kiera and Aaron had gone off to get a surprise for me. Apparently, the unveiling of my surprise was about to begin.I opened my eyes to see two beautiful potted flowers in front of me. One was taller with yellow, bell like flowers and the other was smaller with red and yellow flowers.
“Oh! Thank you so much!” I quickly bent to give Kiera a hug and kiss and then turned to Aaron to hug him as well.
“I picked out the little one because I liked the red,” Kiera pointed out proudly. “But Daddy’s is pretty too.”
Some days, I look back and am amazed at how far my life has come. I remember many years ago, I can honestly say I never thought I would be a mom.
I may have mentioned this before. Several years ago I had a miscarriage. We had just barely come to terms with me being pregnant and then a few weeks later, I miscarried. It was a rough time. I tried to be tough and strong but inside, I was hurting.
I tried to make sure that no one ever saw when I broke down. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was crushed. One day, I was by myself at home. I can’t remember what caused it but I remember grabbing my prenatal pills and hurling them at the trash can.
I ranted and raved at God. I cried and asked Him why I wouldn’t be a good mom. Finally, I calmed down and sat on the bed. It took me several months to finally heal and realize that there was another reason for the miscarriage.
One day, I decided that I was actually ok if we never had a baby. I turned it all over to God. And then it happened. A week later, we found out that I was pregnant.
My next struggle was fully trusting God. Now, don’t misunderstand me. I trusted God, but I am far from perfect and there was always a tiny worry. I lived for my doctor appointments for when they would check and hear Kiera’s heartbeat. It was a relief when I finally could feel her move.
Then she was born and I had a whole new worry. I constantly woke up to check on her. In fact, at first, I would set my alarm, just so I could make sure she was ok. One night, it finally all clicked into place. I realized that God had blessed us with our little angel and I would trust him to take care of her. That was one of the first peaceful nights of sleep I had.
Fast forward to last Sunday, Mother’s Day. “Mommy!” Kiera cried out from her room. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone for light. “Can I have some milk?” She asked, rubbing her eyes.
I walked to the kitchen and checked the time. It was still early. I made her a glass of milk and lay in the bed with her as she drank it. She handed her cup to me, grabbed Quack-Quack and cuddled up next to me, falling back asleep.
Knowing that it wouldn’t be long before she awoke again, I laid next to her enjoying the quiet morning. Thirty minutes later, she blinked sleepy eyes at me. “Can I play?” She asked.
“Yes, baby, but Mommy is going to lay here for a little bit,” I replied not ready to get up yet.
All of a sudden, she popped up out of bed. “I have to go get something,” she said as she hurried out of the bedroom. A moment later, she returned with a bag that read, “Happy Mother’s Day. Love, Kiera.”
She turned on the light and handed me her gift. I carefully opened the bag and pulled out a jar that she had painted yellow at school. The jar held beautiful flowers. “Oh, baby. I love this!” I exclaimed, reaching out to hug her.
“Look inside the jar,” she said, smiling at me.
I gingerly pulled the flowers out of the jar and found her award wristbands that she had won at her field day several days back.
“It’s your awards bracelets,” I said as I pulled them out of the jar and handed them to her.
“I am sharing them with you for Mother’s Day,” she said as she placed them in my hand.
My heart melted at the love that this child has given me. I am thankful for her and thankful that I trusted God. I hope each of you had a blessed Mother’s Day.
Rowonna McNeely is a graphic artist for Willie’s T’s Screenprint & Embroidery. She is a mother of a five year old girl and step mother of two adult girls. Her crazy life includes a dog, Sloane and psychotic cat, Gracie. Both females. She is married to her prince, who is outnumbered by the opposite gender.
