A Mom Moment

My mom likes to tell the story of when she was working the evening shift at the library one night and my dad brought my sister and me downtown to visit her. She worked on the third floor of the main library and when we got to the top of the stairs my younger sister saw my mom sitting at the reference desk and made a beeline for her yelling, "Mommy!!!" My mom scooped her up and gave her a big hug. It was one of those moments that you dream about as you are in the waiting stage to be a mom. For some of us, that waiting stage can go on for quite some time and for others there isn't much waiting at all but I think you dream about those moments no matter what.

I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. We were invited to one of LB's friend's birthday party. His buddy, M, was also adopted from Ethiopia and was turning three. His parents set up a bunch of kiddie pools in their backyard and a big water slide and the kids ran about in their swimsuits playing in the water. It was a quintessential summer birthday party. After the kids had worn themselves out with all the water play, M's mom brought out the cupcakes so everyone could sing "Happy Birthday." I wrapped LB up in his towel and he sat in my lap. As everyone started singing, I realized that I was having one of those mom moments. I was sitting in the grass on a perfect summer evening and had my little, wet and shivering two year old all bundled in my lap. He loves the "Happy Birthday" song so he was all smiles and seemingly content as we sat in the grass and ate cupcakes. LB isn't really into sweets so he just took a few licks of the icing and then put an end to my moment. But it was so wonderful to allow life to stand still for a few minutes. I looked around, gave LB a little squeeze and let it all wash over me. I'm so grateful.

"Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God."

Ralph Waldo Emerson