Over the Moon...

I am absolutely over the moon right now, beaming with pride. Not of my own, but of my Mom.

A week ago, I entered a Papertrey Ink contest to win a free stamp set. We all know this was a no-brainer that I'd enjoy a chance to win, seeing as how they're my favorite company pretty much on the planet...

However, I didn't know if I could live up to the contest requirements: Your "BEST MEMORY OF MOM" in honor of Mother's Day. I must have thousands of memories, some even more meaningful, I'm sure...but I wanted to honor her by choosing one that stood out most as far as the true meaning of motherhood...and also one that tied us together the most.

I didn't enter right away. I wanted to think about it. However, then I realized I'd either forget to enter on time or my words would sound too rehearsed. That is the last thing I wanted, so I just decided to "wing it", write it casually and honestly and go from there. So, I entered and that was that.

There were about 90+ entries I believe when I entered the contest. I read through a bunch after I wrote my own and had a box of kleenex next to me as there were so many touching memories documented. You should check it out on the Papertrey Forum. It's a wonderful tribute to all Mom's.

Long story longer (lol), at the end of the contest yesterday there were 376 entries to be exact. Three winners were chosen, and I am flooded with tears as I tell you that mine was included in the winning three. This is not about the stamp set (well, ok, it is a LITTLE lol-that is a BONUS fo' sho!). Seriously, this is about the wonderful Mom I have and what an honor it is to be her child. In addition, many of you know that I don't talk about being adopted much; I guess because I don't really feel like it's even an issue or something that makes me different, I suppose. I honestly could care less...but in a way, I should care more because I know how very deeply I am loved by my parents.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you my entry:

by pinkgirl76 on Tue May 06, 2008 12:25 pm

My favorite memory of my Mother was the day I realized what being a mother TRULY means... I am the oldest of four adopted children. We all came home from the hospital as infants, and growing up it was just "known"...there wasn't a day where our parents sat us down and dropped a bomb on us, it was just like having bread in the house-a constant...it was totally NORMAL.

One day when I was in fourth grade, I was primping my big 80s hair (LOL) in the bathroom when two of my classmates cornered me and said "hey, we know about you. we know your secret." Knowing that I wasn't Hannah Montana or leading a double life, I couldn't IMAGINE what they were talking about. I asked them, and they said "we know you've been hiding the fact that you're adopted." I remember saying "well, no, I wasn't hiding...I just don't think it's big deal". "BIG DEAL???" they responded, "Don't you want to know who your REAL parents are????"

Boy, if I had a dime for everytime someone asked me that to this day. You know, even by the time I was in fourth grade, that thought had never crossed my mind. I said to them, "well, I know someone else had me, but my parents are my Mom and Dad". I won't go on and on, but put it this way: this answer was NOT ok with them. I remember these two nosy-knickers going around and around with me; they just wouldn't accept my answer. I pretended like it didn't bother me, but it did a little bit...That afternoon, as soon as I got home, I started crying. My mom asked me what was wrong, put her arms around me and i remember coming up to about the top of her stomach at the time when I hugged her, just like my 8 year old daughter does now on me... funny how we remember those little details. I told her about my day and how those girls made me feel like I was wrong. Maybe I had it wrong the whole time and that I should be more concerned about knowing if I had a "real" Mom and dad that I had somehow overlooked.

I will never forget what my Mother told me that day. She simply said "anyone can have a baby but God chooses the most special of babies and mothers to live together. If God plans it that way, how can it not be real? Your REAL parents are the ones who raise you and teach you things, the ones who feed you and keep you warm, and most importantly, the ones that LOVE you more than anything." From that moment on I never had another question, doubt, or fear about where I belonged and to this day, I feel sorry for the ones who then or even now don't get it. There is no greater bond than the one I share with my mother and AS a mother of four children of my own (talk about following in one's footsteps!)

That is a funny sidenote, actually. I am now a grown woman with four children of my own. All biological. I always wondered what would happen and if my feelings would change after being able to experience the utmost privilege of pregnancy, labor, and even nursing, not to mention having twins! I am eternally grateful to have been able to experience all of those things. It was amazing, awe-inspiring and I wish I could do it all over again sometimes... In all honesty, though? Although I'm sure my Mom wishes she could have had those things (although maybe not after listening to all my complaints ha ha , it only solidifies what I knew all along...she was absolutely right. There is no greater bond than a mother to her child and a child to her mother, no matter how we ended up together. Family comes in all different sizes, shapes and colors.

I love you, Mom. Thank you for all you are to me in my life and what you do for me every day. Thanks for reading, everyone :)