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Mother's Day means more than I can express.  Let me explain why.  And let me say, my story in no way diminishes the motherhood of others.  My story is just mine.

In 2000, after being married for 7 years, my hubby and I decided it was time to have children.  We had talked about having children through both adoption and birth.  And like many families who want form their family through both methods (boy, that sounds like the wrong word, but you get the gist), we thought we'd go the birth route first. 

Within a month, we were pregnant.  And within a month and a half a positive pregnancy test, we were not. It was a roller coaster of a ride (too many details and phone calls to recount here) that ended in  my being rushed into surgery to save my life.  We were both so scared, and after surgery, so heart-broken.

Time went by, and we didn't get pregnant.

So, we looked at each other and said,  "What are we waiting for?  Let's adopt.  This is what we've wanted to do."  So we started the long, long process.  We gathered a truck load of paperwork and submitted it to the U.S. and China.  We allowed strangers to come in and scrutinize us and our home.  We wrote a book on ourselves, covering details of our lives we would only share with intimate friends, and submitted it to a homestudy agency.  We took the required classes.  We read the required material.  And we waited.  My heart ached for my little girl.

On May 23, 2005 we got "the call."  Our family coordinator from our adoption agency called us and said we had a little girl (well, not so little for those of you who know her - she was what you might call round).  She was the most beautiful sight.  I looked at her, and I knew in the innermost part of me that she was my daughter- birthed in China, born in my heart.  I had ached and longed for her.  I had trusted God that He was taking care of her when I could not.  I was trusting God would bring us together.  And He did.

Now she's 3 1/2 years old.  She's wondrous.  She's delightful.  She's lovely.  She's my daughter.  And I'm her mother.  Happy Mother's Day to me.