My Badges of Honor

Today is Mother's Day. I am home from church with two of my children. Hannah has a fever... most likely ANOTHER ear infection. Eli and I are attached, so he never is too far away from me. Aaron and Isaac went to Pullman for church. Isaac will enjoy his Daddy time I'm sure. As Eli took one of his morning naps and Hannah watched a movie while wrapped in a blanket on the couch, I took a quick moment to shower and get ready for the day. The shower is my sanctuary, my one quiet and private place in my day. I did some thinking about being a Mommy and how much I love it. I did some thinking about how I have changed since being a Mommy... physically. And I have decided that these are my badges of honor. If I didn't have them, it would mean I wouldn't have my kiddos and I wouldn't me a Mommy. So I will look at these things with pride. Here are my badges of honor...

1. My hips are wider than they were 6 years ago. Giving birth to three babies will do this.
2. My chest is much larger than I ever thought it could be. It only means that I provided and am providing the best nutrition and food for my children while they are so little.
3. My tummy is not toned... far from it and it has a faded road map of stretch marks sprawling across it. My muscles have been separated and stretched beyond measure three times.
4. I have circles under my eyes from lack of sleep. I don't hesitate EVEN FOR A MOMENT to get up during the night to care for my children.
5. I have some wrinkles... mostly from laughing with my children... and worrying about their health and safety.

These badges of honor sometime worry me. I get caught up in thinking I need to change them, and some of them may change when I get more time to work out and my 4 month old starts sleeping through the entire night. But I will now look at these things and be thankful because I have my three wonderful children and a fabulous husband who don't care about my hips, tummy, wrinkles or tired eyes. And without my children I would be a different person, and I wouldn't change who I am now for anything!