To Mom or Not To Mom...THAT is the Question!

Lots of reflecting this weekend as the hubby & I slaved in the yard/garden all Saturday (and Daisy spent the day with her Dad & his family). 11 years & 13 months ago I was faced with the decision, to mom or not to mom. I AM SOOOOO GLAD I CHOSE TO BE A MOM! She brings such light into my life. No matter the challenges, she is always my breath of fresh air! For being 17 at the time, I made an extremely wise decision to put myself aside and accept my role as Daisy's mother.

Some, or many, of you may be aware that Mr. LKP was out of town fighting through the barrage of medical appointments necessary for his Med-Board process (to determine under what circumstances he will be detached from the Army) and I had to quickly reverse back into single-mom mentality. Don't get me wrong, I can DO single-mom. In fact, at various points in my life (all the time BEFORE Seth, Annual National Guard Training each summer, His deployment, 1-2 weeks at a time of Seth on the Wyoming Oilfields for 1 1/2 years, etc.), I've felt that I MASTERED single-momdom! Funny thing about the whole scenario last week was the timing, as I fell ill the second night he was away. So, I was less adept at the only-parent thing this go-round. I love being a mom, but am finding it more difficult as time passes to carry both torches. Daisy isn't a difficult child, and I love being her mom MORE THAN ANYTHING. But I needed to take this opportunity to thank the extra moms who helped us this week as we plugged along, including Jan, and Debi...and MY mom who drove up from Pendleton just to spend a few hours with Daisy until I returned from Othello & Seth got home from Ft. Lewis. You are all phenomenal women who I respect and appreciate more than you will ever know. Reflecting back on the single-mom episodes I realize I never really ever was alone. Heavenly Father knows that many hands make light work, and that I wouldn't be successful without all to be gained from the examples & compassion of other mothers in my life. So, this thank you is extended to ALL MOTHERS who have impacted my life & subsequently the lives of my family. It truly DOES take a village to raise a child (that was true in raising me, and doubly true in raising my family)! Many thanks to each of you, and know how much I love you all!