Mother's Day re-cap - Let's Share Families

This is Bubba. Bubby. William, if you want to get technical about it. He's a miracle. A gift. He came to us almost three years ago - a huge surprise to my brother and his wife. He came early. He had challenges to face. And look at him! He's been pricked and prodded and pushed and he's good with that. No complaints here! (Unless, of course, you think you're going to skip a meal!) This little guy is all boy - he didn't just sit at my table eating his cheerios - he climbed on the table. More than once. Grabbed everything he could get his hands on and then hurled it through the air. (He's a future little league star and is serious about his practice!) He loves seven layer salad - or any salad. He ate his cheeseburger. And his macaroni and cheese. He called the dog in sign language. And his mama verbally. He read a picture book with his mom, naming animals and birds in sign language as he saw them. And he helped his daddy sing itsy bitsy spider. He's a Michigan fan. And a runner. He adores his sisters. And life. This boy is my joy.

This is Claire Claire. Or Julia - depending on her mood. She's a princess. Just ask her. She's going to be four this summer, but that four is only a number understood by us plebians. Claire Claire is an ancient spirit. She has her own perspective and knows that she is here to educate the rest of us. She takes her responsibilities very seriously. And takes her needs that way, too. She doesn't wait around for anyone else to meet them. She just makes sure that things happen. "Aunt Tara, does that thing get Noggin?" she asked, pointing at the TV on my hutch after climbing up on my bed because she decided that she wanted to sleep at my house. Claire loves beautiful things. (As a matter of fact, beautiful is one of her favorite words.) She insists on wearing dresses and is going to get big so that she can try on my wedding gown. We had a talk about potatoes, too. Claire doesn't like them. At all. What about french fries, I asked. "Yes, I like them." Well, Claire, I so knowingly imparted, french fries come from potatoes. "No, Aunt Tara," came the most serious reply. "They come from McDonald's."

This is Emma. This wasn't taken on Mother's Day, however, because Miss Emma was upstairs playing with American Girl dolls, immersed in a highly technical world of her own. (Her hair's a little shorter now.) She's the big sister. The sweet young lady. And the whiz kid all rolled into one. I love listening to her talk and learn something pretty much every time she opens her mouth. She's sensitive and smart and pays attention to everything. Mostly her little brother and sister. She loves her parents more than just about anything - and not just because they're there. She KNOWS her parents and loves them for who they are. Miss Em made a book for her mother for mother's day. She didn't pull any punches - with full mention of stinky things - and things that her mother loves. The book ended with a note about the fact that no matter how much trouble she gets in, she always knows her mom loves her.

I have three other girls, too. A daughter (who wrote a similar mother's day tribute to me years ago which we all read on Sunday) and two step daughters, all three of whom have the power to fill my heart to the brim just by being present. All three of them are unique and priceless and of an age to probably not want their pictures plastered on my blog!

Not only is this man the star of my family - he was the star of my mother's day. My husband, my best friend. From the minute I opened my eyes on Sunday until the time I went to sleep he was the embodiment of every hero of every book I've ever read or written. He gave me gifts that surpass this lifetime. Real gifts that filled the holes in my heart. Gifts I will never have to leave behind. Gifts I will never forget. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you! (And him.)This is my mom. For the first time in more than twenty years she had her two living children with her on Mother's Day. She is a remarkable woman, a strong woman. She is my example and my friend. Through all the years of my life, ups and downs and in betweens, she has remained steadfast - sometimes there, sometimes waiting, but always loving her family. First. Foremost. I want to be like her when I grow up - but I won't ever grow up so much that I don't need her.

And then there's my new neice - new to me this year - my brother and sister-in-law, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law and Lee Ann and Courtney and Bob and Aunt Phyl and cousins and...

This is some of them. Gathered together this past summer.

If I've learned nothing else, I've learned that beyond any money or material things, beyond place or activity, family is by far the most important, meaningful part of life. In it's own way, our family here on storybroads is part of that precious entity. As is the small family of friends I've collected over the years. As my mother said on Sunday, I am a very very lucky woman.

She was right.

How about the rest of you? Families come in all shapes and sizes. Related by heart. Will you share yours with us???