"...recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."
Yesterday we sat in Gospel Doctrine class and an older gentlemen next to Patrick asked if he could hold our baby. He asked what her name was and we told him. He then replied, "Do you know what Maylie means?" He paused, "Beautiful." We smiled and chuckled, thinking he was merely giving a compliment-joke. He quickly added, "No, really. In Chinese 'Mei li' is the word for beautiful."
I felt all warm inside, wondering if this could really be true.
So today I did a little research and this is what I found.
"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."
"Open your eyes now
it’s time to see
if you can reach me
open your eyes now
it’s time to leave me
open your eyes now
it’s time to see
if you still believe in me
open your life now
I’ll try to be all that you need me to be she’ll be a star now
I will follow her lead" ~Andrew Belle, Open Your Eyes
I've been spending the days gazing endlessly into your deep, blue eyes and caressing your dark hair turned auburn. I reflect often on the story of when you came to us on that dark, cold night...how you left me and came to me all at the same time...how you opened your perfect little eyes for the first time, those eyes that glow with the light of Christ. And I saw in you what I've always known I'd see--a star, brilliant and captivating, leading those around you to think of Him...to return to Him.
I haven't taken nearly enough pictures to capture the essence of you, but I have held you and tried to breathe you in, soak in your precious newborn self before it's gone forever. But still I live in constant fear that with each passing minute you'll grow up before my eyes. The words from a song swirl through my head, feeding the nostalgia and perhaps, the motivation to enjoy...
"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
"Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple..." ~Taylor Swift, Never Grow Up
It's still dark outside as I write this in the still of the morn. Today's a new, glorious day to love you, to nurture you, to be your mother. And I rejoice that you're mine. Long before you were born or even conceived, I dedicated this song to you. Because somehow I knew you, who you would be, and how you'd be mine. Truly Maylie, you have turned this Winter into Spring...even your name signifies this as "May" means "Spring." Each line of this song embodies how I feel. It's as if this song were written just for you. And I still can't believe that you're mine.
I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not in a dream
That's how it seems
I close my eyes and breathe in the sweetest moments I've ever known
It feels like home
And here I am I want to be your everything
There you are
Turning winter into spring
And everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're a standing ovation
After years of waiting for a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
I fall apart
Just a word from you somehow seems to fix
Whatever's wrong
Oh, you reach into the weakest moments
And remind me that I'm strong
You've got to know
I'd be a fool not to see you, or even worse
To forget that you're more than I deserve
Cause everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're a standing ovation
After years of waiting for a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
Nothing makes sense when you're not here
As if my whole world disappears
Without you what's the point of it
Cause everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're the dream that I've been chasing after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
It was simple and the boys didn't even stay up until midnight, but the memories were still joyful.
We spent the afternoon with Jacee, Chad, Holland, Eliza, Nelson, and Madeline, but I failed to snap any pictures. Later that evening, we played many of our new board games from Christmas, ate snacks, and watched our home videos from the past year. {Seeing as I only video-taped on two occasions, I determined to do better this year.}
Then we started a new tradition of video-taping the boys answering lots of questions. We hope to continue this every year and see how their answers change over time.
Welcome 2012!
May you be a year of beautiful moments and memories.
