Self-giving love. Sacrifice. Dying to oneself continuously. This is what our mother’s do for us every day of the year for our entire lives. Through marriage, two become one. Through a bond, a fusion, a love so strong, that married couple gives entirely of themselves and nine months later they have a gift from God. Motherhood was designed by God to produce love, to show love, to share love.

My momma has given selflessly to five children for most of her adult life. Now that her children have children (all except me;-) she gives selflessly to her children and her grandchildren. That is true love. Love starts with giving and it’s in that giving that we end up receiving.

I imagine that being a mom is often a thankless, tiring, even frustrating job at times. I imagine that days, weeks, and months go by that my mother and other mothers around the world feel under appreciated.

Today, I want my momma to know that what she has done and continues to do on a daily basis is not unnoticed. I want my momma to know that I love her more than she can fathom. I want my momma to know that I am so proud of her as a mother and so proud to be her daughter.

I can hardly post this message without saying the same for my grandmothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, aunts, god-mother, cousins, and friends who are all mothers or have had the desire to be a mother. I love you and am grateful for your beautiful hearts.

Today I also honor my god-daughters (Allyson Lisa Schmidt, Chloe Elizabeth Speck and Alexis Genevieve Stammen). It is through the beautiful God-given sacrament of Baptism that I get to stand by your side in your journey of life as your Godmother. I’m humbled and honored.

For ALL the mommas out there, Happy Mother’s Day to you – today and every day!