celebrating mommies

Last night I was invited to a dinner celebrating the mommies in my playgroup as first time mommies. It was hosted by Colleen's mother and it was so amazing. I hope my descriptive capabilities don't fail me because I want to remember the details of this night but I forgot my camera. Honesly, forgetting my camera last night was probably one of my top 10 disappointments of 2006. Especially since none of the other girls brought their cameras either, assuming, of course, that I would have mine. Serious, I'm majorly bummed about it, still. I considered calling Brent, having him postpone Sarah's bathtime, drive over to our dinner and drop off the little booger. But I didn't. Oh well.

When we walked into Jan's home (Colleen's mom) it was so obvious that she had put a ton of thought into this night for us. There were goody bags at each place setting (with GODIVA chocolate people!), placecards with our baby's name and our name, cute mommy/baby decorations all over the table, and yummy yummy food. Of course, light was streaming through the dining room windows, a perfect photo opportunity, but I'll stop dwelling on that now. The entire dinner was themed around Mary Engelbreit. So lovely. But the best part was when Jan talked to us about the joys of mommyhood. She had such wonderful insights to share with the fledgling mommies in the group...Colleen being the most senior of us with an 8 month old. We're seriously newbies. But Jan had us laughing, crying, and, most of all, thinking about and cherishing the time with our children. Her eyes lit up when she talked about her now-grown children as babies, how she prayed dilligently for each of them, prayed for the spouses that would one day come into their lives, celebrated who they were then and who they are now. That is obviously one special lady, and I was so thrilled to be invited to her very special new mommy dinner. She wanted to celebrate our journey and entrance into motherhood but it also reminded me what a joy it is to have loving mothers in our lives. The way Jan "mothered" us last night left me feeling so loved, so cared for, and so motivated to live up to this amazing call God has placed on my life. Thank you, Jan.

And here's the lucky boy who gets Colleen as a momma and Jan as "Grandmomma"...