To all moms...and moms to be

I got this in an e-mail today and thought I would share...it really puts the importance of motherhood and the respect we should have for mothers in perspective...hope you enjoy! I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way One of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be Taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping The floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see Me at all. I'm invisible. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you Tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock To ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is The Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes That studied history and the mind that graduated summ *** laude - but now They had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going . she's going .... she's gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a Friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and She was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, Looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to Compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; It was the only thing I could find that was clean.. My unwashed hair was Pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut Butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a Beautifully wrapped package, and said, ' I brought you this.' It was a book On the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it To me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of What you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover What would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could Pattern my work: * No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their Names. * These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see Finished. * They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.. * The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the Cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird On the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you Spending s o much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by The roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost As if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you Make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've Done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me To notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't See right now what it will become.' At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease That is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own Self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's Bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the Morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three Hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a Shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And Then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna Love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing It right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not Only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the World by the sacrifices of invisible women. Author unknown

WOW.....very very well said....I want to be that.....TOTALLY....and I can honestly and with a lot of pride say my mom is that person....she is sincerely the most caring and giving people I know.....a true model for me!!!! Thanks for sharing that W

Wanette, This moved me to tears...for all the times I felt unappreciated....this little story has made me feel SO appreciated. This story really encompassed my feelings of motherhood and what as mom's we hope to accomplish. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I plan to pass this on to many of my own family and friends. Mel

hey pretty lady!!!! i miss you!!! and LOVE YOUR Pic.....you are so stunning!!!! your son is pretty darn lucky.....you are a great mommy!!!! btw, how is he doing and tell your hubby i said hi!!!! can you believe we have all almost been married 5 months????? holy crap

Hi Annie Things have been hectic at our house but I hope they will begin to settle down now. D's semester is over and he starts class at his new school next Wednesday. Jay & I both started back to school (he's going full time, me just part time) so that's been an adjustment and we've taken on some additional financial obligations having to purchase a new car last month, therapy for D, and some bills from Christmas. But we're hanging in there. I can't believe it's been almost 5 mos for us....we still haven't sent the photographer our selections for our photo album. I'm so bad! Thanks for the kind words on the pic...it's one from our wedding that I cropped.