I discovered a little nest on the side porch a few weeks ago.
I climbed on the porch railing and cautiously peeked in
to find four little blue eggs snuggled in the cozy nest.
It looked so Hyggie in there that I wanted to climb in.
Throughout the following days, I watched mama bird fly back and forth
while she prepared, cultivated, and nurtured her little posterity.
Today I, again, very carefully stuck my head in the nest to see
that the four babies had hatched.
Their eyes were still closed, with fluffy awkward fuzz
covering their little bodies.
What a symbolic Mother's Day surprise.
Nesting is one of my favorite things about Motherhood.
It's planning, preparing, growing, nurturing, loving, and teaching.
I have loved being a mother, and I'm serious about it; it's not a part-time job or experience for me; it's my job and my
purpose here on this earth.
The mama bird who built her nest on my porch-
exclusively created for that batch of eggs, and
with hair from our cattle- intertwined different materials to make the
best, most insulated spot for her babies
to stay warm, dry, and safe from predators.
She means business.
I mean business too.
I have learned that one of the best things I can do as a mother for my
children is to show love and respect for my husband and
their father, Christian. And he does the same for me.
Christian has always helped me shine as a mother.
He's always provided and supported me in building my nest.
Some nests have been better than others, but my chickies
have always been warm, dry, safe, and loved.
And most importantly, in every nest we've had,
I've tried my best to make it a place for my Nies
to feel the love that the Savior has for them
so when it's time for them to fly away (Claire, Jane, Ollie)
that knowledge will help them keep those
wings flapping toward progress, purpose, and joy,
and pointed to Christ.
I love these words from Sister Neill F. Marriott:
"Mothers literally make room in their bodies to nurture an
unborn baby—and hopefully, a place in their hearts
as they raise them—but nurturing is not limited to bearing children.
Eve was called a "mother" before she had children.
I believe that "to mother" means "to give life."
Think of the many ways you give life. It could mean giving emotional
life to the hopeless or spiritual life to the doubter.
With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can create an emotionally
healing place for the discriminated against, the rejected, and the stranger.
In these tender yet powerful ways, we build the kingdom of God.
Sisters, all of us came to earth with these life-giving,
nurturing, maternal gifts because that is God's plan."
