As we wrap up this week of honoring women…I have just a couple more emails to share with you!

This letter came from my precious friend Hannah who is one of the sweetest little girls on the face of the earth.  It completely made my day…but I wasn’t planning to post it (just treasure it for myself).  BUT, Hannah’s mom insisted that I share it…so share it I will…  :)

My name is Hannah, and I am almost ten years old. I would like to tell you about a mom I know named Miss Laura. She’s someone I can go to because I feel safe with her. She’s really nice. She is my mama’s really good friend. I am a lot like her when she was young. I’m glad I have Miss Laura.

I can’t read it without choking up.  I love that girl. 

Thank you, Hannah, for always being such an encouragement to me and for just being such a delight.

Next, we’ve got a little “right back atcha” letter going on!  If you recall on Monday, we surprised Charlene with a letter from her mother-in-law, Faye. 

Well, Faye…here’s one from Charlene that we’ve been waiting to surprise YOU with!!

I want to share with you a little about my mother-in-law, Faye.  I’ve mentioned her several times on my various blogs, and I just need to say it all again.  She has been a true God-send to me since I moved to Las Vegas almost four years ago. 
 
When Allan and I married, he moved out of his parent’s home for the first time, and I know it was a dramatic change and adjustment for everyone.  His parents took it all in stride, and practically from day one, Faye has been available to help me with the kids (well, it was just one kiddo at first – I just kept increasing the workload by having more babies!), with business, and with friendship. 
 
She became instant Granma to Samuel from day one, with no hesitation whatsoever on her part, and for that I’ll always be thankful.   Through two difficult pregnancies, she was available to stay with the kids so Allan could go with me to all my appointments, and she was also to come over to help me get through the days when I just wasn’t well enough to mother on my own.  (And she still does this!) Our children adore her and their faces light up when she walks through the door. 
 
Besides all the wonderful ways she helps me now, I’m also thankful for her, simply because she is my husband’s mother. Allan has so many fun and happy memories of his childhood, and I love to listen to him talk about the special things she would do for him when he was a little guy.  Her favorite line as a grandmother is that she isn’t spoiling our children, but simply “accommodating” them.  Well, she’s very good at accommodating them in special ways, and I know from Allan’s stories she did the same for him and his sister growing up. 
 
I told Allan recently that I never could have hoped to have as good a relationship with my in-laws as I have with my own parents.  I am so blessed to have TWO moms who love me, and I thank God every day for that!

For all of you who sent me links and stories and letters, be watching your email for information about the promised gifts!

Thanks again to Kristy at Homemakers Cottage…and to Char at DigiScrapChat for their generous gift donations!

And, thank you so much, everyone, for sharing these wonderful women with all of us!  It’s been a wonderful week of celebrating women!!

Here’s a great piece from Lenetta, who has one sweet baby girl (who is trying to learn to walk!).  Lenetta wrote this for…and about her mom.

Sometimes all you can do is love and pray.  There frequently isn’t anything you can physically DO to alleviate the physical or emotional pain of someone you care about, but you can pray and you can love and you can walk with the one you love on their journey, for as long as they need you.  And you can trail quietly behind when they think they don’t need you, just in case.
 
The birth of a child is meant to be a joyous occasion, and my daughter’s birth was, even though it didn’t happen at all like the natural birth that I’d planned.  I ended up emotionally and physically drained, and to compound matters, I had quite a bit of anxiety about becoming a mother.  Sure, I’d done my share of babysitting, but it was mostly older children.  I’d changed my nieces’ diapers on occasion, but I’d never really been responsible for anything the way I was for this new being that God had entrusted to me.
 
Between my mother and my husband, I had around the clock help for nearly two weeks after my daughter’s birth.  The hormone changes were like nothing I had ever experienced, and I found myself unable to sleep or nap even though I desperately needed it.  My daughter had a spell most nights where she would fuss for about four hours.  One particularly bad night, I knocked on my mom’s bedroom door at 3 AM, and handed her the baby.  Of course, the little turkey went right to dreamland for Grandma.
 
My daughter has never been a particularly easy baby, and I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the phone with my mom, crying and wondering rhetorically how I can make things better.  The truth is that there really isn’t much I can do beyond what I have done – feed her, keep her clean, safe, and warm.  But most importantly, just as my mother has done for me over the past year, I can love her and I can pray.  And I do.
 
Mom, thanks for walking with me as I’ve learned this lesson.  While I hope my daughter has an easier time with her babies, I’m prepared to walk the same journey with her many years from now, praying and loving all the way.

I am SO enjoying everything you all are writing about the special women in your lives! 

If you haven’t already (or even if you already have!)…be sure to read these great posts about women that people have written about on their own blogs!

~ Read what Char wrote about her sister-in-law Sarah.

~Check out this AMAZING story written by Kristy at Homemaker’s Cottage about her friend Katy.

~And while you’re over at Kristy’s….READ THIS!!  She just delivered a baby TUESDAY (yesterday) at her home….and he’s beautiful!

~Here’s what Donna wrote about here “Spiritual Mother”.

~Read this touching poem written by Teresa.

~Here’s a tribute from Ariane to her mother.

Thanks everyone for sharing!  There will be more to share tomorrow!  And, I’m still up for others in any of the rest of you have anything to share!

WooHoo for Women!!