Little Duckies in a Row--Simple Gratitudes

During the middle of THE TRIAL of my life, aka Viviana's pregnancy and the after-math, I was on bedrest for 3 months with five children who needed a functioning mother. Thank heavens for a very capable husband, caring friends, and a loving mother willing to move mountains just to help! With the events of May 9 and post-birth with a 1 lb. 12 oz. micro-preemie I was traveling RT 62 miles to the hospital daily (for 100 days). At first I had to call on friends to drive me when Curt could not because I was not able to drive with my c-section.

On one of these days, my dear friend, Malisa, had just picked me up...I think it was when Viviana was 6 days old. We started out and along the way we had to stop the car for some unsuspecting pedestrians to cross. It was a family of ducks walking across the street...with mother at the head and her 11 little babies following closely behind. For some odd reason it was an awe-inspiring moment--I'm sure Malisa just thought I was nuts. It brought me to reality and at that very moment I was so grateful for Heavenly Father's creation and something so simple as a family of ducks amidst a crazy busy world and life we create for ourselves.

It was a WOW moment for me that we've been given this amazing responsibility to care for our little ones and that they need us in so many ways. For just that moment I was able to leave my crazy life behind to appreciate and awe over this beautiful sight. I'd like to think the little family of duckies was there just for me to see that day and to ponder over at that very moment in time. I even whipped out my camera to shoot some pictures. I'm thankful for sights so simple as a family of duckies in a row as to me they now represent the creation and our responsibilities to one another as well as how very special the calling of 'mother' is. Little did I know that 45 minutes later I would have the privilege of holding our precious 1 lb. 12 oz. miracle for the very first time. Every one of our children needed my attention and somehow, with my amazing husband, we were able to fulfill the vast needs of 6 little ones during this crazy time. I thought I'd lose my mind sometimes. How grateful I am that we were granted a miracle. I think one day I will adopt a family of ducks to live in our yard just to remind me of the sacred yet simple things in life.