Words from Kelly's Korner:

"There are women who become mothers without effort, 
without thought,
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.


I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.



I have longed and waited.


I have cried and prayed.


I have endured and planned over and over again.



Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.



I will notice everything about my child.

I will take time to watch my child sleep,
explore,
and discover.


I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.


I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. 


My dream will be crying for me.



I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.



Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.


I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body.

I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.



I have prevailed.


I have succeeded.

I have won.


So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort.

I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.


I listen.


And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.



I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.


I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.



Yes, I will be a wonderful mother."