I’ve never been more thankful that a moment was captured. This was the moment the woman that I admire most in the world, my mom, locked eyes with my baby girl and just like that, everything she’d prepared me for in life mattered so much more.

I come to Mother’s Day with mixed emotions — so thankful for the past 19 months and the privilege of parenting Brighten, but also the memory and longing and waiting, the reality of grief and loss that led to Brighten becoming our daughter, and the anticipation of our continued journey to Judah from Haiti.

Today, I’m thankful for my mom, my grandmothers, my friends, teachers, Sunday school teachers, and women who have made an impact on my life.

To all the women who are waiting, longing, and struggling today, you’re on my mind and I’m praying for you diligently. For those who have lost their mother and this day brings pain and grief, I am so sorry and I mourn with you. For women like me who are celebrating and longing, I understand you. For those of you who have opened your homes to kiddos who do not share your DNA, thank you for standing in the gap and doing this important work — I admire you. For those of you who have made the hardest decision to allow your child to be raised by another family, thank you for giving them life — you are the bravest women in the world and I weep with over the loss you may feel today. For those of you who wear the wounds of losing a child, I cannot imagine your grief, but I pray for healing and peace for your heart today.

Amongst all of these Mother’s Day mixed emotions, most of all I want to celebrate all of us. For those we love, for those we’ve lost, for the experiences that make up our stories — as women, together let’s celebrate and love one another today.

Happy Mother’s Day, ladies.