I’m sure it’s probably pretty obvious that today’s Mother’s Day is the Ultimate Mother’s Day for me.

Never ever, in a million-billion years, did I ever think there would be a time in my life, especially this early-on in my motherhood, where there could be a chance that I would be celebrating Mother’s Day with either (1) being in the hospital with a child, let alone with a child that has a new-found life-threatening illness or (2) at home “celebrating” Mother’s Day with a child that has passed. We lucked out that it was not the latter, and we lucked out that we are not currently in the hospital.

I believe earlier on when we started this blog, I mentioned that sometimes life throws us a curve ball. Where life as we know it suddenly changes. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. Even though I would prefer the kind of change that is good, I must admit that I’m not sure if these past 7 1/2 weeks have been necessarily “bad” either. I know this must sound crazy but honestly, in the beginning of Amber’s journey, all of this was bad, really really bad. But given where we started, given that new perspective on life, we are emerging good, really really good. And we have a new appreciation for every day, for our family, for our community, for our faith.

Look at where we are today, on Mother’s Day. Amber is with us, alive and literally kicking (we’ve been practicing!). She was able to come home from the hospital after a major stroke and she is AMBER. Yes we have a long way to go as far as the PT/OT and upcoming cancer treatments but she’s back home, in her surroundings and in her environment, and she’s her sweet sassy self. We were able to celebrate this morning by going to Mass at our Church, all together. It was beautiful, it was wonderful, it just felt complete. We owe so much to God, Jesus, and Mary. Mary granted me this absolute, wonderful, blessing of an Ultimate Mother’s Day gift and for that I am eternally grateful.

And tonight has completed my Ultimate Mother’s Day. Tonight was the Academy of the Holy Family Holy Hour for Amber. And Amber, her alive-and-kicking-sweet-and-sassy self, got to attend! The Holy Hour was beautiful; intervals of peaceful healing music mixed with prayerful silence. Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their busy Mother’s Day schedules to share this night with Amber and with us. What a perfect day. What more could I ask for on Mother’s Day?