Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there! You have the hardest and most important job in my opinion. You love unconditionally. You make sacrifices every day that go unnoticed. You think you are failing from time to time. You question your decisions. That’s what makes you a good mom. You question everything to make sure they have everything they need to succeed in life. Remember that no one can replace the love you have for your child. You are doing an amazing job, and today is to celebrate you!

This holiday, though, can be brutal. Nothing like a national holiday to slap you across the face and remind you of what you don’t have. Many women can no longer pick up the phone and call their mom. I am extremely grateful that Marcus and I get to spend today with our beautiful mothers. Some women held their child in their arms at one point and now only hold memories, a tragedy I hope to never experience. Other women long to hold their own child instead of the pain  of not being able to conceive. This holiday should also remember all these women and their strength as they go through the impossible.

Last year on this day, I sat in church with my family and cried through the entire service. We had just found out that it would be six months to a year before we would even know if our efforts were successful and if we would be able to conceive naturally. We recently found out that we will not, but we are in a much better place now.

Someone asked me the other day, “Do you think you’ll be a mom by next Mother’s Day?” I truly believe I already am a mom. We are just working a little harder to bring home our baby.

So today I am celebrating every woman, mother or not. Whether this is a big celebration or just another reminder of the pain you carry, I admire you all for your strength and sacrifices.