Happy Mother’s Day to all you mom’s out there!
(Reagan & Lissy, by Reagan Scobey)
Those of you who know me well, know that Bart and I are waiting patiently for God to bless us with children. I used to have a difficult time discussing this, actually I used to not want to discuss it at all. But I know that this is part of our story. And I believe that there is a reason we have stories… to share them, to inspire and encourage others. I once thought that I needed to have a biological child to really experience motherhood. But over the years, I have learned that you don’t have to be a biological mother or father to really be a parent.
Though we are blessed with two of the most wonderful nieces we could 
have ever asked for. I am SO extremely thankful that God has allowed Bart and I to have a close relationship with them, and I am always amazed at what God has taught me through these two girls. I especially am blessed by watching the relationship my sister has with them. To see the love between mothers and daughters, the way they laugh together, play together, cry together… it makes my heart break sometimes because I know that is just a fraction of the kind of love The Father has for us!
I went by my sisters the other day after Reagan got home from school. It was so beautiful outside, she wanted to go play with their sidewalk chalk. I had so much fun that afternoon, getting back to the basics of what art is all about. When we ask Reagan what she wants to do when she grows up, she say she wants to be an artist like her Aunt Lissy (at least for now).
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Donna Lynn 05.11.08 at 1:09 pm
Hi!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the nice comments on my CS photo thingy! I will be adding you to my prayer list, so soon you will be celebrating Mothers Day with your own precious children!
Bless you today with your family!
Donna Lynn
Jen R 05.11.08 at 1:35 pm
Melissa, thanks so much for stopping by with the wonderful mother’s day wishes! I hope you have a beautiful day, your nieces are the cutest and very artistic just like thier aunt!
Jen R
kari & kijsa 05.11.08 at 6:07 pm
What a beautiful post! Touching, and well written!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
cc 05.11.08 at 9:22 pm
I agree, Melissa, your post really touched my heart. Your two sweet nieces are very blessed to have such an active and loving aunt in their lives.
We never know what type of cross we will be asked to bear but you are a wonderful inspiration on how we need to allow God to help us carry the burden that we are given.
Thank you for giving of yourself and sharing your story.
Blessings and hugs,
CC
Heather 05.11.08 at 9:43 pm
Well, for those of you who don’t know my sister personally, let me tell you what a BLESSING she is to me and my girls. God could not have given my girls a better aunt and me a better sister. Somedays when she just stops by on her way home from a long day at work to see the girls she doesn’t know how much that means to them. And it gives me a few minutes with another grown-up. And many days I fell those few minutes were the relief I needed to make it until my husband gets home. If you have girls you know the drama I experience on a daily basis. And Melissa loves to hear the stories her neices have pulled on me that day. Reagan and Lyla truly look up to you, Lissy, and thank you for being such an active part of their lives. When the day comes God blesses you with a child, you will make an awesome mother. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
We love you,
The Scobey Girls
Emily 05.12.08 at 2:19 am
Thank you for your sweet post Melissa. I admire your humility and courage. You are blessed to have each other. :)
Rhoda 05.12.08 at 9:08 am
Melissa, I don’t have children of my own either and my life is still enriched nonetheless. Not that I didn’t want children, it just didn’t work out timing wise and then I got too old. :) I have one niece who is grown now, your 2 are adorable, so enjoy watching them grow up. It happens fast! And I hope that God will bless you with children of your own.
xo,
Rhoda
Sandy 05.12.08 at 9:31 am
Hi Melissa, my Aunt never had children and I know how much she loved her nieces. I loved this post - as I really felt your heart. Beautiful!
Beverly 05.12.08 at 10:15 am
Melissa, I left you a message yesterday, but evidently it didn’t post. First, I wanted to thank you for visiting my blog, and please come visit often.
But most importantly, I wanted to say that I believe that the qualitites we think of when we think of mothering, are the same qualities that I am certain you possess. While living God’s plan for your life, it is so evident that you are using those qualities to have a positive impact on the lives of your nieces. You are as much a blessing to them as they are to you.
My best friend just started to blog. Please go visit and leave her at comment at http://backyardneighbor.typepad.com/
this is glamorous 05.12.08 at 12:49 pm
Your neices sound adorable, and what a fun, wonderful aunt you must make :)
patricia 05.12.08 at 1:21 pm
My children have an Auntie like you and I feel so totally blessed!
You are getting great training for your day in the sun!
Design for Mankind 05.12.08 at 2:20 pm
Awww, Melissa. This is such an inspiring testament to what a great aunt you must be. I pray that God will bless you and Bart with one of your own, as its clear you have a definitive heart for children! :)
You will be blessed!!!!!
Melissa Lewis 05.12.08 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for getting me all chocked up Heather;)
Rhoda, they do grow up too fast. I tease the littlest one all the time that I want to stop growing so I will always be able to hold her. Unfortunately, she can’t wait to be a “big girl.”
Thank you all so much for your so kind and very encouraging words. I know that I am richly, richly blessed!
bandelle 05.12.08 at 5:12 pm
What beautiful words, Melissa. It’s really touching to hear your strong love for your nieces.
Angie 05.12.08 at 6:21 pm
Melissa, you and that sister of yours have both made me cry! (and laugh a little too! Thinking about you guys fighting as sisters often do when we were about 10 &12 yrs old!) Reagan and Lyla are sooo lucky to have you. The impact you will have on their lives will be huge and irreplacable. I know Heather is proud! Love, Angie
Kristine 05.12.08 at 8:03 pm
Melissa,
You are a wonderful person with such a beautiful spirit. I hope upon hope that your prayers are answered. You would make a wonderful mommy.
K
Virginia 05.12.08 at 8:42 pm
Dear Melissa,
Your story touches us and brings us to tears and more importantly helps others! What a woman of God - to open your heart for all to see. Thank you. Love in Him! Va.
melissa @ the inspired room 05.13.08 at 12:22 am
Aw, what a touching post!
Bless you, girl, for bearing your heart!
xo
Melissa Lewis 05.13.08 at 9:26 pm
Angie, So good to hear from you! Yes, I am sure you have many, MANY stories. Shhhhh, it’s all our secret:)
Thank you so much to all of you offering your prayers. I believe in the power of prayer and I know Bart and I appreciate all that we get!
Melissa Lewis 05.13.08 at 9:31 pm
K, You are the best, really! I just can’t wait to see what God does with all of this!
Amateur Tightwad 05.13.08 at 9:59 pm
Melissa: I found your blog through Hooked on Houses and just spent some time here. I love it. I especially loved your open and touching Mother’s Day post; I was an aunt for a lot of years before I was a mom, and I took that role very seriously. It was so lovely being close with my sister’s kids, and it seems like you’re blessed with the same beautiful relationships. Best to you. –Cindy
Hooked on Houses 05.14.08 at 9:13 pm
I’m going to answer the question you posed in the post title and say, Yes!
I’ve been on both sides of that coin–I have a special aunt in my life who never had children of her own, and I ended up with a closer relationship with my own nieces and nephews because I thought I’d never be a mother myself. It turned out that the naysaying doctors were wrong and I am now the mother of two, but I still feel like a “second mom” to my nieces and nephews. The relationship that an aunt has is different, but it can be amazing in its own way. I think children really benefit from having other family members committed and involved in their lives. That’s my two cents on the matter, anyway.
I thought this was a beautiful post, Melissa. -Julia :-)
all things bright and beautiful 05.15.08 at 11:30 pm
Dear Melissa - a belated Happy mother -to-be day- in- Gods-timing:-) a hug and thank you or your honesty and openness
all things bright and beautiful 05.15.08 at 11:31 pm
And you know what - you sound liek a fabulous aunt - i wish my children could adopt you as their auntie too :-)
Melissa Lewis 05.19.08 at 8:33 pm
Felicity, you are too sweet:)
Jen 05.27.08 at 10:10 pm
Oh, I’m such a bad blogger friend! I totally just read this, don’t know how I missed it :( You are sooo right about being an Aunt vs. a mom. I’ve always wanted to be a mommy and just haven’t found that right guy yet! But, in the mean time, I’ve got a fabulous sister and an adorable niece and nephew whom I dote on endlessly. I think I would have been pretty lonely over the past six years if it wasn’t for them. They fill my life with such joy and laughter and I don’t know what I’d ever do without them! I’m sooo glad that God has blessed me with them and feel so lucky every day that they have been a part of my life!
You and your sister both made me cry!! And it’s like you and your sister and me and my sister are quadruplets separated at birth!! She and I seem to have the same type of relationship the two of you have…it’s uncanny!
I know God will bless you with children when the time is right, you just have to trust in him. My mom always reminds me of this verse when I’m feeling discouraged or need to remember to be patient when it comes to wanting to be married and have kids (my mommy’s pretty smart!): “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27: 13-14.