Babies lost before their face is ever seen, babies lost within their first breathes but loved an entire lifetime in that one breath. Children who have the unimaginable happen to them. Children who live in the face of death every day.

And yet every time I think about the unimaginable happening, I always have one wish and only one. That if I can not save them, rescue them, that I at least want them to know the full force with which they were truly and deeply loved.

This week while looking for photo references for my art, I ran across these photos on this blog. This blog has heart breaking pictures of what has happened to the children of Gaza. This mother spoke to me. The look on her face showed the depth the reach of how her love encompased her child, her strength, her warmth, her motherhood. Her boy who reminded me so much of my own first-born with his deeper than chocolate eyes.  She actually has the courage to work her face into the warm comforting face the boy so desperatly needs. Despite her inner pain and anguish she attends to her child first, knowing that these might be the very last few minutes she has to feel his warmth in her arms before it slips away. The image would not leave my head… it was aching to come out my fingers in its own translation.

So to mothers, our job is great, our Heartache often deep, but our love is bigger….

Next week hopefully something more upbeat sticks in my brain.

( Also the images on the website are of an Iranian woman and child, but the author used them to drive their point, which I guess also works in my favor also…)

Tomato Tortellini Soup

Hot Corn Dip

Source: ourbestbites.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Coconut Banana Bread With Lime Glaze

Spicy Carrot and Lentil Soup ( Leftovers Freeze Great!)

Source: vview.co.za via Hannah on Pinterest

Zuchinni Muffins ( I think they are a bit more like Quiche but whatever they are they were amazing! We actually used them as breakfast food.)

Martha’s Spicey Pumpkin Seed Recipe

What (Besides leftover Halloween Candy) are you eating?

Lately I am learning the grace of being a mother, when to say no, when to let things go. Knowing what best for our family on the whole, not for individuals and not sacrificing our family for others. I am also learning how important it is that I feel confidant of myself as an individual, how I have to take care of myself, after all two little beings rely completely on me. You read it all the time, you think you know it, you think you are doing it but it seems you keep learning that grace. The grace with which to go, its okay my kids look a mess but happy. The grace to let them wait 5 minutes for breakfast so you can finish getting yourself ready for the day. The grace with which to accept unsolicited advice with a smile and nod, biting the insides of your cheeks all the while thinking, just wait one day your kid will only want to play the bad guy, than you tell me that there is something wrong with my child. Grace… bring it on… Whats making you grow with grace lately??