I've been watching this mother warming her nest for weeks now. I've admired her dedication...her patience...her quiet and steadfast determination. No thing could move or distract her. No thing could deter her. Her only purpose was this.

Ten hungry mouths to feed. Ten pairs of feet to wash. Ten sets of wings that will be wanting to fly. Ten babies - all at once and at the same time.

And suddenly - I'm grateful. Grateful that my three arrived in good order and one at a time. Grateful for mothers and sisters and daughters and sons.

Grateful that they survived. Grateful that they arrived.

Grateful for my strong body that gets me here each day. Grateful for my eyes that see....and my heart that opens to it. Grateful for nature's abiility to renew and restore....to reproduce and carry itself on - one generation and then another.

Grateful for all ten - all at once and the same time.

Grateful for brave mother's everywhere.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!