Che will be three weeks old on Tuesday. In addition to finally understanding my mother’s intense love for her children, I’ve learned a few other things in the past few weeks. Most of the lessons are based on the personal service and kindness that so many people have freely given to my family since Che was born.

Being Mormon, I expected my ward to bring dinners over for the first few days when we returned home from the hospital. What I didn’t expect was all the additional help friends and the women of my ward provided during that critical first week at home.

I’m used to being the one giving service, and I’ve never been very good at receiving it. However, the episiotomy I had during delivery humbled me enough accept the service of others. Friends from church came over every day for the first seven days I was home and did everything for me that I couldn’t do myself. They picked up my baby for me, washed my dishes, ran errands, and even mopped my floor! One of my dear friends even went with my husband to take Che back to the hospital for a check-up when I could not make the physical journey.

Most importantly, these women provided emotional support and helped me to accept the neccesity of recuperation so that I could more quickly take care of my baby on my own. During that first week home from the hospital, I learned how to accept the service of others.

In addition to the service so many provided in my home, I have been overwhelmed by the gifts Che has recieved. I’ve never been much of a gift giver or receiver. Something about having 22 brothers and sisters and 23 (soon to be 24) nieces and nephews makes gift-giving a bit of a financial impossiblity. Yet, friends, family, and co-workers have given Che so much!

He already has more clothes than I do. (Fortunately, his are smaller and thus take up less space.) He has also been given adorable stuffed animals and toys. Many have already contributed to the purchase of his stroller and all the unexpected supplies needed due to Che’s refusal to nurse (just like his father).

Che is to young to be overwhelmed by the gifts he has received, so I am overwhelmed for him. I am also filled with gratitude for all the people who have shown so much kindness to our family and shared so much joy in Che’s arrival to this world.

My husbands family is in Croatia, and most of my family is out west. But, the many friends who have surrounded and supported us during the past few weeks have more than made up for physical distance from family. You have treated us like family in our time of need, proving to me once again that we are all brothers and sisters in God’s family.

Thanks to all of you.