I dreamed of making my writing public all the way back to 2003. But my writing remained private until I launched this blog in July 2012. If you were to peek at old journals and writings of mine between 2003 and 2012, you’d see lots of dreaming, lots of free writing, lots of brainstorming about a whole host of topics I believed would resonate with others.

Among those writings was this gem from March 11, 2007.

Special Moms

I found it nestled in a journal entry titled “Brainstorm of Topics for Books on Mothering.” Yes, back in 2007, one of the books I dreamed of writing was about special moms, moms who had unique journeys to and through motherhood. You see, between 2003 and 2010, I had a long-standing dream of becoming an author of real, relevant and raw books on mothering. That dream has since morphed. I no longer see myself as a “mom blogger,” but I’m not afraid to blog about motherhood. I no longer see myself as a “mom author,” but I’m pretty sure there’s still a book about motherhood in me.

I haven’t written a mothering book yet. Heck, I haven’t written ANY book yet. But the heart of that Special Moms vision is alive and well.

In 2013, I made the Special Moms dream come alive with a month-long guest post series titled Special Mamas. In 2014, I intended to run the series again, but time got away from me, so I wrote Motherhood Unraveled instead. This year, I resurrected Special Mamas as the annual guest post series I originally intended it to be, and went ALL IN!

When I extended an open invitation for posts, I set a lofty goal of 12 mamas. To my great surprise and delight, 13 mamas indicated interest.

So here we are!

During the month of May, I’ll be hosting 13 Special Mamas on the blog.

13 Special Mamas will write guest posts.

13 Special Mamas will share their unique stories to and through motherhood.

13 Special Mamas will reveal their hopes and dreams for motherhood.

13 Special Mamas will get vulnerable.

13 Special Mamas will expose bits of themselves that are raw and real.

13 Special Mamas will talk about miscarriage, infertility, foster parenting, adoption, special needs, significant health issues, blended families, widowhood, divorce and custody, postpartum depression, single parenting, losing a mama at a young age, and parenting abroad, far away from family and friends.

13 Special Mamas will uncover beauty found in least expected places.

13 Special Mamas will proclaim the hope they’ve found, the love they’ve shared.

13 Special Mamas will share the newfound perspectives they’ve discovered along the way.

13 Special Mamas will impart wisdom.

13 Special Mamas will be brave.

Friends, you are going to LOVE these mamas. I’ve found great joy and admiration reading their stories, and I know you will, too.

Motherhood is beautiful. Motherhood is life-changing. Motherhood is important. And motherhood is a calling. But motherhood is real. Motherhood is hard. Motherhood tests us. Motherhood takes us on journeys we never imagined in our wildest dreams. And motherhood brings with it all kinds of special situations and circumstances. When we whole-heartedly embrace our unique journey to and through motherhood, beauty emerges, hope emerges. Motherhood produces fruit in us like nothing else can.

Let’s be real. Let’s be raw. Let’s be beautiful. Let’s learn. Together. Because the truth is, we’re all Special Mamas.

Tell God Your Plans by Melissa

My Life in a Week by Cindy

Could Every New Special Needs Mother Use a Little Lionel Richie? by Lita

Not by Blood, but Through Compassion by Amanda

What is in a Name? by Susan

The Hidden Special Mama by Jackie

Finding the Mama I Thought I Lost by Jessica

My Choice by Paula

Adventures in Uncertainty by Lissa

Motherhood is Not for Wimps by Emily

For His Glory and Our Gain by Gloria

Trusting in Life by Mariah

Broken But Still Fighting by Kathleen

This post serves as the landing page for Special Mamas 2015. ALL 13 guest posts in the series are listed and linked at the end of this post. I put the Special Mamas graphic in the right sidebar of my blog’s home page. Anytime you want to read a post from the series, go to the blog at amybethpederson.com, click on the Special Mamas graphic, and it will bring you to this post. We’ll be writing a little book here throughout the month! Come. Enjoy. Be filled with beauty, hope and truth about motherhood.