title: The Mother Letters: Sharing the Laughter, Joy, Struggles, and Hope
author: Amber C. Haines
description: <b>We are all in this together.<br /></b><br />Mothering isn't easy. Some days you second-guess every decision. Some nights you fall into bed in a haze of exhaustion. Yet even if you feel alone in the struggle, there are mothers who have been there--right where you are now--and they want you to know you are not alone. That's where <i>The Mother Letters</i> comes in.<br /><br /><i>The Mother Letters</i> began as a gift of encouragement. After Amber Haines had given birth to three boys in three years, her husband Seth realized the day-to-day details and drama of child rearing were overwhelming her. He secretly began collecting letters from other mothers across the world and gave these "mother letters" to her as a gift. <br /><br />Amber and Seth have compiled these wise, honest, and sometimes hilarious letters into a beautiful book of hope and encouragement for moms everywhere. Their desire is that these words speak to you as they did to Amber, and that you hear "Me too. We can do this."<br /><br /><br /><b>Amber C. Haines</b>, author of <i>Wild in the Hollow</i>, is a soulful writer and blogger at TheRunaMuck.com and a regular contributor to DaySpring's (in)courage. She loves the church and finds community among the broken.<br /><b><br />Seth Haines</b>, author of <i>Coming Clean</i>, writes at SethHaines.com and is a regular contributor to various publications.<br /><br />Together, Seth and Amber make their home in the Arkansas Ozarks with their four boys.
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  DARKEST
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MERCY
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Melissa Marr
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  To Anne Hoppe,
  
  
  
  
  
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  for loving Donia even more than I do,  
  
  
  for faery wings and temp tattoos,
  
  
  
  
  
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  for putting the “good parts” at the end of the letter,
  
  
  
  
  
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  for arguing and for not arguing,  
  
  
  
  
  
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  and for skipping your tea one Saturday morning  
  
  
  to fall for these characters
  
  
  
  
  
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  Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  [Cover](../Text/Section0046.html#filepos511369)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Title Page](../Text/Darkest_Mercy_split_000.html#filepos56)
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Prologue
  
  
  
  
  