To My Fellow Moms!

Mother's Day has fallen on the heels of an emotional week.  I'm not sure if it was last week, or the sermon I heard today, or just some alone time with Him that has made me focus on all the wonderful women in my life that support me, love me, laugh with me, and cry with with me.

Everyday I am overwhelmingly thankful for my boys.  On the significant days and the insignificant days I'm so blessed that God picked ME to be their mom!  I'm thankful for my awesome husband who helps me to raise them to be the awesome kids they are.

But today, I'm also thankful for my fellow-moms out there!

• My fellow Jesus-Lovin' Moms who help me stay on track, remind me of scripture, pray for me and my family and serve as great role models for my kids.
• My fellow Sport Moms who sit in the cold, the rain, the wind (hopefully, eventually, the heat) and cheer with me!  Thank you for getting excited with me when my kids do something well and for letting me cheer along with you for your kids.
• My fellow Safety First Moms for keeping their kids in booster seats (so mine aren't the only ones!) and for making sure that mine are safe in their cars! 
•  My fellow Homework Moms who can talk through 3rd grade math with me and allow me to see that I'm not the only one who isn't clear on how you add to subtract.
• My fellow Pinterest Moms who pin a lot of FANTASTIC dinner and activity ideas.
• My fellow Crafty Moms who give me tips and ideas on how to make my house a home.
• My fellow Moms with All Boys who understand the toilet stench and the fear of future daughter-in-laws.
• My fellow Caregiver Moms who discuss all the kid ailments that come along and give tips and tricks.

So thank you to all my fellow Moms!  You make this day special... so special that there should be a Mother's Day Part II - Celebrating Friends Who Make Us Great Moms!  I encourage you all to celebrate this new holiday!  No pictures of the family today... just a little Pinspiration that sums up the above!

An Independence Test

I've realized lately that my kids are capable of a lot more than I ask of them.  They are my babies so it's hard for me to wrap my arms around the fact that they are indeed becoming independent.  At least I'm realizing this now, right!?!?  I saw this post on Pinterest about Training Children to be Independent.  When I read it I actually laughed out loud and read through the list of things that Tyler "should" be able to do at age nine.  Oh how I would adore help in some of these areas that both boys "should" capable.  So....... this weekend I decided to test the list.... but I decided to start with one that Tyler would thing was fun! 

I now present - Tyler's first cake!  (Not made from scratch but not just a simple box recipe either.)  Here's the recipe for "Better Than Anything Oreo Cake."

NO Shells!!

 

Ta-DA!!

So Proud

The final touch - gotta make sure everyone knows who the chef was.

 

 

Give Thanks Board

Yesterday was November 1.  How did that happen???  Where did 2012 go?????  I realized it WAS November 1 when all my FB friends started posting what they were thankful for.  AND then I realized it was time to pull out my "Give Thanks" board! 

So about my Give Thanks board....

1. I got the idea last year from Pinterest, of course.  (Here's a link Jellybean Junkyard where I found a GREAT tutorial.)  Instead of using a piece of wood, I used a big ol' canvas from Michaels - gotta love 40% off at Michaels!!
2. I started making this much too close to November 1 last year so by the time I completed it, it was December 1.  :(
3. I'm squeal-out-loud-excited to use it this year!!

Last night I ran downstairs to our storage closet and pulled it out, printed up some 2012 tags, and tried to hang it up on the door.  Struggling with the hanging it up part but I'll get that figured out.



And here's a sample of our 2012 cards.  I'll keep you posted on what we are all thankful for. 



Day 1 (if you can't read it) - Jordynne's 16th Birthday (Traci), Helping with Backpack Buddies (Kevin), God (AJ), Friends (Tyler).  (I need to figure out how to focus with my iphone's camera!!)

Before and After

Before

After

 



After-After

Thoughtful PinSpiration

I'm inspired every day when I scroll through Pinterest.  (Yes, I am on Pinterest Every Day and I'm not ashamed of that! Keep reading...)  The crafts.  The meals.  The desserts.  The clothes.  BUT ALSO, the quotes.  So let the creation of "Thoughtful PinSpiration" be born!

This one was pretty timely.

It has always bothered me the reactions to every one's "busy" schedules.  We do indeed GLORIFY it.  We are so proud of what we can accomplish in an hour, in a day, in a week etc.  The part that bothers me the most about the topic of "busy" is that we all become judgemental about it.  We are in awe of those who accomplish so much in their busy lives and we look down on those who don't keep as busy as we believe they should.

So what qualifies as busy?  Working at a job?  Cleaning a house?  Changing diapers? Volunteering?

Does sitting out on my deck enjoying the beautiful weather count as busy?  Surfing Pinterest?  How about doing crafts with my seven year old?  Does catching up with my friends count?  How about laying on the couch with my hubby watching TV?  Do those give me "busy" credit. I would bet not.

I'd rather be doing more of the latter.  The thing is, we all have 24-hours in each day. I'm not a math genius but 24 hour = 24 hours ... regardless of how you spend them.  I've been a full-time working mom and I've been a part-time working mom.  I'm here to tell you, they are both hard and they are both "busy." 

Life can keep us all busy but I'm going to focus on not being so busy.  I'm going to say, "no" more.  I'm not going to thrive on being busy anymore.  Life is passing by SO quickly!!  If I don't slow down, I will miss it.  Didn't Ferris Bueller teach me that?!?!?

So I am going to enjoy this amazing fall weather....even as it gets colder.
And I'm going to surf Pinterest so that AJ and I can do a Halloween craft tomorrow.
And I'm going to be to call/text/email my friends and family.
And Kevin and I are going to lay on the couch and watch random TV when the boys are tucked in.
And most importantly, I'm not going to apologize or feel bad about it.  I'm proud of that.

And when I struggle.... I'll pray.... because that's what I'm advised to do...

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28