Keep Calm-o-matic Poster Generator

This website is fun, create your own "KEEP CALM" poster spoof. I say this too much, I think I need to put the poster in my kitchen and just point to it!

Ok one more for the moms

Ok another good one for all the moms! Watched it tonight while looking for FHE helps and just had to share!

For all the mothers

I've told you of my admiration for Hannah Keeley before, she's so awesome!  You've got to sneak over there real quick and read her "5 Lies of Motherhood."  I won't do it justice if  I try to summarize it, but it's not long and I think every mom should read it!  It's so easy to buy into those lies, I think sometimes we all believe at least one or another on some level.  I know that for me, being a mom is it for me right now- this is what I am meant to be doing, and not out earning a paycheck.  I also know that being here at home, with my children, doesn't mean there are not plentiful opportunities for fun, joy, fulfillment or creativity so I am working to find them!  A favorite quote of mine from who knows where, is "Every woman is an artist, and her home is her canvas"  And to me, it's not just about home decorating, it's about creating a beautiful life inside your home.  We discussed this at church yesterday and I found out a woman in Relief Society with me is building a sail boat!  I think that's so awesome and inspiring!  Finally, I'm sure you've seen this but I can watch it over and over again and it's on topic so watch it again!

These are the GOOD times

Somehow, Miss E and Miss G cannot resist the urge to "improve" our home with their artistic talents. There are few surfaces in my home that have not been "decorated" by their hands at some point. I get so sick of telling them "we only color on paper" as I try and get them to erase their drawings, and often even with my help we can't get it all off. They've colored walls, furniture, beds, blankets and even carpet. The other night, just as I was closing my eyes for the family prayer, I paused on these pen marks on my dresser. They were made weeks ago with an ink pen, and carved into the surface and I don't think they're coming off. I first felt a twinge of anger and frustration seeing them again, but when the prayer started, I had the thought that someday, seeing those marks would make me happy. If something were to ever happen to my Miss G, or just years in the future when she was more grown up, I would look at those pen marks and smile. I thought about that again during conference today when someone (sorry, I can't remember who) spoke about enjoying right now in our lives. There was some quote about how if we fill our days with dreams of the future, we leave behind lots of empty yesterdays. (something like that, I will find it when they are typed online and post the link- it was good!) Anyways, I know it is true. I hear it all the time from parents whose children are grown, they actually MISS this stage I'm in! And even now, when I look at those pen marks on my dresser I do smile. These are the good times, and I appreciate the reminders that I need to be doing more to make them good.
And thanks to Kyle & Ashley who let us visit them this weekend, and Kyle who suggested I go get the camera today and take the picture of Sam and the kids- it's a good one.

"I could never marry you!"

When I was in high school I remember being at a friends house and we were making pizza's. I spilled a little cheese on the floor and continued making my pizza when I looked up to see one of the guys looking at me shocked- "aren't you going to clean up that cheese you dropped?" he asked, I was a little surprised, and I said "well, I'm probably going to spill something else so I'll just clean it all up when we're done." He kept that same shocked (maybe a little disgusted too) look on his face and said, "I could never marry you- 'why should I vacuum today, it's just going to get dirty tomorrow!'" I laughed and picked up my spilled cheese, but I was pretty mad about it. He didn't know anything, what a jerk to say something like that! But I have come to realize, he was pretty right about me! I totally feel like that now- why sweep the floor after lunch when I know in a few hours it will be covered with dinner! Why do I bother shining the bathroom sink and cleaning the mirror when someone is going to go wash their rocks in the sink and get muddy water all over the counter and mirror before I even get to enjoy it being clean? My days are an endless cycle of re-doing the things I just did! My kids make messes faster than I can pick them up and sometimes it just seems really pointless. (Can you tell it's been one of those days???) I know that every mother has to deal with this, and I am quite sure there are even some that can do it cheerfully and just whistle while they work but I'm not there yet.
Ok, now the reason I'm sharing all this, I got my Monday Morning Motivator e-mail from Hannah Keeley and I swear, every week it's like she's been spying on me and her messages are directed to me! They are always uplifting and encouraging and sometimes pretty funny too. Here's the part that struck me today:
"[Life's] a process, not a product. There's no joy in letting things remain static. The image is just an illusion. Groceries were not meant to line shelves. Floor were not meant to stay clean. Life is messy, and if you're not getting messy, then you're not really living." then "In every action and in every reaction, we are creating something huge, something great that will last beyond our own lives. The activities that we do as moms, day in and day out, are meant to be impermanent. But what they are building will last forever. "
Well, that sums it up! I highly recommend joining her MMM list, I only get one e-mail a week from her and it's always awesome. Click HERE to sign up! Thanks for making it through this long post!

Up too late...

Went to my favorite Scrapbook Store class last night- Love Notes and made this adorable card set. The one on the right is a little portfolio- made from a diecut- and it holds all the cards inside. I stayed up way too late last night when I got home making some more- I'll show show some of those later. This card was my favorite- 3 library pockets stuck together that hold tags that spell out M O M on the bottom.
Next item of business, the beauty of nature! Sam found this nest fallen from our tree- isn't it great? I don't know what to do with it, but it's too beautiful to throw away.
And from that sweet little girl I got this cute note.

If you don't read Kindergartener it says: "Mom, I want to cuddle with you." How wonderful to be a mother!