Farm Gal Style

I have lived my whole life in the suburbs. Here it is cities really. But I have always loved growing things, imagining life in the country. It is still a dream I have but not sure it will happen. Life ties you to places doesn't it?

But on my small urban lot, I live how I like. I am different than many and I am fine with that. I play in the dirt daily, clean and care for the chickens and our other animals. It gives me a touch of the life I want.

I am sort of an old school mom and wife and wear my apron everyday at some point. But I am opinionated and a fierce defender of a woman's right to choose her path. 

I gather eggs daily and check the garden for fresh produce. I am sure my neighbors wonder what the heck I am doing out bent over in the garden all the time. "What is that lady looking for?"

While others head to the gym or mall, I am strapping on the gardening gloves and that is if I can find them where I set them down the last time. I have tried being more of a girly girl but it is more torture than anything else so now I am old enough that I have given that up. I am happy doing what I want. Though I could probably stand some gym time and some new clothes.

Good food I managed to mostly grow is my jewelry. Dressing up plates of  fresh veggies.

Of course after dinner and the pile of dishes that faces me makes me wonder why I cook so much. I have to do something with all the zucchini I grow. Oh, gotta go, I hear the chickens raisin a fuss, wanting to be let out for the day.

Secret to Happiness, Look Within

 

A step away from food and home keeping to a little rambling on more personal things.

First off, I will say I in no way know the real secret to happiness for the population at large, but I do know the secret for myself. That is what I am sharing but if it in any way it helps someone then I will be happy I shared.

As one gets older we hope that we can say we are happy. In my late forties, I know exactly what makes me happy these days. This was not always the case. When I was younger I often would ask myself, "When will I be happy?"

The problem I had with how I looked at happiness when I was younger, was that I thought it was something I had to go out and GET! Something I had to go do or buy or see. What I have realized is the key to happiness is to look within.

1. Look at family, happiness is within your family. I could not find happiness if I was running around and not taking care of things at home. When my family is taken care of and the house is in order and the chaos corralled then I am at my happiest. This does not mean the kids or even my hubby are responsible for my mood, though they can affect if for sure, but that for me, knowing my own home is in order, means a peace of mind.

2. Look within your house. Yep, happiness is right in my four walls. If I was looking at what others had or what they were doing to their houses that I could never do to mine, I could easily get a sense of envy or dissatisfaction. The more I just stopped looking at others and instead kept my eyes on my own home, the happier I became. I spent more time fixing what I could around here and accepting the things I could not change and letting go. At some point we have to say this is good, good enough for me. I am thankful for what I have and do not need more.

This is not to say I don't want to fix things up but we can all see homes on TV, in magazines and online and think our homes are not good enough. Let that all go. I never ever heard my mother say she wished she had something. I am sadly not able to say that. But I can strive to be content with what I have. I will never have a home with bedrooms for everyone or the latest gadgets but I don't care about those things any longer.

Want to know my most favorite things in life? Being able to go to the grocery store and fill my cart and coming home and stocking the fridge and pantry. My husband laughs at me but this truly is one of the highlights of my week. A basic need to feed my family and know we have plenty. I do love that feeling. If you can imagine the stress of not being able to meet that basic need for your family, then the ability to do it is something that gives me joy. Crazy I know. But there it is.

3. Look within yourself. Boy, that is a loaded statement I know, but it is so true for myself. We are all different and we cannot look to others to make us happy. I know that is easy to say because of course the folks we live with can very much affect our happiness but it boils down to this...doing things that make me healthy mentally and physically and giving myself some time on the schedule, goes a long way to help me with my level of contentment.

Also, looking to my own self to make changes I need to make. Stop my negative thoughts, controlling my outspoken tongue, have all helped me to find more peace as I age. I have rambled on but it is true that as you age, you learn what really makes you happy and what you need to let go. Actually keeping focus on fewer, more important areas of life have helped me to feel a higher level of contentment.

I am a simple woman, with a simple life and I love it that way. I am happy. The when is now. 

Feminism...Um Not!

Sometimes you just have to write what you feel. Yesterday, my older girls and I had a wonderful, as in my kids are smarter than I ever was, kind of discussion over feminism. None of us, we decided firmly, want that label for all the causes we feel it does not take up. We feel very strongly that some things are worth fighting for and sadly feminism has left women in the lurch and flailing for their place in today's world.

We decided we are for women's rights:
The right to walk to your car without fear.
The right to not have your head smacked by an abusive boyfriend in an elevator and somehow he does not land in jail.
The right to have women held high in society and not put in their half naked underwear and sold all over the media as your only means to promote yourself.
The right to not be viewed as sexual objects in every facet of society except when you breastfeed in public and then you are in the wrong.
The right to work or stay home and not be bashed by other women for your choice.

Frankly, why more men aren't up in arms over what is happening to women in society stumps me. Every man had a mother and possibly sisters, daughters, a wife. But you know until we women as a group demand respect for ourselves, society will not give it.

If you disagree with me, I am sorry but this is my blog and my thoughts and we have to start standing up for the rights women really deserve.

Getting Your Homeschooled (and non-homeschooled) Kids Ready for College and Life

** I am transferring over a few posts from my homeschooling blog and combining them into one as this is really home for me so I will do all future homeschool topics here on sunnysimplelife.com.

I am going to share some of my many years of teaching homeschool and let you know how we prepared our homeschooled kids for college and life. Of course this is a lengthy topic so I will break this up into parts.

First off, I have four kids but two are older and college age,  one has graduated and is a RN. She had her degree at 21, and was the youngest to ever be admitted to the program. She was 18 by a few days. She was able to be admitted so young because she started junior college in 11th grade and completed all the prerequisite classes quickly. She never took a summer or winter term off. That was her choice, not mine. She knew what she wanted and wanted to get it done. Her sister is 20 and a mechanical engineering major. She is still in college.

At 21, our oldest  had a full time job making a nice living. But let me back up a bit and start at the beginning. My other daughter is still in college and works part time. She is a mathematics/engineering major and was just given a grant for science and mathematics to continue her schooling. We are thrilled and feel lucky to have kids who are motivated and independent and have their heads on straight. But kids becoming independent and motivated to do well does not happen in a vacuum. You as a parent must do your part. And then some just may depend on the kiddo but this is our story and I will share.

First thing to teach your kids in homeschooling and life: HOW TO WORK!!

So let's start at the beginning. In life when you are are homeschooling, you are around your kids a lot and they are home all day most days. To keep your sanity and to most importantly teach your kids about life and how to function in this world, they need to work. At a young age, about three, my kids were given chores. Simple things like bringing small trash cans to be dumped or setting the table but regular, everyday jobs you must do because you are a part of the family and you have to help.

No allowance was ever given for regular household chores. You did these because you lived here and you need to contribute. Extra money earning jobs were given that the older kids could do to get paid for their own spending choices. These could be lawn mowing, washing cars, harder jobs around the house etc.

This establishes a work ethic in children very young. They had to learn to do the jobs without complaining either. I would warn them but if complaining continued, they would be given extra chores. This may sound tough but honestly you enforce this once, you won't have to say it again. My youngest, who is six, is learning this fact right now. After four kids I am more patient about teaching this so I tell her, "this ain't my first rodeo kid!"

The same goes for doing school work. Seems like around first grade when school work became serious and we had to complete larger amounts of it, some of our kids would complain about things. Frequent reminders that a good attitude is needed and breaks when little ones are getting squirmy help to make things easier on mom and student. So first thing to teach kids is how to work hard without complaining. None of us are perfect but life is hard and learning to do a good job because that is what you need to do is so important. Many parents today are not instilling good work ethics in their kids.

Next time I will talk about what subjects you HAVE to cover in homeschooling in preparation for college and life. The list may surprise you.

Sharing with: Strangers and Pilgrims

What's Your Christmas Philosophy?

I am going to admit something to you.... I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Yep!! Big as they come. I like presents under the tree with my name on them.

I love Christmas movies.

I love Christmas music.

I can hardly sleep on the night before Christmas Eve and forget Christmas Eve, I just want morning to come.

I buy my kids way too much stuff. I like a lot under the tree. Most of it is small things like books and movies or socks, but they are spoiled by me at Christmas.

It is my love language to myself. The joy on Christmas morning that I feel while hubby and I sip cups of hot coffee just enjoying ourselves while our dog rolls around in the wrapping paper is the best thing ever.

I want Christmas morning to go on forever.

Every family is different but for me, this is how I love to do it. I have no restraint. 

I wrap every single stocking stuffer to make that last longer.

That is about 50 items just for the stockings.

I'm nuts!!
(But I'm done wrapping this year Yay!)

I like my home to be one of those Hallmark movies. Lights on and music playing and Christmas jammies at night as we all, hubby and I included, climb into our Christmas flannel sheet adorned beds. Perfection of course is never met and dogs bark and girls fight over clothes and cat hair is always on my clothes but heck I can try. Just totally savoring the season makes all the other stresses just a little easier to take.

I cry at church when they have us sing Christmas music for worship. Moves me.

I have 14 pairs of Christmas socks and need more!!

I love climbing into bed with my hubby on Christmas Eve when we have got all the last preparations done for morning and laid out the stockings and snuggling and telling him he is the best. 

Christmas is magical and my heart just swells as the days draw closer.

You cannot convince me otherwise.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Shared with:
Cozy Little House

Follow Up on My Previous Post

I want to thank all of you for all the sweet and kind comments on my previous post on the lady who passed alone while my daughter attended to her as her hospice nurse. I did not write it to brag on my girl so I hope you did not think that but more because I was so deeply moved by how it affected me that evening and the impact her job has had on me in the last couple of months.

I can see it has changed my daughter. She seems so much more mature by what she has been experiencing. I think it has softened her some too. These are things I think are positive. She loves the job and for now has no plans to leave despite long hours and high stress at times. Her father and I and her sisters support her as much as we can. Allow her to destress and emote even though it often affects me deeply but that is okay. It has given me more than ever an appreciation for life. I feel more content. I don't know if this is the reason but I know it plays a part somehow.

My daughter told me yesterday that the lady's husband and son had preceded her in death. I suppose there was no one else. I come from such a tight family and large extended family that I guess I could not get my head around on how there was no one else for her. In some ways my dear girl has seen more than I have. She says mom there just are so many scenarios. I admit I am a complete softie, cry more than most probably. Just a sensitive kind of gal. I learned a long time ago not to apologize for that. It is how I was made.

It appears I am rambling but mostly I wanted to let you all know I have read each and every comment and have been touched by your stories. When we complain of a great many things in our country one thing it has done right is Hospice care. The experience I had with my parents was nothing short of wonderful and I let them know that at the time. Thank you again. 

Dear Lady You Did Not Die Alone

Many of you know, cause I have mentioned before, that my oldest has become a hospice nurse. She is doing a job that I knew would be emotionally draining for her. I worry about this. She is young and that is a lot to deal with on a regular daily basis. But what I did not anticipate, was how much her job would impact me and my husband and even my other older kids.

My girl had to work on Thanksgiving and managed to eat with us but was called out to death that evening. I just kept feeling these pangs of how we were celebrating a lovely holiday and that poor family was saying goodbye to a loved one. Well, yesterday we had a nice gathering for my husband's birthday. Friends and family all here and a delicious dinner with cake and presents. The usual things. But I have to say, my daughter working for hospice is teaching me the real value of life, the everyday, the wealth and blessings around me.

This year I have been really enjoying all the holiday preparations like I never had before. After everyone abandoned me while decorating the tree the other day, I had a realization of myself just smiling and singing along to the carols on the radio. I just felt so happy to have Christmas here and not the twinge of panic or exhaustion I might have in previous years. So much to do and get done. Who cares.  Just a sense that I was truly happy and enjoying all the busyness of the season.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year but this year I have felt so much joy. I did not put two and two together until last night. My dear girl could not make it to her daddy's birthday because she was on call and had a very stressful day of call outs and in the evening a text came that she would not make it. She had to attend an active death. Her and I always send texts back and forth when she is out. Just occasional ones to encourage her and to make sure she is okay. I'm her mom, I worry right?

Last night a woman was dying at a facility so I received texts updating me when she had time while waiting.
"She's struggling to breathe now." "It's so sad mom." How does your heart just not burst for your girl for that woman, for that family? I share on and off with our guests here for the birthday. This grounds you. I mean we were so enjoying each other's company. How precious this all is. Life, family, friends.

Well, after we went to bed I was awoken by my dear girl letting me know at 12:45 am she was home safe. Thank God. I can sleep soundly now. But then a stream of texts, "Mom it was so sad." "She died alone." No one was there. No one called. "Mom, I cried for her." I asked if she was alone with her? "No, the owner of the board and care was there too." That's it.

I know she needs to vent, to release a little after these kind of events. But that was it for me. I just wept. I wept for my daughter having such a hard job. Wondering how this will affect her. I wept just cause I am a crier and I was sad thinking of my folks and how we all were around them as they passed and how thankful I am for my family and loved ones. But mostly I wept for this poor lady. After an entire life how does one have no one to be there, no one to call when leave this earth? It just isn't right. Too many answers I know to that question.

I have no idea why God has lead my daughter in the direction she has gone. Words cannot express how proud but how amazing her dad and I think she is. I truly would not be able to do that job. I would be a wreck but we wonder how she is so strong. But I will simply take from this time in her life a bigger, deeper realization of the sweetness of life. I will savor this Christmas I think like no other. And dear lady who passed away last night, I do not even know your name but you did not die alone, my girl was there for you and she wept for you and I have wept for you. God speed.

Why I Love Camping So Much

Yes, it is work, yes it can be a little dirty with little ones, yes we come home tired but a good tired but I really cannot imagine not camping with the family. I am hear to tell you why you should camp with your kids.

Now I have done it in all ways, but having a trailer is awesome. Though if I did not have one I would still do it in a tent

Here we are all set up on the first day. Hubby and I have a system. We arrive and he dials it in outside and I get the inside all set up. Takes about 20 minutes.

Here are the reasons I love camping so much:

Your kids spend more time together. Here I was pulling these two around in the big wagon.

You get to meet some really great camping neighbors. These horses would come by each day to the fence on the other side of our campsite. I sat for hours this trip just watching these beauties and the amazing view.

You feel free to act like a goofball around the campfire. A few nights on our trip all the folks in town came out to our campsite for the fire. We made smores of all kinds. We use Hersheys, white chocolate and my favorite Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

We spent days here. I live in an urban area and don't like crowds so I love to vacation in nature. I would take a national park over a city vacation any day. Just how I am. Kids do not have as much freedom outdoors as we did but I feel camping gives them a chance to be outdoors and use their imaginations. We only ventured into town for the grocery store one day. We ate simply in camp each day.

No T.V. You really unplug when camping. We had no idea what was going on in the world and that was good. It is very healthy to get away from it all these days. My kids read, colored, played games. Just a slower more relaxing pace of life. I never want to come home.

One of my all time favorite things is getting to spend whole days with this guy. He works so much that when we are camping, it is so wonderful to just sit around the campsite outdoors talking and spending time together.

We camped on the Central Coast at San Simeon Creek State Park.

Cookbook Journaling

I started writing to my kids in my cookbooks way back in the 90s. You can see my note on the left. I call this cookbook journaling. I started really writing notes to myself so I could remember tweaks to recipe or whether we liked or hated something I had made. Then I started gearing the notes to the girls knowing someday they would inherit my cookbooks when I am gone.

My books are full of pictures they drew me that day when the book is open or little flowers maybe they brought me while I was cooking. If you go through my most used books you will see little notes to them and treasures my little loves gave me while cooking.

I love to use my mother's recipe cards in her beautiful cursive handwriting. Making a meal she fed me as a child and how that keeps me feeling her touch. I think this is my way to pass on all the meals and kitchen love I have shared over the years.

I hear some women say how they never cook. I just don't understand that. If you are like that, don't be mad at me but it is just foreign to me. There is nothing like being a kid and walking into the house and your mom is making something delicious and nurturing in the kitchen. It is one of life's most wonderful feelings. A gift you give your family everyday. 

Distracted

When you are distracted you go out after your shower and run errands all the while forgetting you never put make up on. That has never happened to me before. What is happening? I don't wear much make up but ladies I wear some. You know why I am so distracted? Because I needed to make a dozen calls, set appointments, straighten out a few things and file some paper work and submit claims for 2012.

I needed to just really cross things off my list. So I did. The sun never came out today so no garden to pull me out there like it had the three days prior. I stayed inside and turned my V-Day tree on and have left it on all day. I know you have seen it before but I love it.  Little shoes beneath and a book waiting to be picked up. Tomorrow.

Today I needed to get on it. AND I did. Made those calls, filed the claims, made appointments. Just a couple more things tomorrow and I will be done. I cannot tell you how much better I feel now than I did this morning. When I have much to take care of that I am putting off, I feel such a weight on me.

The ability to mark a line through my to do list makes me feel like a new person. Seriously. I am tackling it all this week come hell or high water. I even dropped our taxes off on Monday.

My girls had friends coming after school. I made brownies. Big glasses of milk and a couple of brownies is what coming home should be.

My hard working man will not be home for dinner for the third night in a row. I hate this. We always eat together but when the power goes out or some squirrel chews through a cable, he has to fix it and pronto. I want to have him by me sharing the bench in the kitchen. Aw heck, why cook a big meal? So I made tuna mac for dinner.

And So a New Year Begins

It was a wonderful day to start the New Year. We gathered with family and friends to celebrate one of my girl's birthday. Just before our guests arrived when the house is set and waiting.

I was going to buy some flowers but decided to use beauty from the yard. Gathered warm hued candles and ripe oranges from the garden. Why not think of unusual but no less lovely items to grace our tables.

It has been a year of changes for us. Some very good, some I resisted but have learned to adapt to and thrive. It has been a year of some good changes personally and I think as a woman ages there is a freedom you gain. Time has lent us enough wisdom to know what we really want out of life. There are things I will never waste any time or energy on ever again. You are older and know what your focus is and what brings you the most peace and happiness. None of us knows what lies ahead and what the coming year will bring but I am so thankful to have my life really centered on what is best for the family and for myself. Here I am. What you see is what you get as they say. Thank you so much for another year of friendship and support. You all find a way to confirm what I am thinking and feeling. A group of women drawn together by a love of home.

Last Night

Last night my husband had to go back into work. It was the coldest night so far this season. I always pray extra hard that drivers will watch for the guys out working at night. I know he will need his cold weather gear. So while I made a thermos of coffee and a lunch for him, life hummed that beautiful normal hum of life.

The piano music just played preparing for an upcoming competition.

As I finished the dishes from a delicious dinner of calzones and lay the gloves to dry, I could hear my daughter splashing in the tub. Her class had red noses when I came to pick them up. The teacher painted them all and they became a room of Rudolph's. She wore it all day and hated to wash it off.

The sparkly wreaths on the window I know are hung for my pleasure. I just love to have the glow shining in the glass at night. I have purposely continued to keep all news off in our house, shutting out the world. Kids and their parents get enough of the real world when we are out but at home, I want our house to be refuge. They keep reminding me only nine days, only eight days. What a wonderful time of year. I am savoring all the little things.

A plate of cookies and milk brought to my daughter studying for finals. "Mom you don't have to." I know I don't but I want to. Rather sad looking cookies. Not sure why my one cookie sheet makes funny cookies.

My husband asks am I done shopping yet. Almost, I tell him and he assures me it is over soon and I say, "Shoosh!!!!" Even though I may be a bit spread thin, I want to enjoy and savor it. You never know what the future holds so hold on tight to the now.

Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers

Life is So Very Busy and Driving to See Lights

I don't think I had any idea how busy having kids in three schools would be. When I homeschooled the older three girls, and worked 2 to 3 days a week, I thought I was a busy gal and I was. But the amount of driving with kids at multiple schools and volunteer duties have me busier than I have ever been. When we were a homeschooling family I would start school early in August so I could take the entire month of December off. I would be done shopping by now and gifts steadily being wrapped, and the entire week before Christmas would be for baking.
Turn to this year and school runs right up to a few days before Christmas. I am loving the fun parties they are participating in and the build up to finals, knowing a break is coming. Now though, I find I am only about half done with shopping, have not wrapped a single gift and feel a bit pressed for time here. I don't like changes to my schedule but have tried to embrace this new phase in our lives. I may disappear from the blog if time keeps me busy because enjoying the holiday build up is my favorite time of year. Thankfully my dear husband is off for eleven days and will help with the wrapping. We wrap in our trailer out in the back of the yard. Turn on music and steal away to hang out and wrap gifts together. It has been my Santa's workshop for years. I am saying to myself, enjoy every day, it will all get done. The bigger girls will help me with the house thank goodness.

Tonight we all piled in the car in our jammies and sweats and went to see some lights. I had bought a box of Sees candy suckers (the best) and we all grabbed one for dessert on the road. The lights were lovely, Q was    
enthralled. The teenagers, well here is what was coming from the back of the van.

"Who farted?"
"Those lights hurt my eyes."
"Shutup"
"This Christmas music is lame."
"Quiet you are ruining my time."

And from me...
"Pretty sad when the four year old is the best behaved."

And from dad...
"You all are bunch of complainers!!"

Oh the joys!!! Fa la la la la la la...

Around My Feet

There is a lump in my throat as I write this post. Not sure why. I am a very sentimental gal as I am sure you have noticed. I am some what excited though. Here's the deal. For all of my married life, practically, I have had kids and little ones around my feet because we homeschooled and I was pregnant a year after we were married. It is something I have become accustomed to and it is like a drug. I am an enabler you know. You want to cook with me, sure, I will hide that I might be annoyed but let's cook sort of thing. Over the years I have become so used to someone always here in the house. I can count on one hand the times I have been alone in the house. Not kidding. Not complaining either as I don't think I like to be alone. Never a big fan. Maybe that will change. But these kids have all been with me through it all. Once you have it, you always want it. BUT in two weeks for two half days a week, I will be ALONE!

Q is starting preschool. With big sisters all gone during the day now she is so bored and just loves to be around other kids. She is so excited. We are good friends with her teacher so mom is happy.

What will I do? House work of course, hang out with the chickens and blog I am sure, but who will I talk to? Will the silence be deafening. I think I may cry the first day. I just love having my chicks around me and times are changing. Before you judge me and think I am crazy, I have raised all my girls to be independent. Go after what they want to do. Take chances. All the while knowing this day would come. Can you imagine if Q had not come along? I think I would be a real mess. She keeps twirly dancing, funny sayings and the sound of little feet running around the house. You just never know when God will give you the best blessings.

Soon though these will be the only four little girls around my feet. And I mean they are around my feet literally. Whenever I go out back, if they are loose, they follow me so closely that I have even stepped on their poor feet. From little girls to little chickens. Life is funny. Go with it!

Linking to:
Mystic Chicken

Our Simple Summer Days

We have had a typical summer for us. No trips to the beach, not much running around and lots of time at home. I am a homebody and I just cannot change that. I did not even take the kids to the beach this summer.
I just think, oh a whole day gone and traffic to and from and I just don't feel like going. I prefer days at home with small trips here and there. We have gone to the movies twice and for trips for ice cream and the library and trips to the popular feed store to pet all the babies, but really we stayed home. My older girls run around with their friends and head to the beach on their own. We spend three days camping at the beach each fall when the weather is the best and I consider that three solid days of beach going.

Instead we swing while dragging our feet in the pool. We swim at grandma's house and hang out in the yard.

I just don't feel like it is my job to entertain the kids everyday. My mom did not do that for me. Go entertain yourself. And they really do. Kids left to their own devices with time on their hands will fill it with something they like to do. My girls are all readers, love games, cards and play video games and spend lots of time outside especially when they are young.

I may not be the most exciting mom but I think my girls have all had good summers mostly at home. I strongly believe in down time. I have to have it so they have been forced to have it too. They seem to be thriving and all like their quiet time so perhaps it's not so bad after all. I think at 45 I am not going to change. My summers will always remain simple.

Why are chickens in this post? I don't know. I guess cause I like them.

Happy Mother's Day Wishes and Some New Finds

Went shopping yesterday with Shelly (who dearly needs a blog) and Patty of Lemon Lane Cottage. We went to a few antique shops and the Goodwill. Such fun with these gals. Shelly pointed out a thermos to add to my growing collection. It is the red one in the middle.

 Adding to my Pyrex collection. I have just started collecting to add to pieces I had from my mom.

These three are new. The top with yellow flowers is not Pyrex I don't think. No markings. The bottom one is and so is the cute blue fridgie with the rooster.

So cute and I love that these are practical items to collect. I use them all the time.

Here are two of my new juice glasses bought at the Goodwill. There is a third around here somewhere.

Oh, and the sweetest is this early Mother's day gift from my girls. I had been wanting this chalkboard from Country General Store in our downtown and they remembered. I was so thrilled when I opened it.

Happy Mother's day to all of you moms out there and those who are celebrating their mom. I never miss my own sweet wonderful mom more than on Mother's day. The day is so much easier to handle these days now that almost ten years have passed but boy the first few Mother's days were torture. I felt the reminder she was gone was everywhere you went. But thankfully time has healed that wound to where the day is enjoyable again and I look forward to not cooking dinner and being as lazy or spending as much time in the garden as I want. Of course spending it with my kids is the best part. They and their father are what shapes my world and the reason I wake up every day. So thankful to be in this little family of mine. Best wishes to you all. Enjoy!! And kiss your mom for me!!!

Warmth

It is raining today. That and a whole day at home. I am beside myself with joy. What shall I do?

Chores of course. They never end but that is okay. To be able to have time to actually start a load of laundry and see it through to folding is a rare treat. Usually I've been out running someone somewhere in between washer and dryer.

I must say "wait" and "just a minute" quite often to my youngest as I am always trying to finish something up because yesterday when she wanted to head out and swing, she asked if I was done with my chores. I try not to forget that this time when all they want and care about is good old mom is short. I am constantly reminded of this as when my older girls come in, I often have to go to them to say hi. We remind them to say hello when they get home, we want to know how they are.

Yesterday my babe saw a picture of my mom and I. My mom passed away before she was born. She asked who that was and I said my mom and her grandma and she asked was she nice and I nearly lost it. Yes, she was nice. She asked would she have liked her and oh someone put a knife in my heart, YES baby girl she would have loved you beyond measure like she loved your older sisters. My birthday is next week and for some reason that is the one day I miss my mom the most. I guess there is some kind of bond between a mother and child and your birthday was the beginning of your life and she gave that to you. Sigh, I miss her.

Linking to:
BNOTP