This Side of Sunny

Mothers

Early days with my mom, the things I only remember in pictures. My mom looks exhausted and crabby, much like I feel most days. I draw strange comfort in this, knowing that my own mothering journey is similar to hers. There is the utter exhaustion and exhiliration with having a newborn. There are the combing little girl's long hair battles in the morning. My mom was real and so am I. She loved us fiercely but made sure we minded. She kept us in line but was always there on the sidelines cheering us on. She made our birthday cakes, Halloween costumes and made sure we wrote thank you cards. So even in the middle of the mundane, we share those moments where it makes it all worth it.

The newborn days...

The fun ones...

and the proud ones.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, whether here or within our hearts. May your day be filled with all the mundane and wonderful things that make up this thing called motherhood. 

 

Happy Mother's Day!

This was my morning breakfast...

Nutella and banana filled crepes with a homemade iced coffee while my iphone played Boyz II Men's A Song for Mama! Such a fun surprise, although the day before Carter had told me to sleep in because they had to wake up early and make me breakfast.

They donated money in my name to Compassion International, an organization that helps kids all over the world go to school and get health care. I'm hoping to be able to sponsor a child soon. I first found out about this organization while reading Simple Mom's blog, when they went to the Philippines last year. The picture in that post was a normal sight while driving through town (the local one, not the expat one) so I personally connected with those kids. Right now, The Nester is in Tanzania, visiting the children there.

To all the mothers out there and those with angel's wings, have a blessed day and try not to let your kids drive you nuts! :)

Honoring mom

Today I honored my mom by visiting her bench at the zoo and writing her a letter.

I've learned that I can still spend time with her but just in a different way. I chose this journal to write in because one, it it is one of my favorite poems and two, it reminds me of a song my mom and I shared that was special. I listened to it on the car and started crying- it seemed like my mom was speaking to me, they were words I needed to hear this weekend.

 

 

Missing mom

This week has been emotionally hard- for two years now my mom has not been here on Mother's Day. Last year was difficult because the feelings were so raw but luckily I had a newborn who kept me quite busy. This year I've had a lot more time to reflect.

I am in a different place than I was last year, a more healthy place. I don't think the wounds ever heal, there is never a moment you say 'Oh, I'm all better now.' That just doesn't happen. It's more like the wound becomes a battle scar, it's there to remind you of losing someone close, of the love you shared. But most of all, it's there to remind you that you are stronger because of it, that you can get through it, even if you're a different person when you come out on the other side.

So in a sense, you're mourning many things. The person you lost, the scar that will always be there and the innocent person you no longer are.

In reading the story of Job in our study bible, I read this piece of truth in the sidebar:

"Those whom God delivers from the depths of despair see things differently than those who have yet to experience such 'valleys' in life."

I do experience small moments of perspective. I rock my daughter to sleep because I know it will be all too soon before I'm tucking her into her big girl bed. I spend a little time taking care of myself because I need it. At the end of the day, I make sure I've loved my family a little more, gave more kisses, hugs and shared laughs.

Early Mother's Day

My hubby and children surprised me with breakfast in bed this morning- so yummy! Yeah, nobody is seeing me with bedhead.

Other than breakfast, I got some great gifts:

Coleman made me a beautiful flowers and a coupon book.

I particularly like the one that promises he'll vacuum.

Carter rewrapped this gift for me, what he calls the "shotter". Besides the garbage trucks, it's one of his most prized toys of the moment.

Then of course, Jake gave me the present that is close to my heart literally and figuratively.

This necklace is Open Hearts by Jane Seymour Angel collection. It reminds of my mom and the matching necklaces we shared. We even went to hear Jane Seymore give a motivational talk at the Women's Expo one year. Here is the original design:

On this Mother's Day, I can wear this necklace and think of my special angel watching over me, watching over all of us.

Mama's Day or Teacher Appreciation Gift!

I saw this in a magazine and thought, I could make that!

{photo taken from samflexsouth.com}

Well, let me tell you, that thought usually sends me down a rabbit hole to where I should have just ordered the vase online to begin with. Ever been there?

I thought these would be great for Teacher Appreciation Week at Coleman's school. It's cute, practical and inexpensive (or so I thought!).

Materials:

• Choose your wood size: 2X6 wood plank, cut into 6 inch sections or 4X4 cut into 5 inch sections
• Sandpaper, in various grits
• Chalkboard spraypaint (green or black)
• Wood drill bits
• Chalk

Steps:

1. Sand smooth wood pieces, this is where the labor of love comes into play. Little helpers come in handy for this step.

He didn't want to wear the mask like his brother (not like they were sanding up a lot of dust anyway). See the leftover plank in the background? Makes for a great car ramp the boys tell me.

Mama did a majority of the sanding. I got the pieces smooth and ready for spray paint.

2. Spray paint boards- I did this wearing a mask and outside on the grass. The grass has black paint on it but it will get mowed off later this week.

This is how they look after- I only spraypainted the sides of the skinny boards and went for all four sides of the square one.

As you can see, even with all that sanding, the wood is still not perfectly smooth. That only adds to the character of the piece right? I am going to sand off the overspray on the sides of the skinny boards.

3. Drill the holes.

Jake drilled a hole for me for the flowers with 3/8" bit. For the chalk holes and the skinny board, I drilled the holes with a 1/2" bit (who knew drilling was so fun?).

4. Fill the holes with flowers and chalk.

5. Write a cute message/drawing. Had to take the picture in my bathroom because the nighttime lighting in my house turns all my pictures yellow! I think the "vases" turned out cute, but they only became a "frugal" gift after the first one.

The boys are going to make me one for Mother's Day. Hubby's getting me jewelry! The square one is for Coleman's teacher, he wrote his name and drew a picture of a rainbow. Then he told me what to write for the other side:

Coleman came up with that on his own! I hope he's not the one giving the teacher a whole lot of "hard" work.