4 Quotes to Pin or Print {just for fun}

 It has been quite the week around here.  I actually damaged my eye from crying. I didn't know you could do that. It kind of hurts. oops. So I have been doing a lot of reading, thinking, and praying, and finding some fun quotes. Quotes are good medicine for the soul I think.

 I love quotes.  I could wallpaper my house with them.{There is a long string of my faves - if you scroll down all the way on this blog.}    Here are a few others....Click on them to save in a jpeg or pin... they should all be in a 8 by 10 format.

Hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer!

This Made Me Cry Because I Really Love My Family.

la-dee-da-Craftractions...

We found out some more not- so -happy -news about the baby the other day. We have lots of doctor appts. and have to travel a ways to see a specialist next week. I'm sure it will all be o.k. in the end-but it is still scary for me. Right now we know the baby needs surgery but not sure when or where.... So in order to try and attempt to keep my mind off of the unknown-on the days when I actually have some energy- here is what I have been doing....."craftstractions" (craft + distractions) as I call it...

silly USA banner using only stuff from my stash
Quilt top w/ Ikea fabric + fabric from my stash...and then I got too tired to finish it

Organizing the tiny room we have for the boys- a car room- w/ our collection of old license plates we have found over the years

Making a few vinyl signs for the boys car room and baby's room- but this is the only one I had energy to finish-the rest will come later ;)

AND of course- enjoying the 2 cute little boys I have right here at home :) I love my kids!

Mother's Day Thoughts...

I recently found out a friend of mine lost her first born son. He was still born, even though she carried him full-term and there were no signs of complications. This isn't the first friend I have had that has lost a child. I have several close friends, who have had to go through such a loss. Sitting here, 32 weeks pregnant, with my third child, I am over-whelmed with emotions, and even start to worry about the health and safety of the child I am carrying. My heart goes out to people who have never had their own children, or who have experienced the loss of a child. Words cannot express how much my heart breaks for you and for having to go through such a loss. Although we have had our own share of complications with both our sons, I am so grateful for their health and strength and that I have been given the opportunity to raise them here on Earth. I truly believe things happen for a reason, and that God is in charge of each of our lives.

And now we approach Mother's Day- the day we celebrate all mothers. I have always loved Mother's Day and love it even more now that I am a mother. I love my children. I love being their mother. I love being pregnant with another one. I also fear and worry for my children- for their futures, for their safety, for just about everything that will ever happen to them. I love the messes, the chaos, the loud noises they make, their cute smiles and laughter, the poopy diapers, the cute things the say-everything from both ends of the spectrum- it all brings me joy. There was a time when I did not have that- when my house was clean and spotless, and quiet and orderly. I often think back when I am cleaning up a poopy mess or spending a 1/2 hour cleaning up after a meal, or I am constantly hurting my feet on blocks and cars all over the floor, or doing loads and loads of laundry day after day, that these are the blessings of being a mother. And I love every single one of them.

Today my son woke up feeling very warm, and it turned out he had a fever. He wanted me to hold him (as pictured above). He wouldn't let me put him down. So I sat and held him, and enjoyed the moments of him clinging to me not wanting to let go. The laundry can wait. The vacuuming can too. My shower can wait also. :) Right now, for today, I am a mother and there is nothing more I'd rather be. I will hold my little one for as long as he wants me to, and I will savor every minute of it. This is why I love being a mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all women this weekend! Here are a few quotes about mothers that I love ;)

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." -M. Russell Ballard

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.” Anna Quindlen

"The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."

Why I Create

I rarely watch videos online. This one really touched my heart. Creating is a deep yearning within me. :) This video really puts being creative and those desires to do so in perspective. No matter who you are, this is definitely a beautiful message for all women who yearn to create! Enjoy!


Thanks Tara, for sharing this with me:)

Sabbath 2/9/09

In the spirit of February-the month of LOVE- I found a great quote that went with the theme at church today. :)

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being. Some recent studies show that people who are taught to forgive become 'less angry, more hopeful, less depressed, less anxious and less stressed,' which leads to greater physical well-being. Another of these studies concludes 'that forgivenss....is a liberating gift (that) people can give to themselves."

This is from a talk given by James E. Faust, Ensign of May 2007. The entire context of the talk can be found here.
Even if you are not of my faith, it is an incredible talk that helps us see the universal principle of forgiveness and love :)

Why I LOVE being a Mom (LOVE LIST #1)

Since it is February, the month of love, I am going to post a few of the things I love :)

I usually don't post very personal stuff on here. I try to save that for my journal, etc. But lately my heart has been very full of gratitude for the incredible blessing of being a mother and wife.

I am not a young mother. I did not get married until I was in my 30's. I had a career and got to do many things in my 20's-which looking back was an incredible blessing. My heart sometimes seems to skip a beat when I think of the incredible blessings I now get to enjoy- of being a mommy. Now here are a few of the reasons I LOVE it- since it is the month of l-o-v-e. :) I'll try not to be too serious and sentimental! :)

1. YOU GET TO DRIVE A MINIVAN if you choose-AND NO ONE LOOKS AT YOU FUNNY-ok so maybe they look at you funny if you have a van full of kids, but you don't care. (I love our Honda Odyssey)

2. YOU CAN WEAR SWEATS ALL DAY if you choose- and it is just expected. I actually hang up my nice sweats and try to keep them stain free. Yes, there is such a thing as nice sweats. :)

3. YOU GET TO DO ENDLESS PILES OF LAUNDRY. Joy joy joy!! And you get to stare at endless piles of laundry that still need to be washed....such as it is in my case these days. :)

4. GOING TO THE PARK CAN BE A DAY OUT ON THE TOWN. Who knew the park could be so much fun?

5. YOU CAN WATCH SESAME STREET AGAIN...and it is O.K. You are not considered weird for doing so, since your 3 year old watches it with you.

6. IF YOU ARE REALLY ON TOP OF THINGS, YOU MIGHT GET A NAP SOME DAYS. OK so I am not that on top of it, but a nap sure would be nice-and there were days - when I had one child- when I actually did get a nap- oh those were the days!

7. YOU GET TO MAKE STUFF. Since you are not working full-time, you can make crafts and stuff (sometimes I call it the other word- c-r-a-p) - well anyway you can learn new things you never had time for. Plus you can cook homemade meals-- on the good days :)

8. ENDLESS HUGS AND SMILES AND KISSES FROM YOUR KIDS- even slobbery ones are still the best things ever!

9. YOU CAN MAKE EVERYTHING ALL BETTER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S world--- kissing the cut better, putting a band-aid on it, stories, hugs, kisses, rocking in the rocking chair, you suddenly hold the magic touch!

10. YOU GET TO STEP ON TOYS AND HURT YOUR FEET-- there was a time when my house was spotless- no toys to step on or pick up. No longer the case around here- but it is a blessing- stepping on toys and hurting your feet, bending over and hurting your back as you clean up the blocks. A real blessing - (no seriously folks, it is!)

I think 10 reasons is enough for now. I seriously love my little guys and love being a mommy.

"The Hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."

Sabbath 1/25/09

I have not been enjoying my Sabbath posts lately, but I really enjoy quotes. So I am going to start posting a quote sometimes on Sunday, to help me and hopefully you too ;) This quote came from a CES fireside I watched on BYU T.V. a few weeks ago. You are welcome to download this quote if you like and print it out. Be aware, that it is in a 12 by 12 inch format, so you will most likely want to size it down to print it out. Happy Sunday ;)  PLEASE don't copy this, or publish it on your blog without LINKING back to me and giving me credit. THANKS :)