When I was little I loved running errands with my mom.  On one occasion I remember running into a friend of hers.  As they chatted I tried to be patient and wait for their conversation to end.  My mom shared with her friend how excited she was to have her kids home for the summer.  Her friend did not share her same feelings and expressed that it was something that she was not excited about.  What?  Not excited to have your kids home for the summer?  I could not believe it!  I remember thinking, “how can a mother not be excited to have her children home for the summer?”  After the conversation ended I asked my mom how come her friend was not excited.  She told me that it is an adjustment to have your kids home.  I think I didn’t get it at the time but I knew that it felt good that “my mom” was excited to have us home.

After being in the throws of motherhood for many years now, I get it.  I totally get it!  As much as I am excited to have my kids home for the summer I know it is going to be an adjustment.  As nice as it is going to be to not have the hustle and bustle of the school year schedule, I know I am going to have to come up with a new schedule to keep our family going.

The last several weeks I have been thinking of how I am going to be able to accomplish my daily tasks and still make this a fun summer for all of us.  I have compiled a list that I hope will help me have a realistic, fun and focused summer.

Our mom was so great at making the summers fun.  We had chore charts and reading charts.  We attended classes of all sorts from swimming to cooking.  We worked on projects and talents but spent lots of days just hanging around.  It was wonderful!  I loved that not everyday had to be an adventure but that most days we loved being with each other.

I have loved these last few weeks seeing list upon list appear on blogs and Pinterest of fabulous ideas to do this summer with your kids.  There are such wonderful ideas out there of activities, projects, and crafts to help you.  Check out these links for ideas that will inspire you and help you have a great summer!

http://www.simplykellyb.com/

http://lilluna.com/30-summer-activities-for-kids/

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/05/50-outdoor-summer-activities-for-kids.html

www.thefrugalgirls.com

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I’ll never forget the first time I was given some laundry fragrance from The Good Home Co.  One of my best friends from college gave it to me for my birthday a few months after I was married.  It was PURE GRASS-scented, and quite possibly the best smell I’d ever smelled!  We had a comfortable basement apartment, perfect for fresh starts and dreaming big.  Among the tasks of learning to keep house and home was the ever-present task of doing laundry.

I didn’t love laundry.

Still don’t.

But somehow the smell of PURE GRASS wafting through the air made everything right in the world, even on laundry day.

It’s been nearly 15 years, and I’m still in love with my husband and still in love with PURE GRASS.

And I still don’t love laundry. Ha!  But Pure Grass makes things better.

(Photo courtesy of Kimberly Rae Miller)

Last summer we took our products to market in New York City.  Just down the row and around the corner sat the founder of The Good Home Co. products, Christine Dimmick.  I could have died when I met her and found how warm and friendly she was.  I told her of my experience with her products and she was delightful to talk to.  She was genuinely interested in me, our business, and all that we have going on.  Throughout the course of the conversation, we talked about doing a giveaway sometime.  She was more than willing to offer some of her amazing products for us, and was excited about what we could offer her.  So here we are!

I’m not only excited to wholeheartedly endorse my absolute favorite smell on the planet to all our friends and readers, but I’m SO EXCITED to let you know we’re joining forces this very special day to offer a chance to win the following:

A whole package of loaded Pure Grass products: (shown in picture)  Laundry Detergent, Laundry Fragrance, Dryer Sheets, Sheet and Clothing Spray, Vacuum Beads, Glass and Surface Cleaner, Dish Soap, and Scented Clothes Pins. (Oh my goodness! Can I please enter this?)

AND

A $100 Gift Certificate to Vintage Rose Wraps (and of course, you love these!)

AMAZING, right?  Wouldn’t you want a chance to win these items?  It’s SO EASY to enter and we hope you’ll take the chance to do so.

All you have to do is go HERE and follow the simple instructions.  Easy breezy.

On top of all this amazing goodness, The Good Home Co. is offering 20% off any purchase made during the giveaway.  THAT’S AWESOME!  Use promo code: VINTAGE

Not only are these products beautiful, but they are so wonderful.  You’ll be a customer for life if you try this stuff.  Plus your laundry room will look like it came straight off of Pinterest.

Like this:

(photo courtesy of Urban Grace)

GOOD LUCK!

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I spent a lot of time considering how I could best do this.  I spent time reading articles and I spent hours at the bookstore.  I was amazed at what was available.  Many books with great information and even pictures to help communicate everything from where babies came from to what to do if you become pregnant. (Huh?  Kind of interesting, I know.)  I looked within resources within my church and books authored by those whose standards reflect my own.  What I found were great pockets of information in most of the books, but not ONE resource that reflected all that I had hoped to share or hoped to convey.  And some just offered way too much information that I didn’t need to share.  How would I be able to know just how much my daughter’s heart and mind could handle?

I chose to make it a matter of prayer.  I knew God would bless me in my efforts and help me communicate exactly what was right for her if I sincerely asked.  I felt inspired and guided through the entire experience.

I hope that we might inspire you in your efforts to teach your children about the birds and the bees!

First, I made a special invitation with similar wording to invite my daughter to brunch with me:

”You are invited to an AMAZING DAY with Mom.  {Day, Date, Time.}  We will go have brunch and spend the day talking about some AMAZING things.  Please wear your baptism dress because this is an extra special occasion.”

I had support from my husband with the other kids and we set aside several hours for everything.  I focused on the AMAZING part of things and kept things really upbeat.  I purposely chose the Saturday right before Mother’s Day. (reasoning coming…)

Here we are starting out.  We grabbed a quick picture and then we were off!

We went to one of my favorite luncheon places in Scottsdale called Arcadia Farms.  I asked to sit on the back patio and we enjoyed a quaint little intimate experience.  I used the time to compliment my daughter on “How much she’s growing up” and “How proud I am of her” etc. while we were waiting for the food. {No sex talk just yet}

My Mom had just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and lived a state away.  This little bird was just hanging around our table and I remember  feeling an overwhelming sense that this little bird was symbolic of her being there and helping me.  Love that!

After brunch, we walked across the street to a little courtyard, sat down on the grass, and I pulled out 5 books that I had chosen to teach from.  I had marked various sections and phrasing that fit with what I had hoped to teach from each book.  

Here are the names of the books: (1) It’s So Amazing by Robie H. Harris (2) The Care and Keeping of You by The American Girl Doll Library (3) How Are Babies Made? by Usborne (4) Growing Up by Brad Wilcox (5) How to Talk to your child about sex by Linda and Richard Eyre.

We spent a lot of time.  I asked her questions along the way to check and make sure she was understanding.  I talked about everything I felt like she could handle.  I purposely left out a few things but that’s only because they are just plain gross and I don’t even talk about those things as an adult or didn’t agree or feel the need to teach those things to my child.  Otherwise, I used specific and appropriate wording to explain about things, making bridges with prior connections of things we hadn’t used the appropriate wording for.

At the end of the discussion, we talked specifically about the beauties of procreation and the importance of saving those AMAZING and procreative powers for when she was wife and mother.  (i.e. Mother’s Day)   I used the opportunity to do something that my parents did for the children in our family.  Basically in a nutshell, it’s an agreement between us as parents and our children, signifying if you refrain from the use of drugs, alcohol, premarital sex and or promiscuity and live a clean, moral life up to the age of 20, we’d give that child $1,000.00 as an ultimate reward for good behavior.

We signed the contract and I gave her a hand-stamped necklace that had her initial, a fresh water pearl and the word “promise”.  We talked about the symbolism of the necklace, that it was symbolic of the special agreement (or promise) in the contract and the important understanding that she was to try and live a clean and virtuous life.

Overall we had a special experience talking.  I left the door wide open for her to ask any other questions additionally as they came from day to day, and I felt a sense of satisfaction that what I had shared were the right things for her to hear.

All of this worked so well, that when my #2 was old enough three years later, we shared a similar time together.  She was recently baptized, and Mother’s Day rolled around.  I can honestly say I had just as special experience and tender experience with this one.

We started out with an invitation and picture.

Breakfast, and would you believe, a bird?  Yes.

Special time to visit.  And a little drive to somewhere important where we could talk quietly and peacefully without other distractions.

This process really worked for our family!  I hope it brings you some insight into how you too might be able to talk about these important things with your children.  And we’d love to hear from you if you have any additional ideas of how to share these special things.

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This time of year is CRAZY!  There are always end-of-year programs to run to, final school projects, and preparations for the upcoming summer months.  It always leaves me in a little bit of a pinch to find something quick and easy to give to teachers who have helped my kids throughout the year.

This year I’m giving something super simple and easy.  {Thank you, Trader Joe’s for having the absolute most perfect graphics and design on your labels!}  I picked up this Sparkling Pink Lemonade, and this Salt Water Taffy, and tied it up with some of the cute earrings we sell in our SHOP.  Nothing says summer more than lemonade and salt water taffy!  And nothing is better this time of year than finding an easy breezy gift to give.

Hope this inspires you in your teacher gift giving!

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We’ve giggled together about their anticipations of Mother’s Day tomorrow.

“Oh Mom, I can’t wait for tomorrow!’’ says one.

‘’Mom, promise not to look closely at the gift on the piano, k?  You can kind of see through the wrapping paper,’’ says another.

My house now is unusually quiet.  It’s probably not anything different than what I am used to, but perhaps it’s because I’ve had a lot of thoughts running through my mind today that are whispering so loudly that  I am quite certain I won’t be able to sleep unless I put them somewhere.  So ‘’at peace” is where I’m hoping to leave off tonight.

One year ago today, the eve of Mother’s Day 2012, my daughter Millie almost drowned.

That day changed me forever.  And I don’t think I will ever be the same again.

It was very simple.

We were celebrating Ruby’s 12^th Birthday with her friends.  It was a beach party and we had the perfect spot to celebrate.   Bill had gone inside to quickly change, and I was preoccupied with the birthday festivities.

“MOM! MILLIE CAN’T  BREATHE!”

I was several yards away.

I ran!  9-year-old Betsy, lugging her sister from the pool.

“NO!”  I thought, ‘’A mother’s worst nightmare!”

She was gray.  And the best way to describe her was that she was “stuck”.  Stuck in between air and water, her small little 3-year-old body uncertain of what to do exactly.

I’ll never forget her eyes longing for me to save her.  Bill ran out, Millie still stuck, unable to even gasp for air.  What do I do?

Mama’s Instinct set in.  I threw Millie up over my shoulder and wacked her hard.  What seemed like 2 cups of water came out of her lungs down my back. I did it again.  And again.

She lay there in my arms, lifeless…but alive, wanting to fall asleep.  She was exhausted.  Her poor, sweet little body having done its job to help save itself.  But she was there.  And breathing.

Such gratitude!

We took her to the hospital.  Our doctor friend whose home we were at encouraged us to go and get her checked out.

After arriving, who knew God would be so kind!  The son-in-law of a family we love happened to be doing rounds as an EMT on the first floor of the Emergency and peeked inside our room.  He and Bill were able to give Millie a priesthood blessing. And I felt peace.

Oxygen levels.  Checking of vitals.  And learning:  The body can “drown itself” even after it seems like everything’s clear.  And it only takes 27 seconds for lungs the size of Millie’s to fill up with water.

27.

They would need to watch her overnight.

Bill insisted I go home to be with the other children through the night.  I wanted desperately to be with Millie, but he assured me there was nothing I could do that he couldn’t do.  And the kids waking up to no mother on Mother’s Day would be terrible.

He was right.

I gathered my kids from our friends house and we went home.  We talked about it, and we knelt in prayer to thank the Lord.

I couldn’t sleep, my mind wracked with the what-ifs and could-have-beens.  I can’t believe how close it was, how truly blessed we were that the Lord spared my sweet Millie’s life.  And yet my heart ached.  How many mothers are there who’ve lost, or suffer the absence of a child in one way or another. Miscarriages.  Illnesses.  Deaths.  How comfortable are the day to day comings and goings until one day, we find we’ve taken them for granted?

Morning came.  We went to the hospital.  Millie was wonderfully herself.  I crawled right on in bed, brought my children in close, and felt such gratitude for these amazing children in my care.

And we spent the day with Millie until she was able to leave.

Our children are not ours.  They are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven who created them.   Our time doesn’t necessarily match His time.  What moments we have with them can be dashed in an instant if His plans far exceed our own.  And His most often do.

I will forever remember this as my Happiest Mother’s Day.  I hope I remember it as the day I really started loving and living.

Love your children today!  Tell them until their ears turn pink that you love them…

Because you can.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and women out there, especially those who’ve known something of tragedy, loss, or a close call.

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Don’t be fooled.  Our family, neighbors and friends can feel when we do things in the spirit of love.  They can also tell when we’re doing something just to mark it off our list or for the satisfaction of others.

I get really tired of the harshness of the world.  There are a lot scary things out there that I don’t want to be a part of, nor do I want my kids to dabble in them either.  But one thing scary I don’t think we think about, are the day to day interactions with whom we love.  How are we treating those whom we love the most?  It’s so easy to go on in life, thinking we’re adequately serving, adequately giving, adequately doing whatever has to be done.   How sad!

I think there’d be a lot more love, happiness and good if we adopted the idea to do all things, even the smallest of things, with love.  If it means making the 100-millionth lunch for my kids for school, if I do it in love, they will feel it.  If it’s done as a chore, they’ll feel it. Think of the profound affect this would have on our children if we taught by example, there is genuine good and love in the world.  We’d show them when they are faced with the harsh realities of life, they can have hope in the goodness, sincerity, and peace that comes from being genuine in our actions, words, and deeds.

I’m quite certain LOVE is the most powerful weapon we have to combat hard things.  This mother’s day, give yourself The Gift of Heart and adopt the idea of doing all things with love.

Enjoy this FREE 8 x 10 PRINTABLE.  Download {HERE}

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Before my 3^rd child was born, I was starting to feel a sense of inadequacy of not being able to keep up with it all.  The truth was, I was looking for validation and verification in the wrong places.  I was letting how perfect I do a job or how perfect I look to other people define my life.  As more babies and responsibilities entered our lives,  I was really feeling bad about myself.  I remember people coming to my door, and me apologizing for how messy it was and not letting them come in for the fear of them seeing my imperfection.  I remember not letting people help me because things had to be just so.

I truly realized I could not do it all.  And I was finally able to admit it.

Being a mother is hard!  It’s impossible to be perfect at laundry or housework.  There’s always dirty underwear and ongoing things to organize or dust.  It’s impossible to be perfect at helping your children with homework or practicing while still making dinner.

The truth is, we can’t do it all.  If you’re putting any focus on any other thing in your life, something’s gonna give.  There’s always going to be someone crying needing me more than seeking for perfection at that moment in an area of my life. The second we can admit that we can’t do it all, the better off we’ll be.  And the happier too.

If there’s anything I’ve learned, even just in recent months, it’s that I need to “let whatever I do today, be enough.”   That doesn’t mean I can’t do my best at something—or strive for perfection in some aspects of my life.    But it means that I don’t have to be so hard on myself when something isn’t just right. Being enough means feeling as though you’ve contributed in good ways to your day.  It means giving what you could and being satisfied with that.

This Mother’s Day, give yourself The Gift of Enough.  You are not perfect, but you are enough.  Those around us don’t want perfection.  They want someone who is satisfied with the imperfect life they’re living.

Nobody’s perfect.

We love this quote and want to share it with you.  Download a free 8 x 10 version {HERE}.

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What is The Gift of Goodness?

A couple of years ago, my sweet cousin Izzy shared a story at a retreat I attended for the women in our family.  It is a perfect story to demonstrate The Gift of Goodness.

One day Izzy had purchased a beautiful bouquet of roses.  The roses were so beautiful that she wanted to share them with others.  She thought of a friend in her neighborhood that would love a rose.  She went to her friends home and gave her a single rose.  It of course delighted her friend.  What Izzy did next is the best part of the story.  She said to her friend’s, “I have another rose, to whom shall I give it?”  Her friend thought about it for a minute and then shared the name of another woman in their neighborhood.  Izzy set out to take the next woman a rose.  When she arrived to the woman’s home, she did the same thing.  She gave the woman a single rose and then said to her, “I have another rose, to whom shall I give it?  The woman shared the name of another woman in their neighborhood.  Izzy continued going home to home, giving a beautiful rose to each woman that was thought of by another woman, until all of her roses were gone.

I love this story.  To me it shows the good heart of women as we think about each other and support one another.  I love how giving the rose brightened the day for each woman that received one, but that asking each woman to think of someone else to receive one, did something entirely else.  It created the ripple effect of doing good.  Once we do something good it is easily passed on to someone else.  Izzy has shared roses several times and has even taken roses to women that she has not known, but did it because they were chosen by another woman to receive one.  My cousin Izzy is such a wonderful and courageous woman and mother and I am so grateful that I have her example to follow.

A while ago I heard a quote somewhere that said, “She lived, she loved, she left proof.”  I love these few words.  I think of my cousin Izzy and how her sharing of roses accomplished these exact words.  I have no doubt that the women that received roses that day will always remember being apart of something special.  I think that is how it is with motherhood.  We have it entirely in our power to look for the good, to be positive and actively look for good in ourselves and others.

I hope this Mother’s Day we will give ourselves The Gift of Goodness by realizing all the good that we do every day.  I hope we notice that when we do something good, we feel good and in return start a ripple effect of good things in other people’s lives.

Press {HERE} for this 8 x 10 printable.

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