Quote for Moms

Mother's Day is coming up and this year, I decided to give a little something to some pretty awesome moms - my sister in laws.  They all have 2 or more children from ages 0 - 12, and life keeps them busy.  It's nice to recognize the young moms, still raising their kids, in the thick of battle - in addition to our own moms who have been promoted to grandmas and can take it a little easy.  

I found this quote which I thought would be perfect for them, to help them remember they are doing a great job and a very important job.

I printed it out on white vinyl using my Silhouette machine.  I just mailed out the vinyl, already weeded and on contact paper so they can apply it however they like.  

Oh and here's a little trick I used to make things a bit easier.  I just put my contact paper right on top of the cut out vinyl and then peeled it up.  The letters came off on the contact paper while the rest of the vinyl stayed put.

Here are just a few ideas of how and where the vinyl can be applied and displayed.

You could apply it on the wall, on the glass of a picture frame with pretty scrapbook paper behind it, or on the glass of an empty picture frame hanging on the wall so the wall color shows through.

It could also be displayed on the inside a door or cabinet so whenever they open it, they are reminded how great they are.  Apply the vinyl to a tile or piece of wood to display on a mantel or shelf.

And if you have any trouble getting the vinyl to stay on the wood or tile (I've had this problem before), just seal it with a coat of Mod Podge.

All of these ideas were found through Pinterest here, here, here, here, here and here.

I hope my sister in laws like this quote, and I'd love to see a picture of how and where you've displayed it.

Happy Mother's Day to ALL you

 moms out there!

And to you moms with kids at home, living off little sleep, dealing with toddler tantrums or teenage attitudes, just know you are doing the most important job.  Sometimes you feel like you are not doing enough, but you are.  The world is a better place because of how you are raising your children.  You are making a difference.  

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Bathroom Print

Sometimes when I'm cleaning up the house, getting ready for company to come over, I decide to take a break from cleaning and make something.  Last week, I decided make a print for the powder room.  I've bought this frame about a year ago just because I like the colors and design of it, although I had no idea where I was going to put it.  It sat on the top of the bookcases in the playroom, empty.  So, last week while I was getting the house ready for company (and browsing Pinterest), I found some cute bathroom printables/quotes.  I decided to make one of my own and finally use that frame.  Here is what I came up with:

It is on the shelf above the toilet.  You can see it from the mirror while you are doing your business.

However, it reads backwards in the mirror.  Chances are if you're in the bathroom, you will be looking towards the mirror for most of the time.  So......

Instead of having the print read backwards in the mirror, I printed the quote backwards.

That way when you look in the mirror, you can read it the right way.

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Be Happy Today (a personal post about pregnancy after miscarriage)

This is a personal post about my experience with pregnancy after miscarriage.  However; I think some of these same feelings could apply to any type of loss or disappointment and our desire to reduce that sadness by reducing our happiness.

After years of trying to get pregnant and going through infertility treatments we were finally blessed with two children via IUI.  Our first was born in December 2002 and our second was born in September 2004.  

So imagine our surprise when I became naturally pregnant in 2007.   After years of trying to get pregnant, surely I would have no problem staying pregnant.  I was wrong.  Sadly that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.  I was devastated and depressed.

Over time, I felt better and things got better.  Still wanting more children, we began to pursue the route of adoption.  I had accepted the fact that I may never bear another child and I was at peace with that.

So once again imagine our surprise when we found out we had naturally gotten pregnant in 2010.

This time things were different, I was different.  

Having experienced a miscarriage had dampened the joy of this pregnancy.  I mean what if ‘it’ happened again.  I couldn’t let myself get too happy, I couldn’t go through that disappointment again.  As if sadness is inversely proportionate to happiness. 

I kept my feelings in check and worried all throughout that pregnancy that something would go wrong.  I didn’t even want to take pictures of my pregnant self.  I think I only have 2, one being the day I went into the hospital to deliver.  In fact the day of delivery, I was certain something would go wrong.  When my healthy baby girl was born, I couldn't believe it and even wondered what was wrong with her. 

I had clouded that entire pregnancy worrying about the what ifs.  I never allowed myself to feel full joy and happiness because of some possible tragedy that might occur in the future.  It took me a couple of years (which included another miscarriage) to come to this point but now as I look back I realize that reducing my happiness and excitement of the moment, I wasn’t sparing myself pain, I was only preventing myself from feeling happy. 

I don’t want to do that again.  I want to enjoy the moment.  To feel happy, excited and joy when those emotions should be felt.  Yes, pain may come, but it will not be decreased by dampening our happiness.  Reducing happiness will not reduce pain.   I don’t want to miss out on life’s joys because I’m too scared of what might happen later.  I want to love today, I want to be happy today.

I originally wrote this post months ago after finding out that I was pregnant with our 4th child.  It's taken me a while to get up the courage to share my feelings and personal experience, but I do think it's important to share.  I've been much happier this pregnancy, and loving it, and not worrying (so much).  I truly am choosing to be happy and it feels so good to share this happiness with others.

If you are interested in reading more stories from women about miscarriage, still birth and baby loss; here is a link called Breaking the Silence.  

"We speak and we write and we share not only for ourselves (though it is a balm), but also for the ones who will come after us and who will need light in their dark hour."

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