a thank you for reading the simple moms blog :: starbucks giveaway

I celebrated my 12th Mother’s Day this past weekend. It struck me that I can only remember about 3 of them. Mom brain at it’s finest I suppose. I remember the one that was 3 days ago! I know, impressive, huh? I have snippets of past mother’s days that come back to me, but they are pretty muddy memories. I think there can be a lot of pressure put on the day that we quickly forget. I’ve learned through the years to remove expectations and the day goes much better.


I hope you had a nice Mother’s Day, but I understand if you didn’t. My heart is tender to those who are struggling to become a mother. I hurt for my friends who have had to say goodbye to their mom. My stomach drops for those who have had to bury a child. There’s a lot of sadness that can make this day emotionally draining. I remember having a pity party for myself one year when I was stuck at home catching barf. Happy Mother’s Day to me I sarcastically thought. However, when I really put things back into perspective, I couldn’t feel sorry for myself. If you had a less then ideal day, I am sorry! Sometimes I feel badly posting what can look like a picture perfect Mother’s Day when I know there’s great pain in the world. However, I think it’s good to remind ourselves that we have been called to a beautiful and important role in life and it should be celebrated.

With that being said, first I would like to honor my mom. She is the reason why I know how to budget like a Nazi, multi-task to great extremes, bake, cook for crowds, bulk shop, succeed at Weight Watchers, and manage busy days. Because she’s passed on these skills, I can be a fun mom like she was for me and my four brothers. I’m not to her level of executing these talents, but I enjoy motherhood because she showed me how to prepare ahead so there is time for fun. I’m thankful for her godly example as well. She lost a son in 2009 and handles it with grace and strength, she let me go away to a Christian college when she wanted to keep me closer to home, and she’s been an example of consistency. I watched her read her Bible at the breakfast table each day…while she did her hair and ate breakfast…because she IS a multi-tasking Wonder Woman! Happy Mother’s Day to my mom.

On to my own Mother’s Day. All I ever need on this day is a photo of us in that moment…before someone grows half a foot in a matter of months – that would be my Jack. I’m wearing heels in this photo so he isn’t getting proper credit for how close he is to passing me.

As we left church, my husband asked me what I wanted to pick up for lunch. I really just wanted a big, icy coke. We had a fridge full of leftovers and it makes my frugal heart happy to eat those up. Also, I was about 32,000 calories deep in carrot cake (this RECIPE is my favorite). I had a piece Saturday when we celebrated my mother-in-law and another for breakfast on Sunday. We grabbed SNUNCH (snack lunch) from McDonald’s and came home to relax and slurp my big $1 coke…and I finished off the carrot cake. I have no self control around carrot cake.

The kids got me a Yankee Candle and we enjoyed a quiet day between church services. I ignored laundry and growing messes until about 8 pm. Then I checked out of Mother’s Day mode and got back to reality. The truth is, I love my reality. Having piles of laundry means I have kids who had a fun and dirty day. I like cooking and clearly the kid growing like a weed and  the smooshy one loves my cooking. I don’t enjoy cleaning the house or picking up the same messes, but I’m determined to train these kids to find fulfillment in doing a bit of work. I hate mopping, but I love a clean floor. My goal is to teach that kind of satisfaction and life skills to the kids so they can grow up to be functioning adults one day. Then they can rise up and call me BLESSED. (that’s a joke!)

2013

Mother’s Day 2019 was a good one. I’m thankful every day for the family God has entrusted me and Josh with. I hope to grow more and be a good and godly example as my mom, grandmothers, and mother in law are to me.

Tell me about your Mother’s Day. I remember the one where I had a newborn and I had never felt so tired! That’s one of the 3 I recall. Which prompts me to give one lucky reader a gift card to Starbucks from yours truly. In honor of all the tired moms who could use a bit of caffeine to survive another day to do it all over again. Thank you for being faithful readers on The Simple Moms. It is one of my favorite things to do each week when I sit down to write a post. I learn so much from our readers and hope to share helpful posts in return.

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY

One reader will win a $10 giftcard to Starbucks. One entrant per household.

I’ll put your names in a hat and choose a winner on May 29th. All you need to do is comment on this post with a Mother’s Day themed comment. Let me get your wheels turning… How was your mother’s day? Do you have a  special mother’s day memory? What is something you admire about your mom?