Made by Me Monday

Hey y'all,

How was your weekend?  Did you enjoy your Mother's Day?

We had one super busy day and one more relaxing day.  My husband was gone at a pastor's conference all last week, but thankfully made it home early one Friday so we had lots of Daddy time then settled in for our traditional Family Movie Night on Friday.  I made homemade pizza and popcorn before sitting down to watch Little House on the Prairie.  A relaxing spot in our weekend.

Hubby and I had foster care class all day Saturday so the kids were at a friend's.  Then we picked them up and hustled over to another friend's for dinner and a birthday party.  But the time we got home Saturday, we were ready to drop.

Sunday was full, but still.  After we got home from church, I took a long nap and tried to catch up on some reading.  The kids helped their dad make dinner and we decompressed a little before the week starts all over again.

Despite the crazy week, I do have a project to share with you.  I've been working on this wreath in bits and pieces of time, but it's really very easy and economical.  I'll post a cost breakdown for you later this week.

Our menu this week:
Monday: Kids at a friend's while we're in class
Tuesday: Eggplant Lasagne, green salad, french bread
Wednesday: Taco salad
Thursday: Homemade veggie pizza, green salad
Friday-Saturday: Girl's weekend
Sunday: Leftovers or spaghetti

Other kitchen chores:
Sourdough starter--I neglected mine and have to start over
Pear and berry crisp

Should we get started partying?  Write a blog post highlighting your project with a link back here so that others can join in on the fun.  Then link up below to the blog post itself.  You can post more than one project; just add more than one link.  So let's get started!

Lee's To Do List

Love this article about What is a Waste Free Lunch Program (@ Waste Free Lunch).  Really shows what a little extra time can do to save money and be green.

Ever wondered what to have on hand for natural medicine?  Check out How to Build your Apothecary (@ Kitchen Stewardship).  It's broke down very well for beginners.

Great tip for bloggers of any duration: Commenting 101: Why Should I Bother (@ Serenity Now).  Remembering that blogging is all about relationships.

Here's another one from Kitchen Stewardship: How Exercise Can Enhance your love of Food, Family and Frugality.

Sea Glass Pendant

A few months ago, I found these cute little pendants at Can't Stop Making Things and I knew I had to make them.  They are super easy to make.  Plus think of how customizable they are.  With graduation and wedding season on us, they would make beautiful gifts.  Or wine glass charms.  Party favors... the list goes on and on.

Did I mention that these pendants were made with material found at the dollar store?  Doesn't get much better than that!

Materials:
Wire cutters
Bag of beach glass ($1)
24 gauge wire ($1)
16 gauge wire ($1)
Metal charms (optional $1)
Gel Super Glue
Needle nose pliers

I had several of these items on hand and opted to only use the 24 gauge wire I already had.  Plus, there tons of glass in those little bags, perfect for completing this project and having more for later.

Hope you have as much making these as I did.  Enjoy!

Celebrating Moms

Most of the time we don't think about how tough it is to be a mom until we become one.  And then suddenly the past 20 or 25 years all make sense.  We understand why our own moms would stay up lately making cupcakes for a school party.  Or maybe we didn't even realize that they did and now we know how much of their own lives were consumed by ours.

It seems that have kids puts so much in perspective.  We come to see how our own mothers must have struggled with balance, time commitments, and the dreaded Mommy guilt.  In spite of our best laid plans to parent to a prescribed standard, we realize that every mom, including our own, is just winging it and praying for the best.

Parenthood becomes less about balance and more about priorities.  We realize that we can't have it all and that's ok because we CAN have the best that God has for us.  Like bedtime kisses.  Stories told in hushed whispers.  Beloved stuffed animals and cuddly blankets.  Forts built under tables.  Running through sprinklers.  ABC songs and Curious George story books.

We realize the times we took our mothers for granted.  The scraped knees that needed to be kissed meant an interrupted phone call.  The cookies in our lunch meant time baking instead of sleeping.  The sports played meant hours sacrificed that could have been spent in personal pursuits.  And all the while, we breezed through life, never giving a second thought that she'd come through.

Maybe for some of us this wasn't the case.  Maybe our "moms" were the next door neighbor who took us in when Mom was working late.  Maybe she was the softball coach who could always give us a ride when Mom was elsewhere.  Maybe the Mom who could be most trusted is the older friend who mentors us through the rocky days of Motherhood without leaving us feeling like we've burdened her as well.

I come from a legacy of moms who are bright, strong, giving, and nurturing.  For all the days that I fall short in parenting my own children, I thank God that they are surrounded by these women who will support them, teach them, love them.

To all the Moms, especially those in my life, thank you for the hours spent in giving.  For the tiresome nights in a thankless job.  May you be encouraged to know that what you do does make a difference.

Happy Mother's Day!

*Linked to Writer's Workshop  

52 First Dates: Week Forty-Seven

How was your date last week?  Which one did you pick?  Did you relive a favorite or try something new?

Are you ready for this week's challenge?

The weather is getting nicer in most parts of the country.  It's a little bit warmer and the sun is peeking out a little more.  Why not be outdoors together?  You can walk.  You can hike.  You can pack a picnic lunch or go to an outdoor flea market.  The point is to be outdoors together.  Get some sunshine.  You'll be surprised how it will lighten your mood and heighten your senses.  Laugh!  Sometimes just getting outside is all you need to give you a fresh perspective.

I would personally love to get out and walk the neighborhood with my husband.  We try to take walks when it's nicer.  The kids can run ahead.  We still have to keep a good eye on them, but we get a chance to talk.  We both feel refreshed when we're done and we've had a chance to reconnect.

How will you fulfill the challenge this week?