Hodge Podge

Well, a big thanks to Sarah Mae of Like A Warm Cup of Coffee, who's just finished celebrating her one year blogaversary. I won a prize from her week long party giveaway:
I think this jewelry is just gorgeous. The company is called Mattieleas and if you'd like to see more, just click on the picture. The jewelry is all very unique and really beautiful.

It's getting to be warm out, and as I do this time of year, I start to think about what I'd like to decorate Sarah's marker with for the season. It got me thinking about the Sare Bear and what a great organization I think Sara's Smile is. For those that don't know, Sara's Smile was started by a woman who lost her daughter Sara at age 20 to a quick and unexplained illness. In an effort not to leave bereaved mothers empty handed, she (with the help of one of Sara's friends) created a very special teddy bear to give mother's who've lost their child at any age. It's the size of a baby with weighted feet, the size of a newborn's, and a weighted bottom. Even it's head is about the size of a newborn baby's, and fits perfectly in a woman's hand.

These bears are given to grieving mother's free of charge. But each one costs about $25. If you can, I strongly urge you to consider a donation to this incredible Christian charity. Especially if you, or someone you love, has lost a baby or child.

This is the Sare Bear. Click the picture to go to the website and learn more about this very special charity.

Around here, as usual, we've been very busy. After a late night last night, Quinn had me up at 6:30 this morning. And then there was getting kids dressed and fed, getting on the bus, cleaning up, grocery shopping, an IEP meeting at Ciaran's school, lunch, speech, laundry, etc. etc. Honestly I think we moms hit the ground running in the morning and often don't stop until we get into bed at night.

So, I had this moment where I thought about getting upset with all I had to do, but then, I smiled. This is everything I ever wanted: home, husband, kids, all of it. Dirty dishes and diapers are, for me, a dream come true. And I found myself praising God in the midst of it all.

Sure, I just sent my girls to bed in an effort to not hear them argue anymore. And sometimes I long for the kind of family I read about in homemaker books, you know, the kind who do what they're told immediately. But the one's I've got are pretty cool. And this is what parenting is all about, I think. Teaching them how to behave, interact, and get along.

I am going to fall into a coma-like sleep, however. And I could use a nice big cup of peppermint tea.