Flower + Stripe Coasters

I had a ton of posts to share for Mother's Day but as usual...family life has caught up with me. I have so many ideas that I jot down in the notes section of my phone that never see the light of day.  But this is one that made the cut.  I wanted ideas for Mother's day that could be done last minute. And I get to combine my love of stripes and flowers. Win-win.

A Letter to those of you in my Heart on Mother's Day

Dear Sweet Friends,
As many of you know, I have a very tender heart for so many women on Mother's Day.  I wish many of you a happy one as you cherish those precious blessings in your life.

My own day started so sweet as I opened  hand picked gifts from both my girls.  They each got me gum, picked out precious cards and wrote in their endearingly sweet handwriting of a child. They drew me beautiful pictures that I look at with a heart that swells with a love I did not know possible.

My oldest picked out a hot pink cell phone case for me knowing mine was broken.  And my youngest got me a hot pink set of tools.  I know I will be a smiling fool whacking at some nails with that delicious pink hammer some day soon. Those girls are so precious. They even picked out flip flops for me.  Ella chose green (her favorite color) and Cati chose pink (her favorite color).  When I got dressed for the day, I could not choose which ones to wear.

So I wore both. ♥

Who knew what a mother's heart will do for her precious babies? People looked at my feet and then at me like I was a complete nut but so be it. I am nuts...about my girls!

But my heart typically focuses on many women whose pain was great today.  For many years, this day brought me pain as I ached for a baby.  As I prayed year after year to be called that beautiful name that would belong only to me from my own precious child...Mommy. This day was one where I would wish the hours away, avert my eyes from the the bouquets of flowers being bought or received, or sadly witness happy families with the mother (yet again) bursting with child as they ushered their other children here and there. Sitting with pain and an odd sense of shame as mother's were asked to stand in church to be honored for their so coveted role and title.

It was typically a dark day year after year.

So today is the day I stand up for women who I share a bond with for always.  Where this day brings pain, grief, and maybe even anger.  Because I have walked in your pain.  And carry a bit with me now so I will never forget my journey. Or your fragile heart as you courageously work out these emotions in your heart.

To you...

Women (and men) who have lost their mother in death.

Mother's who have lost a child to death or miscarriage.

Mother's who are not yet mother's because they are waiting for God to bless them by conceiving yet in their hearts they are a mother already without a baby to hold.

Mother's who anxiously wait to adopt and still have not wrapped their arms around their babies and ache for them to be home soon.

Mother's who have courageously given their children up for adoption knowing they will have a better life.

Mother's who may be estranged from their children or vice versa due to past hurts and mistakes.

For you I stand because I have a special place in my heart for you.  

Today I prayed for you all day. 

Loving you without knowing your name and seeing your precious face. But knowing you are there. Praying that this day will somehow bring you peace and a knowing of God's perfect love.

My daughter's birth mother was on my mind a lot too.  

Does she miss her?  Is her heart full of regret?  

I know she has other children she has lost too. Sadly, due to poor choices.  

Does she feel like a childless mother?  Does she know that her ultimate, sacrficial decision allowed me to gain that glorious name...that her birth child made ME a mother? Does she know? 

So I prayed.

For her and each and every one of you.

With more love in my heart then you may ever even know.

And I stand for you this day letting you know that a person you have never met...honored YOU.

Lots of love and blessings,

Jessica

For those who may experience a bit of sorrow today...

I am incredibly blessed to be a mother to these two girls...

My Two Shades of Pink.

But I think this particular day holds special meaning for me since my journey to motherhood was a long and hard one.  I remember I would skip church every Mother's Day because each time during church the pastor would have all the mothers stand up to be acknowledged and clapped for. 

Oh, how I would ache to stand with all of these women.  I wanted desperately to call a child my own and finally have the title of...Mommy.

I would imagine the first time I would whisper those words to my baby..."Mommy loves you...Mommy's here."  Or the first time I would hear a child call me "Mama." And that child would give me the greatest gift because that title would be reserved for only me.

And as I spent a lovely day with my daughters who made me berry pancakes that were slightly undercooked, where I smiled and told them they were the best pancakes I ever tasted, I could not help but think about this day that may bring sorrow for some women.  Women who I can relate to in ways that bond me to them instantly.  Who feel a yearning so deep, so personal, so raw...that it brings emotions to the fore that they did not even know existed.

These are mother's who are waiting or aching for their children.

Their journey's are all unique and all their own.  Some are wading through the deep and sometimes murky waters of infertility. They are passionately seeking every opportunity to conceive a child.  A hope for a tiny little life to grow inside them.

Some are waiting for a child to adopt who has grown in their heart.  Who has been prayed for, thought about, and intensely wanted.   They may live in another country and their only connection is paperwork that is worn from reading over and over and a photo that is bittersweet to gaze upon since a "what if" may hang over it.

Or perhaps a child is a foster child, living in their homes, in their arms, yet the certainty of adoption still far off.  They love this child day in and day out yet not know if this will be the child to call their own.  Or foster parents who open their hearts and homes to children they know will one day leave. To a better place.  Or a worse one.

Or a mother who has lost a child. Who's heart is never fully whole again because the loss is so devastating and life altering.  That not just on Mother's Day but daily they live with missing a child they can no longer hold or watch grow up to fulfill their dreams.  

Today I am thinking and praying for you.  Since I understand your pain acutely. My story is unique and all my own.  And so is yours. But I feel a kinship and a sisterhood to these women where today may not be as joyful and easy.  I have never forgotten my journey nor grown less sensitive to what it feels like to be a mother aching for a child...in whatever form it takes.

So as much as I celebrate being a mom to my precious girls...I also want to say I am thinking of you courageous, wonderful women.  My heart is filled with love and prayer for you.

And at this moment I am standing up to recognize YOU. 

So much love and hugs to all of you!

Guest Posting at Free Pretty Things For You!

Happy Monday everyone!

Just wanted to let you know I am guest posting today at Free Pretty Things For You to share a tutorial on how to make a Mother's Day Balloon Pocket Card. 

 You may remember this card I did for the Thanksgiving issue of Good Living Magazine.

Now this one is more GIRLY..perfect for Mom's Day!

I even included a selection of printable tags and the template for the card!   

Tons of fun!

Click here to download

Click here to download.

So go check it out and tell me what you think!

Chiffon Corsage: Good Living Magazine Project 3

Nope.  I  did not publish the wrong post by mistake and I do realize Mother's Day is almost 2 months away.
It IS a tad early to be featuring this but the magazine issue comes out this month and the next issue will not be until Summer.  So it needed to be on the blog for the tutorial and well...that's that. :)

We have all seen this flower craze ebb and flow but what I love about these flowers corsages is they are so delicate, feminine, and completely appropriate on a day like Easter and especially Mother's Day.  Who wouldn't love a handmade gift like this to treasure for always and not just for one day?

 I love these so much!  They have a modern feel without feeling too overdone.
Another bonus?

They are incredibly light on your wrist!

 This yummy grey and brown combo is just so pretty!

Here is how you make one...

 

 I will try to re-post this one closer to Mother's Day.  

Hugs and smiles to each of you dear friends!  

All of you bless my socks off!

linking to:

 

Good Living Magazine: Paper & Button Flowers Project 2

These adorable flowers evolved from an entirely different idea and I am so glad they did.  I seem to do that constantly.  And every time I look at these, I feel happy.

So I do a happy dance. 

I know that buttons and paper flowers are not a new concept.  But I like the simplicity of this project that can appeal to all ages.  PLUS...I wanted something classy smooshed with super, duper, wuper EASY!  

No Sew Eyeglasses Case: Good Living Magazine Project #1

 

 I am so excited to share this easy peasy tutorial!  

I have gone back and forth on when to post these projects but the magazine I craft for has been a bit ambiguous on their actual print date but the article and three crafts I made direct back to this blog for the tutorials in the march archives.  And they are more geared towards Easter and Mother's Day so sorry if this is kind of early. But having finished tutorial posts just sitting there waiting to be published is hard!

So here is Project #1:

 This is actually a spin off  of a craft I did last year around this time.  

You might  remember this one below...

An eyeglasses case made from a potholder!