The Mother I've Always Hoped to be...

One Sunday morning, a teacher asked our class, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  I really can't recall what the other children's responses were... just my own.  "I want to be a mother, and I want to be married to a nice, handsome man.  Oh, and live in a nice home.  Oh, and have nice kids..."  That's where the memory fades.

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Children have a naive view of the world.  Or they should, anyway.  What I didn't realize at that young age, was just how tough it is to be a Mom...  Moms make sacrifices no child can fully comprehend.  I'm so grateful for my mother's...

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She cooked for us.  Not all homemade, from scratch meals... but we almost always had dinner together... without the television on.  We actually talked to each other about our day, and the others cared enough to listen.

She cleaned for us.  She kept our home clean and in working order.  If there were times our home was unkempt, it didn't stay that way for long.  Several times I remember family dropping by unannounced, only to find that, yet again, our house was as it should be.

She cared for us.  True love is shown when you put the needs of others before your own... without hesitation.  At the risk of becoming ill herself, Mom diligently watched over us while we fought off all sorts of sicknesses.  Pretty big risk considering: who takes care of a mother when she's sick?  When we were sad, she was there to lift us up with a hug and an encouraging word.  If we were scared, she was our comforter.

She went without.  Mom came from a family of seven children.  Most of her clothes were handed down from siblings or friends... so with her first job came a new wardrobe and eventually, a cute little car.  When she had me, priorities shifted.  She stopped buying stylish clothes in favor of more 'sensible' clothing.  Her car was sold in favor of a more "family friendly" one. 

She was there.  I knew I was never alone.  Simple as that. 

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In my eyes, I have all my young heart once desired.  I'll probably never know everything my mother went through for me... all the sacrifices made.  I'm grateful for her, and am so blessed to call her, "Mom."  She was... and is... the mother I've always hoped to be.

Thank you Mom, for everything... only you will truly know what that means.  

Closer to the Heart

The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Closer to the heart

Closer to the heart 

~RUSH

 

I consider myself an artist, although I have no formal training.  Yet, do we not consider children artists?  Before even entering preschool, children know what they create will be beautiful.  They scribble, finger-paint, and draw from the heart. 

At some point, we're designated artistically inclined... or not.  Those deemed not very artistic just give up in a sense... perhaps they focus their energy elsewhere.  That seems logical, until you think back to how every child began life a natural Picasso...

My drawing at 4 1/2 is probably not much different 
than yours were at this age.

Whether you're inspired to draw on the back of your to-do list, like me (daffodil sketch, done in blue ball-point pen) or paint on a blank canvas ~ if it comes from your heart... it will be beautiful.

So get out some paper, a coloring book... anything.  Release that inner 5 year old spirit and have a little fun.  

Remember, we were all born natural artists... and no training, formal or otherwise, can change that.

"For all my life, 

I have been learning to paint like a child." 

~Pablo Picasso

Trifle of a Centerpiece

The kitchen is a great place for reinventing utilitarian pieces in to something decorative.  Take a trifle bowl... you can use it to make layered desserts, dips, and salads, but speaking for myself... I don't use it very often.  So, I took it down from its place in the pantry, and made a centerpiece out of it.

The themes I kept in mind were: natural & beachy.  I didn't buy anything special... just searched around the house to put this display together.

Surprise!  The "tablecloth" is actually a cloth shower curtain.  I gathered it up on the ends to 1) hide the plastic strip at the top of the curtain 2) lend a casual feel.

Next I laid down a woven placemat (Katie Brown workshop, bought at Meijer's on sale a few weeks ago).  Then I centered the trifle bowl on the placemat and added 2 candles on either side... I tried the candles on upside-down sundae glasses and in small white bowls.  Both ways looked great, just use what you've got!

Now for the trifle bowl, the center of attention...  I found a tiny terra cotta pot (you could use any hard, small, level object) and centered it in the bottom.  Next I poured my old white button collection around it as filler...  If you don't have buttons, consider using shells or light-colored rocks.  On top of the terra cotta pot, I centered a rusty metal lid from an old 'Saltines' tin... you could use any small metal lid.  I centered a pillar candle on the lid and finished the arrangement by weaving in pearly branches I usually bring out at Christmas...

 

That's it!  It doesn't take much to make a special table display...
without spending a bundle.  Take a look around your home and get creating!

“You can’t use up creativity. 
The more you use, the more you have.” 

~ Maya Angelou ~