Loving My Flower Garden- In the House!!!

I am thoroughly enjoying my backyard flower garden inside! I figured that I don't get to the back enough to leave them outside...

And besides the beauty...

my house SMELLS amazing!!!

It's so hard to decide...

which I like best.

So I guess I will just have to enjoy them all!

I am so blessed!

And thank you to my beautiful daughter for giving me the PERFECT Mother's Day gift!

Surrounded by Mothers, Surrounded with Love!

I am so blessed to have so many mothers, and so much love, in my life!

My beautiful mother is the best example of everything I hope to be some day! She was so loving and kind, always... Just the type of person I hope to be when I finally grow up!

Sue is such a strong example of faith! She stepped in and gave my family the love we needed! I couldn't imagine my life without Sue in it!

Dee is the ultimate MIL in all the best ways! She is always so thoughtful and kind to me. (And she is the mother of the absolute perfect husband for me!)

My sisters are all so fabulous in their own ways! Each one is caring and kind!

A girl can never have too many sisters!

And then there are the newest mothers in the family...

They are both such loving mothers! 

I am so blessed to have so many mothers in my life!!!

My Cooking = My Life

I don't know about you, but this describes my life perfectly! And lately, it also describes my cooking...

Bread failure! In my defense, my bread machine decided it had had a long enough life- but this bread, especially the one on the right turned out just awful! Some days are just like this- not my fault but still awful!

And then there is my hummus mixed with romesco sauce- yum! I have wanted to try this combination since I first tasted the romesco, and it worked! So good!

Some days in life are like this, a mix of new things that turn out to be so good!

 And last, but not least, the tried and true favorite- risotto with roast asparagus- amazing!!!

I think a little bit of EVERY day can be this IF I take the time to look for it.

Like this  message left on my driveway one evening:

Life can be "breathtakingly beautiful"!

EVERY DAY!!!

World's Best Hashtag From Some of 'My' Girls!

Went out to walk early Monday morning and found this:

So LOVE it!!!

Not only do I get to play with these girls, but they like it too!!

I am one LUCKY aunt!

Making bubbles!

Science is cool!

My Very Own Piano Man!

Luke has begun to play the piano in the evenings now quite often. It helps him to relax.

Bonus: I LOVE IT!!!

And so does Claire!

And so does Ashtyn!

I am so blessed to have such a talented husband!

And he reads pretty well too...

True Love = Cleaning the Toilet

If you ask Luke how he is doing, he will always say, "Life is good!"

And he's right!

But life is also challenging...

With his CFS, Luke can choose to either help around the house or use his energy to work on getting well/making a living, etc.

So our house has become a 'magical' house!

We have a magical refrigerator, microwave and table!

Food just magically appears for Luke when needed.

We have a magical clothes hamper and chest of drawers!

Luke's dirty clothes disappear from the hamper and reappear when clean in the drawers.

We have a magical dishwasher!

Luke's dirty dishes disappear and reappear clean and full of food on the table.

The list goes on and on... And I do enjoy taking care of things I can to help Luke- but some days the list does seem to go on and on. Some days I don't quite feel like being magical.

SO it's a really good thing that I truly love Luke!

And I KNOW that he truly loves me too! After all, he is the man who surprised me with a 'magically' cleaned toilet- and to me, that is a sure sign of true love!

The Love of My Mother

And most mothers, really...

A blog post from my little girl explaining how, as a mom, you just do what needs to be done (http://justasahmom.blogspot.com/2016/02/as-mom-you-just-do-what-needs-to-be-done.html) really made me think about all of things my wonderful mother did for me when she was still alive.

One that stands above the rest:

It was after my divorce when I had been able to move back home with my kids. (Here's the story of why we were away from home: http://mostblessedsinglemom.blogspot.com/2011/05/repeat.html)

Eric was away to kindergarten, and I had the flu. I was so miserable and just wanted to sleep. But I was still 'Mom' to 3 year old Charly and 1 year old Jon- so I laid down on the couch and put in a video. I asked Charly to keep an eye on Jon and wake me up any time they needed something. Charly being the wonderful person she was (and still is) even at 3 decided that she wanted to help me by letting me sleep. So she was going to feed Jon!

I awoke to find them both in front of the open refrigerator, crying, surrounded by at least 3/4 of a gallon of milk and a dozen broken eggs on the floor all around and splashed on the two of them... and did I mention I had the flu?! 

I turned around and went to find the phone... 

My mother came to my rescue that day. My mother, who had by then been diagnosed with cancer, came right over to my house, bathed my children, fed my children, cleaned my kitchen- all while she allowed me to sleep. 

I know it was not easy for her to come to my rescue that day, but I am forever grateful that she did. I am forever grateful that she was able to come and show her love for me when I was at my limit. I am forever grateful that she was able to come and nurture my children when I could not.

Now when I reach my limit in life, I know that my mother is still there cheering me on, encouraging me to rest when needed, and always loving me as only a mother can love!