As A Big Sister Should Be...

So, obviously I haven't posted in years...okay, so months, but it feels like years. Anyway, I've pretty much decided that as a mother of five busy little ones, I have to cut out some of the things that I do that distract me from being a better mommy, and one of them is blogging. Not that blogging is a terrible thing or anything, in fact I've been able to learn so much and benefitted from the many blogs that I've wandered on to over the past year and a half since I discovered the world of blogging. It's just that as many of you may know, blogging can be so addicting and time consuming!! And well, to be honest, free time isn't something that I have a lot of anymore. When I do have time to spare, or when I stay up extra late to try and get something done, I've been finding myself doing things like sewing, looking at or taking pictures or shopping for the best deals or figuring out what present I can make and give to someone...all things that I do to feed my monster that craves to be told that he has accomplished something good, something worthwhile and has reason to be proud. Which brings me to the topic of this post.

So I was talking to my older sister on the phone the other day and I was telling her what I could make for her to give to her friend when she has her baby. The day before I had finished making a wipes case and a changing pad that I was pretty excited about, and I was telling her about my new found hobby of sewing. She said to me that she thought it was cool that I had something that I did for myself and I had things I did besides just get lost in the lives of my kids. She went on to tell me that she just lives for her kids and all she ever does is stuff for her kids. Well, knowing my sister, I know that this is totally true and although she was saying it as if it was a bad thing, in my mind I was thinking how cool it was and how I wish I could be more like her.

Now I'm not saying that as a mother you should never do anything for yourself or be totally overly consumed with your kids and their lives, but I will say that having them as your priority is definitely a good thing. In fact, this is really the reason why I started this blog in the first place, to convince or remind me and anyone else who cared to listen, that being a mother is a most wonderful accomplishment and something that deserves great applause and commending and praise. I think, at least for me anyway, that it's so easy to get lost in the everyday things of the world that sometimes it's too easily forgotten that our sacred role as mothers is the most amazing and wonderful thing that we can be devoting our time and attentions to. It took my sister to remind me of this again when we had our conversation the other night. There she was, as a big sister should be, a great example to me and a reminder of what is most important, my children. After all, when all is said and done, what would I most want people to remember or say about me? Certainly not "She really could sew," or "She sure could take great pictures" or "Do you remember that time when she got that sweet deal on that $70 blessing outfit for only $3.50?" Now, I'm not saying that I can sew or take great pictures, but I do get some great deals, lol ;) Anyway, what I do hope someone will say about me is "She was a great mom." Ultimately that is my biggest goal in life, but it is so easy to become distracted by all the many other things that are out there pulling me in so many directions. Blogging for me is one of those things, and that's why I've decided to close this blog, for now anyway. Obviously it's not like I've spent much time blogging on this blog in the past nine months, but just having it in the back of my mind knowing that it's here for me to blog on just leaves one more thing on my to do list left undone. So, if I officially say "I'm done" I'll feel better about not posting. I think I might have one more post brewing, but after that I'll be done.

In the meantime, thanks to my big sis. Thanks for the reminder on how wonderful and commendable it is to be a mother and to live to make your kids happy and comfortable. That is what Tara does and I love her and am grateful for her amazing example to me on how to be "a great mom."

"You Don't Have to Move the Piano By Yourself"

We talked about this in church today. Although the main point of it was focused on callings and the importance of them and performing them to your fullest, I received another message along with the one that was intended.

I have been somewhat overwhelmed lately with the thought of having another baby in the next two months. I've been asking myself and wondering "How am I possibly going to do this?" Obviously it's a little late now, but I can't help but worrying about my ability to mother five children that are all in much need of care and teaching and guidance and love and so on. So the thought came to me that my piano at this point is raising my children, and that I don't have to do it by myself. I can and should and need to let others help me. Others like my husband, my own kids, my neighbors, my friends, my parents and other family members, ward members, and really, anyone who is willing to help, but most importantly, my Heavenly Father. For it is His help that will guide me in the most important ways to do the things that I must do in order to raise these precious children of His.

These thoughts also brought to mind an email that I received from a BOM that expressed some of the things that she is grateful for as a mother. I thought I would share some of that with you.

*Thanks for girls nights, understanding strangers and real moms/friends

*A woman at the grocery store who returned my cart, or the man who let me get in front of him in the checkout line. Those little things mean so much...

*More than anything, I'm particularly grateful this year for real friends. I've always heard that it takes a village to raise a child, but what I didn't realize was that it also takes an army of strong, compasionate women to raise a mother.These are the women who get up before dawn to run/workout with me because they know it's good for my sanity and my body, or who stop by with CHOCOLATE for no reason. These amazing women are there to babysit when I'm in a bind, schedule playdates when I'm bored and listen to me vent when I'm done ripping up the useless parenting magazine that says I should make my own scrapbook paper out of twine and toilet paper while looking beautiful with my equally gorgeous children laughing and rolling around on white carpet. So, 'thanks' to all the wonderful women in my life who are helping me in so may little ways as I navigate the ups and downs of motherhood. I couldn't do it alone.

Thanks, Shala, for sharing with us, and for allowing others to help you in your quest, lifting your piano, and being the amazing mother that I know you are.

Let us all be there to help lift the pianos of other mothers in need, and also be willing to let others help us. We might be able to do it alone, but the load will be so much lighter if we accept some help along the way.

Priceless Moments

Photo by Kellie Larsen of Elements Photography. To see more amazing work by Southern Utah's Unique Newborn and Child Photographer visit her blog here.

Becuase I still have a few faithfull bloggers that are stopping by to check in after my lapses in updating the BOM blog, I want to keep posting little thoughts here and there. I know there is nothing worse than opening a blog only to find the same post that has been there the last time you checked and the last time and the last time...So I'll continue posting, as long as you continue reading.

"Take advantage of everyday teaching moments. These moments are priceless. They come when we are working, playing, and struggling together. When they come, the Spirit of the Lord can help us know what to say and help our children accept our teaching." ~Robert D. Hales

The Secret Journal

The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum

Has anybody read this book? I just did, and I LOVED it!! Seriously, once I started I had to read at any possible chance I could, and I finished it in a day. This is coming from someone that hasn't taken the time to read a novel since English class my senior year in high school. Really, it was that good. So go buy it or check it out at the library. I hope you like it as much as I did. Oh, and it's not a book that you have to feel guilty about neglecting your kids to read. I'm sure it will inspire and uplift you each in a different way...oh, just take my word for it. Read it!

Golden Girls

So did any of you follow the beach volleyball in the Olympics like I did? It was fun watching both the men and women from our wonderful country represent and represent well. My congratulations goes out to the GOLDEN GIRLS for their second consecutive gold medal. Incredible. That is some amazing talent. Just wanted to let you all know though, in case you missed their victory speech...You have something that they don't have, babies! Yep, Kerri announced that they "both want to have a baby so bad." (Probably not an exact quote, but it was something like that.) So smile today because you have something that even our gold medalists want, and don't have yet. They've got gold, but you've got a baby. :) Maybe we'll have to invite them to blog with us when they do become moms. They could help us with our kills, saves and amazing beach bodies, and we could help them ease into the life of a mother. Ooh, I hope they don't get morning sickness when they're pregnant. That would not be good.

Congratulations...

Lauren Horsley, you are the random winner of our monthly giveaway. Exciting! Email me your mailing address and I'll send you the book. Enjoy! beautifullyordinarymother@gmail.com

New Winner...Well, Almost

So my last survey asked if you felt like you get enough sleep. My vote was a big fat NO! Most of us voted no, but I was happy to see that there are a few of you out there that seem to be getting your beauty rest and a few more that sometimes are getting enough shut eye.

The reason I asked was because I recently read (in one of my fav books) about how important it is to get the right amount of sleep. It totally opened my eyes to a lot of the problems that I was encountering in my day to day life. Debra Sansing Woods says in her wonderful book It's Okay to Take a Nap and Other Reassuring Truths for Mothers Everywhere, "The reality is that being short on sleep makes me far less than my best self. In other words, when I'm exhausted, I tend to be impatient, critical, and just generally grumpy with my kids." Oh man, I want to just read the rest of what she has to say about it, but it would totally make me go over on my allotted blogging time for the day. (I think I'm already over anyway, Oops!) Anyway, what she had to say made such an impact on me that I vowed to try and go to bed every night at 10:00pm. I've only done it, oh maybe once or twice since then, but I'm still working on doing just that. Why? Because it really did make a noticeable difference in my days when I was able to get the right amount of sleep at the right time. I highly recommend your trying it too. See if it works for you. Oh, and I also highly recommend getting this book. It's filled with great advice for all of us mothers.

For one of our lucky BOMs, this book is this month's prize. I might even be able to get it signed by the author. Yeah! I'll announce the winner soon. Stay tuned...