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...

SUPERMOMS

I just can't get over how amazing and inspiring all of your wonderful comments from the last post were. A big thanks goes out to our BOMs...Lauren, Rachel ,Jenni, Teryn and Lyndsay. Oh and thanks to Lynae for asking the question that got the results.

I found from reading your comments, that again, yes, we really are all in this together, and we're all undergoing the same trials and struggles as mothers. How wonderful to know this, and to have a reminder that our babies are only young for a little while and that we must do all we can do to enjoy and relish every single moment. I really liked that everyone seemed to keep echoing the thought of not being too hard on ourselves. We DON'T have to feel guilty for not getting it all done. It just really isn't a realistic thing and no, not one of us is a superwoman, but yes, each of us is a "supermom." (A note on that...have someone call you that once or twice and your mommy self esteem will be soaring. An old friend came to visit my family about a month ago. He hadn't seen me since college and I think it was a little weird for him to see me running around with my four kiddos. He kept calling me "supermom" and kind of joking about it. I decided to take it as a compliment.) Yes, that's what we are...SUPERMOMS. Anyone who is a mom has to be super. That's just a given. So maybe we don't do it all, maybe we have to squeeze in our scripture reading and prayers and maybe there are piles of sand on the floor, but just remember to let go of the guilt, do all you can to prioritize, set a schedule and routine (huge helper) and be loving to your littles. You know, I think it all falls into place from there. It will never be easy, but we CAN do it. Yes, we can.


If you haven't read the comments from the last post, do it and do it now. ;) Really, there are some great thoughts there for you.

Who Has Time For All This Anyway?

This week's post comes from a question from one of our BOMs. She is the mother of three girls, and I think the oldest might be four by now, hmm, maybe still three. I can only imagine how busy she is day after day after day. Her question is "How do busy moms do it?" (See the comment on the post "Sisters." ) How do you fit in your spiritual daily needs? We all know that they are necessary in order to stay on track and be able to handle our mothering duties with joy and love, but sometimes it does seem impossible to fit it all in.

Now, I know there are some of you out there that this isn't a challenge. You seem to just do it and handle it better than the rest of us. Really, I know who you are. I've seen you in action. So the question is how? Help us out. What is the secret to making it happen?

The forum is now open.

Happy 4th of July

Enjoy today with your families. Celebrate your freedom and teach your children why we have it. Start a tradition. Live a tradition. Be proud to be an American. God bless America.

Sisters

We are all sisters, and sisters love and help each other. I have been so overwhelmed at how much I have been affected by my so many of my sisters that have made such an amazing impact on me this week. It started with the comments from the last post (if you haven't read them, you need to-thank you BOM Brooke and BOM Maren), then it went to my friend that I was visiting teaching who gave me some insights that were just what I was needing, and then it continued as I opened an email from a friend sharing a wonderful email with me, and offering to let me use some of it for the blog.

So here is part of that email. I guess I didn't even pay attention to who wrote it, but thank you. Welcome to the BOM Clan. :)

Roxxy, our horse, delivered a healthy and beautiful little foal on Tuesday the 27th of May. She did it all on her own, no vet required! I asked! I arrived on the scene about an hour after the birth. It was amazing to me to see how attentive and responsible this first time mother was. Who trained her? How did she know how to behave toward this new miniature version of herself? She never left the side of the baby, knew right what to do to help the baby adjust to her new life and Roxxy also seemed to develop a new language just for the baby, different than anything I'd heard her voice before. It made me think about our natural abilities as mothers. God has given us all the attributes we need to be good mothers and if we have the desire, we can accomplish that task quite well. Mothers naturally seem to know if a child has a special need or is in trouble or hurting. I think it is a wonderful gift God gives to mothers.

How true is this! I loved it. All we need is the desire, because God has already given us the gift. The gift of motherhood and innate attributes and capabilities, allowing us to accomplish the task. To be a mother, could there be a greater gift?

Thank you to all my sisters that helped me to be a better mother this week.

Patience Please

Sometimes as a mother it is so hard to be patient. Why do we have to deal with the things we do sometimes? It's all part of being a mother, I guess. Although I don't have any great advice on how we can become more patient, David B. Haight offered these great words on the matter..."When a mohter exhibits these qualities of patience and unselfishness before her children and does it as though it was a privilege, she has said more to her children of her love for them than she ever could with words."

That goes back to the old saying, actions speak louder than words. Let's all try to enjoy this privilege of showing patience instead of losing it. Tell us what you did this week as you exemplified your love for your children through your actions of patience. (Am I the only one who could use a little more patience?)

Drum Roll Please...

T.S. May, it's your lucky day! You are the winner of our monthly drawing. Congratulations! You win the cute book from Lynae. Lucky! Email me and let me know the initial you want on the outside cover, and the address you want it shipped to. (btw...L4 in the picture is code for It's All About the LOVE, commentor #4)

Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and keep it up. Another month and another prize is coming your way. And let's not forget what it's really all about; mothers helping mothers. Oh and because Kambrie had so much fun drawing out the winner, she wanted to keep picking. So I let her...Jenni Foo Foo came in 2nd and Wade came in 3rd. Sorry, no consolation prizes, but I thought you wouldn't mind knowing that you were really close to winning :)

Lastly, don't be too disappointed if you really wanted that book and didn't win. Lynae will make you one. So check out our BOM Boutique to see how you can have your very own.

1st Ever Giveaway, Coming Right Up

So this will be yours if you're the lucky BOM that wins this month's giveaway. It's a dang cute little book meant for recording all the fun little things that your kids say and do that you want to remember, but never have anything on which you can write them. It was created by our beautifully ordinary mother, Lynae. Yours will have your initial on the cover, of course. Hope you win! :)

Eternal Role

There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood. ~Elder M. Russel Ballard

A couple days ago I was reading the talk where he said this and it really struck me. I love the entire talk and I think every mom should read it weekly, but for some reason this really stood out to me this time as I read. Just wanted to share.

Summer Fun

Smile. It's almost officially summer. Aren't many of your favorite childhood memories from those long summer days? What are you doing to make those fun childhood memories for your littles? Disney Land, Sea World, Lake Powell? Big vacations equal big fun, right? Great, that's all great, but don't forget to take time for the little things. Think about the things that you remember most as a little child. What made you happy? What made you smile? Popsicles, Kool-Aid, running through the sprinklers?

Last night we popped some popcorn and sat and watched a movie together (first time ever that I've watched an entire movie with my kids) and it was a lot of fun. I think I need to do that more often. Do you have a favorite, fun, simple little thing that you do with your kids that's creating those fun summer memories?

Comments Anyone?

Don't forget that the monthly prize will be randomly selected from the comments that have been posted. Our first prize giveaway is just around the corner. So don't forget to comment, and remember, it's mothers helping mothers here...you could have the perfect words for that mother needing you today.

Do it and do it now!

I've developed a new motto to live by after my procrastination kept me from sending my letter to my grandma...Do it and do it now! I'm one who tends to feel overwhelmed even by the smallest daily tasks, and I often let them build upon each other, piling them high in my mind of things that I need to do. So, I've decided to try to combat the procrastinating, anxiety causing, "I need to do that" way of living by taking action and doing it now. Give it a try, see if it works. If something comes to your mind that needs to be done, do it. Then you will be more free to focus better on the next thing that needs your attention, keeping that pile of things to do shorter and more easily accomplished.

If you have any ideas for me to help me conquer or at least cope with the busy life of a mother of four young kids, please, share your secrets. I could use all the help I can get.

Random Acts of Kindness

When I was in high school we were required to perform one random act of kindness a week for our Leadership Class. So I did. Sometimes they were definitely random, even sometimes a bit strange, usually they were simple, but always the recipient was grateful. So I had the opportunity to perform a random act of kindness this past weekend at a football game. My little Kambrie helped me out and we were able to make a difference in a family's night out at the game. It was a great feeling. Something that was so simple to me, I think made a big difference to them. I was happy that I acted on the feeling that I had to reach out and put into action the thought that had come into my mind. So many times I miss an opportunity to do something, even little as it may seem, that could help make a difference in someone's day.

Last Thursday I had the thought that I needed to write my Grandma a letter. I felt that it was important, so I did it right away. In the letter I expressed my heartfelt love and gratitude for her and the example she had been to me, along with the wonderful positive impact she has had on my life. I have truly been blessed to have her as my grandma and I wanted to let her know. Well, my grandma unexpectedly died today, and the letter still sits on my desk along with an envelope full of pictures addressed to Grandma D. Had I sent the letter the day I wrote it, or even the day after, Grandma would have read that letter and got to see the pictures that she so loved to get in the mail.

Although there is nothing I can do to change what happened, I can offer this plea to you. Act on those thoughts. Carry out those random acts. Do them as you are prompted. They will make a difference, I am sure.

It's All About the LOVE

Happy Mother's Day to all you B.O.M. Moms!

Speaking of Mother's Day. . . I received a gift from my mother-in-law that really meant a lot to me. It was a small book titled Love that Never Ends by Lucile Johnson. On the inside cover she left me a special message and she said, "...you are the best mother. How do I know this? Because you love your children. This book is great because it reminds us mothers that we don't have to be perfect to love our children and love is what counts." I couldn't have had a better reminder about what is so important in the lives of our children. LOVE, yes, simply love. Loving our children is what we must do in order to be the best moms, and better yet, we don't have to be perfect to love our children. Wow. Simple, profound, true.

Think about the love that you have for your children (I know it's immense) and strive to show them this love through simple actions. An extra hug, listening, really listening when they talk, making a favorite meal, playing a little catch or maybe singing or playing the piano with them, or anything else that you know they will love. Love them, simply love them.

So you have to check out the first ever comment on the last post from one of our beautifully ordinary mother's husband. It's pretty powerful.

Finally

I did it! I finally started my blog for mothers; beautifully ordinary mothers, just like me and you. I've been wanting to do this for a few months now, but have debated whether or not it would be a good idea, if it would have a good response, or if it would be worth my time. Then today, I finally decided, "why not?" If it ends up helping even just one mother by making her journey down the pathway of life a little bit better, a little bit easier or a little bit more worth it, then, yes, it would be worth it to me. Let's do it!