Muddy Spring

Sometimes I think the word "Mommy" sounds more like a cuss word on the lips of my beautiful children, than a title or even a name.  I don't know how to explain it other than the end of the day that overused word is just used up.  It is used to summon me from all kinds of tasks to all kinds of tasks.  Some days it just knocks me down.  Then things happen like my dearest friend comes and puts his arms around me as I sit on the couch staring out the window. 

Sometimes it's a book I read to my kids, like An Alcott Family  Christmas by Alexandra Wallner.  It reminded me of the importance of giving to others, even when you don't have a lot like the Alcott Family did giving their whole Christmas dinner away and having a regular every day meal instead.  It also brought up a question (and this from one of those little cussers I was just telling you about) "Can you read the poem the Dad wrote?"  Mr. Alcott had written a poem and he read it to the girls as part of their Christmas celebration.  It wasn't in the book, but it made me curious.  So I went looking for poems by Mr. Bronson Alcott.  I found some, but none that I was ready to share with this little boy of mine.  I did however find this little quote and I love it:

To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age ~Bronson Alcott.  That's something to strive for.

Then I'm introduced to this blog:  Chookooloonks.  It's written by Karen Walrond and she's just released a book:  The Beauty of Different.  I'm very intrigued by the book and loved what I read and saw on her blog.  When asked by Brene' Brown what she would like put on a t-shirt she said, "Wildly convinced you're uncommonly beautiful."  How does that make you feel?  Uncommonly beautiful?  Wouldn't it be cool if everyone could read that and think it?  Even better believe it?!

The other thing she shared on her blog that I love came from a talk by Brene' Brown. 

"Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" ~  Mary Anne Radmacher

Sometimes (lots of times) I need that kind of courage.

Finally as I was working on something I got a "Mommy" request for crayons.  I never turn that down.  So they went to work coloring and a few minutes later Mowg says, "Mom, we have a present for you."  I turned to look and he had something behind his back.  I tried to encourage him to save it until Christmas.  "No, we need to give it to you right now."  So they did.  They each handed me a piece of paper and said, "Look a rainbow!"  Here are my lovely rainbows:

Maybe "Mom's" not a cuss word after all.  Certainly not all of the time.

In holiday news I finally got some Pickled Mexican Carrots (recipe available here) going yesterday.  Three more days until we taste them.  It's going to be part of the gift we're giving folks.   Next up is Baklava.  We chopped nuts tonight, so tommorrow we might get truffle centers made as well.  We'll see.  There's also that pesky house cleaning that needs doing and more "settling in."  I'll let you know tommorrow, along with a few book recommendations for Christmas.