I wish you,
Clocks that run slowly
As the years pass by
And music played softly
For you to dream by.
I wish you,
New seasons and dreams
With your love close by;
Starshine and moonbeams,
Blessings from on high.
I wish you,
All the joy a heart can hold
With faith to lead the way;
Wishes come true–a hundred-fold
And a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.
~Irene Lawson
I’m a mom.
That’s why I cried when I went through Davy-do’s backpack yesterday and found treasures that he made me in school…
treasures like this:
I laughed and cried over this next one…you should have seen David’s bright eyes when I stood up and showed his brothers and sister this page. I carried it around with me yesterday afternoon to look at over and over.
David thinks I make the best brownies! Look at my hair and my green dress! I do declare, I’m swinging my hips! I’m happy and dancing! And I’m carrying my brownies high on a platter! This picture is going to be framed and put in the kitchen.
He also brought me home a teabag with instructions to drink it with him.
So we did, right away. It was peach tea. He chose it himself.
I went shopping yesterday and bought Sethie some new sleepers. I like the 3-in-a-pack Gerber sleepers that ZIP instead of snap…(those crazy numerous snaps on sleepers stress me out!). He is wearing size 6-9 months now! I also bought 7 bibs, because he drools so much.
Seth slept all night again last night (for the 2nd time). Rich went to get him out of his bed at about 5:30 and I fed him in bed with us and he slept some more.
Last night, Rich took some pictures of me with the children.
Caleb makes me laugh in this one, because of his rolling eyes, his silly grin, and his foot in brother’s lap.
BECAUSE I’M A MOM:
I have to remove rubber duckies from the tub before I take my bath.
I hurt my feet by stepping on legos and army men.
I’ve gotten used to the sound of the boys fighting with their light sabors.
I find myself humming “Thomas the Tank Engine” songs. AND I know ALL the names of the trains.
I get excited over light-up sneakers.
I laugh A LOT.
I cry sometimes, too.
I became a photographer.
I make a lot of cookies.
I make the best brownies.
I’ve watched Toy Story more times than I can count.
I care about the nutritional content of canned fruit.
Seeing how tall my boys are getting makes me want to cry.
I would do anything to keep my children safe.
I see things with new eyes.
I experience intense emotion.
I can’t let the medicine cupboard run out of bandaids.
I do laundry so much, I can do it without thinking.
I can’t do anything or go anywhere without thinking of THEM.
I’ve found 1001 more ways to love my husband.
I’ve discovered my own weakness and strengths.
I’ve read The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Mother Goose, The Little Red Hen, and other favorite books hundreds of times.
I’ve learned to trust in God in ways I never would if I didn’t have children.
I understand my own mother better.
I cry over sappy commercials. (just like she does)
I home-school.
I’m tired.
I think about sleep too much.
I didn’t know it was possible to feel so fulfilled and content, yet weak and inadequate at the same time.
Verses for mothers (or, answers to the question I get asked a lot, “How do you do it?”)
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of GOD.” 
; 11 Cor. 3:4,5
“My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalms 121:2,3
“I can do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
“And he said unto me, My grace is suffiient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 11 Cor. 12:9
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Do I hear an AMEN?
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you for reading me stories
And taking care of me.
Thank you for tying my shoes
And putting bandages on my knee.
Thank you for tucking me into bed
And kissing me good night
Thank you so much for all your hugs
And holding my hand so tight.
Thank you for being my mommy
And that’s not all I have to say.
Thank you so much for all you do
And have a Happy Mother’s Day!
(from David’s book he made me)
Good to be Home 
I love Seth’s faces! He is sooo expressive!such a cute little book from David…
ah, what a great post Shanda! And you have the most lovely of families, and I love the pictures of you with the children! Priceless! and, btw, you look amazing for having had so many little ones! 🙂 have a wonderful day tomorrow!!
Oh the pictures of you with the children are precious. I love the one with your backs to the house the best. Seth is growing so fast and has such a sweet personality behind those eyes. And I love your list “Because I’m A Mom”, it’s all so true, so painfully and gloriously true. Have a happy Mother’s Day Shanda.
Love the pictures! Beautiful!!! Have a Blessed Mothers Day! Robin ~
1) Seth is so “grown up!”2) The picture of you in your “green” dress is perfect!3) I love the fact you hum children’s songs and know all the stories.4) The picture of your family and house is just like you – delicious and beautiful. (I bet your brownies are too!)HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, SHANDA!!!!
SETH looks different. his face is changed so much! but still so cute =) he looks like caleb and david!
Happy Mother’s day to you! Love the family pictures–especially the second one where it shows all of you’re personalities 🙂
Aren’t those years, when they are little, precious? They make the greatest purest pictures. That is a beautiful family photo of you all~
Happy Mama’s Day~ Cinnamon
Shanda….your post said it all. You captured the essence of a mothers heart in your words. 😉
Oh my goodness I LOVELOVELOVE the picture of your hip swinging little self advertising your brownies!!! 🙂
Loved this post. You are a lovely woman and of what I can tell, the delight you display to your children in their every accomplishment is something that will last with them a lifetime. It is never wasted. Happy Mother’s day to you.
Wonderful mother’s day pictures to cherish!
Lovely post, Shan! David’s book is so sweet, and the illustration of you with your brownies is priceless. The pictures are great! I really like the second one of you all together. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! You are so blessed. Love ya!
In David’s picture you also kinda look like you are walking on a high wire, which moms do feel like they are doing from time to time. (A real “balancing act”) Sethie has his brother’s chin! Or is it Rich’s? Happy Mother’s Day! I especially love the photos with you and all your sweet babies.
Love David’s artwork and picture of mom serving up her best brownies! You are so smart to have tea right away. Cute little faces of Seth. So glad he is sleeping at night…or beginning to My Nicky drooled a lot too and always had a little bib on to soak it up. Lovely post and pictures of all of you on the green green lawn. I enjoyed hearing all about being a mom, I relate to soooo many things you said. God bless you and happy Mother’s Day. love, Jenny
Beautiful! Family! Photos! Words!
I love the mom and kids picture!. Seth is soooo cute..I love his big eyes! He reminds me a little of Jacob. 😉 Happy Mother’s Day my friend who is blessed 6x! Have a great day tomorrow!
Aw, this is all very sweet. I love Seth’s expressive face, and David’s cute drawings. So sweet. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! This is a great post! I love the story and verses! Enjoy your special day with your special blessings!
Oh how wonderful!! I love the photos… especially the one of you with your children in front of your lovely home. I have to say, I am a bit jealous of your HUGE front porch!! I would like to have one like that when I have a home of my own :)You’re a wonderful mother to your children, and a wonderful wife to your husband… thank you for sharing your days with me – you have blessed me and I have learned so much from you :)Have a WONDERFUL Mother’s Day tomorrow 😀
LOVE this post~ little david’s picture of you is the sweetest. those are treasures for certain.happy mom’s day dear friend. ❤
Caleb is such a character. His pictures always make me chuckle. 🙂 Seth is getting so BIG and he looks so happy. The other children make me smile. What precious Mother’s Day gift from David. You are one very blessed Mama. :)Hope you have a wonderful Mother Day!
Tell Rich the picture of you, the children and the house is OUTSTANDING! You have to get it printed for him to take to work Then the horizontal photo of you and Seth is just tooo cute
Now back to the top…the school gifts from Davey-do are so precious…especially the dancing brownie momHave a blessed Mother’s Day Shanda
I love how you wrote your list, and read it twice..Because I am a mom, I am already thinking of things I would add to my own list!
A mother’s day gift for you~ one of my favorite children’s illustrators with fun activites and tons of coloring pages: http://www.janbrett.com
What a wonderful post. Happy Mother’s day to you as well!
Love the last photo with the house in the background–have a wonderful Mother’s Day enjoying all of your babies, from the tallest to the smallest!! Cheers to you mama!
Loved that post!! Don’t you just like those drawings of you by your children. Sometimes I think…do they really think I look that fat, that thin, is my hair really like that to them….Hee Hee. I feel blessed to have someone call me MOM. I’m sure you feel that blessing too. Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for encouraging me as a mom!!
your posts often make me get all teary eyed! This was one of them!
Happy mothers day!
Happy Mother’s Day! I love the pics, but especially the third one of Seth ~ his expression is priceless! Have a great day!
Happy Mother’s Day!!! I liked the post 😛
Thank you so much for the verses… so many times I get asked “How I do it?” and I don’t know how to respond… I am not doing it, I have had some miserable days! I am trying to learn that it isn’t working because I am trying to do it in my own strength. These verses are JUST what I needed!So AMEN, and AMEN!!
Hi! I haven’t commented here in a while. I have been so bad with blogging but there are a few online places that call me back… your site is one of them. Thank you for this lovely post. That last picture of you with your children in front of your home is priceless. It freezes you in time. Years from now, your great grandaughter may come across it and that picture may be a cherished reminder of the heritage of your family. What a legacy you are leaving. Thanks for the poems and verses you shared – a warm and cozy balm for this mother’s heart. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Happy Belated mothers day shan! David’s gifts are so cute! You have such precious children and you are wonderful mother. Love you, Lish
You can’t fool us. We all know you wear piggy tails and dance around the kitchen with your plate of brownies. :o) The card was SOOO cute! I loved it! Beautiful picture of you in front of your house with all your kiddos! I imagine you’ll have a similar picture in about 15 years. You will have all those strapping young men with their arms around you, and a beautiful daughter at your side. Oh and I can’t go yet without mentioning your little Seth. What a beautiful little baby! I loved his raised eyebrows in the one picture.
You certainly are a blessed Mommy, and your children are so blessed to have you!! The mom-with-brownies drawing is to be cherished!!
love your swingin’ hips : ) you have such style! beautiful post. God is so good and faithful. loved your because i’m a mom list – with a few alterations its perfectly true of me as well. seth is growing! makes me all the more excited to meet our new baby!blessings to you all the way across the states ~