Somewhere

Somewhere someone has just found out she is going to become a mother. Somewhere someone has found out she won't. Somewhere a mother is crying for the loss of a pregnancy. Somewhere a mother isn't ready to be a mother. Somewhere a mother is giving birth. Somewhere a mother is sleep deprived. Somewhere a mother is staring into the eyes of a newborn. Somewhere a mother is picking cheerios up off the floor. Somewhere a mother is making sacrifices. Somewhere a mother is watching her baby learn to walk. Somewhere a mother is gently cleaning a booboo and covering it with a band aid. Somewhere a mother is rocking a sick child. Somewhere a mother is finding out she has cancer. Somewhere a mother is dying. Somewhere a mother is caring for her own mother. Somewhere a mother is ready to give up. Somewhere a mother is asking for help. Somewhere a mother is cleaning the house. Somewhere a mother is making a meal for her family. Somewhere a mother has finally found joy in the little things. Somewhere a mother is teaching her child. Somewhere a mother is being taught. Somewhere a mother is feeling proud. Somewhere a mother is being humiliated in the grocery store by her toddler. Somewhere a mother is feeling trapped. Somewhere a mother needs a break. Somewhere a mother is feeling rejuvenated. Somewhere a mother has found time for herself. Somewhere a mother is praying for her children. Somewhere a mother is praying for herself. Somewhere a mother is worrying. Somewhere a mother is doubting herself. Somewhere a mother is paving the way. Somewhere a mother is ready to take on the world. Somewhere a mother is being criticized. Somewhere a mother is losing her inhibitions. Somewhere a mother is feeling humbled. Somewhere a mother is reaching out. Somewhere a mother is helping another mother. Somewhere a mother is feeling unappreciated. Somewhere a mother is crying. Somewhere a mother needs to be held. Somewhere a mother is thinking of the future. Somewhere a mother is attending a graduation. Somewhere a mother is planning a wedding. Somewhere a mother is watching her own child become a parent. Somewhere a mother's long journey is coming to an end.

Motherhood has its ups and downs. For every mother I've ever observed, learned from, been close to - here's to the bumpy ride.

Just cause I want to remember it...

Adriana came home today all excited because she got to see President Obama's inauguration speech in school. She added, and I quote, "I saw him SWEAR, Mom!"

:)

Cute girl.

Alive and well...

... just not finding the time to post much these days. I do have a fun new project up at Out with the old and in with the new...

I'm training for another half marathon, so blogging time has become running time. I'll be back to posting again soon! The race is in 5ish weeks!

Repost: Gesu Bambino

Gesu Bambino

...my Christmas present to all of you! Yes, I guess that means I've been officially driven to "regifting"! Lol. You don't mind, do you?

In which I denounce crafting...

I've refinished the same Christmas gift about 3 times. I made a set of photo blocks for my mother-in-law. Super cute project. But I warn you, it is a pain in the _______ to make. In fact, I might even put that on the tag... "Merry Christmas, your present was a pain in the ______ to make! And peace on earth."

The instructions are to first, paint your wooden blocks - so that the edges or sides you don't use have a finished look. And I didn't do that. I applied my photos first and then painted the sides I chose not to use. Some black paints leave residual behind. And it gets on your fingers. And then it gets on your photos. And if you try to wipe it off the photos you'll take some of the finish off your photos. Even if you've applied a waterproof sealant like mod podge. So, buy good paint that does not rub off. Moving on...

Next you mod podge photos to a 4x4 set of wooden blocks (you dissect the photos to fit over 4 blocks on each side, and they fit together like a puzzle, in the shape of a cube... make sense?) You have the choice of just covering the outside of the cube with photos, or adding them to the inside as well, so that every side of each individual block has part of a picture on it, and every which way you turn the blocks they can form a picture.

Did you know how much mod podge likes to stick to itself? So, mistake #2, do not mod podge photos on the inside of the blocks, outside only. Okay. Moving on!

Before applying the photos it's important to make sure they face the way you want them too. So that your kids aren't upside down on one side, for example. Not as easy as it sounds, I am afraid. I felt like I needed my high school calculus teacher assisting me with this one. UGH!

Maybe it's just stress coming to a head. But I feel the insatiable urge to grab a few of those cute little "I took the handmade pledge" bloggy buttons and mame them. And forget baking anymore goodies, I'm regifting the zucchini-banana-pumpkin-whateverelseisinit bread, too! Hmph!