I can complain because 

Rose bushes have thorns 

Or I can rejoice because 

Thorny bushes have roses.

If I had my Child to Raise Over Again,

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I'd run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

Author unknown

My House Is . . .

Clean Enough To Be Healthy

&

Dirty Enough To Be Happy

Real Mothers

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Teal Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpet. 

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, "because I love you best."

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured b height or years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom . . .

The Images of Mother . . .  (As read in Ann Landers column)

4 years of Age:  My Mommy can do anything!

8 Years of Age:  My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 Years of Age: My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 Years of Age:  Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 Years of Age:  Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 Years of Age:  That old woman? She's way out of date.

25 Years of Age:  Well, she might know a little bit about it.

35 Years of Age:  Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 Years of Age:  Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

The Only Reason this got done is that I didn't know it couldn't be done until I'd already done it.

Thank you God . . .

for standing by me so far this day,

With your help, I haven't been impatient, grumpy, judgmental, or lost my temper.

But . . .

I'll be getting out of bed soon, and I'll really be needing your help even more.

"Just Breathe."

Drew Barrymore in Ever After

DON’T QUIT

Don’t quit when the tide is lowest,

For it’s just about to turn;

Don’t quit over doubts and questions,

For there’s something you may learn.

Don’t quit when the night is darkest,

For it’s just a while ‘til dawn;

Don’t quit when you’ve run the farthest,

for the race is almost won.

Don’t quit when the hill is steepest,

For your goal is almost nigh;

Don’t quit, for you’re not a failure

Until you fail to try.

"And I know what I have to do now. I have to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"

Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks)-Cast Away

"No, you submit, do you hear? You be strong, you survive . . . You stay alive, no matter what occurs!"

Hawkeye-The Last of the Mohicans

The Happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.