There’s a seven year age gap between my youngest and oldest. As my older kids get more involved in school,  music lessons, orthodontic appointments, etc, my youngest trails behind them and waits. It’s just part of being a little sister.

We’ve been going to the same Pediatrician since my oldest kids were 1 and 3 years old. (They are now 10 and 12). I love our amazing doctor! Her office is always bustling, but the staff makes the wait more bearable with sticker scene sheets. I like to borrow good idea.

They have been keeping my kids occupied for years (my big kids still like them when they have to wait). When we travel or have get stuck in an office, these stickers come in handy!

They are perfect for the car, a restaurant, even church. I have a variety tucked away for our 24 hours of flying in a few weeks.

They usually come in a pack of a dozen and you can create a new scene every time.

Here are some of our favorites from *Amazon: Safari Sticker Scenes, Make-A-Race Car Sticker Scenes, He Lives! Make-A-Sticker Scenes, Make-A-Farm Stickers and you can get a Mega Pack Assortment from Oriental Trading.

Stickers work for us! *affiliate

WFMW: Stickers to the Rescue is a post from: We are THAT Family

The walls are peppered with more than decor: Inspirational art makes a statement and issues a challenge.

I made a decision a long time ago that I would only hang what inspires me. From my kids handmade art in the laundry room to the canvas cross in the kitchen to the tree of life in the bathroom, I can’t tell you how many times in a day I’m encouraged by inspirational art.

I want you to be too.

I love Show Off Arts newest pieces:

Show Off Arts is one of my absolute favorites! Not only is their story (behind the art) beautiful, their products are fun and warm and truly inspirational!

Today, Show Off Arts is offering one reader a $50 gift certificate for anything in their store, plus free shipping. Plus, all my readers can receive an extra 20% off with code watf20

Take a look around and leave a comment with what art inspires you.

This giveaway ends on Thursday.

Art to Inspire {Giveaway} is a post from: We are THAT Family

We are not cat people.

But apparently we have bleeding hearts and so we responded to a desperate email from the shelter that was going to destroy hundreds of animals abandoned or found during the storm.

It’s been four years and our dog still hates our cat. I mean there is some serious animal hatred here, people. They randomly knock over furniture, spit and claw and cause havoc.  The last two years with our trips to Africa and running a non-profit from our dining room-turned-home office and the Mercy Shop in our garage, our life has gotten busy and hectic and fuller and well, crazy.

Crazy is our normal.

It’s still hard for this Type A mom to write those words. But it’s true, there is constant crisis and God uses our circumstances and His dream to stretch me every day. Plus, throw in three growing kids, jobs, etc, our pets are low on the totem pole.

So, back to the cat. This might be going somewhere, I haven’t decided yet.

Lately, we have been traveling a lot, speaking on behalf of Mercy House among other things and to put it lightly, our cat upped the ante.

He has defiled my favorite chair three times.

In desperation, I actually Googled why is my cat pooping on my chair?

It took me to an article called If Your Cat is Pooping On Your Chair, It’s a Serious Sign of Distress.

I couldn’t make that up even if I wanted to. It went on to say that loneliness and stress were factors.

Now, look away animal lovers: I cannot afford new furniture every time we travel because our cat has anger and loneliness issues. So, after a lot of talking and Googling, we made the tough decision that it was time for our cat to find a new home. One without a dog or a maternity home.

But when it actually came time to give him away, our kids begged and pleaded to give him another chance. Here’s this innocent animal in a pet carrier inside my hubby’s car and my kids are hysterical in the driveway. They promised to show him attention, to guard my chair with their life, to make our pets a priority (basically give them food and water). Suddenly, I even found myself advocating for this dumb animal.

We turned him loose in the house.

They spent the next two hours creating a cat habitat, making pom pom toys and brushing him. It was hilarious and heartbreaking. They went from “we have a cat?” to “our life is about that cat.”

It was sweet.

And really, really crazy.

Just a regular day around here…and probably just the beginning of our cat problems.

That night when all the chaos calmed, I hugged my husband tight and said, “I’m glad the kids talked us out of it. I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, um cat.”

Oh, and I ordered this infomercial chair alarm for $19.99 from Amazon. Because y’all, I love that chair (which has remained odor and poop free since we gave the cat a second chance).

So, really this post has nothing to do with a cat (who is now purring in my lap as I type this), but it’s really about second chances, refocusing, and not letting the crazy completely take over.

The end.

And if you made it to the bottom of this ridiculous post, you have been rewarded with this hilarious quote by a woman I know would look at my crazy and be all “Pshaw…that’s nothing!”

8×10 Printable Mom Quote

For When the Crazy Takes Over is a post from: We are THAT Family

I sat in the back row of the church where my husband and I worked.  It wasn’t our normal spot. But this wasn’t a normal day. It was one I dreaded:  I was grieving. I kept my head down and silent tears splashed.  The choir sang, everyone dressed in their best. There was light-hearted joy in the room. I could sense it, but I couldn’t feel it. I tried to be invisible in my dark place, willing people to look away.

I couldn’t stand the pity. And yet I longed not to be forgotten.

It was Mother’s Day. And after three long years of infertility, I still wasn’t a mother.

That was 12 years ago and while my dream of becoming a mommy came true, I don’t ever want to forget that this day filled with flowers and homemade cards is painful for so many women.

I know many others who skip the day all-together–some because the relationship with their mothers is a raw wound others because their mom is gone and she left a space too large to fill.

Last year after my kids served me breakfast in bed, I received a phone call from our dear Maureen in Kenya. Just three weeks after losing her 7 year old nephew, her only sister died. Sucker punch. When I remember that day, and the overwhelming helplessness and grief, I am reminded again of the bittersweet.

If I’ve learned anything in the past two years working in a third world country, I’ve learned that woman are strong.

And that we are all the same.

We use spit to wipe a smudge, our hands to protect, our hearts to lead. We question, wonder, doubt and regret.  But above all, we dream. We long for a world without war, heartache, poverty, loneliness.

We may be from a different culture, speak a different language, but no matter our circumstances, hope is always enough.

To all the women and mothers everywhere, Happy Mother’s Day.

I could feel her staring across the church, walking towards me. She inched closer and grabbed my hand. She squeezed tight. I held on and looked into her eyes. She never said a word, but the tears in her eyes said it all.

Whatever place you find yourself, think of the woman on the other side.

What to say When Words Aren’t Enough:

• Give a warm, meaningful hug
• Send a card, reminding her you remember
• Ask her how she’s really doing. Wait for her to answer.
• Use your past pain to help her thru her present
• Don’t pretend she’s not hurting
• Don’t tell her everything will be ok
• Pray for the women in our world

————————————–

If you’re free on Saturday, I’ll be on The Drew Marshall Radio Show for the Mother’s Day Special. You can listen live at 2:50 pm EST here.

The Other Side of Mother’s Day is a post from: We are THAT Family

She called my name. I put down my book and looked up from the patio chair. “Hmmm?” I sounded.

“Mom, please help me,” she said and pointed to the swings.

I got up and walked toward her. “Will you please help me swing on all of them?” I didn’t understand and so she explained.

I frowned. “I don’t think it’s possible, honey.”

“Will you just try to help me? You’re the only mother I have,” she whined.

I bit back a laugh.

And then we did this together:

I pushed her awkwardly and she looked triumphant.

Later I showed her the picture as she snuggled up next to me in bed. “We did it!” I said and tickled her.

“Mommy? I love you.

But…” she paused.

I waited.

“You’ve got to do something about your spikey legs.”

Ah, motherhood. Some days are smooth, others are, well, spikey.

But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

——————————————-

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m giving away 5 copies of my book, Don’t Make Me Come Up There!: Quiet Moments for Busy Moms!

Fill in the blank as your entry “I’m glad I’m a Mom because_______” OR if that doesn’t apply “I’m glad for my Mom because______”

I’m Glad I’m a Mom {Giveaway} is a post from: We are THAT Family

Mom doesn’t expect the perfect gift this year. She would trade pearls for a macaroni necklace, a breakfast at Tiffany’s for paper napkins and a messy kitchen. She is hoping for a little bit of quiet, a lot of harmony and chocolate. Still looking for a thoughtful, inexpensive gift? Check out these free printable ideas!

• Fun Coupons just for mom
• Breakfast in Bed picks
• Mom Subway Art to frame
• Coloring sheet and bookmarks to give
• Mother Art to display

Cute photo gift ideas:

• Baby masks-so cute!
• Stick this {adorable} bookmark in a favorite book
• Make a handprint arrangment

Last day to snag That Works For Me! Ebook for 50% off with code: WORKS4MOM

WFMW: Mother’s Day Free Printables is a post from: We are THAT Family

It’s a big sale! Get the Ebook That Works For Me! for only $4 (Reg. $8)

Plus, print (for free) these awesome coupons for mom! They will make her smile (and possible scream Hallelujah!)

Sweeten the deal (and simplify her life) with a copy of That Works For Me! Ebook for only $4.

That’s a 50% savings for the next two days!

Mother’s Day Coupons -   Get your copy for just $4 today!

Code: works4mom  Expires: May 9

Mother’s Day Coupons {Free Printable} | $4 SALE is a post from: We are THAT Family

I don’t even know her well.  We were just chatting, watching our kids interact. You know how moms can have nothing in common, but talk about everything, sharing the thread of motherhood…

I don’t really know what she believes or what she dreams of or if we’ll ever talk again.

But I will never forget her words.

She looked at me and asked, “Do you know what your kids really want from you?”

Cell phones, I said and laughed.

This mother looked in my heart and her eyes filled, “We spend a lot of time trying to figure out what our kids want and need in this life.”

I thought of how often I try and figure out what’s really wrong. When my kids were babies I spent countless hours and gobs of energy trying to discern hunger from exhaustion. Now that they are older, it’s such an emotional relationship. How do I help them with their friends? She is hurting, what can I do? He needs confidence, how do I instill it? The questions are endless.

I waited for her answer.

“Your kids want you.”

Boom.

“When they say ‘Mom, watch me’, they just want you. When the pull you away from your current distraction, it’s you they want.”

And then the conversation was over. But the awakening in my heart had just begun.

There was such freedom and conviction in her words. My kids don’t need to me fix their problems, they don’t need me to provide more stuff or help them try and keep up with everyone else. How often do they just want me to stop what I’m doing and pay attention? Be present in the moment.

They need me, but even more, they need Him. I need Him because this mothering thing is awesome and hard.

When I look back, I won’t remember the days. I will remember the moments. And I’m thankful for that because there are days I don’t want to remember!

I want to remember the drive on the way to school this morning. The way she laughed. The moment she opened up and shared her heart. The way our hearts connected. The rest of the day-the eye rolls and loud sighs-the ups and downs that have already come, are just part of this job.

Instead of asking myself Is her room clean? Did he ace that test? I’m asking: Did I connect with them in a way that I will remember 20 years from now? Did I listen when she called my name four times? Did our hearts meet for a brief moment? Did he know that even when I couldn’t fix the problem, I was there?

Because the hard days, the challenges in this mothering thing are a given. They are at every turn and easy to find. It’s the connected moments I want to look for, the treasured seconds when we stopped everything and just love each other–that’s what I want to capture.

This Mother’s Day, I’m giving myself a gift. I’m letting go of some of the pressure and the guilt and the “I should haves.” I have one goal: to connect with my children on a heart level every day.

The rest is gravy.

The Advice that Changed the Way I Mother is a post from: We are THAT Family

1. I wrote about shutting my big mouth over at (in)courage today. I’m on a word fast.
2. I spoke at a women’s event in Dallas on Monday about God-sized dreams. They blessed Mercy House with a God-sized offering and we nearly sold out of product.  My big kids and hubby ran the table while my youngest ate people’s left-over cupcakes right off their plates.
3. We played hooky at the Great Wolf Lodge (our first visit-loved it!)
4. Mercy House t-shirts (women’s v-neck) are on sale for only $10 (while supplies last)
5. My Blessings Unlimited Store (sidebar) is having a very fun Spring sale (up to 75% off)
6. A few weeks ago, my hubby (@nascardad on Twitter) cashed in his Christmas Groupon gift from me and raced around the track at crazy speeds. He’s hot.

That is all. Y’all have a happy weekend.

Date night is happening for us. What do you have planned?

Six Quick Things is a post from: We are THAT Family

He hunts the keys on the piano. He has music in his bones, searching for the harmony.

She bangs out her own chords and lives in crescendo.

We search for melody.

I didn’t know I would raise musicians. I didn’t know their making of music would make me.

It’s hard not to cringe at the off notes in life. The long days when you feel so out of tune as a mother. Nothing is harmonious: the kids nitpick, the biscuits burn, the dog carries mud, the marriage limps along on a difficult day.

But somehow, someway He turns the noise into music.

Her ear-splitting scales create the breathtaking notes that becomes Sonata, a masterpiece.

His hunt and peck of the keys are practice being made perfect, a recital in-the-making.

These off notes are choreographed into the symphony of our lives. When singled out, they don’t sound right or make sense. The up days when everything flows, mix with the down days when nothing goes right. It mirrors the staff on a sheet of music. Up and down. Down and up.

But when all our days are woven together, they are music.

And I know this to be true: God is God in the high spots–just as He is God in the low places. He never changes. He is the constant.

It’s all music to Him.

Life is a concert.

Play for the audience of One.

Life is Full of Music is a post from: We are THAT Family