Mothers Day

This past weekend was Mothers Day.  It started off with breakfast in bed, nice start for sure. But just as quickly as it appeared Bill was running out the door to work leaving me on my  Mothers Day with the kids.

I managed to get us to church 15minutes just a tad late but none the less to church.

Then because it was my Mothers Day I had already decided the kids and I were going to do something but going home to sit for the day wasn't an option. So we headed to lunch at my favorite breakfast place, Patty's Eggnest. The wait was forever and trying to wrangle 3 hungry kids by myself was joyous. I will not lie I found myself wondering "what were you thinking?"  But eventually the waitress either took pity on me or wanted the crazy children to stop playing peek-a-boo in the windows and seated us. (Need to remember to show her Norwex cleaning cloths for the windows next time)


After a spilled water, spilled syrup & lunch was eaten we left the restaurant & headed for Mukilteo Beach with a a few other thousand or so moms there with their families!  It was crowded and I had to circle 2x before I spotted a man walking to his car. I did NOT proceed to wait for 6minutes on him with my blinker on, holding up traffic & I did NOT yell speak very loudly at Ellia "Have patience, he is going to leave and we are waiting until he does" when she said "Mom, he's not leaving can we just drive around again?" I would never yell on my Mothers Day.

We finally got our spot and headed to the beach. It was a lovely afternoon of playing in the sand, throwing rocks in the water, climbing on the playground & then a trip down to Ivar's for ice cream cones. Afterwards we headed home to relax on the couch with some snuggle time.

It may have been Mothers Day and it may have been more like a normal day for us. BUT it was MY day, we had a great time and we were together having fun. And as I sat there watching my 3 beautiful babies play in the water I realized how truly lucky I am.

I have 3 beautiful, healthy & loving children. Whom I prayed many years for. And I celebrated Mothers Day with them being a Mother. What better way to spend my day?

"Not this time around"

Saying "No" and "Not this time around" have never felt so good!

Seriously, I thought this setting down boundaries thing was going to be hard, that I was going to struggle and give in eventually. (and this could still happen)  However, this past week I have on two different occasions gotten to say "No" and "Not this time around" and I felt free, liberated and wait for it....... not guilty!

I realizing that my family & myself are what is the most important. For too long I have sacrificed these things and it has led to some unfortunate situations. But no more.

Yesterday, I did not accept the packet for MOPS leadership. I am not going to return to leadership next year. And maybe not even MOPS. That is undecided right now still but if I do I cannot do leadership. And after I said "Not this time around" I walked away with a little skip in my step. It was easier to say this than I thought. I did not feel all tied up in knots, guilty or sad.  Dare I say I felt Happy??

What made a huge difference was my friend overheard my decision and said something along the lines as "That is Awesome, I am so proud of you for making this decision & putting your family first" And coming from her this meant a lot.

I feel like I am in a good spot in life for the first time in who knows how long. I feel healthy. Can you feel healthy?  All I know is that emotionally, physically & spiritually I feel strong & healthy. I feel like I have a little pep in my step. I wake up looking forward to the day not dreading it's arrival.

Bring on the "No thanks", "Not this time around" and the "Sorry we cannot" things because I am feeling liberated & ready to face you.