Mothers and Moms
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with
Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.'
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and
milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.
For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes.
And all the mothers who DON'T.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see.
And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games
instead of watching from the warmth of their cars.
And that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say,
'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair
when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner.
And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies.
And for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.
This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.
For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year.
And then read it again, 'Just one more time.'
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school.
And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd,
even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college – or have their own families.
This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches,
assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse
an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.
For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror,
hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful,
and now pray they come home safely from a war.
What makes a good mother anyway?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart?
Is it the ache she feels when she watches her son or daughter disappear down the street,
walking to school alone for the very first time?
The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M.
to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?
The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when she just wants to hear their key in the door
and know they are safe again in her home?
Or the need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she hears news of a fire,
a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers
stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And for mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us...
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can.
Tell them every day that we love them.
And pray and never stop being a mother...
Meet Myrtle - she's for sale! Derek has loved havin this Jeep around! It's pretty fun! Just look at it!
manual - roof rack - 4x4
My email told me this today: 
Don't think this is where I'm swimming, but Ashlyn has been great and motivating me to go swimming with her. We went 3 times this week and I loved it! I don't love getting into a swim suit, but it makes me jump in faster! 
1: Here is my handi-dandi pouch that goes with me everywhere now.
2: Inside holds all the goods.
3: The pen is an adjustable blood sampler- the white thing is a sterile lancet.
4: Take off the cap of the pen-insert the lancet.
6: Here is the Meter and a tube of test strips
7: The test strip: bottom goes into machine and top takes the blood sample.
8: Once you insert the strip there's a symbol of a blood droplet that flashes: it's ready!
9: BRACE YOURSELF! Place the pen against the side of your fingertip. (the side is best because it won't hit so many nerves) Then push the white triangle button for the prick.
10: Ouch, but not too bad. Usually I have to squeeze my finger to get enough blood for the reading. If not, you get to prick again! I've had to prick 3 times once! That was not fun!
11: 5 seconds to your results- 90! FABULOUS! Then I keep it a log and report once a week to my nurses voicemail and she'll call me about any concerns she or I have. I've learned to stick with protein and green beans/ salad! Then I get to choose how I want to use up those carb points!
it's fun to try different styles :)
Sorry, I had to take it myself... going to church
Check out where my husband took me for date night! :D 
My left is worse than the right... but now they're both bad
