On December 14th a terrible tragedy hit our nation, yet again. Twenty 6 and 7 year old children were senselessly taken from families who cherished their every move, mood and giggle. Six adults also died that day.
As God would have it, on December 15th I celebrated the 6th birthday of my daughter Paisley Elizabeth. What a blessing it was to wake up and see her smile another day. We truly never know the last time we will say “I love you” to our children.
I wish I could say that this tragedy has shaken the selfishness out of me. I wish I could say that I have viewed every bad attitude as one to hold dear, one that 20 parents would give anything to be experiencing right now.
The truth is every day, every breath is one to honor regardless of what is happening in the world. However, it takes a shock of great magnitude to wake us up.
We can’t let what occurred in Connecticut dominate our every thought. Instead, we must pray for those affected and use this horror to propel us to a higher standard of parenting. It’s not easy for me to choose the higher ground when my children are acting like animals at church. I tend to want to act just as childish as them.
But, I must, I will do what God wants me to do… Raise up my children to love and honor Him and those around us.
I share not only cloth diaper information and products with you but also the rawness of who I am. I, like you, am a constant work in progress.
I could not be more grateful to be walking with the Lord than on those days when I seem to be an utter failure or when sin rears its ugly head like it did in Sandy Hook Elementary.
Today, I will continue the My Favorite Things event.
I absolutely LOVE giving things away! Knowing that someone will be jumping with joy at winning these prizes makes me giddy.
Donations today come from Thirsties, Inc, Charlie Banana and CJ’s BUTTer!!
Thirsties is a family run, made in the USA company. They are truly a joy to work with. Thirsties has generously donated 5 Duo AIOs and a container of Booty Love.
Thirsties Duo AIOs are one of the easiest, trimmest cloth diapers to use. They’re almost a no-brainer if you are looking for a good quality, affordable Made in the USA cloth diaper.
Charlie Banana is one of my favorite pocket cloth diapers. I’ve referred to them many times over the years. They have donated a one-sized pocket for today’s giveaway.
Rounding up today is CJ’s BUTTer. The winner will receive 8.5 oz. Apples & Spice Carcass Cleaner, 4 oz. ‘Tis the Season Spritz, 4 oz. Cranberry Balsam BUTTer® Tube, 2 oz. Peppermint Cream Jar, .15 oz. Frosted Pumpkin Lip Balm!
Woohoo!!
I have a CJ’s BUTTer product in most rooms of my house. I love the Spritz so much that I bought 6 of them (all in Pixie Pie scent) so that I would always have it handy. In my bathroom I keep a big tub of rash cream in the BUTTer Plus formula.
BUTTer Plus contains shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, Vitamin E (derived from soy), sesame oil, neem oil, and essential oils. Yes, it stinks. Neem is stinky. But, it heals skin so well!
Don’t forget all giveaways are open until December 28th!!
December 28, 2012 at 2:26 am
My 5 month gives me hugs and her toothless grin makes me smile. I tell her I love her about 20 times a day ????
December 28, 2012 at 2:18 am
Everyday! the sweetest thing my daughter does is come in and snuggle with me every morning, then my baby boy is just the cutest baby I have ever met and everything he does is sweet!
December 28, 2012 at 1:46 am
When he laughs
December 28, 2012 at 1:24 am
When my daughter smiles and “talks” (coos) at me…my heart melts!
December 27, 2012 at 9:42 pm
My daughter is almost a year old and she give the best hugs! I love the feeling of her little arms around my neck. She also signs “more’ wave and says hi/bye and makes friends everywhere she goes. She is my sunshine.
December 27, 2012 at 8:49 pm
my son is so sweet he is 7 and still likes to cuddle and hug Mommy! I think it is cute when he acts just like me
December 27, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Every morning without saying a word my 4 year old Daughter walks downstairs, half asleep and crazy haired, and walks past everyone to come to me and curl up in a ball on my lap for cuddles until she wakes up and gives me my kiss and hugs!!
December 27, 2012 at 6:32 pm
When he smiles and laughs. I know it sounds simple and cliche, but it’s true. That, and when his head bobbles as he walks (13 months). =)
December 27, 2012 at 5:28 pm
My two year-old loves to get my attention, then just smile. It makes me melt every time.
December 27, 2012 at 5:27 pm
I love when they imitate a behavior/saying that my husband or I do/say. Good or bad it is still funny.
December 27, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I love it when they share. My 4yr old has been going aroung sharing her Christmas candy. Love it!
December 27, 2012 at 4:35 pm
When my daughter dances, spins in circles or tries to “run away” from you when you try to take her out of her crib.
December 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm
My 3 year old tells me “You’re mine favorite mama.” Makes me melt every time
December 27, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Trying on all the shoes she can find
December 27, 2012 at 10:04 am
My baby boy just started making this funny face at random times and not on que and it’s making me laugh every time!
I love it!!
December 27, 2012 at 9:40 am
I love seeing the look of concentration on my 7 month old son’s face when he is trying to figure something out.
December 27, 2012 at 1:16 am
When I hear them randomly tell each other “I love you.”
December 26, 2012 at 11:46 pm
my LO is 6 months old and practically everything she does makes me smile!
December 26, 2012 at 7:20 pm
My almost two year old always says “Hi mom mom”when I walk in her room. I love it.
December 26, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Their perfect, thoroughly sincere laughs. Love it!
December 26, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I think I’d like the spritz for the ease of use, but does it work as well for a rash as the butter? Does it work better than coconut oil?
December 26, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Hearing my oldest son read his very first easy little books brings a smile to my face.
December 26, 2012 at 11:27 am
Feeling my baby kick inside me
December 26, 2012 at 11:04 am
I can’t help but smile each time I pickup my baby girl from her crib.
December 25, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Watching them play with others is adorable.
December 24, 2012 at 10:25 pm
when my baby sees my face and smiles, it warms my heart
December 24, 2012 at 5:58 pm
When she chirps and mumbles to herself
December 24, 2012 at 2:26 pm
My 3yo makes jokes to make me smile.
December 24, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Both of my babies are sick so I have been cuddling and loving on them since Friday! I love to hear my kids laugh. It is impossible not to smile when they are enjoying life so much :]
December 24, 2012 at 8:28 am
I love when my 5 year old daughter talks ans plays with my 5 month old son. Some of my greatest memories.
December 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
My son is 4 months and everything he does makes me smile, he’s the reason I fall in love a thousand times a day
December 23, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Giggles instantly make me smile and I tell her every day that I love her
December 23, 2012 at 10:27 am
During this latest tragedy I am reminded how blessed I am that my children are safe today. I tell them daily that I love them and hope that they understand how special they are to me. The one thing that always brings a smile to my face is when my son kisses me goodnight and tells me one thing that he found beautiful in the world that day. Sometimes it’s about a nice thing that someone did for him or his friends and sometimes it’s about a toad or something he finds outside.
December 22, 2012 at 10:19 pm
I am a grandmother. Yes, I tell my grandchildren every day how precious they are to me. Every moment makes me smile, even the tantrums. Its easy, as a grandparent, to step back and see the bigger picture. Much easier than it was when I was a young mother.
December 22, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I haven’t told her directly because she hasn’t graced us with her presence yet! But as soon as she’s here (and even now I tell her we love her all the time) she won’t hear the end of it from her adoring parents. Right now, her movement inside is what makes me smile. There were a few days I couldn’t feel her and so now every time she moves I am so grateful and relieved.
December 22, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I love watching them play together and love each other. It is especially sweet to watch my older kids (who are 13,12, 10, and 8) play with and dote on their 3 y.o. brother and 6 m.o.brother.
December 22, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Hug your leg. Its adorable!
December 22, 2012 at 12:34 pm
he isn’t born to yet… but i love to feel him move around.
December 22, 2012 at 10:43 am
She smiles just to get me to smile back at her.
December 22, 2012 at 9:01 am
My daughter brings a smile to me every morning. She is always in a good mood and with crazy hair.
December 22, 2012 at 2:07 am
My girl is asleep in my lap, the best!
December 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I love when they smile!
December 21, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Their smiles make me smile! I tell them I love them every day
December 21, 2012 at 9:50 pm
When he says “I love you mommy”
December 21, 2012 at 8:51 pm
When his eyes lights up when daddy comes home
December 21, 2012 at 7:53 pm
When my little guy dances.
December 21, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I can’t help but laugh when my daughter makes her “silly face”…it is kind of like the Home Alone aftershave face.
December 21, 2012 at 6:33 pm
When my 10 month old crawls over to me just for a kiss.
December 21, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Yes. I love the way he lights up and does a happy dance when he sees his daddy!
December 21, 2012 at 5:51 pm
When they give me hugs and kisses
December 21, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Most things make me smile. But I love his little laugh
December 21, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I haven’t seen my boy yet today, but I love it when he reaches up for me!
December 21, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Lovely
December 21, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Yes, the sweetest thing they did lately was to fall asleep in the car while holding hands.
December 21, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I love my babies smile and laugh
December 21, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Yes! Every time he smiles, I smile!
December 21, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Yes. She woke before I had to leave for work and I hugged her with gusto! She leaned her head to me for her kiss.
December 21, 2012 at 1:57 pm
One thing that makes me smile and laugh is when my son “dances” (shuffling his feel around with a big grin). Melts my grinchy heart!
December 21, 2012 at 12:19 pm
I tell them both how precious they are and how much I adore them. What I find really cute is that they’re both old enough now to ask if I’m being sarcastic!
December 21, 2012 at 11:41 am
Yes, I tell them several times a day and it melts my heart every time they say it back to me!
December 21, 2012 at 11:14 am
I definitely told my boys that I love them today. I hugged and snuggled my 4 year old and did the same with my 6 month old as well. I love it when my big boy asks me for a snuggle and I toss him to the side counting, “One…two…potato!” and we laugh really hard! My baby brings me joy when he finishes nursing, looks up at me and smiles his biggest gummy grin as if to thank me for the meal.
December 21, 2012 at 10:55 am
My son is only 13 months old but I love it when he comes and gives me kisses without me asking for one! It always brings a smile!
December 21, 2012 at 10:55 am
I can’t help but smile when my kids get excited when I come home or enter a room (it feels good to be so important to them).
December 21, 2012 at 10:20 am
That is the first thing I tell them each morning and the last thing I tell them each night. My children are 2.5 years & 10 months watching the dynamic of their relationship evolve is amazing. It melts my heart when my 2.5yo will stop playing just to run over and give my 10mo a hug or kiss and then go back to whatever it was he was doing. I have been blessed.
December 21, 2012 at 10:17 am
My favorite is the Thirsties Duo AIO! Easy to explain!
December 21, 2012 at 9:12 am
I have told her I love her today. My favorite part of the day is when she comes into my room in the morning and says “Hi!” She’s 18 months old and such a morning person. We don’t know where she gets the morning person part
December 21, 2012 at 9:02 am
Yep. when the littlest one talks i smile. he has some delays and is just starting to talk at 4.
December 21, 2012 at 8:57 am
yes, it’s the first thing they hear from me when they wake up and also the last thing when they go to bed
December 21, 2012 at 8:52 am
I tell them that I love them every time I see them.
December 21, 2012 at 8:33 am
My daughter is too little to understand but my favorite time is when she’s just woken up all cheery!
December 21, 2012 at 7:52 am
I tell the kids frequently that I love them, but especially when I leave.
I smile when they are genuinely kind or polite.