Oh wow. My son is graduating from high school in just a week. And I recently found the hammer that he used to carry around.
How did Elliot grow to be bigger than life, in such a short time? (memory board that I put together)
My friend, Katrina Kenison, came in to my life at the perfect time – one month before Elliot’s graduation. My cousin Peggy (who has 2 grown kids) sent me her link, called “The Gift of an Ordinary Day,” as she recites part of her book on motherhood. I cried because I could relate. I just wanted to just grab Katrina and give her a hug!
Please take a few minutes to hear Katrina recite portions of this book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day.
She says …
“Zip your jacket, here’s your sandwich – mothering.”
“Learn the art of letting go. Savor the moments now. Family dinners …”
“You ignore their bedroom. You fill the refrigerator. You negotiate. You learn to text and you learn to pray.”
“If Motherhood teaches us anything, we cannot change our children, we can only change ourselves.”
Today lovely Katrina has agreed to give away 2 of her books here at RE!
COMMENT to WIN
Tell me what you loved the most hearing Katrina read portions of her writings?
COME BACK
I’ll announce the 2 winners on Wednesday this week!
TWEET, FB, BLOG
If you do one of the above, you’ll get an extra entry. Please come back and tell me if you do.
I’m already standing on my tiptoes saying goodbye to my son headed off to college. How did it all end so fast, I ask myself?
If you know of a graduate in your circle of friends, or in your family, would you pass this post on to them?
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. 
Awww…I would like to win this book. I work full-time 40+ hrs a week and have 2 children (age 3 and 1). I am continually looking for ways to cherish the moments because I am away from my children for most of the weekdays. This book looks like a nice read.
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I watched that video a couple of weeks ago and just cried! I love it, such an amazing reminder to cherish every day!
~~Kathy K.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Apparently they’re keeping something from me =-.
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I loved the emotions the reading brought up in me, and the reminders that we all need.
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I can’t believe your boy is graduating. I know I just met your kids a couple years ago but they seemed so young then. This book seems perfect for any parent. We all need reminders like this Sandy. Thank you so much.
.-= Selena´s last blog ..once upon a time…… =-.
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i have been looking at my 9 yr old thinking he was getting too big. how does that happen?
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I loved this! The whole video had me wanting to read more of the book and cherish each moment of my 4yr old and 2yr old.
I am going to look for it for my Sisters. Thank you so much!
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I tweeted! (CouponClipNMama)
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Just watched the video with tears in my eyes. Rings so true with me. I have 2 sons, 9 & 11. My oldest just “graduated” from elementary school Friday and I’ve gone through so many sad feelings of a chapter closing knowing how fast the next 7 yrs will go. I loved when she said “Instead of regretting what’s over and done, savor the life I have right now.” Thank you for sharing it.
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I’d love to read this book. I am the mother of 2 and need to remember that I’ve done what I thought is best and have to hope that it will click and they’ll be good on their own someday. I can’t cchange them, I can only change myself.
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Thanks Sandy…now I’m crying again! I cry each and every time I see this video. It captures each and every mother’s thoughts and feelings beautifully.
I love that she says “if motherhood teaches us anything, we cannot change our children. We can only change ourselves.” I need tis reminder at times.
.-= Linda´s last blog ..It Was A Good Day All Around =-.
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I just found your blog and LOVE it!! Very inspirational
This video brought me to tears!! I have 3yo and 1yo boys so it meant alot to me. I was having a frustrating morning w/ them until I watched this video. Then, I just went and loved on ‘em w/ big hugs & kisses. Thanks for making me appreciate the little things. Oh, and I liked the part about bedtime stories, etc….I cherish that part of our day and know that I will miss it when it is gone (sniff & tear).
Blessings!
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Just the thought of reading it makes me tear up! My boys are 10 & 11. Knowing that I have to let go of them one right after the other breaks my heart. I can hear my oldest snoring in the backseat as I type this (from passenger seat). I love my sweet stinky boys.
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I needed that gentle reminder that kids grow so fast. What a inspiration!
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I would like to win this book.
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with tears in my eyes, I think my favorite comment in the video was the clipping of nails, I still do it when my 4 year old is asleep…..and he will awake complaining that i cut his nails and how they feel all wrong now, the book would be welcome in this house …. we marvel how fast these 4 years have gone!
.-= michelle´s last blog ..motivation =-.
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I tweeted about your giveaway!
.-= michelle´s last blog ..motivation =-.
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“You ignore their bedroom. You fill the refrigerator. You negotiate. You learn to text and you learn to pray.” This is where we are right now! One son is 20 and one is 18. Both are moving out in August. I’m feeling like the ordinary days are slipping away!! Boo hoo.
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I have seen this video previously and it really hit home with me how often I take for granted the ordinary moments. (I watched it again and cried on Mother’s Day.) I have a 14 and 12 year old and life seems to just speed by sometimes. It is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the ordinary days.
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I couldn’t get the video to work on my computer..but I loved the quotes you wrote..and I never win anything..but I wanted to post anyway..becuz these types of books are right up my alley!!
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“Savor every minute of the life you have right now.” So true. I am feeling the same way as my baby just turned 5 today…where did the time go?
.-= jen@odbt´s last blog ..Five =-.
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I like the message of accepting and embracing each moment because it’s part of a larger picture.
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I would enjoy this book so much. My oldest just came home from 1st year at college and another going right behind him. A day doesn’t go by that I wonder “how did this happen so fast.” And believe me, I am praying.
Laura
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My youngest is a Junior in HS and I am trying to hold back time! With finals and SAT’s and college visits, it makes the last year go so fast! I found Katrina a short while ago, too, and had put her video up on my blog for Mother’s Day. (That was my last post as these past few weeks have be so, so activity filled!) She somehow put into words all of my feelings…
~Nancy
.-= Nancy´s last blog ..Happy Mother’s Day Video and #7 of BB =-.
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thank you so much for bringing this into my life. I loved it. It rang so true.. because it IS so true..
Thanks again so much
.-= Abi´s last blog .. =-.
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I probably shouldn’t have clicked that video this morning because I’m sitting here with tears literally rolling down my cheeks. I relate so well, albeit in pink and not in blue. My younger one will leave in two short months, and my FAVORITE LINE from this reading,
“You learn that this time of parents and children living under one roof is just a chapter.”
will be all too obvious. I relate to her about the kitchen table being too big for two too.
And so much more.
I never win these doggone things… I hope that I break my losing streak!
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Where Angels Go… Trouble Follows =-.
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I cried and cried some more watching the video. I loved the emotions it brought up in me, and the reminders that we all need.
Thank you for the opportunity to win the book. I would love to read it.
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I would love to read/win this book ..My eldest is graduating tomorrow..and the past month with prom and grad night has so emotional for me. I am so happy for him ..but I often wish he was a baby again
..thank God, I still have two younger ones to hold on…oops I mean ..take care of !!! LOL
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I would love this book to read and to pass on. I have three children and 14 grandchildren. One of my daughter’s has 8 children…. four biological and four adopted, a son with two girls, and a daughter with four little boys. I am sure that they all would love to enjoy this book.
Love your blog… and am grateful for your hints about entertaining and just for living out every day.
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Wow, what a cry I had! This is such a good reminder for all of us. Enjoy every moment, every stage of our life. Take pictures, laugh, cry, play, enjoy and pray… We recently had to move away from our kids, 19 & 21 both in college and it broke my heart. I thought 1 hour away made me sad, try 10. Nine months have passed and we have been together as a family 3 times. I so cherish our time together. Things change… and kids grow up. I look forward to the next chapter in our lives and I will always relish those childhood memories. Thanks Sandy
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Too many thought and emotions. Loved it.
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Loved it…just need to keep the tissues handy!
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I watched this video awhile ago…but it still makes me cry today…such powerful truths. I liked how she talked about parenting teens as like a new dance with a stranger…and to ignore the bomb that went off in the bedroom, that you learn to text and to pray.
I have a feeling that I will be sending this video to many friends today and perhaps even buying a few books as well…perhaps one less if I win here.
.-= Helen at A Work of Heart´s last blog ..not bittersweet… =-.
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Wow, I am not a mother, but I am a father of two grown boys, err young men. They are 18 months apart in age, and at times it seems they were too close in age, when my wife and I were diapering them both, and they were both crying at the same time. But as they grew the age difference seemed just right, until they hit high school. And then when our oldest graduated and went on to college, we still had our baby, but only for one more year then he graduated, and chose not to go to college but at 19 chose to move out into the big world to make his mark on it. My wife and I, though we thought we were ready to have a clean house, and smaller loads of laudry found that it took adjustment. We missed the boys and their friends coming into the house, raiding refrigerator, borrowing the car. Yes where does the time go, yesterday we were wiping noses, and drying tears, and today they are grown, married and starting their lives, the lives we have prayed about for them since they were born, but we did not mean for it to happen so fast…. that video is timeless, just as the book will be for generations as we all remember our littles ones growing up too fast, thank you for allowing me to stop and remember back, and to look forward too, for we will someday have a new chapter, that of grandchildren and grandparenting……. and I for one cannot wait…..Blessings to all Curtis and Sherrie
.-= Curtis´s last blog ..Seasons and the weather…. and worry ….. =-.
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Amazing video! I can’t wait to read the book after that introduction!
My husband and I both had tears in our eyes (OK, my were streaming down my face) while we watched the video twice last night.
It was a blessing. Thank you.
~Amanda
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My baby is graduating on Saturday. Love the video!
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So sweet and such a great reminder of how time is an unstoppable force, and we must enjoy the short moments we are given! Thanks for the chance to win!
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I am a homeschooling mom of two and I too often lose perspective on how precious and fleeting my time with my kids is. I would love to read the book to gently push me towards seeing things the right way.
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She certainly reached out to me in her readings!
My baby son just graduated this past Saturday…
I enjoyed what her grandma said “All flowers bloomin their own time!” How true. I also miss kissing their cheeks while sitting on my lap. Most of all,
I remember the baseball ending in the backyard,
board games gathering dust, showers anytime of the day (long ones) and the closed bedroom doors! Many thanks, Cindi
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“Tweet!”
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/15682782093.
Again, many thanks!
Cindi
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“You cannot change your children, you can only change yourself.”
That is lived out truth! Thanks so much!
.-= Becky B´s last blog ..Creation Testifies! =-.
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What a lovely pict of you and your boys Sandy!
.-= Amy from She Wears Many Hats´s last blog ..Roasted Garbanzos =-.
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“If Motherhood teaches us anything, we cannot change our children, we can only change ourselves.” …that sums up a lot about why I cherish moments as a SAHM.
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I raised 4 children of my own and just this week attended the graduation of my first grandchild. I can relate to this video on mulitple levels. My goal has been to cherish the ordinary days with my grandchildren because I was too busy working and raising kids to be able to really cherish them when my kids were growing up. If only I could do it over.
My favorite part of the video is when she said;
“You learn that this time of parents and children living under one roof is just a chapter.” and how the kitchen table seems too big for two.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
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