About the Mamas

{Jai}

Jai here… I grew up in the great Northwest but now live far from home or at least it feels far.  I am doing my best to “bloom where I have been planted” some days I feel wilted and droopy while other days I feel bright as a Marigold.  Like all of us, my life is full of little victories and disappointing defeats but I believe that through perseverance I can overcome in the end.

I graduated with Presidential Honors in accounting and have chosen to be a stay at home mom ever since.  A high profile career in corporate America was right within my fingertips and I turned it down.  It still hurts sometimes when I think about it but I KNOW the most important place for me is at home with my kids and supporting my kind and good husband.

I have four kids from teens to toddlers and have never been busier.  My favorite definition of sacrifice is “Giving up something good for something better.”  Here I would like to share with you the “better” as I strive every day to give up the good for the better choices.

Just a few things I love… all four seasons but especially snowstorms and summer rain showers, making my small part of the world beautiful, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, painting, cooking, jewelry making, doing my little girl’s hair, sewing, laughing (I love to laugh especially with my family), gardening, camping, canning, running, family history, God, and my family not necessarily in that order.

{DeeDee}

Motherhood Ain't for Sissies - my favorite saying in the kitchen of a close friend sums up motherhood for me. It takes dedication to be a mom, among a smorgasbord of other things. I love being a mother. It's horribly difficult at times - sometimes, you don't shower for days, you learn to go with little or no sleep, you rarely hear a "thank you" or praise for something you've done for someone else, you're a nurse, book-keeper, provider, care-giver, humanitarian, mechanic, secretary, house-keeper, teacher, judge, comforter, cook, chaperone, and so much more. It's tough to put a price on it, but it's deeply rewarding. Whether a stay-at-home or working mom, every woman is a nurturer, example and necessary part of family, neighborhood and society. They are the heart of the home and I support any woman striving to be such.

I am a mother of 3 active little ones and wife of the most wonderfully complicated man that I've every met. I have a BS in Psychology but decided to trade my academics in for motherhood. Don't feel bad for me. I don't regret it. My family is my education and I love exploring the world with them. They balance my life and make it meaningful.

I love to garden. Our family looks forward to summer because we get to roll up our sleeves, dig into the dirt and mud, and feel the satisfaction of eating what we grow. I love writing and reading books. I love to bake! I love traveling. My goal is to travel to all 50 states so far, I've visited about 12. I'm a country girl at heart and grew up in a small community. I'm not much of a crafter but I enjoy making things that I already have around the house or from nature.

I love being with my family and enjoy time to myself. Motherhood is probably one of the most rewarding aspects of life that I know of besides having a successful marriage. I pride myself in thinking that part of that success comes from knowing how to spend time with yourself - to rejuvenate, to refocus, to recommit. I'm not talking about long vacation away from the family but quiet walks, a few hours at the spa, an outing with close friends or romantic date with my husband. Mothers are constantly working but taking a break does much to bring you back to earth.

So, there's me in a nutshell.