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                     This was last year’s Mother’s Day post. I thought it would be nice to run it again.

Ma passed away several years ago at the age of eighty-seven. I never called her mom, mother, mommy–just plain old Ma.

She lived her life with a glass half-full, didn’t complain about not having the luxuries of others, and worked until she was seventy-one. She could plant a seedling and it would shoot to the sky like the Jolly Green Giant. Her instincts for colors and decorating would have put her at the top of an interior design class.

She never had to throw out a meal (like me) because she turned everything into a chef’s delight. Nothing went to waste–ever. Her cakes and desserts were moist to the taste, and a pot of Maxwell House Coffee sat hot waiting for the next visitor.

Ma taught us children about loving God, sharing, putting the needs of others first, and how to penny pinch. Being frugal was a lifestyle, wastefulness a no-no, and living by principles the only way to survive.

She called most every night before her bedtime to make sure the family was safe. This went on until she passed away.

Ma would stop by with flower shoots, decorating tips, and usually something we needed.

One year, she gave me some buttercup flowers to plant. For those who don’t know, they spread like wildfires. But I dare anyone to remove a buttercup from my yard.

This Mother’s Day I look upward to thank Ma for instilling the right stuff into our lives. And, maybe, we can view the world through her eyes.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Mom’s buttercups.

                                     

 

After a rainy day high school soccer game, my grandniece returned home with a mud-stained uniform. Her family planned to leave immediately for a weekend soccer tournament. My niece called and asked if I could try to remove the stains from the uniform as it would have to sit until they returned. She was concerned the stains were permanent.

She dropped the uniform off on their way to the tournament and informed me she had sprayed the uniform with a laundry stain remover. I filled a pail with cold water and detergent and soaked the uniform overnight. The stains were still there when I checked in the morning, so I searched the internet for solutions. I found one site recommending baking soda.

I mixed 1/2 cup baking soda (calls for one cup but I didn’t have enough) in a pail of cold water with a bit of laundry detergent and let the uniform soak for a couple hours. I rinsed the uniform then ran it through a regular wash load. TA DA!  It worked. Please separate colors when trying this.

If you’re having trouble removing mud stains from sports uniforms this solution gave perfect results.

Have a blessed Easter!

 

With baseball season in full swing, we’re packing our autos with outdoor chairs, water bottles, and wearing weather appropriate clothing to the games.

My grandson plays on the freshman team, and parents take turns providing a meal between the double headers. My daughter prepared the meal for the first double header, and my grandson asked if I could make the cookies.

When the first game was nearly finished, we hurried to set the buffet table with pulled pork sandwiches, chips, Gatorade, and cookies.

The last inning took longer than expected as the opposing team scored often and won.

The boys sauntered through the food line, tired and dejected. When they walked past me, I suggested they try each of the different cookies I made because the cookies had super power and they would win the next game.

Well, they won the game. Later on, my grandson told me several of his teammates said, “It’s because of the cookies!”

A little encouragement can go a long way.

God created you to do amazing things!

Guest post by my dear friend, Deb Gardner Allard, author.

How Can We Help?

We never know when our lives might be upended. One minute we’re running around at high speed and boom, an accident occurs, and we’re immobile for several months. Especially if we’re quite active, having our routines suddenly come to a stop can be devastating. Two hundred pounds of granite crushed my foot. Needless to say, multiple bones were broken in multiple places. But during the ongoing recuperation, I’ve been blessed by wonderful friends and family. Many people ask, “How can we help?”

Here are some things people are doing that brighten my day.

Visiting–talking and/or watching ongoing series together or playing a game like Yahtzee.

Washing, drying, and hanging clothes while doing the above.

Manicuring nails–something I can do for others and also receive.

Massaging hands and feet–relaxing and pain reducing.

Cooking–making a pot of something: chili, stew, soup, pasta dish, or some other yummy meal ahead of visit and dividing it into small plastic containers to create meals for a week.

Sending cards or free e-cards once a week.

Writing frequent emails with cheerful backgrounds.

Sending an unexpected gift in the mail–a book (used books are a fantastic gift), a video, magazine, puzzle book, or creative gift box with items a person would appreciate while recuperating.

Bringing a gift such as socks, a blanket, a mug (along with a meal of soup), hand lotion, hand sanitizer, towelettes, etc.

Staying for a couple hours so the care-giver can run errands.

AND last, but truly the best gift ever.

Praying for pain relief and recovery.

These are simple ideas but huge blessings for someone recuperating. Many involve nothing but time. In our busy day and age, the gift of time is more valuable than money. My friend, Pat, sent cards every week, cheery emails, and even an unexpected gift in the mail. My daughter got me hooked on “True Detective” which we watched together, and my daughter-in-law brought food and did our laundry while we watched “The Bachelor,” just to name a few wonderful deeds by family and friends. They were all blessings I’ll remember forever.

Next time someone is recuperating, instead of asking “What can I do?” consider something above and surprise them. It will make their day!

Bio:  Deb Gardner Allard enjoys writing for children of all ages. Her picture book, Baby Poopsie Loves Ears, illustrated by award-winning illustrator Jack Foster and published by Guardian Angel Publishing is a jovial joy ride in alliteration. Deb is now in the midst of penning three middle grade novels. When she isn’t writing, Deb and her hubby enjoy exploring Michigan towns and walking the boardwalk along Lake Michigan in quaint little Grand Haven. To check out her book, click the link below.

https://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/poopsie.htm

You can learn more about Deb at her website:

http://www.debgardnerallard.com