Life is fragile...

that's why God made mothers strong!

I was sitting here thinking about my beloved sister Marie and how much I detest the miles that separate us. I decided to put together a quick project - one that I know will bring a smile to her face as it includes pictures! Yes, Marie that is not a typo!

The pictures did not come out well as I think an adjustment was accidentally made on my camera and I am not tech savvy at all!

The color theme is pink and brown (my favorite). I believe the idea for this 4x4 accordion book came from Tresa Black (Fabulous Artsy).




Page 1: My youngest daughter, Kaetlyn.

Page 2/3: My boys - Caleb (left) and Steele (right)

















Page 4/5: My precious daughter Sayde and my ol
dest son Ryan.

Page 6/7: My husband and yes even a picture of myself with my sister Marie outside an Arhivers store near her home. (I didn't want to leave ... ever!)






And finally a picture with my dad!

I am going to pull out the tags and journal a special memory about each person and then carry it in my purse so I have it close to me.

I pondered a lot about motherhood while putting this together. It's funny how one does not affiliate strength with this role ... moms are gentle and tender. A mom will cry when her 5 year old son receives his kindergarden diploma. She'll cry when her daughter picks a bundle of dandilion weeds and presents them as a bouquet to her. A mom will cry when her ten year old son stand up with his trumpet in hand and starts belting 'America' off key. She will cry when her young son rides around and around on the mini-4wheeler and her oldest scores a goal in a soccer game. But tears can be deceiving ... they disguise a strength that is beyond the physical, and endurance that defies reason. When a child is mistreated (by a friend or adult) a mother will defend and protect. When a child feels defeated or discouraged, a mom will rehearse all the achievements (past/present/future) of that vulnerable child. And when a child fights agains the mother who loves him/her, that mothers heart and soul will kick into overdrive to figure out how to reach that wayward heart and bring it home again. Yes, life is fragile. That's why God made mothers STRONG!

~Samantha