Crystal Stine

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Happy is the New Perfect (a Hallmark Giveaway!)

Friday Favorites, motherhood, Mothers of Daughters, What I'm Loving

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When God made me a mama, He grew my  heart in unimaginable ways. I didn’t know it was possible to love a little one with such a big love, to be so incredibly exhausted, to laugh so hard, or to cry so much. God gave us a daughter who is all we’ve ever prayed for and more, and she is teaching us more about Him than we ever imagined.

I keep seeing these shirts on Instagram that say #momlife and “made for motherhood” and I don’t buy them. Because I don’t think I was made for motherhood – I’m really no good at it most days – and yet God is using all my weaknesses in it to bring me closer to Him.

I doubt I’ll ever be invited to speak at any motherhood conferences with that story, but it is what it is.

And on those days where I can’t imagine what in the world to do with a 4 year old who rolls her eyes at me and is – to be fair – sometimes smarter than me (you guys – she knows that baby oysters are called “spats” because of Bubble Guppies. What?!), my respect and appreciation for my own mom grows.

I learned how to work hard from her, how to tell a funny story and how to love Doctor Who. She knows when to offer advice, when I just need a hug, and when I just need 5 minutes of quiet by myself. I wouldn’t be where I am today, or the woman I am today, if it hadn’t been for her. Perfect? No. But exactly the mom God knew I needed.

Because perfect isn’t going to happen in this motherhood thing. Not in this house. But happy? We can do happy. We can laugh and do crafts and watch oddly educational cartoons. We can eat more chicken nuggets than we probably should, paint our nails, and ask forgiveness when our hard heads collide.

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It’s not easy to find great gifts for Mother’s Day that have personality, but I’m loving this “pretty witty” line from Hallmark. Especially that coffee mug! Here are a few of my favorites you can check out:

Would you like to win a few of these items for yourself? The fine folks at Hallmark are generously giving one of you a gift package that includes the framed art print, wristlet, and an assortment of greeting cards. To enter, simply leave a comment and let me know which item from the “pretty witty” line is your favorite! (for bonus entries, share about the giveaway on social media & leave another comment to let me know that you did).

I’ll choose a winner Monday, May 2! Good luck!

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For another Mother’s Day giveaway opportunity, be sure to follow me on Instagram to find out how to enter to win a $100 giftcard to FTD Florists! 

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Comments

  2. Sherry Mengel says

    Thank you <3 And, I happen to think you and your sister are simply amazing Mamas to my beautiful grandchildren! No, we are not perfect…but love, patience, hugs (and a wacky sense of humor) wins over perfection every single time!

    Love you,
    Mom

  7. Tonya Tucker says

    Hello! Hope to see who we bless this Moms Day! Thank you ,for all you do in HIS Kingdom and all the women’s hearts you touch! Thank You ,my friend! t.

  10. Sarah Damm says

    Thank you for sharing your heart! As women, we need to hear more “real!” I think many of us feel inadequate, imperfect … maybe even that motherhood does not come easily or naturally, but we don’t think we “should” feel that way, so we don’t talk about it. I know I struggle with this, and I have 6 children! Thankfully, God doesn’t ask for perfection; He only asks us to be faithful and to give our best “yes” to Him. His grace overshadows our imperfections. I like how you mention that God gives us the moms we need … and likewise, we are the moms our children need. This is one of my favorite quotes about motherhood: “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” (Jill Churchill) As for the new Hallmark line, it is great! That little framed quote is my favorite.

  13. Frannie says

    So fun!! The wristlet is probably my favorite — so darling. Lately, I can’t get enouch of small, zippy pouches! ?

    Thanks for the darling, sweet giveaway!

  19. Erin Ellis says

    My favorite is the Happy Large Pillow. I also love the blue “No Regrets” mug as well. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com

  20. Susan Mulder says

    Oh my gosh it has to be that mug!!

    Your honesty is always so refreshing and the fact that you are honest about how you feel about motherhood…well, I was blessed by your words. My children are grown and becoming parents themselves and I still long to go back and erase all my mistakes. I didn’t have a great example for a mother and fought long and hard to break free from that burden. I poured myself into my children in an effort to be perfect. Yeah, that worked. Well, it kinda did…(not the perfection part for sure) What I see in front of me are these amazing adults who have become the people God created them to be in spite of my imperfect attempts at motherhood. I have been open with them, maybe not disclosing everything about my childhood, but being honest about my mistakes and my prayers for them to take the best with them and then strive to be stronger where I was weakest. God is so incredibly merciful and these new grand babies??? Well, happy is the new perfect around here and my cup runneth over and pours down all over the floor.