I celebrated my very first Mother's Day in 2006. It was a Sunday as well. Zion was only 7 months old and I was about 8 weeks pregnant with Elle. In the early years of parenthood, Nandor would wait until the morning of to run to the store and grab me a flowers. He and Zion (and eventually Elle), would hurry home, make breakfast and homemade cards just moments before I emerged from the bedroom. Really I had been awake for a while, I had actually heard the hurrying out the door! In those early days this bothered me. I used to think my husband didn't care enough about me to plan the perfect gift in advance. Many times I thought I was getting the grocery store left over flowers no one else thought was good enough for their mom. I placed this huge expectation of Mother's Day. I had mentally piled up all the motherly duties I had completed over the past 12 months and selected the perfect mystery present in my head. I didn't even know what it was (and if I had of I certainly wasn't gonna give my husband any hints), but I was for sure it was one that couldn't be bought at the grocery story 30 minutes before I woke up!
Gosh I wasted those days away!
Here were are 12 years later and it's still their MO and I wouldn't change it for the world.
The difference though is me.
I've learned over 12 years of motherhood the real present is watching how excited they get to bring me whatever gift they decide is perfect. Over the years I've received some pretty random gifts - a toothbrush, nail polish, socks, to name a few. Opening up what THEY have decided to get me is so incredibly special! I refuse to even ask for one single thing because I want them to come up with their best gift based on how they know me and love me!
I love seeing their whispers to each other a couple days before Mother's Day morning trying to decide exactly what to surprise me with. When I ask them what they are talking about they answer with "You can't ask questions around Mother's Day!" I love seeing them sneak paper and markers up to their bedroom to secretly make me a card. I look forward to walking out my bedroom door and seeing their bright eyes ready to shower me with my favorite flowers and handmade cards. And even though he doesn't wait until the day before anymore, I always make sure my husband knows I want the morning of tradition. What my procrastinator husband didn't realize 12 years ago is he was creating this moment that was priceless. A tradition that I would miss now if he ever decided to change it.
I was so excited when Karen with Ellis Originals reached out to me! Her work is amazing and I've never worn a crown before in my life! We quickly realized with Mother's Day approaching the crown she would make for me would be an awesome way to showcase the beauty in motherhood.
Mamas, you are the queen of your home even if you don't feel like it! The work you do, the sacrifices you make, the joy and the honor you put into raising your family is beautiful, majestic, and royal! It should be celebrated!
Each of Karen's flower crowns are original creations which makes them all the more special! You can draw inspiration from past creations on her Etsy shop Ellis Originals 501 that she has owned for 5 years, or, like me, you can come up with one of your own SPECIAL designs! Just know that whatever you choose, Karen's work are pieces of art that you will have forever.
I immediately knew I wanted my crown LARGE! I'm no one special to this world, but I know my family values me.
Proverbs 12:4 says, "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband."
Gosh, what a high calling! That's me, or at least what I strive to be! So if I'm gonna be my husband's figurative crown, I want my literal crown to represent my family and what a HONOR it is being their queen!
A little more about Karen and Ellis Originals: Karen and her husband have three children and have been married for 32 years! Now with their youngest in college she is taking advantage of their empty nest and pursuing her passion of creating! (I love that as I'm a creator myself!) Her work doesn't stop with flower crowns! She makes tu-tu's as well in sizes ranging from newborn to adult! You don't even have to be human to wear her creations as dogs, cats, rabbits, goats and pigs have worn her designs as well! So awesome right?? You can follow Karen on Instagram here and check out her Etsy page Ellis Originals 150 here.
Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely ladies out there! Be the Queen you were created to be!
