The prettiest mommy in the world…

I am interrupting our regular programming of Amazing Mama Mondays to share this completely insane story with you. Sadly, because we live in America in 2008, it is true. This past Mother's Day Florida-based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, released his first children's book, My Beautiful Mommy. This is a book for children who are confused about their mommy's upcoming plastic surgery and why she will look different. The cover is so amusing, I thought it was a joke, but alas it isn't. Isn't Mommy beautiful with her new nose, jumbo boobs and trim tummy. She is downright sparkly, just like a Disney Princess.

At first glance this book is truly comical. Want a laugh? This is what Dr. Michael looks like in real life. Take a look inside the book. This is what Dr. Michael looks like in his book. He's a super hero here to save mommies from their saggy breasts! Inflata-man here to save the day!
But a second look at this book, which was written for the 4-7 year old market, shows how truly sad and dangerous it is. On one page the Mommy explains, "Not just different honey … prettier," while she is imagining herself being crowned in a beauty pageant. The little girl looks alarmed and replies, "But you are already the prettiest mommy in the whole wide world!" I wonder if the author knows how real this interaction is. Our kids do think we are the prettiest mommy in the world. It is one of the most wonderful things about having young kids. I put on a dress, Sarah is in awe. Emily is perpetually telling me I "look pretty." What we do with this impressionable window in our daughters' lives is critical. What we teach our daughters today about self image, is what we will reap ten years from now. If our response to "Mommy you are beautiful," is "Oh if only I could lose 20 lbs," or "Well, mommy will be prettier when Dr. Michael is done with me," than Dr. Michael better get working on a second book. Here are some suggested titles for him; Mommy I Need a New Nose – preparing for your daughter's first plastic surgery or how about Saturday with Sophie – a parents guide to visiting your daughter in Eating Disorder Rehab.

Heritage Table – a great idea for weddings, reunions and family celebrations

Last week, we were in Florida for my husband's cousin's wedding. Stephanie and Danny planned out every detail of their wedding with amazing care and thought. The service was beautiful and the reception was amazing, but there was one little table that left many guests speechless. It was the Heritage Table. A small rectangular table was left empty until just before the end of the reception. Then, guests were invited to go over to the Heritage Table for a special take home treat. So what was it?

Along the table were lovely glass platters and containers of cookies. But these were no ordinary cookies. Each platter had a sign in front of it with the name of the cookie and whose recipe it was. They were the special cookie recipes from each of their grandmothers and great grandmothers. Isn't that beautiful! Really, it makes me tear up just thinking of it. Each guest was invited to fill up a small box to take home. It was the most beautiful way to honor and include the special women in their families, most of who have passed on. It was so touching seeing the older generation of guests go up to the table and see platters their own mother's peanut butter cookies or layer bars.

I love this idea, so I had to pass it on. I think it would be a wonderful inclusion at any wedding, shower, reunion or large family celebration. Thanks Steph!

Amazing Mama Monday part 3 – A mama with heart

(As of posting time I have 53 minutes in Monday left! J )

Mother Teresa once said, "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things."

I love to read biographies of people who have devoted their lives to trying to change some giant injustice in the world. I get fired up about trying to do something about AIDS orphans in Africa or little Afghan girls without educational opportunities, then reality settles in and I think, "What can I really do as a stay at home mom in suburbia Colorado?" I love the above quote by Mother Teresa because it reminds me that I can do seemingly small things and still change the world. I am lucky to have several friends who are great examples of this principle. One of them is my friend Julie, and she is this week's Amazing Mama.

Julie has three children ages 6, 4 and 2. She is one of those refreshingly real women. She hides behind no fake pretense or persona, she's just Julie, and if you know her, you love her – everyone does. I have known Julie for about 2 years. Over the years I have heard her talk about her assorted volunteer roles. She has a very full plate, yet she somehow makes time to work with organizations close to her heart. In addition to volunteering at her son's school and with her church's school board, Julie works with the fundraising efforts of Hope House of Colorado and Play for a Heart.

If you give Julie the opportunity to talk about either of these groups, she'll have a lot to say, because she is very passionate about them. Her work is driven by a heart-felt connection to both groups.

Hope House is a Christian home for parenting teenage mothers, providing a two year self-sufficiency program in a safe, structured environment, offering each resident the opportunity to build a firm foundation for her life. Julie started volunteering with Hope House after attending a fundraising event and hearing the Hope House residents talk about their lives. As a mom, she related to these teenage moms, but she also remembered being a teenager, and couldn't image having had to deal with motherhood at that age. Her heart was so touched by these girls; she knew right away that she wanted to help.

Play for a Heart is an annual event to build awareness and raise money for congenital heart defects. Julie became involved with this event through her husband's childhood friend. His daughter was born with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). She is the same age as Julie's daughter Olivia. When Julie learned the severity of CHD (this year 40,000 children will be born with CHD, 4,000 of them will not live to see their first birthday), she knew she had to get involved.

Having said all that, what makes Julie an Amazing Mama is not what she does, it's who she is. Julie has a heart for loving people. She keeps her eyes and heart open to where she can be of service. She reflects the love of Christ through the way she servesand that is amazing to me. The perfect illustration of this is that while Julie and I were talking about this article, we started talking about some dear friends who are going through an unimaginably difficult time. Immediately, Julie started formulating colossal yet concrete ways that we can help this family, and there isn't a question in my mind that she won't get it done. The girl has heart!

It is so easy as a mom, dad, student, employee – any title will do here – to get stuck in our own lives and not see a way that we can help those around us. I asked Julie to share some advice for those people who want to be a drop in the ocean as Mother Teresa described.

Here is what she said:

1. Follow your heart – Find organizations/causes that touch your heart.
   


2. Bring your work skills to the table – Volunteer through your skill set. I use to work in sales, that's what I know. I have become the "Silent Auction Maven." I use my professional experience in sales to put together successful events to raise money for the causes I care about. Take a look at your resume and bring your skills to volunteering.
   


3. Go deep not wide – Select 1 -2 organizations to work with. If you try to be everywhere, helping everyone, you will be left feeling like you are just giving pieces of yourself here and there. Select your 1-2 causes and give deeply; it will be much more rewarding.
   


4. Know when to say no – learn when to say no, and do it. My main mission field is my family, when that starts to suffer because of my volunteer work; I know it is time to say no.
   

Thanks Julie! I am a better mom and a better woman for knowing you! Happy belated Mother's Day.

Need stationary? Julie also works as a Duly Noted rep.

It's called The Magic Kingdom for a reason

We just returned home today from a week in Orlando. We celebrated Pete's cousin Stephanie's wedding to a wonderful man, Danny, who has been family in all of our hearts for several years now. The wedding was amazing and will get it's own post (or two) later this week.

We went to The Magic Kingdom on Monday with 15 Schulzes. We had a truly magical day. It was wonderful getting to experience it through the eyes of the girls. Sarah was uncharacteristically brave and went plunging down Splash Mountain, not once but twice. Emily, our 2 year old thrill seeker, loved the tea cups. We couldn't spin her fast enough. She would lay back in against the seat and belly laugh the whole time. It was hysterical.

I was told a few weeks ago that Pete's cousin Jeff was making us all matching shirts. I must admit I am not a matching shirt kind of gal, but it made the day. . It was so much fun seeing this sea of family members troop from one ride to the next, and it made spotting the girls much easier. I had to share this picture from the afternoon parade - it really captured the day. The parade theme was Wishes, which was very fitting, as Pete's Aunt Sue told us it had always been her dream that we would all go to Disney in matching shirts. Wish granted Sue - wasn't it great!

(Photo Left to Right: Cousin Mike, Aunt Dianne, Uncle Jeff with Emily, Pete with Sarah, Cousin Jeff with Kacie, Shantelle)

Amazing Mama Monday – The mom who could

(Photo note: Jinny is in the black, Anna is in the pink).

For the first few years of my mommyhood, I believed that being a "good mom" meant giving everything to my daughter. The more I did for her the better. I don't believe this anymore. Being only five years into being a mom, I still have much to figure out, but one thing that I have learned is that if mommy doesn't take care of herself, everyone suffers. I still know a lot of moms that believe they need to give everything to their kids. But that mentality bears a heavy price. It costs different things to different moms; personal dreams, mental and physical health, and even marriages. The old cliché is true," If mama ain't happy, nobody's happy."

I am greatly blessed to have my friend Jinny as an amazing example to me, of how a mom can achieve a huge personal goal and in the meantime become an even better mother and wife to her family. Jinny is a wonderful mom to two childre, ages 6 and 4. She and her husband Jason have been married for 10 years. She is currently a full time mom. I asked her to share her story with The Celebrated Family. I hope you are as encouraged and inspired by Jinny as I always am!

My journey started with a long hard look at myself in the fall of 2006, I was 30 years old, and 65 pounds overweight at least. I had spent the last 10 years of my life packing on the added cushioning for various reasons. I was a decent athlete in high school and my freshman year of college, not great, but definitely an identity I enjoyed about myself. For the next 10 years I pretended that part of my life was over. Then in August 2006 I took a really good look in a mirror (sans clothes) ick! Here I was, I had a GREAT life, a wonderful husband, wonderful children, and so many excuses why I couldn't be healthy. I had one last Wednesday fling with food, the next day I went to my first Weight Watcher's meeting. At the same time my friend Anna, who was had just had a baby got to talking to me. She wanted to do a triathlon that coming summer. I decided that I would train with her. Anna became my training partner, support and very close friend.

In mid February, having lost 30 pounds, my life changed drastically, my mother was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. I had to sit down and evaluate if I now had time to meet the goal of completing a triathlon. What would my mom now need from me? This was a huge personal test of my commitment to the new me. Exercise ended up being up the answer to dealing with the stress of my mom's cancer. I ran my heart out and in doing I found the old Jinny. The one who could compete. The one who touted herself "The Fastest KID in the third, fourth, and almost all of fifth grade". My husband figured what I needed, he would say "Go run and I will do the dishes" and he actually would do it. Through running I endured my mom's mastectomies, and other procedures and treatments.

By summer 2007, I had lost 45 lbs and six sizes. I looked better than I had in 10 years. I had lost my fat suit and found the Jinny that was in there the entire time. I really, really liked her! I vowed out loud, I will never ever lose her again, she is my best friend and I treasure her. I thanked myself for finally laying the excuses aside, for counting my calories, for making tough eating decisions, and for working out as much as possible. I had great support, but they were always there really, my husband and friends would always have supported me, I was the one to make my decision to change my life.

Triathlon day arrived for Anna and I. Before we dive into the water, I grabbed Anna and thanked her for taking this amazing journey with me. We swam through cold water, biked through bike issues and ran in sweltering heat. With my husband, kids, parents and 80 year old grandmother watching, I finished. I literally leapt for joy. I was broken in half by my smile. I was Jinny again. Finally. Yes, I was tired, but not that tired, labor was more difficult!

I am Jinny, the triathlete, NO ONE can take that away from me.

I still look at my medal every day. Now I take the time to workout frequently and I eat better most of the time. I just ran my fastest 5k time since high school. My son says I have bubble muscles, which I like. With spring finally arriving in Colorado, triathlon season is just around the corner. Anna and I have been training with three other newbie triathlon mom's this winter, helping them along the same path we traveled last winter. I am striving to push myself to the next level and lose the last 20 lbs that I need to lose – man, imagine how fast I will be then!

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

This Saturday, May 10th is the National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive by the National Assocation of Letter Carriers. In it's 14th year, this is the nations largest one day food drive. Last year it collected over 70 million lbs of food! Amazing huh!

Your family can participate by putting out no perishable food items next to your mailbox this Saturday. Your letter carrier will pick up the food and bring it to your local post office where it will be sorted and delivered to a local food bank. It is a great way to help out the hungry in your own community.

Those wonderful cookies

I have received a number of calls and e-mails asking for my mom's chocolate chip cookie recipe. Here it is. Enjoy. As you read the ingredients, note that I just said they were wonderful, I didn't say they were good for you. :)

Nancy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 20 cookies

1/2 cup Crisco

1/2 cup Sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sifted flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 oz chocolate chips

Cream together shortening, sugars, egg, vanilla until fluffy

Sift together dry ingredients

Stir into creamy mixture - mix well

Add chocolate chips

Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8 -10 min (she takes them out when they are still soft) in a 375 degree oven.

Enjoy!

Amazing Mama Monday - A mom who mothers many

I think that having a celebration of mothers which lasts only one day is a great travesty. So each Monday during May I am going to share an amazing mom with you. Each of the women inspires, encourages and changes the lives of the people around them. I am so excited to share them with you because their lives reflect things that everyone can do. They are from all appearances "average" suburban moms, but in reality they are spectacular women. I hope that in reading about them, you will be as encouraged and inspired by them as I am.

There was only one woman whom I could kick off this series with, that's my mom of course. I have been talking to my friends about my mom for the last week or so. Each of them has such beautiful things to say about her. My mom has two children of her own, but throughout my life I have watched her be a mother to many. She quietly watches people, sees their need and reaches out in ordinary ways full of extraordinary love.

A package for Nicky - when I was 12, I went to summer camp in Minnesota with my friend Nicky. Each day, I received a letter from my mom and once a week a care package. Nicky's parents were traveling a lot that month and letters were not as frequent. I wrote to my mom, and told her that Nicky had not received a care package from home. The next week there was a package for Nicky. It was from my mom. I can't remember everything that was inside, but I remember watching Nicky open it, and how very happy she was. That package was worth its weight in gold to a little girl who was far from home and needed a motherly touch.

Cookies for Ryan - My husband tells people that my mom's chocolate chip cookies were my dowry, they are that good! While I was at UM, my mom's cookies developed quite the reputation. When I was seen walking from the post box with a brown paper box, word spread quickly. The cookies never lasted long. Oh how we all loved them! My friend Ryan really struggled in school. His grades were not great and he had little support from home. His mom had moved out when he was young and he had been raised by his father. For Ryan, a care package of cookies from a mom was something that only happened on TV. On one of my mom's visit's to Miami, she talked to Ryan about his grades and made him a deal. (I can't remember the details, but he had to get a rather average grade and mom would send him cookies.) Ryan worked all semester toward making his end of the deal, and he did it. The next week, sitting in his post box was his own brown paper box of cookies. Ryan still talks about those cookies. Through two dozen homemade cookies, my mom gave Ryan a glimpse of what the unconditional love of a mom could look like. To this day, it hurts my heart to think of what those cookies meant to him.

Showers of love for the girls – While I was in college, my mom also send countless loaves of pumpkin and zucchini bread. I lived with four girls throughout college, who are now sisters to me. When they each got married, my mom made them a cookbook and put the recipes of the bread she used to send us. My mom's zucchini bread has now because my friend Fara's signature dish which her parents and kids ask her to make. When each of the girls had her first baby, my mom knit them a baby blanket. My friend Manya's son was obsessed with his blue blankie. It was his comfort and friend during the first few years of his life. I love that my mom's recipes and blankets are part of my friends' children's lives. Through them, my mom's love is already touching another generation of kids.

A letter in the mail, a dozen cookies, a cookbook, a baby's first blanket, all such ordinary things. But the extraordinary thing about them is the love which they were given with. One of the questions at my mom's bible study this week was, "How are you loving your children's friends?" It is such a good question. There are children all around us who need some love. Children who need to see the love of Christ through our lives. The wonderful thing about my mom's example is that is shows us that you don't need lots of money or a PhD in Psychology to touch children's lives, it is something we can all do.

All you need is a willing and loving heart.

Thank you for your example mom – you are an AMAZING Mama! Happy Mother's Day! I love you.