This was me on Mother’s Day. Oh, and Saturday morning. What got into me?!? I NEVER sleep late or take naps. I woke up from my unintended nap on Sunday afternoon feeling guilty and confused. How could I fall asleep on Mother’s Day? I didn’t have to do anything! And why? I haven’t taken a nap quite some time – why all of a sudden?

Late last night, it finally hit me! Duh! I have been running like a crazy person! The past 3 weeks have been insane.

1. My mother’s helper had been ill and has just moved back to her hometown for the summer. I have no help, y’all! None.
2. My husband was out of town for a solid 7 days.
3. I am organizing 2 events – 1 for the church middle school kids, and 1 that is a little bigger (a fundraiser for a health organization).
4. I am planning for next school year’s curriculum. I will be home schooling BOTH my kids and am trying to get it all organized now.
5. I am house hunting. I hate it. But it has to be done, and it is so dang time consuming.
6. More of the same …

All this amongst the daily duties of life – cleaning, cooking, Bible study, etc. The other day, the family and I took the afternoon off from our life and helped plant a garden in memory of our late pastor. It was hard labor, but lots of fun being outside, doing something good (the food will go to local needy families), and having great fellowship. While there, a friend said to me: “Honey, you can’t be Superwoman every day!” To which I responded: “You can’t?”

Yeah, you can’t.

FAIR WARNING: THIS MAY PISS SOME PEOPLE OFF

If anyone saw the last two episodes of The Rachel Zoe Project, you are distinctly aware of the “push present” that she received from Rodger. And in case you didn’t see either episode, here is what I’m talking about …
It is ONLY a 10 carat cushion cut ring! I mean, seriously Rodge, you couldn’t do better than that? Ugh.

Ok. In all seriousness, I think that this is the most obscene thing I have seen in a while! Who the hell needs a 10 carat “thanks for pushing my baby out” gift? Who needs a “push present” anyway? What happened to the BABY being the gift?

For all you who say “well people have been doing it for hundreds of years” – um, no. ROYALTY has been, but last I checked neither you nor I (nor Rachel Zoe) fit that qualification.

I have lots of friends who have received “push presents” – diamond earrings, a tennis bracelet, an upgraded ring … I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it is ridiculous. Requesting (nay, demanding) a gift for pushing a baby out of your netherregions seems to go against what God intended. Eve didn’t give birth to Cain or Abel and then ask Adam, “Honey, where is my diamond?” Our original design WAS to give birth – that was it! Why are we now expecting a present for doing what we have been designed to do all along? And, in case anyone forgot it is all Eve’s fault we have pain doing it anyway …

To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)

In all honesty, it seems to me that the push present is yet another example of entitlement for the rich and wannabes.

If you follow my blog regularly, you have probably noticed a severe lack of posts. If you follow me on Twitter, then you know why … for those who don’t, here is a quickie catch-up:

Our neighbors have become some of our closest friends. Our oldest girls are the same age, we both home schooled, and we go to the same church. Our faith has connected us, and I have gained one of the best friends that I have ever had (besides my husband). We do a lot of things together. Well, a few weeks ago while eating lunch by her pool, she got a call from her hubby that he was on the way to the hospital. His doctor’s office had blood tests back (he went from feeling exhausted and like his heart was overworking) – he needed a blood transfusion. I grabbed the kids and brought them all home with me, and she went to meet him at the hospital.

Three hours later, she called me with an update. He was diagnosed with leukemia. WHAT?!? That was most unexpected. He was immediately transferred to the Cancer Center and began treatment.

So that she could be by his side, and the kids didn’t need to worry, I kept them. And so it has been – I have had 4 kids in my house almost non-stop since then until the last few days. I will admit, the last few days have been overwhelmingly quiet here … it is kind of crazy how fast you get used to the noise and excitement and insanity of twice as many kids as you’re used to!

So, that’s a quick recap of why I’ve been too busy for blogging. I am following this with some recipes. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and please pray for our friends!

I am currently working on a post about parenting and wondered if I should include a webinar from a pro in conjunction with it. Please let me know if you’d be interested …

I hope that this finds you doing well! I am in the midst of planning and revamping the site, so bear with me for another week.

In the meantime, if there is anything you’d like to see on here please comment or email me directly (rhiana[at]hurriedhomemaker[dot]com)!

Happy New Year!