Here's To Moms and 4 Cute Mother's Day Cards

There are not enough words in the world to describe just how blessed I am to have my mom as MY MOM.

She's my best friend, I tell her everything, she knows me better than I know myself

Here's to Moms, far and near...
Who still wipe away our tears
Know all of our secrets
Give us advice
Make us say things like Mom knows best
Inspire us to be better women
Call us to a higher love
Who gave it all and would do it again...
Just for us.

Happy Mother's Day.

Share the love,
M.


Print these out to create a card for your mom :)

For other Mother's Day Prints check out:

Happy Mother's Day! 2016
http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2016/04/happy-mothers-day-2016.html

Mom 2015
http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2015/05/mom.html

Happy Mother's Day 2014
http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2014/05/happy-mothers-day.html

A Mother's Heart is a Patchwork of Love
http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.com/2013/04/monday-madness-on-sunday.html

LostBumblebee ©2017 Mother's Day Card | Donate to download
 Personal Use Only | www.lostbumblebee.net

LostBumblebee ©2017 Mother's Day Card | Donate to download
 Personal Use Only | www.lostbumblebee.net

LostBumblebee ©2017 Mother's Day Card | Donate to download
 Personal Use Only | www.lostbumblebee.net

LostBumblebee ©2017 Mother's Day Card | Donate to download
 Personal Use Only | www.lostbumblebee.net

Seek and Find.

I've been taking a little hiatus lately, ok-I've been being lazy and blaming it on jet lag and culture shock. In all honesty, the jet lag is real, the culture shock, well, I've been married to my Vietnamese hubby for 15 years (!!!) this August, so culture shock might be pushing it.

But I'm ba-ack... I'm feeling good and inspired and excited. It might have helped that my momma and I had a conversation this morning that changed my whole perspective. I've been feeling some anxiety lately and not wanting to adult anymore. I guess you could say I've been, what my sister-in-law calls, entertaining thoughts of escapism. Escapism, which according to google is defined as:

es·cap·ism

əˈskāpˌizəm/

noun

1. the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   And I couldn't agree more. I've been dreaming of the simplicity of childhood, you know- when parents took care of everything and we little people had nothing to worry about. I actually mentioned it to my friends that I'd like to live in a world where unicorns existed (and I was serious). But that just isn't reality. So I guess I need to buck buttercup, pull my socks up, and get back to reality and back to work.  

   
   

   I was looking for an easy way out of circumstances beyond my control, and I know that way out, I know that I need to go to God with my issues, (if you've read my previous posts, apparently I'm not learning this lesson very quickly). I had to take a few moments and repent for wasting so much time trying to find solutions for circumstances completely out of my control- Instead of casting all of my cares on Him, instead of giving it all to God, I had been trying to find solutions. If you need some encouragement about how we are to deal with anxieties and fears, here's a few: Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7,  Matthew 11:28, Philippians 4:6-7,  John 16:33, Romans 8:28, Psalm 62:8, and there are so many more.

   
   

   How is it that I am back here again? How is it that this lesson, one I know the answer too, is one that I am continually struggling with?

   
   

   So this one is for me... Missie, seek and you'll find...  

   
   

   Are you looking for peace? Seek. Are you looking for Hope? Seek. Are you looking for answers? Seek. Stop trying to find a solution and seek God, He is the solution.

   
   

   Share the love, and happy seeking.

   M.

   
   

   
   

   
   

Happy Mother's Day 2016!

Wait! Before your download, please Donate- 
We are supporting Edrisa a 3 year old little boy in Uganda that we got to meet when we were there in the fall. We are starting to get ready to prepare to go back- so make sure you donate before you download. Your donation is saving a life.  

There are very few people in the world that will ever compare to moms... My mom is my best friend, I talk to her almost every day, and sometimes twice a day. She's the one I call when I need to know;

Does this look infected?
How do I cook rice?
What can I use for a coffee filter?
Do I have to add milk?
How much chocolate is too much chocolate?
How many bananas can a person eat a day?
What goes good with olives, garlic, macaroni? no seriously, that's all I've got in the house.
Well how often should I grocery shop?

Yup my mom, and when things aren't going right, I call her, when I'm feeling emotional, I call mom, when I have to make a decision, I call mom, when I need extra support, I call mom... and Mom always say... Let's pray Miss... I want to pray with you... and that changes everything no matter what's going on, my mom knows just what's needed and when it's needed... and I thank God every day for my Mom.

She's a rock, She an inspiration, and I appreciate her so much. I'm so grateful for my mom, every day.

So these I created for you to share with you Mom... I pray that your mom is as much a corner stone and a strength in your life as my mom is in mine.

Share the love,
M.


(these are 5x7 300 dpi printables- make a card! Print it off and frame it- get creative!)

For more Mother's Day Prints, click here!

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Lostbumblebee ©2016 MDBN
 Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY 

Rise Up. Take Courage. Do it.

Sometimes it's just that easy.
Get up, have courage, and do it.

Sometimes all you need is 2 minutes of courage.
Just two minutes...

And sometimes it's not that easy.
Sometimes its hard, sometimes you can't get a clear picture, sometimes everything feels fuzzy. My Mom would say: when you don't know what to do, do nothing at all... and never make a decision at night.

Wise words from a wise Momma.

What is it today that you need to be courageous about... something small, something big, something that totally overwhelms you?

Whatever it is... get up, have courage, and do it... you can do it.

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN : Take Courage :
Ezra 10:4 : Printable : Free for personal use

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN : Take Courage :
 Ezra 10:4 : Printable : Free for personal use

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Don't worry, be happy. I woke up with this running through my head.  And how appropriate-

It's my favourite day of the year, the 23rd of August.

This is a day where I celebrate just being me. I drink my coffee, spend time with my hubby, today we will go to church, then probably do nothing- which to some -may mean nothing, but to me, just quietly spending time with the people I love, means the world to me.

We've got a lot going on at the moment, we are finalizing our Living Life On Purpose 2015 Uganda Journey- we have 35 days before we leave. 5 Sundays. It seems long, but when you are like me, it will go by very quickly and I will have worried and freaked out about 35 times between now and then.

Number 36, on the meltdown calendar happened yesterday -I called my mom in tears and said... what do I even have to offer these children? how can I even possibly serve the staff, the directors? what can I do that will even matter? As you know from previous blog posts, my mom is a rock. She is a prayer warrior, she is strong, she is wise, she just knows, and she knows me very well-  My mom, oh my mom... Gosh I love that woman, she talks me down from major meltdowns in 4 seconds flat and reminds me... of what I already know, but sometimes forget...

I know I should not worry. Luke wrote: "How many of you can add even one day to your life by worrying?" (Luke 12:25) I like to paraphrase it like this... "sweetheart, do you think you can add anything to life by worrying, does it fix the situation? does it make it better? are you adding joy to your life by worrying or are you striping your days of happiness and joy by allowing worry to rule your day? Why waste your time? Why allow something to rob you of peace? Sweetheart put your big girl pants on and lets knock this outta the park!" Luke was slightly more eloquent.

But it is true, what does worrying add to your lives? Does it make it better? No. Does it improve the situation? No. Does it add peace to our lives? No.  Matthew 6:34 reminds us also not to worry about tomorrow- I love how he states this; "therefore do not worry about tomorrow, it will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (i added the emphases because it's just so clearly written for me, 'Missie, hunny... you worrying about tomorrow is kinda dumb, you've got enough stuff to deal with today, one day at a time baby girl. After all how do you eat a mammoth ? one bite at a time. One. Bite. At. A. Time. One day at a time, one moment at a time, nothing more, nothing less... you've got this!)

A few more verses to chew on:

Philippians 4:6-7  do not be anxious [worried] about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties [worries] on him, because he cares for you.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled [worried], neither let them be afraid.

So today... on my favourite day of the year, I will worry about nothing, tomorrow will worry about itself.  I will take one day at a time, one bite at a time, and I will probably say this to myself 892 times today,  but it will always point me in the right direction... 'Hey Miss... don't worry about tomorrow... it will worry about itself.' 

So today- on this awesome 23rd day of August- don't worry... be happy,

Share the love,

M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 4x6

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 5x7

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 8x10

Home is.

This is a fun little ditty, because I get so sentimental when I am home with my mom. I grew up, for a big portion of my life, in these parts, and I miss it. I miss the people, I miss the open space, I miss the smell, I miss the sea, I just miss it. When I come back, it just feels normal, like I'm home.

I've started a petition at my house to make a move back here. It has one signature on it, it only needs two- but getting the other one will take awhile. Every time the hubby says "ok, let's go"... I think about all of the packing, the selling, the readjusting... and... well you know how that goes. I just settle in a little more... look around me and see all the wonderful friends and family that surround us, and I appreciate them even more.

My heart is happy here, My heart is happy at my home, My heart was happy in China, My heart will be happy in Uganda ~  Happiness is a choice, Happiness is knowing that all is well... no matter the situation, the location, the participants... Find Joy in the Journey.

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN: 4x6

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN: 5x7

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN: 8x10

MOM.

Best Friend.

Fierce Defender.

Soft Place to Land.

Encourager.

Love.

Heart.

Mom.

Mine is all of those and even more. 

Celebrate your Mom this year :) 

Share the love,

M.

Five 5x7 prints- 

5x7

5x7

7x5

7x5

5x7

Hope...

It is just 6 months before we fly away to Uganda to volunteer in an orphanage and to share our love with children who are already here :) I am so excited, I cannot wait, my heart wants to go now, my head says, "whoa Nelly, there is a lot of work left to do... "

In light of all that is happening in our lives, this poem keeps running through my head and my heart, these words, I've shared them before, and if you know my story, you will know that hope is something that is alive and well... most days, sometimes it gets hidden under the weight of the world, but it starts to sing again, and shines its light on the world, and it's like spring in my heart- it might sound corny- but true.

I remember a while ago, I was meditating and I asked it it was ok to let go of hope and just live. I was in a sad place, I didn't want to hold on to hoping for a miracle anymore. It hurt. The bible says "Hope deferred makes the hearts sick..." and my Momma always quotes the rest of the verse, because generally I'm complaining when we discuss this verse - "but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life".  I had literally asked if I could give up on hoping, give up on hope...  that was a Saturday- the next day- our really good friend came and spoke at our church- he spoke about not giving up, not letting go of the promises, holding on to hope. I literally laughed out loud... Yup, what a wake up call.

And I thank God for that wake up call, because it is true "Hope deferred makes the heart sick - BUT when the desire is fulfilled- it is a Tree of LIFE!" 

My prayer for you today, is that if you are hoping and dreaming about something, hold on to that hope, believe it in it, trust that when that desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Share the love,
M.

A poem by Emily Dickinson:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 

That perches in the soul - 

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all - 

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 

And sore must be the storm - 

That could abash the little Bird 

That kept so many warm - 

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - 

And on the strangest Sea - 

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.

4x6

5x7

8x10

Be In Love With Your Life... every teeny tiny stinking detail of it.

That is such a romantic thought, I love my life… but every teeny tiny stinking detail of it? Come on- how can that be… Life is hard, life is messy… life sometimes throws you stuff you don’t think you could ever handle, it knocks you down, stomps on you a little - how do you love it through all of that? how? how is it even possible? 

Sometimes it is easier on the look back, they say "hindsight is 20/20” this means when you are looking back on your life, you actually have perfect vision of it- you can see the invisible hand of God… you can see how hard things worked out for the good, and you can see the grace that flowed.

Duy and I have been through the wringer (more than once) we have had hard stuff happen… but looking back on it, it has made our hearts grow- it has changed us, moulded us, created two new people- different than we were when we first met, even different than we were just last year… I am humbled, by the way things happen, by the bigger picture, and by grace.

So today- try it, try to love every detail of your life, see if it is even possible, look back over the trying times, the good times, the fun times, the hard times and see if you can love it, all of it... every teeny tiny stinking detail of it. Can you see grace that flowed? Can you see the fruit it produced?

We may not understand the why- because (as my mother says) we don’t need to understand everything, we just have to accept it… 

Share the love today!

M.

4x6

5x7

8x10

My Mom.

So Moms, they know everything right?
The older you get the more you know this is true.

I was talking to my mom about life, how I am feeling about babies (and the lack there of in our little family life), and she said out of the blue;

"Miss, do you think you have a pride issue... maybe you are telling God what you think is best instead of thanking Him for the things you have, instead of trusting that his plan and his timing are perfect..."

Ten years ago, this would have been the beginning of a world war, now, not so much... my heart has issues- sometimes I do think I know what is best, sometimes I forget to trust God with my life, my family and my heart... She was right.  Mom was right. Mom is often right. When you have a mom who trusts God with everything, a Mom who spends countless hours on her knees praying for you, a Mom who would give anything for you... When she speaks, you listen, your heart perks up, because she not only speaks the truth of experience, she speaks God's heart... and she speaks to my heart.

Mom, I love you. This account happened today- the fact that it was just in time for Mother's day is serendipitous, not planned and not orchestrated.... but timed perfectly by my heavenly Father in whom I must place all my trust, because His ways are perfect, His plan is perfect...

I feel like I am starting my gratitude journey all over again, I got lost somewhere along the way... but I know how to get back home, I know who to trust, and I know who to thank...

Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)


This is where I'm at today ... Where are you? How are you doing? 

Share the love,
M.


A few more reminders that Gratitude is the right attitude :) 

My Mom's Favourite of my Prints: Gratitude! (she even gave this one to her doctor... as a reminder that Gratitude turns what you have into enough!)
Start each day with a grateful heart:
Count your blessings: 
CHOOSE JOY!

4x6

5x7

8x10