A couple of years ago, I decided to make a few rules for Mother’s Day. I wasn’t going to have outlandish expectations fueled by the advertising industry about what I deserved. I didn’t want expensive gifts or a white table cloth dinner stress fest out with the family. Those things weren’t really ME.

I just wanted a day hanging out with my family and our extended family, soaking up spring and the sounds of our laughter together. I wanted my husband to whisper a simple thank you into my ear, to SEE me, and pull me close. I wanted cards from my girls that I could collect and look back on whenever I needed.

What can I say. I’m a sucker for kind words and baby hand prints.

Enter: The Mama’s Book. The rules for Mother’s Day? Simple.

1. Make me a card

2. Tell me what your heart says

3. Draw or glue it into my Mama’s Book so I have it forever and for always

4. The rest of the day is up for grabs. We decide together what we want to do!

Honestly, I love it. I love having simple expectations. As the girls get older, they don’t have to stress about what to get mom. My husband can just direct them to the book, where they can each spend as much time as they want drawing me a picture, writing me a story, painting, or making me a card to paste in.

I’m not much of a scrapbooker, so you can laugh at my design all you want. I don’t even have a cover for the book yet. Any fancy lettering or scripting friends want to help me out with that? Eh? Eh? 🙂

Call me simple. I don’t mind.

I just know some of the best days come when expectations are easy and celebration is organic.

Happy Mother’s Day!