LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER - The Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Things have been very quiet around these parts lately. Why, because I have been frantically preparing for the LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER SHOW!!!!

And it has finally arrived. This Thursday, TOMORROW, at Thanksgiving Point, 7-9 pm in the Amber Room.

16 Women will come together to celebrate motherhood and give Mother's Day a Microphone.

Will you be there to join us?

The cast line up is out of this world. 

Abby Hatch	Aleisha McDaniel
Carly Kerby	C. Jane Kendrick
Jenny Eckton	Jenny Smith
June Haskell	Linsey Redfern
Melody Newey	Polly Scott
Amy Hackworth	Holly Richardson
Julie DeMille	Megan Conley
Shannan Busby	Heather Johnson

The monologues will make you laugh, and cry, and then laugh again.

I promise it will be a night well spent.

You don't have to be a mother, or a woman to appreciate the event. Men and women alike will love the content of the night.

You will find yourself sitting in the audience chanting a resounding "Me Too"! As the pieces touch your heart and your spirit.

You will leave feeling rejuvenated and celebrated.

It would mean the world to me to have you there. And I hope you will come and introduce yourself and say hello.

Are you still looking for a mothers day gift. This would be perfect. And for 10 dollars, you can't beat the price. Bring your mother, your sisters, your neighbors, and friends. 

Plus for today only, use code LTYM2 and get 2 dollars off your ticket.

You can find full show information here. And the direct link to tickets here.

Doors open at 6:15 so be sure you arrive early to get a good seat.

See you tomorrow! Come and help us give Mother's Day a Microphone.

Happy Birthday American Cancer Society - Sponsored Post

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the American Cancer Society.



Last Year I had the opportunity to work with the American Cancer Society. It was a great experience. So when I heard the ACS was turning 100 years old this year, I knew I wanted to be involved again. The American Cancer Society started back in 1913 with only 15 physicians and business leaders who wanted to raise awareness of cancer. Who would have known that it would become the leading fighter in ending disease.

The ACS is all about giving people more birthdays. They have played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history and have made a huge contribution to lung cancer research, helping to decrease the smoking rate by 50 percent. Their influence is monumental and their efforts save lives every.single.day.

Our family has been greatly impacted by cancer.

When I was just 6 months old, my grandfather died of cancer. He fought for 5 years, but his throat cancer came back. It has had a huge impact on my life. I was the only grandchild he ever met, and my parents tell me stories of how he used to bounce me on his knee and make clucking noises with the hole in his throat.

I don't remember him, but I miss him. I wonder what it would be like if he was still alive. I know we would have a lot in common. My grandmother, who has been a widow for the last 36 years, would have had a very different life. I know that with all the developments the American Cancer Society has discovered over the last 30 years, my grandfather would have lived, had he gotten the same cancer today.

A few years ago cancer hit our family again when my aunt was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was young, and fought for 18 months before passing away. Leaving behind three girls. The two youngest were just out of high school. They were forced to grow up too fast, as they put their lives on hold to care for her every need. Watching my aunt and her family go through this horrible time, opened my eyes to all that the American Cancer Society does. They have saved over 1.2 million lives in the last 100 years and fight to make sure that everyone with cancer can get all the help they need. With my aunt, we were so grateful for all they did, and continue to do to fight cancer and give more people a birthday.                                                              

This year the ACS if working with celebrities like Josh Groban and Mary J. Blige. Cancer has a way of touching all of our lives and everyone is getting on board to help fight the fight.

Happy Birthday to the American Cancer Society. Thank you for all you are doing to save the lives of those we love!



This is a sponsored post by the American Cancer Society.

Either Way Its Okay...You Wake Up With Yourself

This week I did something unthinkable for me. I sent emails to two different friends, to tell them I could no longer contribute to their websites.


I politely and graciously "resigned".

I had to keep the emails short. They were painful. These women have become my friends and not only did it make me feel like a failure, like I couldn't handle it all, but I also felt like I was letting them down, and that made me sad.


Everything came to a head a few weeks ago while I was reading "Carry On Warrior" by Glennon Doyle Melton. The book is full of stories from Momastery.com. About half way through I had this overwhelming feeling that it was time to stop hiding and be more honest with myself. Honest about what I can and cannot do. Honest about what I want to do, and honest about who I want to be. The book is amazing that way. I realized what I already knew. Being a wife and mother is hard, and that is okay. Admitting it is hard doesn't make me less or worse.

I have been struggling with this turmoil inside for a while now and didn't even know it. An unsettled feeling that was trying to tell me to get back to basics and actually live. Live side by side my children and love each and every moment. That is what I want. I want to laugh more and play more and be silly more. I want to rush less and worry less and stress less. I want to put my whole heart into the few things that matter most, instead of putting a little heart into lots of things that don't matter.

What really pushed me over the edge was Billy Joel. Yep, Billy himself. You see, I am a huge Billy Joel fan. Always have been. My husband, not so much. So while he was gone I put in "The Best of Billy Joel" and turned up the volume. I have lots of favorite songs, but up there at the top of the list is "My life". I was signing, signing loud when it hit me. Maybe you know the song.

They will tell you, you can't sleep alone in a strange place
They they'll tell you, you can't sleep with somebody else
Ah, but sooner or later you sleep in your own space
Either way it's okay you wake up with yourself. 

Yes, thanks to Billy Joel it all clicked.

Either way it's okay you wake up with yourself.

You see no matter what anyone else says or does or believes, I wake up with myself every day. I have to be happy with me, content with me, and honest with myself. And I have to accept that that is enough. And it is. When I open my eyes each morning, I have to feel good about who I am, because either way it's okay, I wake up with myself.

And for me right now, I am someone who needs to cut back and accept all I give. For it is enough even if it isn't everything.

So I "resigned" from a few positions. And you know what, my friends understood. They were supportive and wonderful.

And then I "re-hired" myself. To the most important position I have ever been blessed with. Being married to my husband and mother to our children.

This doesn't mean that I can't have any other interests. For example I feel strongly about getting back to Family Volley. And I am passionate about the LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER Show that I am producing and directing. But those things still feel right. The other obligations, not so much.

Thanks Momastery.com. And thanks Billy Joel. Thanks for giving me courage to do what needs to be done. Thanks for helping me feel better about "...waking up with myself."

Do you ever feel guilty saying "No"?

Do you feel like you have to do it all?

Who likes Billy Joel?

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

****WINNER: Janiey C. ****

In honor of Spring, and the fact that we were able to play outside today, let's do a giveaway!

Family Volley believes in the power and importance of reading in our families. In fact, I recently did a segment on Studio 5 all about Children's Books That Teach Values. I am happy to be involved in this year's Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza. The Hop is all about reading and books. 

The Giveaway....

$50.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Perfect for all the readers in your house.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Read Now Sleep Later.

The Link to all the participants can be found here. Happy Hopping!

Everything Easter-The BEST Easter Games for Your Family

If your house is anything like ours, the next two days will be filled with Easter preparations. To help you with your prep, here are the best of Family Volley's Easter Games and Activities all in one place.

Let me help take the guess work out of how you will spend your family time together. (Ironically these posts are some of the most "pinned" posts from Family Volley.) They are winners, I promise.

The 12 Days of Easter-Teaching the Easter Story

The last month has been so busy around our house that I wasn't able to do the 12 Days of Easter like we have done in the past. So instead, Saturday night we are going to do the shortened version all in one night. It will be the perfect lead-in to Easter Sunday. 

Our children love helping me decorate for every holiday. We spent our Family Night this week dying Easter eggs and making Easter Egg Garland. The Garland is so simple, really colorful and makes a beautiful statement when hung in the house. Perfect last minute decoration. Even our 4 year old was able to do this one "all by herself."

Every year our family has a big Easter Egg Hunt. My husband hides about 200 eggs around the yard and we set the kids free. I am okay with some candy, but it is nice to fill the eggs with "non-candy" also. "Easter Egg Hunts-More Than Just Candy" will give you more than enough creative ideas for ways fill your Easter eggs. There are some fun and unique ideas for hiding them also. Make your egg hunt egg-stra special this year.

Did you know that Jelly Beans are for more than just eating. They can be used for some really fun family games also. Jelly Bean Games will give you two awesome games to play with your left over beans. The games are great conversation starters, time fillers, and the perfect way to entertain family and friends who come over for Easter dinner. They are also a good way to keep the conversation moving while you eat. 

Last but not least, you MUST Egg Wrestle. It will become your new favorite Easter Tradition and your kids will pass it on through the generations. No matter your age, this one is just good fun for everyone. It is the perfect way to use up your left over dyed easter eggs, and a great thing to play with family and friends while you are waiting for diner to cook. Be sure you have the camera ready because you will want to document this one. 

Easter is such a wonderful time of year. The weather is just starting to warm and color is popping up all around us. Make this Easter egg-stra special by spending time playing with your family.

What do you do for Easter?

Do you have any special Easter traditions?