So, I’m busy compiling my annual Amazon gift guide (if you want to get a head start, you can check out the ones from last year and the year before.  A lot of the items are still available). You’ll see the first round of that tomorrow.

But I wanted to pop in really quickly and show you our two brand new prints over at Paint and Prose.

First up, we have “Call Her Blessed,” which was, of course, inspired by Proverbs 31:28, which says: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

call he blessed

It comes in B + W too!

call her blessed1

Shaun worried that people would be hesitant to put this in their homes because it sounded arrogant. Oh! Look at me! My children rise up and call me blessed (anybody else chuckling to themselves as they picture their sleepy children’s actual first words every morning?).

blessed1

My response? “No way! I want this–not as a bragging right–but as an inspirational reminder that this is the kind of enthusiasm and praise that I desire to earn from my family, by the grace of God.”

blessed

I am all too aware of my shortcomings, but here’s the thing: our kids–especially when they’re young–are so gracious with our faults. They don’t notice when we aren’t perfectly put together or that we don’t make fancy, homemade birthday cakes.

They notice when we love on them.

My kids have this thing–I’m not even sure how it started, but I definitely love it!–where they say, “You’re the best mama ever!” (It’s a vast improvement over the: “You’re the best mama I ever had!”–um…thanks?–that they used to do).

I never feel like I deserve it, but I have noticed that it usually happens when I’ve done something sweet. Something patient and kind and thoughtful. Sometimes, it’s for the “grandiose” gestures like a pizza picnic at the park for no good reason. But usually it’s just because I took the time to paint the girls’ fingernails or drop a couple of chocolate chips in the boys’ hands while they were doing their math. Nothing major. Nothing particularly special. And yet, they notice and choose to bless me with their sweet words.

(They’re even sweet enough to say it to me when I’ve just blown it and had to ask forgiveness for being grouchy).

They–and now this print–are my motivators to keep on with kindness even when I feel like beating my head against a hard surface. (Toddlers! Oy vey!)

It’s worth it, Mamas! We can do this together.

Our other new print just puts a smile on my face.

drums

Did you ever see happier drums?

drums3

drums

I put it in my boys’ room a) because it matches the color scheme perfectly and b) because–duh–Little Drummer BOY. Perfect for Christmas!

But I could see this one being in a kids’ room or nursery all year long.

Speaking of our new prints, we have a special going until 11:59 PM tonight for Cyber Monday.

You can still use the 30% off code that went out in the newsletter (you can sign up here if you haven’t already) on any order.

But we’ve sweetened the deal even more because anyone who orders an 8X10 of either one of the new prints will get a FREE 5X7 of her choice included with her order.

30% off? New designs? Freebies? Sounds like my kind of Cyber Monday deal!

Happy shopping, and please know that we are so, so thankful for you and your support of our little shop. I grin like a giddy fool every time an order comes in. True story.

P.S. Just FYI: We ship either the same day or the day after you order. We are still offering free shipping, but we have also added a paid Priority Shipping option in the shop if you would prefer a little speedier delivery.

4 Comments

    1. Oh, Alison. You are forgetting that you are only seeing a small peek of my house in these pics (although, I guess you’ve seen it in person too). You are SO kind, but I honestly don’t think I could ever get it clean enough in EVERY part of it to make the cut! 🙂

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