Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! As many of you know, my eldest daughter, Kara, has been a huge part of my business for the past several years. She was actually my very first employee at my very first store, a tiny space in Lake Orion. When Kara was in high school, she would get off the bus at my store so I could go home and get her younger siblings off of the bus and start dinner. Howard picked Kara up on his way home from work or her older brother, Ian, would pick her up on his way home from college.

Time Flies

If you have been following us for any amount of time, you have probably seen many pictures of us together.

I think this is my favorite picture of us “working” together. We were picking and it was about 110 degrees outside and Kara had a table leg hitting her in the back of the head or something.

Kara is now our social media guru now. Thank God is all I have to say about that! I had mastered Facebook and was quite proud of that fact. Then Kara started telling me that I should have an Instagram account, and do this, that and the other thing…thus, she created another job for herself at Chic Antiques.

She recently shared this picture of us shopping at LeFleur Decor last year for their Mother’s Day weekend event. Definitely one of our favorite spots to hit together.

I’m not sure what’s going on with my hair here…but anyway

Kara and her husband even had their wedding reception at Le Fleur Decor! I think this is my very favorite picture from that day

That’s my eldest son, Ian, who was employee number 2 at the shop. He would mind the shop so I could grocery shop and such when I was in a bind. I have another daughter, Erin, who helps us out here and there when I need her. She is getting her doctorate in chemistry and works full time in a lab. We aren’t exactly sure how I was the one who ended up giving birth to her???

You might recognize the other two, husband Kyle and brother Kyle.

Here are my 4 cuties many years ago!

I’m not sure why Kyle is practically naked while everyone else is in their winter jackets??? Or why we have him in that contraption??

Mother-To-Be

As many of you know, husband Kyle and Kara are about to become parents themselves. Recently, Kara shared a very personal post about their journey a few days ago on Facebook and Instagram.

Kara shared that she hesitated to post much about her pregnancy because she and Kyle had some infertility issues and she was sensitive to others who are struggling. As awesome as social media can be, it can also be hard. I remember how “broken” I felt when I had 2 miscarriages between Ian and Kara. Like a total failure. I was completely amazed at how many women at work (I was an insurance adjuster in those days believe it or not!) came up to me and told me THEIR stories of loss.

Rainbow Babies

Here’s the thing…no matter what people are posting, or more importantly NOT posting, EVERYONE has a story. That’s why I try to be as real as possible. Life is so much better when we can support each other. Now, I find that Kara is now called a “Rainbow Baby”. I learned that on social media recently!

Here I am holding my “rainbow baby” standing next to my mom and my grandma.

Grandma was almost 80 in that picture. She has been gone from this earth for awhile and now I am the one who is going to be the grandma.

Erin, Kara, me and my mom are pictured here recently at Kara’s shower. We know their is yet another girl about to be born into our family.

No matter what YOUR story is, I want to say again, Happy Mother’s Day to you! As a woman, I know that you have mothered someone along the way even if you haven’t given birth yourself. Maybe it was a sibling, niece or nephew, a neighbor you took under your wing, or maybe your kids have 4 legs or feathers! Enjoy your day!!