Correction to SITS: Melissa does not live here. This is Maryleigh’s place. Blue Cotton Memory is known to her intimates as Maryleigh.
Come on in! I am still unpacking from The Big Move Back Home – but sit awhile, grab a Pain Au Chocolate, Sip a Little Blue Cotton Iced Cocoa, munch on a couple of the boy’s favorite Hot Wings. Before you come in, just let me warn you – there’s NO Ray Ramano Men here – this is a real boy-to-man zone – with both brains and brawn, faith and heart.
A sign in my kitchen says, “Sit Long; Talk Much” – so sit awhile and lose yourself in a story.
Two years and 1 1/2 months ago, I wondered into the blogahood with Blue Cotton Memory – and happened upon The Secret is in the Sauce – SITS to those who hang around long enough to develop relationships. Like a sturdy pair of training wheels, SITS provided support as I wobbled along, learning what blogging, at least for me, was all about. SITS, like a coffee shop hive, is a great place to kick-start my day, build relationships – and grow.
My mission statement is ‘The Faith, Love, and Politics of Raising Boys to Men.” My niche? Don’t be deceived that this is just a MoM Blog (when is a mom every “just a mom”) – to me it has become something more – a Faith Blog that encourages through challenges to find greater love, deeper joy, and stick-to-it-ive-ness.
Let’s start off with a little humor to break the ice with “Scary Mommy, Boo” or “When I am Old and Smoke a Pipe with Vanilla Tobacco,” or if you’ve got a Country Boy with a Dipping Problem, check out Definition of a Country Boy followed by Mama Grizzlies Fiery Dip Recipe. Discipline? I rarely have to lay a finger on them – LOL – The Discipline of Squats.
Teen Relationships bubbling in your house? Check out the Trifecta of Relationship Lectures
Struggling with feeling the love for your kids today? I know just how you feel. My heart is poured out in my Unconditional Love Rules – it’s all choice, baby – all choice! Choosing Life = Choosing Love. Choosing love is not all snugglebuggles, amazing mom-moments, and heart art. Sometimes choosing love can be just plain ugly or smell like a rotting soccer cleat. A Mother and Her Masks: The Story of the Mother of the Prodigal is about an underlying theme of my blog: encouraging each other through faith that God has His hand on the plan, Faith and Hope in that Plan. I would not want to walk one day without that Faith. I am thankful for the encouraging women in my life, both in and out of the blogahood, who life me up when I am down, who speak those faith words. I want to encourage women who have ever felt down-for-the-count, whether it is the individual woman-within struggle or the mom struggle. I have been there; some days I still am. Encouraging each other is like the pectin to preserves!
If you have managed to hold on this far (my niece tells me my posts are too long) – I will share with you my very favorites. All my sons are my favorites (LOL) – but my top 2 favorite posts would probably be the following: Not Everybody can Whistle; Not Everybody can Wink, and Socks for 5; Prayer for 9.
Thanks for coming by! I am so glad you came!!!! Please grab these roses when you leave. It makes an awesome Screen Saver:)
Congratulations on your SITS day 🙂 Hooray!
Oh how exciting that it’s your SITS day!! Congrats! 🙂
I was so excited to see you featured on SITS today. I have a feeling you and your blog are going to be a great inspiration to the many SITStahs who come your way today. Hope you enjoy your day and get lots of comment love sent your way! 🙂
Happy SITS day to you, it’s my first visit here, your blog is very calming, I love all the pictures. Have a great weekend!
Happy SITS day!
I love pan au chocolat – your photo is making me so so hungry now. I like the idea of the sign in your kitchen; Sit Long, Talk Much, what a great idea.
Have a lovely weekend,
Jade
Congratulations on your SITS day — I hope it’s a great one!
Happy SITS day! Really cute blog 🙂
Happy SITS Day!
I only have one son (and he is the sweetest thing ever). But my daughter is rushing headfirst into the teen years so I need all the motivation and inspiration I can get to continue my unconditional love and support her the best I can.
I will be back to read more!
I am hanging my head in shame for not having time to play with my SIT’stas in ages!!! I really enjoyed SITS when I had a little more time.
Congrats on having a big day with them. You are one of my favorite writers. How could you possibly pick a favorite post?
For anyone who hasn’t read your writing — READ EVERYTHING she has written. ALL POSTS are EQUALLY great!
Love & blessings!
Beth
Congrats on your SITS day!!
A SITS day, yay (and congratulations)! Now I have to go back through your post to glean which post I have missed in the past few years 😉
Hooray! I hope today is a day many come to discover the treasure trove of knowledge you have to share.
Congratulations on your day in the SITS sun!
Have a most beautiful day today,,,,and weekend as well.
As a mom of only 2 boys….I’m excited you are the featured blogger, as I love getting insight into what raising boys is all about! Lots of great posts to read this morning, when I know I should be doing laundry! Happy SITS day!
Lesley
http://projectmommyhood.blogspot.com
As a Mama to three little ones, so far, without a lot of mentors or Titus 2 women to look to for guidance, it’s wonderful to find encouragement in blog form. To read your posts and feel welcome and at home already, all I can say is thanks!
Congratulations on your SITS Day! What a beautiful family you have! Loving your blog and will be joining the others that follow you! Thanks for sharing so much. Enjoy your day!!!!
Have a lovely SITS day!
I am still toddling through learning to blog- SITS is awesome. I am still learning about its coolness, but I am so happy to see bloggers like you who are genuine and authentic sharing themselves online.
Happy SITS Day! You have such a happy, adorable family, that proves what the power of love can truly do!
I loved reading your interview at SITS! I hope one day I can achieve the balance you have between family and writing. I’m not all that great at it right now. I really appreciated your perspective on unconditional love. There was a girl in one of my classes last semester who believed in conditional love, apparently because of the way her sister acted and seeing her sister’s relationship with their parents. I don’t know the story there, but I wasn’t sold on conditional love. Hope you have a good feature day! 🙂
Congrats on your SITS day! I look forward to reading around 🙂
Happy SITS Day! I think it’s wonderful that you let your faith guide you as you raise your boys.
I absolutely love your blog! It is so heartwarming 🙂 congrats on your SITS day!
Congratulations on being the feature today… looking forward to snooping around.
Make it a great day!
Happy SITS day! I’m currently memorizing your pan au chocolat recipe so I can put it to good use when it’s not 10AM lol!
Happy SITS Day!
Five boys? What an amazing woman!! Thanks for sharing your blog on SITS today!
Happy SITS day! I think I need to read this blog. My two boys are entering teenhood…help! LOL!
I was so happy for you when I visited SITS and saw it was your day!
Happy SITS Day! What a beautifully written welcome!
Happy SITS Day!
Happy SITS day to you sweet bella, I’m certain it was sheer PROVIDENCE that led me to your blog today, I cannot wait to read more (your pain au chocolat recipe is so easy and so mouth watering I MUST TRY!). Stop by Mangiabella anytime….have a glorious weekend and keep shining!
Happy SITS day!!! You have a lovely blog! I’m going to need this because I have a 5 year old now, but when I wink my eye he’ll be 15! I’m off to browse through some of your suggestions!
Hehe. My husband says my posts are too long too, but hey, sometimes there just aren’t enough words, right? I absolutely LOVE the picture of you and boys – great shot!
Happy SITS day!
I was SO excited when I saw who was the FB’er today – yay yay yay! You are going to meet a lot of new people today, gain new followers and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more!
Happy SITS day Maryleigh! Excited for you. I know your wisdom will be helpful to many many people today. 🙂
Happy SITS day! Looks like those young men provide lots of blog topics:)
Congrats on being todays FB! I haven’t checked in at SITS in awhile, and I’m really happy I did today. I am a mom to 4 boys and 1 girl and had to come right over to see what tips you have on raising boys! Loving your blog.
Happy SITS day! You are an inspirational lady!I am glad that I found your blog!
Have a fabulous SITS day!
You are an inspiration to all of us moms. Thanks for sharing your beautfiul blog with us!
Happy SITS day!
Congratulations on your SITS day!!
Congratulations on your SITS day! I am the mom of a 6 year old girl. I have to admit I am clueless when little boys come over. There certainly is a difference. I have taken the time to read a few of your posts. I like your faith perspective and if more moms of boys had your outlook, I think there would be better marriages and less divorces today. Not saying it’s always the man’s fault here. Just have noticed that boys seem to be more coddled than when my dad (WWII generation) was young and they are often not given or taught responsibility. Anyway, sounds like you are doing a great job with yours. Take care.
Happy SITS day!!! I am raising 2 boys…GOD bless you!
Denice
Happy SITS Day! You write a lovely blog! I will definitely be back for more. Insite for a girly- girl on raising a boy!! Have an amazing day!
Love your blog!
Happy SITS day! I loved reading through the posts on your blog today. I also homeschool and have all boys :). Glad I found your blog!
Hope you enjoy your SITS day! Your blog as brought me encouragement as I journey with my three little men. I appreciate your desire to raise real, caring, faithful men. You’re an inspiration!
I’ve been on your blog before – who could forget the name or the fact that you have 5!!! boys. I have one boy and one girl and each of them probably equals about 2 which brings me to 4 but that’s still not as many as you so I bow in admiration.
Congrats on your big day. What a great blog you have created.
Congrats on your SITS day Maryleigh! I’m a mom of just boys and I can’t wait to read about your five!
Happy SITS Day! Boys can be such characters! My youngest is 4 1/2 and I just love hearing all this “talk”.
First, congrats on your SITS DAY! You have a great blog, great story and an amazing outlook. But being the only woman in a house of boys makes you extra special. Thanks for visiting me on my SITS Day yesterday! I am now following you.
Happy SITS day!!!
Happy SITS Day. 🙂 I will have to remember your five whenever I think of my two (and my girl) acting up! Lovely blog.
Congrats on your SITS day! Raising 5 children in today’s world takes a ton of courage and a lot of faith…even though I do not have children, I can relate to your faith (His hand on the plan…) – Keep it up!
Congrats on being featured! Great blog. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog
Congrats on your SITS day! I am certainly interested in this Blue Cotton Iced Cocoa!
Congrats on your SITS day!
I’m raising 2 boys and most days feel like a struggle (although often times, I think how grateful I am that they aren’t girls – I was much more difficult than they ever are.) Any advice on how to do a better job, how to help them make the difficult transition from boys to men, any advice at all is welcome!
You are so blessed with so many children. They sound great. I’m a new follower from Follow Friday. Doylene
Happy SITS Day! I have enjoyed reading some of your entries! Keep up the good work and enjoy your day in the spotlight!
Yay! It’s always exciting for me when the SITS featured Blog is one I read regularly. Congrats!
What an inspiring blog! Happy SITS Day!
Look at you and all the love! Congratulations! I certainly appreciate your perspective and how you share it with warmth.
Grateful I had time to come by and yes, I don’t mind staying a while. I’m looking all over and I just know…I’m in an awesome place…You always bless us with your faith and love of family! God bless.
I’m so glad I found your blog through J Daniel4 ! I have two small boys of my own who test me at every twist and turn, I’ll take the encouragement anywhere I can get it! Happy SITS Day!!
Happy SITS day…a little late 🙂 Glad you got your day-I enjoy reading your blog!
yikes! i’m not sure i’d commented about your day! if i did, and this is a repeat, chalk it up to the forgetfulness induced by muscle relaxers and migraine medications (i love texas in the summer).
sooo….happy belated sitsday!