Just choosing a name for this little venture of mine has been an interesting process. I went through several obvious choices like “tired mommy,” or “because I said so.” While honest and to the point, they didn’t strike the right tone that I was hoping for. “The return of supermom” was too arrogant, and not completely truthful. So I began to broaden my scope and search for a more all-encompassing title. I asked myself who I am and how I see my life. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I did not ask these reflective questions silently, and he was treated to long stretches of watching me pace the floors, scribbling notes and muttering to myself. I think it gave him a glimpse of our golden years together. He is thrilled…or terrified.

Finally I settled upon sunflower blessings because it seemed the most….me. My children, who most of my writing is about, are a daily blessing in innumerable ways, and sunflowers have always been my favorite. I identify with them. They’re not the fanciest flower, but they’re tall and strong, and beautiful in their simplicity.  And my favorite thing about them, aside from their brilliantly sunny yellow color, is how they follow the sun throughout the day. They seem to be always looking on the bright side, which is something that I strive for everyday as a mother. Some days it’s admittedly more challenging than others, but eventually the clouds pass and there are those little faces, shining up at me again.