Motivational Mother of the Month

Here is a picture of Amberlynn, our motivational mom for May.  She picked out this cute apron as an appreciation gift from me for inspiring all of us.  Thanks Amberlynn for your great example!

My name is Sandy Price and I am Sally's daughter. My mom has asked me to do a monthly guest post on her blog where we spotlight a “Motivational Mother”. We will be taking suggestions from all of kitchen clothesline loyal readers and choosing one mother to spotlight. The term mother is going to be used loosely to represent any women who positively influences the life of a child. This could be a mother, aunt, grandma, neighbor, or other such women who demonstrates Christ-like love to a child. Do you know someone who fits that category? Please leave us a note in our comment section and we will contact you if that nominee is chosen to be featured. Along with a guest post where we spotlight the motivational mother that special person will also get to pick out any apron from the kitchen clotheslines inventory for free. We are excited to start this and hope that you will support our efforts in trying to applaud the women who go above and beyond their own responsibilities and positively influence the life of a child.


So here goes the first of our spotlights. Our Motivational Mother of the Month is Amberlyn Russell of Menifee, California. Below is her story written by her, I guarantee you will be inspired by her story.

Amberlyn is the one in the middle in the grey shirt and white skirt. 

About two years ago, I had my life turned upside down in a way that only women like Octo-mom get the blessing to experience. My family has grown from one child to, at times, an army of seven. I know you are thinking, poor mom going through all that labor time. Fortunately, I only gave birth two of those children (Caleb- 3 and Eli- 10 mos) but the catch is that now I am a part-time mom of 4 teenagers and three under the age of five! Here is my story.


I met a woman at a park near my house one day (I got her name and number through my church). We got to talking and it turns out she is a mom of five kids, going through a divorce, and the sole provider for her family. I asked if there was anything we could do for her. The needs started off small at first: pick the kids up and drive them places; feed them for a few meals; give them some extra chores around the house so they could earn some money. She never had to ask twice for things because as soon as we met her children, my husband and I fell in love with them. There is the oldest Connor (17), then Shay (almost 16), Morgan (soon to be 14), Liam (10 going on 16), and little Ireland (4).


As time went on, they started sleeping over because some weeks they just couldn't go home. This last year we were blessed to have them for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years. There are ups and downs, as with all kids. My husband and I are doing our best to handle teenagers, their drama, and the decisions that they bring into our home. We've been through bone-grafting surgery, crushes, first-kisses, heartbreaks, College counseling, Fs on report cards, church baptisms, etc. And somewhere between heart-attaching a teenage boy's door and making a love mix for a teenage girl, my life changed. Its changed in that my husband has hired a house cleaner, I have found that I do have limits (hence the house cleaner), and that even when I may not be expecting it, I really can learn to love trials.


Recently, their situation has changed a little. We found the mom a place of their own and the dad has come back into their life. I am seeing them less and less in our home and it's such a bitter sweet situation. Who knows where they will be in a year.  What I do know is that they will always be part of our lives and that we will always love them.

Thanks so much to Amberlyn for sharing your story with us and for inspiring us to look for ways in which we can change the world one child at a time.

Do you know someone you think should be recognized for their efforts.  Leave us a comment below and make sure to leave us your email address.