If music and creativity were the markers that defined our wealth, Joy Rose would be an incredibly rich woman. As it is now - her life is rich with, at the very least, character, a giving spirit and an inherent ability to empower women.
This is a woman who is creating movements, redefining what it means to be a woman and a mother and honoring the value in motherhood with each step she takes every day.
Friend Lynn Kuechle nominated Joy as a Mom Who Matters, saying in part that music and and art had ’saved her life’.
Joy explains, “Finding our passion or ‘reason to be’ in life is really important, especially in the face of profound illness. Rediscovering creativity and music was core to who I was as a person. Abandoning those things as a mother left me incomplete. Reincorporating them made me feel whole again.”
In 2002, Joy and a few girlfriends created what is now the heart and soul of Mamapalooza, a “movement, a community and a resource which supports women by encouraging them to get creative and give something back to themselves”. The Mamapalooza events use arts, culture and education to embrace and empower women.
The first event took place on a single stage in front of roughtly 100 people. There were only 15 performers. In only 7 years Mamapalooza has expanded to 4 different countries and countless stages. The events from the Spring and Summer of 2009 boast more than 350 performers and over 50,000 people attending.
A mother to 4 children - Brody is 20, Blaze is 18, Ali is 16 and Zena is 14 - Joy believes the most important thing she does with her children is to set a positive and loving example on a daily basis, “I’m pretty simple when it comes to ‘mothering’: Feed them, Love them, Listen to them and share my philosophy when it is relevant.”
Joy is also the Executive Director of the Motherhood Foundation which is working to build an International Musuem of Motherhood - honoring the achievements of mothers through a wide range of exhibits and projects.
Joy’s key to balancing everything she currently has on her plate, “I move forward like a wall that spans a thousand miles. Slowly pushing the vast pool of energy another inch forward every day; Nudge Mamapalooza, the kids, the Museum, my friends, the radio show, my band, our home, my relationship….it goes on and on….”
I think it would be fair to say my family is a little bit obsessed with baseball - specifically, the St. Louis Cardinals. My husband had to recite the inscription on Stan Musial’s statue before he was allowed into the stadium when he was THREE.
I think you could say that obsession is being passed down. You’ve seen my husband’s Daddy Diaries, right?
The kids have been going to games since they were itty bitty. (This picture is from 2 years ago) And tonight we are going, as a family, for the first time this season.
The kids are beyond excited. I’m having to convince Coop he REALLY doesn’t want to wear Daddy’s catcher’s helmet to the game.
This is him wearing it last year. He puts it on multiple times throughout the day. He also greets his Daddy every day wearing a glove and carrying a ball and bat - his question, “Daddy - pay basbol?” He asks first thing in the morning and the second he comes home from work.
I think Daddy succeeded in passing on his love of the game. Fortunately he is growing into the gear a little bit and has mastered running the bases and hitting the ball. Good thing - since he plays daily!
Maybe we can catch a foul ball tonight….fingers crossed!
Check this out - Katja from Skimbaco Lifestyle is hosting a LIVE interactive Media Show - hosted by Snazl. There are E.L.F gift certificates on the line! Join in the fun!
I write because sometimes I hurt - and you - you always make me feel better. I lose my daughter - you tell me you have done it too. I feel like that yelling mom you avoid in the grocery store - and you understand - because you have been there too.
I write because sometimes, I am overjoyed. And when I am, you celebrate with me. You understand the euphoria associated with that first time on the potty. You ‘get’ the love I feel when I get an unprompted ‘I love you’ from a small person.
I write because you always remind me I am not alone. Even on the days when my husband just may get an ‘I quit’ note scrawled in purple crayon.
I don’t claim to be great at it. Passable, I’m sure, but not ‘wow-I-can’t-believe-she-wrote-that’ like some of you. Like Megan. And Amber. You people are T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D. And I say that with love, not envy. (Well, maybe a smidgen of envy - but it is good-natured-sometimes-I-wish-we-shared-a-brain envy.)
I write because it is a release, a welcome, a shared experience, an opportunity to laugh and cry and rejoice.
Sometimes it may be boring, but, well, sometimes I guess I am. And that is ok.
My little brother and I are young. We spent the night listening for reindeer hooves and ‘ho-ho-ho’s’. By 4am, we are wide awake. But there is a problem. Dad has a rule - we can’t leave our room until 7am.
So, what do we do for those 3 interminable hours? We play I Spy. Over and over again, I say, “Find me a gray kitten, a helicopter, a purple sock, a screwdriver…” And after every item, my little brother would hunt. And ‘Spy’. And rejoice.
I am excited to be able to bottle that childhood memory and share it with your family.
Share a favorite childhood memory and enter to win:
I SPY A to Z: Book of Picture Riddles
ONLINE PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY
One (1) Grand Prize winner receives a Grand Prize Pack including:
Wii Video Game ‘Ultimate I SPY’
Board Game ‘I SPY Memory Game’
I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
One additional I SPY Book (Title TBD)
Grand Prize Pack valued at = $85.99
Four (4) runner-up winners receive a copy of the new book
I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
To enter, leave a comment here. Share a favorite childhood memory or tell me who in your family would love the book/prize package!
For additional entries:
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The contest will run until July 15th.
ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and one (1) winner will be drawn. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through July 15, 2009 ending at exactly 11:59 CDT.
But at this very moment, there is absolutely nothing that sounds better than the comfort of my own home. We have been out of town twice in the past three weeks - and honestly - it has been exhausting.
I have been dreaming of my own bed. Wishing for my shower. Crying over my kitchen.
And, I haven’t even mentioned just how desperately my small people need to be back on a regular schedule……but you can sympathize, right? You understand the magical combination created in children when they are lacking sleep, have had little to no discernible fruit and far too much sugar, are getting too used to being entertained by amazing sights, and haven’t seen their own beds in days? Notsomuch fun.
But, I digress.
The truth is - I have many thoughts to share from our recent trip. I mentioned that my little brother is no longer single. I now have the pictures to prove it. I will post those tomorrow.
After I sleep in my very own bed. With my teddy bear. And shower in my very own shower. And eat in my very own kitchen.
My little brother always swore he would never get married. And by never, I mean in a pigs-flying-hell-freezing-over kind of way.
And yet….he met someone.
Her name is Emily. Like my brother, Emily is a chef in New York City. They get each other.
And I love that.
So….sweet little brother, as you say your vows today, know that I am thrilled for you. As you say your vows today - I will be heading up your very own cheering section! I am so proud of how you have grown, how intelligent you are and how hard you work. Emily is a lucky girl.
It is amazing when you find someone special. And though we don’t see each other often, I do love you. And so do Mom and Dad.
If I had a picture of Emily - I would post it, but that will have to wait until we get back!
(This post is republished from February of 2008 - I think the reminder of a little extraordinary is good for us!)
Let’s be honest….the mere mention of the word ‘Extraordinary’ takes your brain in so many different directions. “Extraordinary” can mean ‘amazing’, ‘unbelievable’, ‘wonderful’…..but for me, it is just about doing or be ‘extra’.
It is my goal to bring the ‘extra’ into my life as a mommy, as a wife, as a friend…..as a woman. I want to go above and beyond what is expected of me. I want to put effort into living an extraordinary life.
I created www.ExtraordinaryMommy.comin the hopes of reminding Mommys that the work they do every day with their children is EXTRAORDINARY. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all felt INSPIRED by the effort we put into family, love and life?
Whether you work or stay at home….your love for your family is extraordinary. Getting up in the middle of the night with a crying child is extraordinary. Taking your child to soccer practice and then ballet class is extraordinary. Helping with homework is extraodinary. Stopping what you are doing to explain why the sky is blue…that is extraordinary. Balancing work and your family is extraordinary. Figuring out how to stay home when you are used to working is extraordinary. Working because you have to or because it makes you a better mommy - that is extraordinary! Loving with all your might is extraordinary. Putting others in front of yourself….well, that is EXTRAORDINARY.
Extraordinary Inspiration…that’s my goal. Today, like most days, we are up and at ‘em early. Whether your ‘yesterday’ was good, bad or indifferent, I’m hopeful today will be Extraordinary.
A very special thank you to my good friend Jen Hinton (@keepitclassyjen) for filling in for me on The Spin Cycle on MomTV tonight! Be sure to join in - It will be a great show!
The show starts at 9pmEST! Don’t miss it - can’t wait to be back with you next week!
This is a woman who is creating movements, redefining what it means to be a woman and a mother and honoring the value in motherhood with each step she takes every day.
A mother to 4 children - Brody is 20, Blaze is 18, Ali is 16 and Zena is 14 - Joy believes the most important thing she does with her children is to set a positive and loving example on a daily basis, “I’m pretty simple when it comes to ‘mothering’: Feed them, Love them, Listen to them and share my philosophy when it is relevant.”
I think you could say that obsession is being passed down. You’ve seen my husband’s 
This is him wearing it last year. He puts it on multiple times throughout the day. He also greets his Daddy every day wearing a glove and carrying a ball and bat - his question, “Daddy - pay basbol?” He asks first thing in the morning and the second he comes home from work.
Check this out -
I SPY A to Z: 
