When Things Get Messy

My house is a mess, y'all.   Not "kind of messy".  A big ol' embarrassing mess.  Pretty much a disaster area.

Ok - no, it's not that bad!!

Nothing much is getting done around here.  I am neglecting the housework while I try to push through to complete a few big orders facing deadlines.  (And not making the kind of progress I would like to see).  Meanwhile,  things are piling up around me.

I keep nagging at the offspring to help with keeping the kitchen clean.  They do the bare minimum to be able to say they did what was asked.

I'm dangerously close to running out of clean laundry.  And the Man of the House may or may not be rewearing socks.

Something is going to have to give soon.  I feel stretched too thin and on the edge of that place where I just might snap soon.

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A Spirit of Gratitude: April 27

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Strawberries and Greek yogurt

Adorable party hats

 

A sign I'm on the right path

The Man of the House and the grand baby asleep on the couch

Getting more accomplished than expected

An unexpected deal

A text chat with my sister that made me feel better

Being OK with a half completed To Do list

The availability of entire seasons of British quiz shows on YouTube

When God meets me right where I am with a comforting message

An afternoon spent outside

Sleepy grand baby

Cute little red headed bird at the feeder

Birds singing on a rainy morning

Grand baby and his "space ship"

The Man of the House and the male offspring working on my car together

The wisdom to bite my tongue (figuratively, of course)

The Man of the House laying out the new garden 

Working late into the evening

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When Things Get Busy

Y'all - Things. Just. Got. Busy. In that "this is a very exciting opportunity - I must have been crazy to take this on" kinda way.

Now, sure - given the nature of what I do, it might seem silly to call it "busy". I mean, my busy probably just looks like a lot of time spent on the couch watching movies, every season of 30 Rock, or Disney cartoons.  And that's not exactly an unfair observation. (Do I have a great job or what? Yep!)

It's not exactly a fair observation either.  Just because I am sitting in the comfort of my own home doesn't mean I'm not hard at work. I still have projects to complete.  Deadlines.  Expectations to be met.

It means I can get easily distracted from the family life going on around me. Or worse - frustrated by it when it distracts me from the work I am trying to get done.  

I have to remember to be intentional about making time to set the work aside and be present with the ones I love.  To turn away from the work from time to time and be here.  With them.  Focused.

And whole I'm at it - to take time for myself.  To unwind.  To relax.  To pray.  To read.   To refresh and renew.

And then...  back to work!

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A Spirit of Gratitude - April 20

I AM THANKFUL FOR

a surprise ending to a good book

grand baby hugs

the female offspring making lunch for me

bird landing on the porch railing right next to my chair

my "baby" sisters

deep dish pizza

a productive day

red velvet cake

crazy easy - but yummy - crock pot recipes

custom orders

the Man of the House breaking out the smoker for the first time this grilling season

planning a trip to OK this summer

playing "Guesstures" with the family

Etsy sales picking up again

baking cupcakes with the grand baby

running errands for the Man of the House

a $7 repair rather than having to buy a replacement

a trip to the library - by myself

Mom stopping by for a visit

the grand baby playing blocks

the rain making everything so very green

my sister's text that made me LOL

when the Man of the House finally gets home at the end of a long day

cardinal at the bird feeder

 homemade mac and cheese

fresh baked bread

taking all the guys for haircuts

a break from the rain

new business opportunities

quiet time to complete an important task

a prayer answered

the good kind of insomnia

a bird singing to me from the crab apple tree

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An Attitude of Scarcity

I've been thinking recently how much of my life has been lived with an attitude of scarcity.  That fear of "not enough".

That I'm not enough.  Not pretty enough, smart enough, talented enough, strong enough, or good enough.

Always thinking, feeling, believing that there's just "not enough".  Believing somehow that if someone else is getting something: time, attention, affection, praise, love, readers, sales, friends, a great job - whatever; somehow there won't be enough left for me.

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=8422&picture=empty

That I am not enough to deserve or to earn the things I want, or need, for myself has led to a lot of self doubt, resentment, anger, and jealousy.

Instead of grabbing the abundant life, I allowed myself to believe was one of scarcity.  Like Eve, surrounded by a life-filled beautiful garden, I found my attention drawn over and over to what I felt I couldn't have.  The cup always half empty.

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=3790&picture=girl-with-empty-cup

It's an ugly truth.  One I didn't - I don't - want to look at.  But there it is.  And the only way it's ever going to change is if I take a long, hard look at it.  Examine it for what it really is. Stop looking for the empty holes, look instead to the promises God made about the abundance He has planned for us:

That He came so that we can have full lives (John 10:10)
That He has plans to prosper us.  To give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)
That if we lean on Him, He can do immeasurably more than we can ask for - or even imagine! (Ephesians 3:20-21)
That our confidence will be richly rewarded (Hebrews 10:35)


If you are like me, and have allowed yourself to buy into the lie of scarcity for too long, it's time to let it go.  Grab the abundance!
. 

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A Spirit of Gratitude: April 7

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

the male offspring's back pain not being anything really serious

green grass in the backyard

little boy rain boots

new hair color

hamburgers w/ the Man of the House at 5 Guys

To Dos turned to Done

Monthly meal plans

take and bake pizzas

finding a great deal on a replacement door

coloring Easter eggs

our friends' new grand daughter

Easter baskets

sleepy grand baby

a lazy relaxed Easter

yummy food

mini chocolate bars

Easter leftovers dinner

miniature chocolate bars

 a few minutes of quiet

afternoon thunderstorm

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Saturday Inspiration

Finished

We can imagine the pain of the physical torture.  We can imagine the pain of being mocked, scorned, and rejected.

What we can never truly fathom is the crushing weight of all the sin that ever was, is,or would be in the world. Placed on one set of shoulders hanging on a cross.

And the sweet release as that weight was lifted, knowing that the sacrifice was complete.  Sin washed away with the flow of blood. Once and for all.

"It is finished"

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A Spirit of Gratitude: April 2

I AM THANKFUL FOR

Sunshine

The daffodils in bloom

Yellow

Long, unplanned walks

Spring rain

Afternoon decaf

Rearranged living room furniture

The Male Offspring asleep with his dog beside him

Leftovers for breakfast

Tree outside the dining room blooming

Ginger Pear tea

Watching the clouds part and the blue peek through

Dropping off items at Goodwill

Cookies and ice cream

Curling up on the couch with the Man of the House to watch a movie

Sorting coins with the Man 

Talking and joking with the Male Offspring

Early morning thunderstorms

Flashes of lightening

Taking an evening walk

Blowing bubbles with the Grand Baby

Sheets on the clothesline

Blossoms on the peach tree

Sitting outside to crochet

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That Dream You Have. The One That Scares You

That dream you have - the one that scares you.  The one that seems impossible.  Too big.  Too crazy.  Too far out of reach.  That one.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

That's exactly the one you should pursue.

Because that's probably the important one.  The one God is speaking to you.  Calling you

Maybe that's why it seems so large.  Because it's a God sized dream.

That fear?  Maybe that's a sign you're on the right path.  Fear is the enemy.  Trying to make us doubt ourselves.  To discourage us.  To keep us from following God's plan for us. 

It seems impossible.  But with God all things are possible. 

Push past the fear.  Trust the One who first imagined the dream and passed it to you.  The One who can make it happen.  Step out in faith and obedience.  Pursue the dream.

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