Thursday, April 30, 2015

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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Monday, April 27, 2015

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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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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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Monday, April 20, 2015

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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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

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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Friday, April 3, 2015

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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Thursday, April 2, 2015

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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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

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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