The Busy Week

 This is my busy week.  The week that could cause some feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed out. If this were a movie or television show - this is where I would cue the holiday over load montage.

I have to complete all my open Etsy orders and ship them by the end of the week so that they (hopefully) arrive before Christmas. And there are more than I would like to have still to fulfill at this point. I need to get my Christmas cars addressed and mailed. And I also need to wrap and ship some gifts for family that lives out if state. Plus all the usual - clean, laundry, cook, shop,care for dogs - stuff that is always on the to do list.

The good news is that it's just this week and then it is over. 

once I get through the busyness of this week, I can relax and enjoy the Christmas holidays. Next week I get to spend time with my grand son. I get to wrap presents, watch Christmas movies, and maybe even do some baking.

I just have to get through this one busy week.

October Busyness

Last week was just one of those weeks when I felt as if I was running as fast as I could without getting anywhere.  Whenever I am doing one thing that needs doing, I feel as if I am neglecting about 3 other things that I could/should be taking care of.   Feeling pulled in a few different directions like that hasn't exactly been encouraging me to sit down at the computer and write some blog posts. But - here I am!

The beginning of last week found us celebrating the Man of the House's birthday.  Sunday afternoon, the Female Offspring brought her crew over and we enjoyed a some football, pizza and a ginormous double-decker cookie cake.  (What can I say? The man loves all three of those things)  For his actual birthday on Monday, I made him a nice spaghetti dinner, and we actually sat down at the table with the Male Offspring for a meal.

Mid week had him off to Maryland for work.  Usually I take his business trips in stride; but for some reason this one stressed me out.  I actually cried a little after I dropped him off at the airport.  Which I never do.  (I'm blaming it on hormones)  That was when I decided I needed a trip to Target for some Starbucks and a little retail therapy.

He was scheduled to head home late Thursday afternoon.  Unfortunately, that was also the time when Hurricane (by then Tropical Storm) Michael, decided to arrive in the Washington, DC area.  This led to his plane sitting on the tarmac for about 2 hours before returning to the terminal.  I was a little anxious that he was going to be stuck in Reagan National Airport overnight, or that he would finally make it out only to arrive in Atlanta to late to catch the last flight from there to home.  However, he did finally get to Atlanta, making it just in time for the last flight of the evening.  And all's well that ends well.

Once the storm blew through, the weather finally began to feel like Autumn.  Which - in my humble opinion -  has been a very welcome change!  I can finally start pulling out some of my long sleeve shirts, and thinking about sweaters and boots again  And maybe the leaves will finally start showing some color.    It is odd to look outside in the middle of October and see so much green.


I have also been especially busy with my Etsy shop.  September, and October have been unusually busy months.  It seems as if I barely get an order or two completed, before another one or two are placed.  I can't complain.  I'm very happy to see the shop doing so well!

These tiger hats have been especially popular this month!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/486134227/

How is your October going so far?  Are you as busy as I feel?

December

It's that time of year again.  Things can get a little (a lot?) busy.  My life is no exception.

There's the usual hustle and bustle of shopping, gifts to wrap,  parties to attend, etc.  This year my Etsy shop is keeping me on my toes.  I can't - and won't - complain about that! However, it has caused me to have to put a few other things on the back burner.

In an effort to maintain some kind of balance, I'm be taking a break from the blog until around the first of the year.

I wish each of you a joyous Christmas.  I pray that you experience the peace of God's unconditional love.  And that you know you are loved and cherished.

I look forwarded to sharing 2017 with you!

Get Some Rest

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat"...

Do you ever feel this way?  Especially this time a year with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Yes, me too!  Shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, cleaning, entertaining, visiting...  it can be down right exhausting.  And there truly are days when I feel as if I don't even have time to eat.

Those are the days I can almost feel the Spirit whispering to me the same words Jesus says to the apostles.  'Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest.”

God still calls us to come away with Him to a quiet place and rest in His presence.  To press pause and rejuvenate our souls.

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

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!

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

Feel Busy Getting Nothing Done

This week has felt - well... odd, somehow.

On one hand it has felt as if I have been a busy little bee.  On the other, it feels as if I have gotten next to nothing accomplished.

photo credit - publicdomainpictures.net

I have a strong suspicion that it might be the second of these.  One look at my weekly To-Do list seems to confirm this.

How can I feel as if I stay so busy, constantly working and moving - and yet get so little done?

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

"It Is Finished"

In a world constantly demanding our time, our attention, our busyness - it is a comfort to hear the words of Jesus upon the cross.  "It is finished"  There is nothing we have to do to earn love.  To earn salvation.  To earn grace and mercy.  It is done.

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

The Dwelling Tree: Let's Be Friends
Cornerstone Confessions: Titus 2 Tuesday
Rich Faith Rising: Unite!
Growing Home: Growing Homemakers

Tell Me A Story: True Stories
 

Renew and Refresh

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ~ Luke 10:41-42

Martha had company arriving.  There was food to prepare.  Cleaning to be done.  Shopping to complete.

Sound familiar?

It's easy to get caught up in all the "To Do's" of the Christmas season.  

To feel overwhelmed with all the cleaning, shopping, wrapping, baking, entertaining, visiting, etc, etc, etc that "needs" to be done during this time of year. 

But stop... 

Imagine Jesus leaning close, looking patiently into your eyes, and telling you..  "You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one.  Chose what is better, and it will not be taken from you."

Rest in Him.  Take time from your busy schedule to sit quietly in His presence.  Read His Word.  Talk with Him.  Remember what the season is really about.  

Renew and refresh your soul.   

Be Still!

Most of us give our children certain tasks or chores that we expect them to do.  But our most cherished moments with them aren't when they are doing chores.  The best times are the quiet times spent together. Talking about what is going on in their lives.  When they come to us for advice.  When we share stories.  Or when we are simply together in the quiet, enjoying each other's presence. This is when we get to know each other and truly cherish each other.

God feels the same way about His children.

God doesn't want us simply scurrying around like ants doing things for Him.  He doesn't want us always doing more and more things in an attempt to please Him.  He wants to know us. He wants the quiet times with us.  He wants us to talk to Him about what is going on in our life.  He wants us to go to Him for advice and help.  He cherishes the moments when we are simply spending time in His presence.

It is possible to be very very busy serving the Lord; and yet be no closer to Him than we were when we were still lost.  Don't be so eager to serve Jesus that you miss out on really knowing him!