Have you noticed that I’m trying to get back to the Beauty and Bedlam of old? I’m adding in just a little of this and a little of that here and there.
It’s the oddest thing ever because I’ve been feeling paralyzed to some degree with my blog. My desire is to encourage women right where they’re at, yet I peek around at the rest of the blogs out there and wow, the bar is being raised to new heights that I’m not quite ready to tackle, nor do I have the time to do so. They eat, breathe and sleep beautiful, creative moments around the clock and the pictures are just like the magazines. It sucks the life right out of me to try and duplicate that, but it sure is wonderful to look at.
I need to kick that comparison to the curb because I know it’s not reality. So every week (or every other), I’m just sharing some of my random thoughts in posts like this. Some I’ve already shared on Instagram, while others have no rhyme or reason other than it’s you and me sitting on my front porch sharing a cup of coffee and doing life together. That’s my favorite thing. Can we just do my blog from my front porch?
See the word reminder above? In lieu of what I just mentioned, I keep it displayed at all times. So often, we don’t “feel” blessed or highly favored. We miss the beautiful moments that surround us every day by listening to the trap of comparison. We have the opportunity to remind ourselves and choose to believe truth. Say it with me, I’m chosen, loved, accepted and His delight. God’s love never changes!”
(Starting at the top of the collages and moving down 🙂 I shared a bit of my heart on not having some big huge New Years revelation. As I saw everyone’s huge goals and dreams, mine didn’t feel very worthy because the one thing I kept hearing was “get regular meals back on the table.” Super spiritual, right? Yet, it’s critical. The mundane and the magnificent intersect at the table and it’s a priority I’m not willing to put aside anymore.
So, I started my post on 5 fast ways to get easy meals on the table. We have to start somewhere and this is packed with great ideas.
– Our daily basketball practices are right around the corner from one of our “Rich People’s” Goodwill store. Their clothing is amazing, but typically the home goods and furniture is ridiculous. Not this desk. Beautiful solid wood, antique that I envisioned in my home (except I promised myself I would not buy anymore furniture to paint until I had decluttered some more. UGH! It was painful to pass up, but I posted about it letting all my local friends know they should buy it. :)) I came home and enjoyed my LOVE Mercy print that I put in a yard sale frame that I painted. That will hold me over.
Did you read, “How to Clutter Your House in 12 Simple Steps? DO NOT miss it and make sure you read the comments. They are awesome!
– My happy necklace – Some say bauble necklaces are out, but if they dress up your $2 shirt and give you hope that spring is just around the corner, embrace it.
– Did you know that I’m heading to NYC’s Fashion Week? I can’t wait. I’ve been dressing outside my comfort zone lately and this fun print leggings paired under my long thrifted sweater was the perfect way to have fun with fashion. Have you dressed out of your comfort zone lately? Give it a try.
– I’m thick in the basketball season with our youngest three children, but last Saturday we took a celebratory 7 1/2 hours car ride to celebrate our #2 son’s Freshman football career (starting center). Yes, Our 295 lb “baby” boy had his football banquet. We are still amazed at the gift he is to so many (and I don’t mean on the field), the amazing coaches he’s learning under since that is such a rare find, the full $250K scholarship his hard work brought (yes, that’s not a typo) and the fact that someone else now pays for his food bill. Grace, sheer grace!
– Speaking of football, with our beloved Packers out, this game was dead to me. I LOVE this picture!! This is my kind of Super Bowl. How about you? Craziest game EVER!!!
I finally got another meal making day up on the calendar. I just need this kind of accountability and as I shared earlier, I need to prioritize it. I’ll get a run down on the blog, along with recipes. If you don’t want to wait, I do have an older post that shares a bit about what I did with this. (Read here: Creative Meal Planning)
We tackled 120 burritos, Chicken Tetrazzini, Brunswick Stew (is that a Southern thing?) and Chicken Parm.
This is my daily drive to basketball practice. Typically, I’m rushed & often irritated since it’s an hour drive round trip and I start counting the moments till our daughter is old enough to drive herself.
Then I catch myself and am reminded that these “daily” obligations will soon be gone and I’ll wish, beg, and plead for them back again.
So last week, I stopped the car (it’s the country, no traffic ;)) and I took a picture of remembrance. How do I miss it in my rush? I want to soak in the gorgeous scenery and remember this precious mother daughter time with my sweet girlie. So come on, ladies, let’s bring on the beauty of the everyday!! It’s there for the taking if we refocus.
And speaking of my girlies. This is such a precious and unique stage of life. After six hours at the gym, the girls played their basketball games. They changed and got ready in the locker room, and then Friday night they were off to their fancy father/daughter dance.
They’ve gone every year since they were 2 years old, so for our eldest, this is a 13 year tradition so far. Such a special time with such a special daddy who knows the importance of dating his little girls and modeling for them what they need to look for in a spouse.
I’d love to hear one of your daily beautiful moments!! Look around. I bet you have one right in front of you that you may have overlooked.
I only live 9 miles from my job, but I drive a “detoured” route to drive my daughter to school every morning- 35 minutes away. We’ve chosen to put her in a non-local school for many reasons, not the least of which is the quality of the teachers and the learning. Instead of bemoaning my now 90 minute commute (in rush hour) we spend our 30 minutes together listening to music we both love, singing along and talking about what’s up. I know at 14 I have precious few days left when she’ll want to talk with mom, so I enjoy that time togerther. Once she’s dropped off, I drop by Starbucks, grab a chai, and listen to my audio book that I allow only during my commute- makes the drive so much more entertaining! Lemons into lemonade for 2015.
oh Christyn – you know what I mean then, but your is to a whole new level since my basketball drivingg is only for a short season. It sounds like you are definitely making lemons into that lemonade. Keep on, keeping on, sweet momma. Your daughter will remember those special talking times. 🙂
Jen, you are awesome!!! I love your blog because you are so like me…busy with kids, church, LIFE. You always encourage me and I just want to encourage you today. God has given you amazing gifts and you are so faithful to share them, not only with family and friends, but also with the thousands of us that follow you here and on Facebook. I feel like we are friends even though you don’t know me from Adam. 😉 I can’t wait to meet you someday…either here or with Jesus later on. Thanks for being such a blessing to us all!! 🙂
Deidra – I sure hope it’s some day here. You know you are welcome anytime if you get close to NC. Our porch is waiting for you. 🙂
As a new blogger, I understand what you mean about the bar being raised so high! It’s very intimidating. I’m just trying to be faithful to what God puts on my heart to share with whoever He sends to read it.
Thank you for sharing glimpses of your life, and your honesty about the creative, round the clock blogs. I love watching how you and your gorgeous family balances the beauty and bedlam of this life.
I am curious, as the mother of 3 boys if you could give me a dose of ‘reality’ of your life with a gang of boys in the house. My 3 (15,13,10) have really started teasing and picking on each other a lot. Mostly in fun…they even all laugh most of the time. But as the baby of the family who had one older, bookworm brother, all this teasing is way out of my comfort zone.
Do/have your boys gone through this? My husband says its normal, but I’m really wrestling with all this teasing/picking on is just normal development for boys or something I really need to nip in the bud.
Any words of wisdom you have to share would be greatly appreciated!!
Melissa – that sounds like a blog post I should address. Your hubby is completely right, it’s totally normal, but for us mommas who want them to be respectful and loving towards each other, sometimes it just feels wrong and honestly, some times it is. This past Christmas, our 21 year old and 17 year old started wrestling (yes, they still do), but I could tell it had turned the corner from fun play and teasing to some anger. I had to get in the middle of it. That had to be nipped in the bud, for sure!! Not pretty and I was shocked how quickly that testosterone turned bad.
@Jen,
I would appreciate reading that post Jen! You reply to my comment is exactly how I feel…its ‘normal’ but can digress quickly. We had our first (very minor) fist fight this weekend…over a video game remote.
Sometimes I totally don’t understand these people I’ve birthed! Lol!!
HAHA!! I AM SO WITH YOU!! Our incident over Christmas was crazy!! They got an earful from their mom after that one. 😉
My kids are in the early thirties…and I love reading your blog because it takes me back to “remember when”. Every season of life is full to the brim. The skills and priorities you are working on right now are built on the ones you learned when your kids are little. The next season will draw on the ones you are working on right now. We never get to coast! And if we do….we don’t develop into the women God needs us to be!
I especially loved your blog about lighting a candle at meals….the best way to settle pre-schoolers down at family dinner! We still do it throughout the winter months. Loved it when I went to visit my son’s house (lives with three other guys) in an inner city neighbourhood where he is a youth worker and there was a well-used up candle on the table.
Hope – thank you for your wise words!! I just loved reading that about your son. I bet that does your momma heart good. You’ve raised a wonderful one. 🙂
Live real. Your life sounds real, like mine when the girls were home. Don’t change yourself for anyone. Time to go enjoy the moment and make sugar cookies!
I’m on the sugar cookies!! Sounds perfect. 🙂
Would love to read more about your sons football scholarship. My son is a center too 😉
I enjoy your blog, your photos are beautiful too !
@Nicole,
My son is a center too Nicole!
Thanks Nicole – I definitely need to finish my post about his scholarship. We learned SO much and honestly, there’s a huge learning curve. To get that scholarship, unless you are the one percent that is just amazingly gifted above all the rest, it’s really a time commitment. Who knew?
@Jen,
Please Jen!!!! That’s a post I also look forward to anxiously!!! My hubby is trying to figure out how to navigate the recruiting/scholarship waters for our son. He has quite a Top 10 list of schools….help!
I especially look forward to your info from a Christian perspective. I certainly don’t want to sell our souls!
My daily beautiful moment? My 10 month old who wakes up at 5:15 (after sleeping through the night) and babbles in his crib as he waits for me. Then, the excitement when I pick him out of his crib and we play in the dimly lit room – me in my robe and he with his crazy bed hair. Love the little moments!
oh Kristen – I can just envision it. Those are SUCH precious moments (and they’re all free.) Now remember that feeling when he has a blow out as you head out the door. hahah
@Melissa Mulvaney,
Sorry….this posted in the wrong place!
Oh Jen, I could just give you a big Hug! Your blog said everything that I feel in my life right now.
I love you blog because it is real and not perfect. I started comparing myself to how my house
should look at all times and I am never going to make it. Even magazines are making me feel that way and when I think about it, perfect is just not me. Please don’t change your blog and turn
it into something I just can’t relate to. You are perfect just the way you are and it doesn’t matter if
you don’t have everything the way others say. Be yourself and be comfortable. I have really enjoyed your blog over the years and would hate to see it change. Keep up the great work!
I’m one of those that rarely comment, but I was very touched by your transparency in this and want to say to you, “Way to go!” Have a blessed day!
Love your blog!!! Could you please tell me where the “rich people’s” Goodwill is because I am dying to know 🙂 I live in Greensboro and think I need to check it out. There is a decent one in High Point too. Gracias!