Quieting the Holiday Frenzy

Do you feel it? The tug and the pull to spend more and more? Or the tug and the pull to make, bake, create, decorate? The endless list of things that one could attempt during the month of December is overwhelming.

This is the time to get quiet. To push back the clamoring, cultural noise. To stop searching for the "perfect" traditions. To remove our eyes as to what our neighbor is doing.

And then, listen.

Listen to what the Babe is wanting to give us for Christmas.

He offers Rest.

He gives Grace.

He promises Peace and Life and Joy.

He holds out His hands (scarred and all) to give Love. Unconditional Love.

Oh, it's so easy for me to get heart-sidetracked right now. To get consumed with consumption instead of consumed with Compassion. To buy more instead of give more...

I need to cease striving and get still and listen...

Listen to what the Babe is wanting me to give for Christmas.

I really desire to hear His daily will for me...to look for Jesus in unexpected places...to serve when He prompts...to give presence to others...to keep offering myself...my truest heart... to that sweet Babe in the manger.

Lord, may it be so.

Packin' It Up

We are leaving to head to Dallas, Texas, to visit family for a week. I am really trying to keep the packing simple and streamlined. I also am keeping in mind the amount of money that it costs when you drive 16 hours...fast-food, snacks, hotel, gas...it all adds up.

Since it seems that there will be a variety of weather while we are there, I made a list for each child that includes:

4 long-sleeved shirts
3 pants
2 short-sleeved shirts
fleece
2 pajamas
socks/undies
one pair of shoes

We will do laundry once or twice while we are there so I hope that each long-sleeved shirt will get worn twice.

I gave myself a few more options, but really only packed things that would mix and match well and layers.


In order to cut costs on food while traveling, I have packed three reusable grocery bags with snacks and the fixings for sandwiches. I also purchased four Lunchables for the kids...not healthy, but fun for them and cheaper than a Kids' Meal!


I also put together a bin filled with paper-products and a tablecloth...our goal is to use Rest Areas instead of gas stations/fast-food restaurants as stopping places. We can use the restroom, eat outside at a table, and have plenty of room for the kids to run and get out the energy! Since I use cloth-everything at home, I don't feel bad about using some disposable products to make our trip easier.


We don't ever drink soft drinks at home but like the occasional one when we are out and about and traveling. Instead of paying the crazy prices of fast-food/gas stations, we are bringing along a small cooler of ice and a two 2-liters. I got a great BOGO deal on Honest Kids Organic Juice boxes a few weeks ago and have those ready for the kids.



I hope that these small, intentional choices will help us use our time and money wisely and lend to healthier on-the-road dining experiences. I already feel better knowing that I am setting the tone for our travel and not allowing the restaurant chains to dictate our diet and our time and our budget.

And now I am off to find some fun travel games for kids and put together a fun travel bag for each of them!

Scarf Tying

My daughter Katie and I hosted an American Girl Club today for 10 girls and highlighted Josefina...a historic fictional character who lived in the 1820's in New Mexico. She wears a "robozo" (a long beautiful Mexican scarf) and so Katie and I had the girls bring scarves of their own to learn some new tying techniques.

This post was my initial inspiration to do this with the girls, and then I enjoyed taking some time to hunt down some simple scarf-tying ideas. This was so much fun! Who knew there are so many ways to tie a scarf and that you and your daughter could have a blast trying something new?

Here is the video that we ended up loving the most... followed by this one as a close second. Target has all kinds of pretty yet simple scarves that are affordable and fun. I have picked out a golden colored scarf that I not-so-subtly hinted at my husband that I would find to be a perfect stocking stuffer :)

And of course, you know my love of thrift so I will enjoy checking out my local resale shops to what kind of lovelies I can pick up and even pass on as gifts to other women who need a touch of beauty and care in their lives.

Enjoy tying one on!

I Love Blogs (and the women behind them!)

You know I go through seasons when I need to "unplug" and not spend as much time online. I get overstimulated or over-inspired or get a general sense of mind-distraction from being truly present in my home. But you know what? When it's all said and done, I really do love blogs. Rather, the women behind the blogs!

Let's be honest. I get lonely and need the encouragement of other women to keep going, keep mothering, keep loving, keep cooking, keep serving, keep praying, keep reading the Word, keep looking at Jesus, keep being creative. I love the beauty and the faith and the life that I find in other women's struggles, triumphs, creativity, ideas, and pursuits.

I was feeling rather blue this morning and in a heart-place of feeling like no one really gets me...that weird feeling of being misunderstood or alone or whatever. Then I popped online and read the heart of my dear friend Andrea and it was as if I was sitting with a kindred spirit, hearing her heart, valuing it, and comforted by our similar ideals. I had just been wrestling with thoughts that maybe I make too big a deal about the importance of homemaking and creating an environment of beauty and life and peace and joy...but as I looked around, I was made strong again.

Thank you lovely blog-women for being a part of my journey. Using your words and perspectives and ponderings have lifted and strengthened so many. Your voice matters. My life has been forever challenged and changed by the thoughts and ideas and creativity that I have experienced in this virtual-yet-real world for the past 5 years.

I am just happy and humbled to be here.

What I Wore Wednesday

I only remembered to take photos of what I wore for three days this past week...
I just have others things to do :)

Thursday:

Mocha Club t-shirt

Beaded Necklace: Hand Picked

Skirt: Abercrombie and Fitch (thrift store!)

Flops: Rainbows

Tuesday:

White long-sleeved T shirt: Target (7 years ago)

Blue cardigan: Target tags still on from Goodwill

Black knit pants: Target

Tennis shoes: Target

Posy Pin on sweater: Pleated Poppy

**I actually received this through the inCourage Dayspring shop...I got a $30 gift certificate for sponsoring another Compassion child! I had been wanting one of these posy pins and couldn't believe it when I saw it in their shop!**

Aren't they adorable?

Today:

Green cashmere sweater: Old Navy

Brown cardigan: Target

White ruffled tank: Old Navy

Necklace: Lisa Leonard

Posy Pin: Pleated Poppy

Jeans: Old Navy (thrift store!)

Brown flats with bows: Target (like 3 years ago!)

This experiment has showed me that I spend way too much time and resources at Target!! :)

Why I Hold My Toddler To Sleep

Our home is a lively place. Every day is filled with energy, activity, and noise. It is difficult to find "pockets of calm" in my day. I am sensitive by nature...sensitive to lighting, noise, environment...too much stimulation leaves me irritated and over-done. I take minutes here and there to steal away to my bathroom to breathe...or I duck outside to sit with the chickens and think...or quietly find my way to a front porch rocker to just *be*.

The sweetest "pocket of calm" that I have found is the tender moments of holding my 15-month-old boy as he falls asleep. Every afternoon and every evening I carry him to his room and we sit in the comfy red chair together. I cuddle him close, and as he contentedly sucks on his pacifier, he falls asleep. It takes him only a few moments, but I stay holding him long after he enters dreamland.

The other children know to be quiet and to not interrupt. They mostly do well at obeying this request. The quiet is not only for the baby's sake but also for mine.

I use these moments to be still. To stop the harried nature that I fall into. To take time to love and nurture a little one who still needs skin-to-skin connection with his mama. It brings out gentleness and nurture in me...and I could always use more of that. I calm down.

The calm atmosphere leads me to the Calm.
The One who stills storms.
The Comforter.
The Peace.

I pray. Nothing specific...wherever the mind and Spirit lead. I praise. I lift up friends to Him...always with a prayer that they too will be quieted like a weaned child (Psalm 131:2) and be comforted (II Corinthians 1:4) and be at peace (John 14:27).

Too often in our frantic lives we run through our days at breakneck speeds and miss opportunities for stopping, pausing, finding the Calm...Jesus.

May we each have the grace to take every daily opportunity... whether obvious or obscure...to pause, to praise, to pray...to be at Peace and with Peace and for Peace.