Full of holiday preparing or rushing?
Need a smile for the day, before taking off full speed?
Look no further than a few pics from our laundry room; where my husband thought that a little boy would enjoy hanging out.
Rest assured that he was never in any danger of falling out.
At least I don’t think so. I learned of the event while downloading pictures from the camera.
So, are you smiling yet?
I am in a major ‘getting ready for the fall’ and organization mode around here! My husband often comments that I’m usually organizing something in our home. Ha. Ha. And I usually don’t laugh with him. But seeing that May and June were spent vacationing for a week, camping for a weekend, attending a high school reunion out of state, and welcoming a new little one….well, by last week I felt completely out of sorts. All I’ve basically done so far this summer is pack and unpack as we traveled around.
We start school in two weeks, our daughter and grandson just moved in {bringing us to a total of 8 people}, there are three children’s birthdays to celebrate in the next 6 weeks, and the fall is our busiest time of year. I desperately needed a plan! And so I made a h-u-g-e list, a long list {I do love a good list!} that is being carried around the house, to stores and outside as to-do tasks are accomplished and crossed off. Much progress is being made…yes.
Right now there is fullness, but a good kind! I leave you with a few photos from our days ::
Creating and making things for some people may be a stress inducer, but for me it has the opposite effect. So after a very full schedule last week, I decided to pour through the need-to-finish crafting list that actually never gets fully completed. What to do, what to do!?
I finally chose a project that would require little effort since I was really supposed to be lying in bed due to flu-like symptoms. Seen here first, it was one of those projects that got me off the chair and roaming around the house to gather supplies already found in various rooms. A quick trip to rummage through my sticker stash for rub-on letters and voila! A new centerpiece for the dining room. These “grow in gratitude” glass containers will be around for a bit. And to think I went to the Dayspring website just to send an online card!
I used to reward myself with crafting time, you know, after everything else gets done (or close to it). It took me a few years to realize that everything rarely ever gets done and that it was frustrating me greatly to not take time for this avenue of creativity. So, that mentality got changed big-time. Creating and crafting is now a part of my life more and a part of my schedule as well. It’s not a special reward, but just what needs to be done like the dishes, cooking or lesson planning.
Most projects are for the family or our home in some way, so I see it as part of homemaking—I budget both time and finances for it, however big or small. I am a happier woman! And you know what they say about Mama being happy….
Sooo….instead of working on lesson plans for the next day,
or writing down ideas for a health and wellness day our church is hosting next month,
or returning emails,
or doing anything last night that required that I think! ~ I instead chose to wander through some beauty and goodness around the web. It’s a most relaxing activity (especially with a cup of hot tea in hand). Go ahead, try it.
:: I seriously want to own this journal just for the cover and also because the paper is completely captivating (I love paper). There’s room in my house for this pillow, so sweet.
:: after our six-year old went into a tic-tac-toe frenzy this summer, I was very happy to come across an idea that will save us a bit of paper. I’m thinking of it as a Christmas gift, but not sure it can wait until then. Um, well..first I need to make it.
:: when we’re finished with our acorns on the nature table, we’ll take the tops off and make these! a cute way to preserve a bit of autumn.
:: note to self ~ use the last bit of summer squash and turn them into ribbon candy; a special way to serve this veggie when company is over :: or just because.
:: as soon as I find the next gorgeous sunset, and I have my camera with tripod ready, and my 3-yr old is being still enough…we’ll try for a shot just like this one. but that just may never happen.
:: colorful butters and homemade biscuits! the photo alone makes me hungry. any kind of bread is my weakness ~ I completely blame it on my French heritage.
Alright, enough. I did eventually finish up school plans and return a few emails. Replenished my cup of tea and called it a night ~ it was enjoyable while it lasted!
photo~a bit of beauty on our table to welcome Autumn
My meeting on the 'how to' of publishing went well! One step down...
I cannot take credit at all, this was an idea of our builder after hearing me explain a desire for a tucked away space for scrapbooking, sewing and such. I'm grateful for his creativity. Plenty of lighting {I added more with some lamps, which are not turned on in the pics} and lots of shelves, which were an added bonus.
Okay, here it is--a morning of cooking for a friend who is in need. Rolls being made, pizza dough being rolled out, veggies for garden chowder cut up :: in general a big mess being made! Not the prettiest 'corners of my home' picture for sure. In the end it was worth it of course :: a family grateful for the provision of food at a time of crisis and a satisfied feeling of living the word. May you be blessed with a joy-filled weekend.
But, there is just something about planting and watching things grow and then eating the fruit of your labor. So the question remains....does our family want to labor!?
