{it's official}

I've officially moved out to the studio.

 

Yippee!!!

 

Computer and all. 

 

Since completion happened during the fall frenzy, I decided to wait.

And, because it slowed down but the boys were home and I

still had a lot of time on the computer, I decided to wait until

after they went back to school.

Then, I tried to play catch up.

Then, I got sick twice.

 

Today was the day. 

And, it was amazing!

No distractions of dirty laundry, puppies, a sink

full of dishes, carpets that need vacuuming,

etc, etc, etc.

 

Scott was right on this one!

It will separate the business from precious family time.

And, why?

 

Because, I'm too chicken to stay out there by

myself after dark. 

 

And, it's also official that my Christmas tree is

coming down tomorrow.

 

Really. 

{yuck}

it's a new personality trait that is popping up more and more 

and I want to just squash it like a bug.

Flat.

I have become a hurry-upper.

Especially to my sweet boys. :(  

It's one thing for me to hurry up my day and 

not stop and smell the roses, but it's totally

wrong of me to do that to them.

I've been catching myself doing it and it

frustrates me to know end.  The scary thing

is, I'm not exactly sure of when it started.

Well, now, it has taken root.

There is an actual diagnosis of "hurried woman syndrome"
floating around out there.  But, instead of self-diagnosing
that, this is a bit different.

When I truly had my a-ha moment it was in the
popsicle aisle at Wal-mart.  Now, given, no
one wants to be in that store a moment longer
than we have to....but, is it really worth rushing
the little guys to make their popsicle choice in 3.2
seconds flat when there are so many options?
It's a popsicle - and, that's a fun thing.
I don't want to take the fun away.

I have been cognizant of this for a while, and
have intentionally been trying to reverse
this spiral.  I did read Dixie Delight's
blog yesterday and I love the idea of a Yes Day.
But, even that is a little different.  I hate
feeling rushed all the time and I purely
do that to myself.  I hate to think
of the long term damage I could do
in rushing them constantly.  Truly.

So, even though my soul craves simple
and slow - I have strayed far, far from that
....but, am making a huge effort to slow it all down.

For example, last week we went to eat at
a little restaurant.  On the way out, Evan asked
for a penny to make a wish in the fountain.
My head said no because I was so ready to get
back home and gee.....I would have to
dig {I mean that literally} through my purse to
find a penny and that could possible take a while.

That was the first line of thinking and it reality,
how long would it really take under the worst of
circumstances?  15 seconds, maybe.

Well, he made his wish.
And, so did I.

Here's to slowing their little
lives down.  

{beach days}

I have twelve on my calendar.

One per month.

 

 Interesting, huh?

 

Well, anyone that knows me, knows that

next to being at home and on the farm - my favorite

place on the planet is the beach. 

 

Preferably of the Gulf Coast or Caribbean variety,

not a fan of the western US beaches.  Sorry, but true.

 

 

I need warmth.  And, the white sand is nice too!

 

Because that is one place that relaxes me like no other.

Well, when I'm not working there which is an entirely different

post - BUT, I just love it so much!!

 

Obviously, I won't be going to the beach once a month for the

next year.   And, really, I tried to come up with a cute name for

this, but kept reverting back to the "feeling" I have when I am

in the sand.  It truly is my heaven on earth. 

 

The point of all of this is to start acting on an idea that my sweet friend

gave me a while back. I think she had heard someone talk about

something similiar at a  retreat or meeting.  Not the name, but

the idea and practice.   I instantly knew

I needed just that.   Thus, my once a month beach day has

been put on my calendar.   And, no, I won't be listening

to the Beach Boys and pulling out the umbrella straws. 

But, possibly the flip flops in a couple months. ;)

 

Basically, it is my "be still" day. 

It will truly be a quick shower and pony tail kind-of

day.  I plan on doing absolutely NOTHING but to sink

and soak up His word, listen to His music, pray, plan

and read.  I literally want to bask in Him and His goodness

all.day.long.  It's kind-of a set aside Sabbath of sorts.   

 

I went through and diligently marked off one day

a month for just this.  There will be no work, no shopping,

no housework.   Just the necessities only - feeding the kiddos,

the hubby {and the animals.}   I literally am counting down the

days until my first day.  I am excited to see

what this special time set aside will turn into and

what I will hide in my heart because of. 

 

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalms 46:10

{always majestic}

and looks really great right next to the barn.

 

I love, love, love seeing Bald Eagles.

It is something I will never tire of.

I am in love with the "love story" of Eagles.

I pay extra attention when they are mentioned in scripture,

which is quite often I might add.

 

This is what the boys and I saw coming up the driveway near the house.

I knew immediately it was an Eagle.   He/She was smaller

than the ones we've seen at the big farm.   And, while taking

a picture, I think I saw another one flying behind this one. 

 

Absolutely breathtaking.

 

 

Go figure, the picture quality is terrible.

It was raining and I was shooting from a moving vehicle.

All while driving.  :)

 

But, I knew it would fly and fly it did. 

 

Beautiful!

 



{what is worse than....}

feeling very happy that the first day back to school is

going without a hitch.  As you are on your way out the door to start the

car to warm it up because we are actually ahead of schedule -

your youngest screams {bloody murder, I might add} that it is 7:53. 
You calmly correct him in the fact that no, it is 6:53.  But, your heart starts
 sinking fast as you race to the clock.  Yes, whew, 6:53!  Then all subsequent clocks
 you check {all SIX} scream 7:53 am at you.  Then laugh.  T

The clocks, not me.

No laughs from us.

 

 

 

The race was on!  Evan was quite upset as was Noah {which never happens

to Mr. Laid Back} - well it did this morning.   I still have NO idea

how it happened.  I guess that little extra pep in my step this morning

was actually an extra hour in my sleep.  Does not make for a

calm start to the day.

 

But, again, back to my original question.....

what is worst than the above?

 

Continuing to base your day around that same clock

and nearly failing to pick up your children on time, but

almost picking them up an hour late. 

 

Thank God I realized it with minutes to spare in getting on the road.

L.I.T.E.R.A.L.L.Y.

 

And, yes, I have corrected it. ;)  

  

{sniff, sniff}

I need a jumbo pack of tissue please.

 

According to Noah, we are heading toward an "Andy" moment. 

I have been in my organizing frenzy and had a few things

for Noah to do in his room after church.  

 

Well, it included four remaining friends of his that still reside

tucked away in his closet.  Instead of officially packing them

away, he still wants them to reside in his closet.  But, in a tall

basket so no one can see them, but, he'll know they are there.

 

My heart literally cried.

With happiness, as strangely as that sounds.

 

Of course, I am saddened by how fast this childhood

thing zips by.  But, have been embracing it more as
I've seen dear friends, family and even strangers lose

a child due to a tragic accident or illness - so instead of

being so sad with the fleeting time, I am TRYING desperately to

embrace it a little more.   So, my heart was happy because

he is not ready yet.   These boys are growing at such a fast

pace, but the fact that he is still holding some things dear 

from his wee childhood close to his heart makes my heart happy. 

 

Very happy.

 

 

So, Flopper his beloved dog that has been thrown

up on countless times, provided comfort during

hospital stays, snuggled him close until fairly recent years will

stay.   Teddy Bear who joined in a year or so after

Flopper bonded strongly despite he was always in the number

two position.  The only time he reached number one was

when Flopper would have to go on a "scuba diving excursion"

in the washing machine because in was just past that point.

And, Tiger who has eyes that still make Noah melt. {it is

soooo sweet} and Clifford.  I think Clifford's sentiment

merely comes from the fact he remembers my mom giving

him to him one year when he was engrossed in the cartoons. 

 

So, even though he related this to Andy - he also followed it

up with the fact he will not be giving them away to anyone

down the street.  He will just make sure he takes a very

tall basket to college. 

 

Okay, the tears are falling now.

But, happy tears, right?

I'll try to convince myself anyway.

 

{heading out}

I have seriously become a hermit.

It's been in progress for a while now.

There is almost no place I'd rather be than home.

Or, the beach.   But, geography totally ruins that.

 

Tomorrow, however, we are heading out.

We are stepping our feet off the farm and 

"going to town" as my Nannie always said.

 

The boys and I.  There is no telling what trouble

we will get into.  The only thing on the agenda is

buying jeans for Noah and a movie.  We are exciting, huh?

 

lol. 

 

But, Christmas break is fleeting fast. 

Very, very sad face.

 

After mopping and shop vaccuming all day. 

Moving fans.  Doing laundry and more laundry and

well...more.  I'm ready to fly to coop for a day. 

 

And, I do promise to start posting pictures again.

Someday.  I know posts without pics = boring.