Allow Yourself

The day AFTER the sump pump mishap, everyone went off to their work and school assignments, and it was just me.  And it was my birthday.  I was working hard to get things organized in the basement, while doing laundry, and sorting things in the garage as well.

It was a gorgeous day, and I decided to allow myself a birthday treat -- right there in the middle of the madness.  I grabbed a favorite new book that I've been getting lost in, and set the kitchen timer for 30 minutes.

I sat on the patio, and DID NOT MOVE for 30 minutes.  No watering flowers, no picking up this or that in the yard.  Just sitting and soaking in the sun with a good read.  Thirty minutes of bliss.

Then it was back to work.

Allow yourself!

Holding Back the Truth

I haven't been really honest with you.  Instead, I've been absent.

I love to leave comments for bloggers who have spilled their guts and been honest.  "Thanks for keeping it real," I tell them.  And yet, I haven't offered much honesty, or much of my personal reality here lately.

Because lately:

• I haven't felt especially inspired to write.
• I haven't felt inspired to take pictures.  Between snow, rain, or a generally squishy yard, I've hardly ventured out to snap pictures in recent months.
• I haven't felt as if I am in a position to spend money to do random projects (that I wouldn't have done otherwise) just for the sake of a blog post.
• I have been guilty lately of comparing myself to other [more popular] bloggers, and thinking "why bother?"  {Comparison is indeed the thief of JOY!}
• I have made some bad choices (in some simple "blip-on-the-screen-of-life" kind of ways) when it comes to taking care of myself, and doing right by myself in order to be FULLY HERE for my family.
• I have let life get the best of me -- instead of giving MY BEST to life.
• I have let the business of rocking babies (which I LOVE, and do well) be my excuse for not doing other things well around here.  {How do moms who work FULL time do it?}
• I have let the weather (and allergies) dictate my mood.
• I have let my inclination to be a homebody limit me.

If I'm honest, I guess I'd say that this is just the short list.

I guess if you're honest, too, you might say that you've had days, or weeks, or months like this.

Blah.  I feel like I just dumped a depressing load on you all.  I don't often give in to lots of these negative thoughts.  You know.... I'm supposed to be the "cup overflowing" girl, and that is generally how I really feel.  But -- as I was thinking all of these thoughts today, I imagined that I cannot be the only one who feels this way, and so I decided to share.

Forgive me if it's too much.  But, if there is JUST ONE of you who feels the same, then it was worth me mentioning it.  Together, we now belong to the "OOPS, NOW YOU KNOW I'M HUMAN" club.

If you, like me, need a little inspiration lately, try these thought-provoking posts:
*I Am Enough
*What Candace Cameron Bure's Waltz Teaches Us About God
*About Comparing Ourselves to Others

I'm determined that tomorrow will be a better day.  Next week?  A better week!

[Heart Thoughts] On Rocking Babies...

Several mornings a week, just for a couple hours, I rock babies in our church nursery.  International babies that don't know my face or my language.  Church babies that know me.  Sweet toddlers that recognize me from day-to-day and week-to-week.  Some like to snuggle.  Some are too busy -- or just not cuddle-bugs.  For others, the only peace is "the swing."

I have been baby-rocking since the fall.  I work with some wonderful ladies -- and we have had the privilege of seeing little ones roll over, crawl, walk, eliminate morning naps, "graduate" to cheerios for a snack and from bottles to sippy cups, and speak first words.

It has been most gratifying to form relationships with these little ones... to earn their trust... to learn what calms them.  To go from blank stares to smiles across the room.  From a too-big basket of toys to "the one" that makes them happy every week.  From cleaning up the room ourselves, to having little helpers fill the toy baskets back up at the end of the morning.

What a privilege to be trusted by these moms to care for their little ones.  To serve the correct bottle, or cup, or snack that won't cause allergies.  To make sure every diaper is changed in that two-hour interval.  To give attention to their precious treasures.

When I checked in the other morning, a friend greeted me from the welcome desk, and asked why I was there. When I told her, she shook her head and said, "Bless you for doing that... not everyone would love that job!"

While it's a little stunning for me to think that not everyone would love to rock a baby, I have learned over the years that not everyone is "built" to serve in the same capacity.  After all, as the Body of Christ, we each have our purpose... the hands, and feet, and eyes, the ARMS of Christ!  I have served in various capacities at two churches in my adult life, and there is nothing (nothing) that I love better than holding a baby, learning what makes them happy and what calms them, and interacting with them... singing "Jesus Loves Me," and watching how it soothes them.  I have held more "titled" positions, but I would argue that this is perhaps the most important position I've held.

I'm so thankful to be able to "love on" these little ones!

With love to Dylan, Sophie, Levi, Jessa, Akihito, Coco, Elliott, Joshua, Ellie, Cole, Keisuke, Liam, Charlotte, Bella, and Henry. xo

Wee Bit Wednesday {3}

{one} how often do you do laundry?

I go in spurts.  Some people have a "laundry day."

Around here, I do it whenever I can, and try to keep up.

{two} what is your favorite type of cookie?

I would have to say... iced sugar cookies,

but ask me again tomorrow.

My answer may be different.

{three} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?

home improvement projects.

{four} what was your favorite subject in school?

home ec.

{five} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?

no, but I would love to one day.

Even more than that, I would love the opportunity

to take pictures in a field of hot air balloons! 

{six} what was your high school mascot?

We were the "Royals," and on paper, our mascot

was a lion.  But, we didn't have someone dressed up

in a lion's costume walking around at games or anything. 

{seven} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?

not a chance.

I almost got sick on "Mission Space" at WDW.

There's no way I could handle the real thing! 

{eight} how often do you go dancing?

as often as we are invited to a wedding reception where there is dancing.

{nine} would you rather drive or fly?

This is a tricky question.  I love to fly,

but the real adventures (where you see things along the way)

are on the ground!

I guess it would depend on the destination, and time frame. 

{ten} have you ever been caught re-gifting?

No.

If You Met Me

Writing for 5 minutes on the prompt: "If You Met Me."

Real, true, unscripted, and unedited...

If you met me.. 
GO.

• I hope that you would see God -- by the way I live my life, make my choices, raise my kids.
• I would tell you about my family, who I love like crazy.  Even in the midst of hard things, we stick together and support one another.  
• I would (no doubt) tell you about the part-time work that I enjoy at our church -- in Kids Ministries.  One job is ending until fall, and I'm gearing up for a summer job that will be new and interesting to me.
• I would tell you for sure that I am kind of sick of this hard winter/cold spring weather and ready for some warm sun on my back.  But at the same time, I am reminded (by the daily news) to be thankful that I am not in a tsunami or earthquake zone -- and to pray for the people who ARE. 
• You would no doubt learn that I am a homeschooler, but that I do not brag on that.  It's not how I roll.  I feel uncomfortable around people who can only identify me as a homeschooling mom.  There is much more to me.
• I might talk to you about my latest interests of photography and blogging. 
• You would no doubt learn that I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that sometimes, I have to hold back, because I reveal too much, and "spill over" in my joys or frustrations.  I think it overwhelms people sometimes.
• You would learn that I TREASURE my friendships.  God has blessed me with the most awesome friends -- women who "get" me, and I am thankful for that DAILY.

STOP.

Wee Bit Wednesday {2}

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love,

but as a child you said you’d never touch? My first reaction is broccoli (which I love) -- but I may have liked that as a child too... I'll think of 16 answers after I hit "publish!"

{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major? Yes.  My major was Family & Child Development.

{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)? Wild horses on Carrot Island in North Carolina.

{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller? Ummmm, no.

{five} can you juggle? I can do a super-slow-simplified version -- badly.

{six} hardwood floors or carpet? Carpet.  I've never had hardwood floors, though...

{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”? Pop.

{eight} what was your first car? A light blue Chevy Monza.

{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten? White chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture? Not very often. We do a little re-arranging at Christmas-time to make room for the tree.

A Few of My Favorite Things - in 5 minutes!

Join us at The Gypsy Mama

for 5 Minute Friday,

and respond to the prompt: "a few of my favorite things."

A few of my favorite things: (in no particular order)

* friends that show up for spontaneous visits

* having dinner planned early in the day

* a quiet house

* a cup of tea

* it's Friday!

* the way my husband makes our kids laugh

* blogging

* being forgiven

 * summer

* an anticipated night out with girlfriends

* watching my daughter enjoy time with her girlfriends

as much as I enjoy time with mine.

* weekends

*flowers

* scrapbooking to save memories

* apricot mango yogurt

* having important conversations with my son

and hearing his perspective on things

* taking photos

* hugs

What are some of your favorite things?

A Wee Bit... {1}

{one} if you won a trip to Disneyland/world,
who would you take with you? 
My Sister.  She's a huge Disney fan - and knows all the ins & outs of the park.
I would ask her to plan the trip for us, and she'd be in her element. 

  {two} when was the last time you listened to a CD?  Last night on my drive home.  I listened to Celtic Woman.    {three} what spice/seasoning is your favorite?  Cinnamon.    {four} if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?  Worship Music for sure.    {five} if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?  Hmmm.  This is hard. A better question is this:  How could I NOT CHOOSE SOMETHING  from all of the events in history?  Interestingly enough - my kids both said "World War II." 

{six} if you could go back to school, what would you study? 
Probably photography... 

{seven} if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?

We are not huge sports fans around our house.

But, we do enjoy a night out to watch our local minor league baseball team. 

A night where our kids could eat all the junk they wanted 

without us footing the bill -- that'd be great! 

  {eight} do you drive an automatic or a manual?  an automatic    {nine} are you comfortable speaking in front of people?  This was one of my HUGEST fears when I was in school. Now, part of my job requires it, and it has become "no big deal."    {ten} have you ever experienced an earthquake?  Yes - a very small one.  I didn't feel anything else move, but my desktop (which was not attached to the base) shifted.  Very strange sensation.

Blizzard Bloghop

 Welcome!

Thanks to Anne Marie @ Household 6 Diva for the chance to link up and share my blog with other bloggers.  What a great opportunity!

My name is Sally.  I am a believer in Jesus Christ (a sinner, saved by grace!)  This guides the way I live, as I strive to live for the Lord.

I am a wife to the sweetest-ever hubby who doesn't want this blog to be about him.  We've been married for 18+ years.  That seems like "forever" in all of the very best ways.

[photo credit: Portrait Innovations]

I am a SAHM to the two best kids on this earth.  One (my son) a teen, and the other (my daughter) on the very verge of teenhood (we're talking days-away!)  Motherhood is the hardest job that I've ever had, but it also has better benefits than any job I've ever had!

I started this blog as a creative outlet.  My latest "love" is photography.  I found myself following some great blogs that shared amazing photography and offered bloghops and linky parties to other bloggers to share their photos.  But, I didn't have a blog.  You get the idea.  I wanted to share!  I needed a blog!

I am a self-taught blogger, learning as I go - and having a blast!

The (almost) 3 short months that I have been blogging have been the most amazing ride!  I have "met" bloggers that share my beliefs and my values.  I have also "met" bloggers that enjoy the same hobbies as I do.  This has been exactly the creative outlet that I hoped it would be, and in the process, I've been re-introduced to an old love... writing.

My blog is a mix of a little of everything... faith, family, recipes, homemaking, photography, scrapbooking, & more.

I'm excited about the opportunity to meet more of you today,

and hope you'll stop by here often!

~Sally

To go to Household 6 Diva & meet more bloggers - click HERE.

"Drinking From My Saucer"

Recently, I made the statement to a friend that I'm a "glass-half-full" kind of girl.  She said, "MY cup is overflowing!"  Honestly, I felt a little ashamed that I hadn't thought to put it that way.  I made a mental note to myself to describe MY life that way in the future -- and it reminded me of the poem below -- as well as giving me the idea for my blog name.

 

I've never made a fortune

and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me,
and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,

and the sun peeped through again.

So God, help me not to gripe about
the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
when the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

~ John Paul Moore ~