I am sitting at my desk, a steaming mug of coffee in front of me, and it feels so very good to write again! I has been five months since I’ve written a blog post, and a lot has happened in five months.
A while ago a well-meaning (but very misinformed) individual approached me, attacking both my character and my intentions, using my blog as “proof” that I had misaligned priorities. Our conversation was a difficult one, and I left feeling discouraged. While I knew that this person was wrong in their assumptions, I struggled to find my voice again through my words. For some, that sounds silly. But to someone who adores words and finds great joy in writing, it was heartbreaking.
Yesterday, a friend stopped over for coffee, and I was overwhelmed with her kindness through her words. She had absolutely no idea that the preceding incident had happened, and yet she spoke directly to it. She shared with me how my writing had encouraged her over time, and admonished me to continue along the path I was on. I was overjoyed and so very encouraged!
And so today…I’m trying to find that voice again through writing. I’m realizing the power of words, both to help and to harm. The old adage “stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”…so very far from the truth. May we all use our words today to encourage and build each other up!
So, is anyone still out there reading my blog?! I could write about so many things that have happened. I could write about…
*how my husband is leaving in October for a missions trip to Europe.
*how we hosted a bake-sale fundraiser to send him to Europe, and were completely blown away by how God provided!
*how I am absolutely in love with my new little niece, Brooklyn. And how I’m so anxious to meet my new nephew coming in September. Our family is growing!
*how a family member generously gave us a new appliance that we needed, and inadvertently probably saved our house from a fire. Yikes!
*how summer with my three munchkins is FLYING by, and we’re having so much fun!
Those are all stories I’ll share more in detail in the future, and I hope you’ll come back to read more about them. For today, I’m stealing this idea from another blogger…..
AROUND OUR HOUSE LATELY
WATCHING
Tanner and I recently discovered the “Alias” series on good ‘ol Netflix. Oh my! We are binge-watching episodes late into the evening after the kids are tucked into bed. It’s one of those shows that always leaves you hanging at the end of an episode, and so naturally we have to continue to the next episode to find out what happens. It’s an intense show, and probably raises my blood pressure each time we watch it! The main character is a double agent, and watching this show is making me want to buy a punching bag and take self-defense courses. It’s bringing out my inner fighter I guess?! 🙂
READING
I haven’t had much time to read this summer. Hmmmm…maybe because we’re watching Alias during our free time in the evenings?! Anyway, I am slowly making my way through Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It’s making me think twice before menu planning and purchasing my groceries, and making me wish that I had the space and knowledge to have a large garden to grow some of our own food. And, it’s reiterating to me why I absolutely love to cook for and nourish my family through our daily meals together.
LISTENING
I’ve recently discovered Ben Rector on YouTube, and I’m loving his style of music. My favorite time to listen to music is while I cook dinner in the evenings, and my go-to for that is always Michael Buble. Always.
MAKING
We’ve had a few summer projects going on around here, with our biggest one yet to come. Our back deck is in major need of repair, and we’re hoping to re-do that yet this summer. We have zero shade in our back yard, which makes our deck difficult to use because it’s so stinkin’ hot. So we’re trying to figure out a thrifty way to build a pergola or shade structure of some sort. Stay tuned for updates on that!
FEELING
Fit. Sort-of?! This summer I began something I never imagined I’d do…I started taking a yoga class. Three mornings a week, I’m at my yoga instructor’s house by 5:50 to begin our class at 6AM. While I really hate getting up that early in the summertime, I’m loving the flexibility and strength I’m feeling from this class. I have so far yet to go in my journey to fitness, but it’s a step in the right direction.
PLANNING
There is a lot of planning that needs to take place in order to get Tanner ready for his trip to Europe in October. It’s a bit overwhelming for us, as I have NEVER stepped foot onto an airplane, and the last time Tanner flew was in high school to Florida. A bit different than Europe?!
We’re also planning some fun things to do over the next two weeks, as Tanner has taken some vacation time from work. He has never, in our 12 years together, taken 2 weeks of vacation at a time, and so we’re a bit excited for it! We wish we had the financial resources to actually go on a vacation, but we’re content for now to just spend the time together doing “staycation” stuff. What are your favorite things to do on a staycation??
LOVING
My family. Let’s be honest…there are days that staying home with three kids can seem overwhelming and sometimes monotonous. There are days I want to lock myself in the bathroom for a few moments of quiet. But, all in all…I love it! The ups, the downs, the good, the bad. It’s my job, my passion, and my life. And I wouldn’t change a thing.