~The Grind of Daily Living and A Few Product Suggestions~

Just a couple random thoughts.

I'm having serious issues with tomorrow being back to "the grind of daily living".

I've had more fun this week after Christmas than ever before. Not sure why but it has been awesome. Slower pace, taking the kids to see a couple movies, Chipotle date with Brad, ping pong and dinner with friends, family time in the mountains........it's all been a much needed break.

So tomorrow? I'm in just a little denial.

I'll rise to the occasion when the time comes because I just will... but today? I want to freeze it......make it last as long as possible.

Jake and I went to see The Desolation of Smaug yesterday and I came to a definite conclusion.
Here it is:
My absolute, single, very most forever favorite part of all Hobbit/Lord of the Rings movies will always be Legolas and his never ending quiver of arrows. I mean, who can beat that?! 

 I've recently stumbled upon a few things that I've enjoyed so much, I feel compelled to share them.

1. Read this book. Read it.

2. Grandmother's Buttons
Prettiest jewelry I've seen in a while. You can find it here!
Bracelets made out of antique buttons. What's not to love?

  

 

3. Caldrea  Counter top spray. Smells out of this world.

4. BOOTS! I made a conscious decision a few months ago to buy fewer shoes. Shoes used to be worn to meet a need. To serve a purpose. Why do we think we need 85 pair? ESPECIALLY kids, who out grow them so quickly. I decided for winter, my kids needed a church shoe, a school shoe, a tennis shoe, and an indestructible, (reese especially) outside "wear anywhere" shoe. She has lived in these boots. They are a hot mess in this pic, but they clean up beautifully and are cute enough (when clean) to wear anywhere but church. water proof. cold proof with fleece inserts. I'm sold.  Emma's pull on, which means when it's time to go play, they can ALL put on their on shoes all by themselves and take off. ~heavenly~

We are off to see a Civil War battle sight that we pass the sign to every day coming home from school. I've heard "Mom! When can we go see that?" every week for nearly a year. Today is the day. Freezing cold and cloudy. Should be good. 

~stacey

~New Year's Day~

~New Years Day 2014~

It's really true.
Every year goes faster than the one before.
That fact makes me thankful that this is not all there is. It's just the pre-party.

Speaking of growing up, Christmas sort of changes with the years, doesn't it?
Not the message, or the REAL Christmas joys but the stuff that makes you happy definitely changes.

I used to get excited about the possibility that Santa Claus just might be real.
Or when, on Christmas Eve, after we were all tucked in, I would hear the attic door creak open, and my Daddy would give a bellowing, "Ho Ho Ho!" I squealed every time.
Or new pajamas.
Or the best Christmas album ever...Bing Crosby's White Christmas.
Or mystery boxes under the tree that had their own unique shake size and rattle.
Or even taking gifts to a less fortunate family.....I always came home with a grateful heart.
Or singing carols around the tree with favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Or that first Christmas with a real boyfriend.

Somewhere along the way, all the above translates to:
Trying to not shout when you hear Pentatonix "Go Tell It On The Mountain" or doing your best to hold back tears with any version of "Silent Night".
The overwhelming joy that comes when SCHOOL IS FINALLY OUT FOR TWO WHOLE WEEKS!
Being thankful that you are at a place in your life where you really get the fact that Christmas is not limited to a square on the calendar. And that if it all goes bust, unless God calls you home, you have tomorrow and the next day. You may as well find the peace in the moment regardless of how imperfect that moment may be.
The satisfaction in knowing that you didn't over do gift buying but that you think you found a few meaningful presents for your kids that may actually be enjoyed for a while, versus plastic crap that you know good and well will be in the spring garage sale.
That sigh of relief that comes Christmas afternoon when the work is done, kids are grateful and occupied. Fire is crackling. Hopefully nothing traumatic happened, you are finished cooking and can finally breathe.

I think the difference is that at some point, (hopefully) you figure out that the world does not revolve around you. Life is a tremendous blessing but it is not perfect. God chose to dwell among men and that truth brings true joy and peace.

Our December Highlights:

~Nativity Ballet Rehearsal~

~Best Lights I've Ever Seen~

~A Little This And That~

A little lights.

A lot of precious curls.

A little quality time away.

A little movie going with sweet, SWEET friends.

A little gingerbread house making.

 Gabbie in a tree, causing much angst for four little ones.

 A little baking.

A LOT of excitement.

 Just the tiniest bit of gloating.

 A lot of smiles.

A little swinging. Only a little for me because blek! my stomach can't take it like it used to.

Tonight, it's Jake's turn for fun with his friends......so it's off to bake cookies for them, I go.

12 year old boys are big. And hungry. And loud.

night night. and happy 2014 to you and yours.

~stacey

~The Ugly Yet Redeeming Truth~

My head is a mess of swirling thoughts and ideas most of the time. 

Don't be impressed. It's not highly intellectual or "I'm about to create something great" kind of mess.

It's just mess.

i.g.

Oh gosh, I forgot to do that.

I really should not leave my bed unmade.

I need to pull those weeds.

Should really get those pictures hung.

I wonder if it's really possible to be at peace on earth and also long for heaven.

Does the church have to be in a state of persecution in order to really experience God at His fullest?

Why do I always have a mess in my laundry room?

I don't know that I do a very good job teaching 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade all at the same time. No wonder that and dinner is just about ALL I can do.

Are we getting it right with our kids or are we missing the boat entirely?

See?

It's just mess.

My parents were here for a little over a week. To say I loved it is an under statement. I could be one of those people who build a multi generational house and have my folks live with us. Brad could to, believe it or not. 

Mom and Dad aren't selfish. They just help and serve and love. 

We talk lots and during one of those conversations, my Dad said,

"Stacey. You are going to have to decide that there are a lot of things that you just have to put on the back burner. Leave them there, you'll get to them but now is not the time."

That little reminder and extension of grace helped me during a really crazy week.

It's not that I don't see the weeds that need to be pulled or that I've forgotten that wall needs to be painted.  It's just that it's not essential to my family's survival. And frankly, we frequently find ourselves in "survival mode". 

See, I don't have to have every i dotted and every t crossed in order to be happy and at peace. 

Why? 

Because it's not about me.

These shortcomings, or to do lists with only half the things crossed off, have no eternal consequence. 

Am I being an example to my kids that it's about the power of Christ in me or am I teaching them that I better get my act together in order to do it right in order to feel good about myself in order to feel confident about my success, whether large or small?

Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me,

For I am His, and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man, 

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

God is not afraid, nor is He limited by our "mess".

For that I am thankful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following is mere documentation for me so feel free to exit.

Reese's state meet was last weekend.

For three meets leading up to state, she had costly falls on beam. 

Three meets in a row, she fell on the same skill.

It was obvious it was in her head. 

State was her last chance of the season to "beat the beam".

During warm up, she was leaping and absolutely bit it. I'm talking, she went from leaping in the air to landing on her stomach on the four inch wooden beam to crumbling to the floor. I gasped, shoved Brad and said, "Get down there. Brad go. Get down there." 

Coach scooped her up, got her to the side, Brad's checking her out.

I calmly (on the outside) walk over, grab her, kiss her on the cheek, and ask here if she's okay and reassure her that she is in fact, okay. She nods, obviously shaken up but tough as nails, barely sheds a tear and shows her doctor daddy that she can jump without any pain. He does the football fanny tap, tells her to put it out of her head, focus, and go compete. 

Her awesome coach, in her wonderful, thick Russian accent, says,

"You sportsman. Come."

In our small little world, it was a Rocky moment. 

She had the best competition of her year. 

She wins with grace but I think I' most proud because I've seen her loose with grace. It's easy to be at peace when you win but to see her character and how she responds to not winning, or the grind of practice, or her sensitivity to friends who are struggling, challenges me. 

  

  

Happy Thanksgiving. 

I hope you will choose thankfulness. That is the ticket. ~cHoOsiNg~

Enjoy your family, in whatever state you find yourselves. Warts and all.  Life is a blessing!

~stacey

~Options~

I know there's an old book called, "Parenting Isn't For Cowards".

Can I just say.........

Tru dat!!

"Isn't for cowards" may just be the biggest understatement ever made.

Today, my son gets in the car from school. (They are in a model where they go twice a week, and are home doing assignments three days a week. School is about 400 students)

I pick and prod, as I usually do.
How was your day?
Were you lost in math class? What did you learn?
What did you do in study hall?
Who'd you hang out with at lunch?
What'd you do at recess?
Did y'all play football? AGAIN?
Don't y'all know there are other things to play besides football?!
Did you get picked last? AGAIN?
Did you make any good catches?

Because recess has been a bit of a sore spot lately.
It's slim pickins at recess at a small school.
This one little group of boys all play on the little flag football team at the little, awesome school we are a part of.
Jake doesn't.
So guess what?
He's low man on the totem pole.

On the drive home, he senses my mama heart breaking and keeps telling me how frustrating it is and how it's not fair and yadayada.

We get home, my brain full from mulling over my options.
1. Beat some kids up.
2. Email teachers and principals, imploring them to teach a class on sensitivity and inclusiveness.
3. Go observe recess and give really dirty looks to kids who don't know how to consider others.

Can't get okay with any of those so I just get real.
I get over my emotions, sit Jake down and say,
"Okay, son. What are the options? I mean, let's discuss a plan. What can you do about this?"

Our  synopsis:
We have a few choices.
1. Keep playing with the 6th graders, and be willing to always get picked last and never get thrown to.
2. Go play with the 5th graders and see what happens.
3. Play something else entirely, with none of his friends.
4. Get mad and allow himself to feel rejected over and over again and decide he must be worthless because he's not  big, bad, Johnny Football at his 7 man pick up football game at his 25 minute recess in 6th grade.
5. Decide that God allows difficult situations for a reason. The hard stuff comes to us to shape us and make us more like our Creator if we let it. Decide that we end up much happier if we think about how we can bless other people and not focus on me, mine, and ours so much. These things can make us aware of people around us that are hurting. We can really become one of the few stellar individuals that actually consider others who may be hurting or feel left out of some situation.
And get grateful. Jake has friends at school. He's not being picked on. It could be worse!

I believe this is a truth that even an 11 year old, who feels left out at recess football, can begin to grasp. Unfortunately, I know quite a few adults who still don't really have a handle on this.

The truth for my 6th grader is the same as it is for my 39 year old self.
Where is my source?
Why am I valuable?
What matters for eternity?
Does seeking my own happiness actually bring me happiness?
Do I believe that God allows things I don't like for a reason?

His precious heart is open to hear things from me, and ultimately form God. May it always be so. And may he be a leader. A man after God's heart who lives his life with purpose and an awareness of others.

It was a productive ride home from school. He's moved on to guitar practice, sit ups, and push ups, so he can move on to the fun stuff he does after school.
You get things out, talk about them, run them through the filter of truth, then get about life. Enjoy the many blessings we have.

We are having beef stroganoff for dinner. It's cloudy and cool. Brad may be home early.....or at least close to "on time".....whatever that is.

Happy Tuesday afternoon to you!

~stacey

~Truth In The Midst Of Crazyville~

At this point, it's just funny.
My day, that is.

Here. This picture sums up the state in which I find myself:

This morning was school, this afternoon, before school was finished, we made an impromptu visit to the doctor with Jake to rule out appendicitis. (that's a story in and of itself) 

An hour and a half, three tubes of blood, and one urine sample later, we flew back home, where Emma was napping, and Reese had missed an entire private lesson on vault, and was 45 minutes late for practice. 

Threw them in the car, dropped them at gym, flew to the grocery store because we had NO FOOD in the house. 

Seriously mean just about zero food. 

Dropped the bags in the floor, only taking the time to put up the cold things because:

 Jake has to finish school, 

Emma has to poop, 

oh, and she informs me, "Mommy, I need to learn." 

So, I sit down for a nano second and draw her some shapes, she learns, 

I toss some chicken in the oven, 

say quick thank you prayer for Bertelli's fettucini sauce in a jar, followed by a quick prayer for protection from the additives and preservatives in that jar, 

remind myself how to divide fractions, 

call Brad to beg him to get done with patients in time to pick up the girls from gym, 

and here I sit.....listening to my sweet son try to verbalize the difference in a compound and simple sentence. 

Oh! And my dishwasher is broken and has been longer that it had to be. (again, long story) 

*and I realize that a dishwasher is a luxury item and not necessary. But. See, I have a dishwasher, so I expect it to work. If I had no cavity in my cabinets with this wonderful invention sitting in it, then fine. I would be a paper product queen and a nazi about ONLY ONE GLASS PER PERSON PER DAY. 

But I have a dishwasher and Lord willing, it will be fixed tomorrow. For that I am thankful.

Can I just tell you what the redeeming factor in my day has been? 

This morning, Brad was leaving for work, came over to me, where I was in bed, half awake, trying to get psyched up for a Monday to do list a mile long. 

He scratched my back and said,

"Hey. Just remember that today, in all that you're doing, you're doing the Lord's work. It's what He's given you to do and it honors Him. Take a step back, we have our four kids, right here with us. Don't be stressed out about stuff that really doesn't matter. Math is hard, so what. They'll all be fine."

I needed that reminder like nothing else. 

It's far too easy to get so caught up in the seemingly senseless running around, the wiping hineys, the fixing hair, the cooking dinner, and the mundane tasks that NOBODY sees. 

That's the secret though, isn't it? 

God sees. And He actually cares. 

Better yet, He is actually pleased when my purpose is to honor Him in the ordinary. 

I'm living for an audience of One. 

And today, this man God gave me reminded me of that gem of truth. 

And it got me through a rather unattractive, haphazard day.

I'm a thankful girl this evening.