goat heads and throat coat and a few other things

There are a few things happening around the house lately.

Things are looking up these days.  There’s less dizziness and less vertigo and the brain fog that characterizes my mean Meniere's has evaporated.  That alone is making these days good.

Also, there are goat heads.  These are something new to me, something I never encountered until we moved here.  They’re little sharp barbs that turn up on the trails; they deflate bike tires, stick in the soles of your shoes and hurt really bad if they happen to get tracked into the house and then stepped on barefoot.  And I’m guessing they must be seasonal, because all of a sudden we are stopping several times on our regular runs so one little doggie can pull them out of his paws.  Ouch.

(can you feel his pain?  pathetic isn’t it?)

Then there’s tea.  Tea is just one of my favorite cold weather things, especially throat coat tea.  I might just be the only person who drinks it even when they’re not sick.  I love the taste of it, all the time and anytime.  And now that the weather is colder I usually have a cup close by.

And then it’s nearly November.  It seems crazy how quickly the seasons go by.  Wasn’t it just spring break?  I am looking forward and planning for the Christmas season, but also I’m feeling really sorry for Thanksgiving.  It seems like it’s getting brushed aside more and more.  But it’s still important.  Taking time for thankfulness and gratitude is kind of a big deal, don’t you think?  And I have to be honest and admit that I’m already itching to get out our Christmas decorations.  But I don’t want to miss November.  I don’t want to miss the coziness of it, the slowing down before the holiday rush, and the gratitude that should mark our days all month long.   So even though I might just be (slowly) taking out Christmas, I’ll be purposefully adding in gratitude.  It shouldn’t be pushed aside.

So here’s to a grateful November, one in which I pause to say thank you and to be full of thanks for all the wonderful things I have.  Not to be bossy or anything, but I think you should too.  It’s good for the soul.

perspective

I was griping to myself the other day.  I can’t really remember what it was about, something trivial and petty I’m sure.  I happened to be driving somewhere at the time.  I don’t remember where.  Probably somewhere silly that I drive to all the time, like the grocery store (the place they all know me and the kids by name.)

As I was going along I passed a neighbor I had recently met through another neighbor.  She has a few young daughters, the cutest little gals (well, other than mine you know-I am biased and not ashamed to admit it.)  But this mom, the one with the two cute daughters has recently lost her husband.  He was killed in an accident.  And now she’s a single mom, doing the job of two parents all by herself.

Instantly my griping seemed ridiculous.  Whatever I was frustrated about melted away and I found myself so grateful for where I am right now in life.  I have an amazing husband.  He’s a hands on guy who helps out, parents the kids, is present and with us.  And although sometimes life seems hard and stressful, I have very little that is really worth complaining about.  (And usually what I am complaining about has come about because of my own self, messing things up.)

I said a prayer for this mom and her girls and have been wondering ever since what else I can do for them.  And I’ve been looking at my husband with great thankfulness.

My perspective shifted that day.  I have a lot.  It is all a gift.  And in it all I see evidence of the Divine Creator placing everything in my life just so, according to his plan.  Not mine.  It causes me to overflow with gratitude. 

5 minute Friday: relevant

the struggle to be relevant in this crazy world is a tough one. it’s trying, it’s difficult.  presenting yourself as one who is relevant, one who can be accessible is a fine goal.  the actions of it are tough.  relevant is being real, presenting something that applies to others.  a relevant gospel is what I preach, it is what I believe in.  but the actual carrying out of this gospel is tough, how do I make it relevant to those who don’t believe they need it?  how do I make it relevant to my children?  is it accessible?  is the love of Christ obvious in me, in the way I live and love and go about my daily life?  I long for Jesus to be relevant in me, to display himself in such a way that others can obviously see him and then want to know him.  and when it comes down to it, I realize that is purely a work of the Holy Spirit.  the Holy Spirit working in me, transforming me and shining through me to others.  I cannot, cannot, cannot do this life on my own.  and I cannot be Jesus to others without the help of Jesus.  any attempts on my own will fail and flop.  as I plan and pray for things concerning our church, concerning my family, concerning my own little personal life, I am desperate for Jesus to take over and make all that I do count for him.  to make him relevant to others through what I do.  it is my heart, it is my cry, it is my longing.  being relevant-holding tight to him is the key to this. 

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I’m taking part today, for the first time in five minute Friday.  It is a writing prompt and five minutes of writing, no edits, no changing-just writing.  I’m doing this because I enjoy it, and it reminds me of the things I loved about English classes, without all those pesky tests.

decorated pumpkins

Around here we don’t carve pumpkins, but we do embellish them.  Empty brass from the shooting range, and an odd assortment of do-dads from the garage make for some happy pumpkins. 

It made for happy children and happy parents too.

I added some printouts from the graphics fairy to the “mantel” and some some spider web stuff and declared it good.  We don’t get too crazy around here for halloween, we save our crazy for Christmas. 

And anyway, we’re too busy enjoying the last of the nice weather outside. 

I’m sure we’ll figure out costumes eventually, but for now we are playing in those leaves while they stick around. 

Hope you’re all having a great and finding some fun, whatever you’re up to!

we thought about going to the pumpkin patch….

but we ended up here instead.

Well first we went on a hike, and then we stopped here on the way home.  Ever since we moved here, four and a half years ago I’ve wanted to stop and take pictures here.  In every season it is beautiful.  Every season. 

On this particular day the light was perfect, golden and happy…just looking at the pictures makes me feel warm inside.

My little people were even cooperative, and they look so big….when did that happen?

They used to be much, much smaller.

But I adore where they are now, even though I will always miss those little babies that they were. 

I’ve heard it said before, the days are long but the years are short.  It’s so true.  Sad, but true.

In a blink, they are nearly as tall as their mom.  (That’s not saying much for this mom, but you know how they grow…like weeds I tell you, like weeds.)

We might not make it to the pumpkin patch, but that’s okay.  We sure had fun.  And Fred Meyer has a pretty good supply of pumpkins these days.  :)

happy things

This wall in the alley by our church, and the prospect of taking pictures of the kids here.  I see them sitting on that window sill eating ice cream cones or something.  Or pushing each other off, hmmm…..might need to rethink this one.

Tomatoes from the garden ripening in the sun, just waiting to made into roasted tomato soup.

An art project kind of day.

I moved the furniture around and then discovered that I could take this console table from upstairs and stick it here behind the couch.  Now I have a way to keep my kids from launching themselves over the couch and a place to stack some blankets.  Win-win.

A green pumpkin with a curly-cue stem.

This girl.

Creativity, making a super long straw out of smaller ones taped together.  (the verdict:  she couldn’t take a deep enough breath to suck up any water, but A for effort!)

Three monkeys who made a fort out of pillows and then destroyed it in the process of wrestling with each other.

A new hat.

And a weekend, which we all know is a blessed thing.  And despite almost constant dizziness it has been a good week, full of happy in the midst of it all.  Sometimes happy is elusive, but if you look hard enough you can find it.  It’s always there, waiting to be discovered.  And you know what?  That happy stuff always leads to a load of gratitude.

And with that, discover some happy this weekend!  And then take it’s picture because if your anything like me, you might not remember it until you look through your uploaded photos.  Just saying.

the day I almost lost it in Fred Meyer

Hello, it’s me.

Yes, me.  The one that nearly had a break down in the middle of Fred Meyer today.  Yep, right there in the store. 

It happened in between housewares and halloween when I discovered the fresh floral department was missing.  I had drug myself and the kids there to grab some flowers for a science project.  We loaded the cart with a few other things and then it all came crashing down.  The spot was empty.  No flowers.  No greens.  No balloons.  Nothing but a big empty space.

It’s kind of how I feel right now.  Empty.

As I fought back tears (seriously, over flowers) I looked over and found the floral department relocated.  Crisis averted and bottom lip sucked back in, we carried on. 

But the emptiness remained.

All I could think of when I drove home was that God’s grace is sufficient for me, his power is made perfect in my weakness.  My weakness seems so large today, but I know what God can do is bigger.  My particular weakness happens to have a name.  It’s Meniere's disease.  It’s usually not an issue, most days I am just fine.  But today is not like most days and I am at the end of myself.  At the end of my resources, at the end of my emotions, at the end of my strength.  Your weakness might be different, but if you’re human you know it’s there.  We’ve all reached the place where we are at the end of ourselves.

And that’s where God shows up.  When I’ve got nothing.  When I’m feeling worn out and as dry as an old sponge.  I have nothing to offer but empty hands and a prayer.  A prayer for a change of attitude, a prayer for a positive view on things, a prayer for strength to do the job he has set before me. 

He answers the cries of an aching heart.  He knows the limitations that I carry and he knows he is best glorified when he works through those limitations and reveals himself in spite of them.  I don’t really welcome the weakness, but I sort of do because I know it is an opportunity for his power to be displayed. 

So even now, at the end of myself and on the verge of tears I ask for his strength.  Renewal will come and someday this old crazy body will be made new on the other side of glory.  Until then I rely on God’s strength to reveal itself in my surrendered weakness. 

It’s a marvelous thing to behold, like the sun peaking over the horizon.  Something lovely for sure.  I woke up with this song in my head, except I was remembering the words as “something lovely” not holy.  But I think I needed the reminder.  Even in my mess, he wants to do something lovely in my life.  And that is lovely thing.

feeling like fall

An old pallet with a wreath, propped into a rusty wagon and filled with garden castoffs (plus a few fake pumpkins) make the front entry say fall.  This is a use what you have kind of thing, the wreath I threw together last year, the pallets were leftovers from another project, and the wagon has been sitting around here forever.  It took five minutes to throw it all together.  I call that lovely.

I like how it turned out.

I also like that the weather is wet and blustery, with breaks in the clouds every now and then.

I like that I found a recipe for a homemade pumpkin spice latte and coconut whipped cream, all dairy free for those of us who are dairy challenged.  It’s good, real good.

I love this time of year.  I love pumpkin products and I love soup and baking, and all those things marry wonderfully in October.  And in the midst of a day that didn’t really go like I had intended I’m finding a moment to be grateful, it’s the day I’ve been given and that makes it a gift.  I’m choosing to be content with that, with a quiet day at home and some pumpkin bread in the oven. 

I’m not even trying to hold it together anymore……

Life has taken over around here.  In the midst of busy and hectic and schedules that seem out of whack I am finding myself off balance.  I’ve even developed a nasty eye twitch.  Seriously, I’m finding myself stressed over all the little things that seem to be piling up. 

So the other day I did what I normally do when I’m feeling like I’m ready to be crushed by the ever pressing tide called life.  I took out the camera.  I prayed too, that’s a foolproof stress reliever.  And since I’ve been an epic failure at actually taking pictures of my family lately I killed two birds with one stone.

The perspective gained from looking through the lens slowed me down.  I found myself appreciating more and worrying less. 

And I remembered that I have so much to be thankful for.  Even in out of focus self timer shots.

And at the end of a long day of homeschooling and chores and checkbooks and bills I found laughter in the form of fake mustaches.

It’s good to loosen up a bit.

It’s even better to reflect on all that you have and all that you got to do, not what you haven’t gotten around to.

I know I need to go back to God ordering my to do lists, and allow him to set the agenda for my days.  I also need to be less of a stress case, and that I can only do with God’s help.  I think sometimes it’s easy to gloss over stuff, pretend that life is easy and I’ve got it all together.  The truth is that sometimes, at least lately, I feel like I’m barely holding it together.   And then I’m reminded that I’m not supposed to be the one holding it all together.  I think this has been a theme for me this year, learning how to find rest in the midst of an unrestful life and learning to allow God to hold it together for me.  Surrender is required for that, because you can’t have someone hold something for you unless you’re willing to hand it over first. 

Today I’m handing it over.  Again.  I know he can make my mess beautiful. 

wiww, one outfit wonder

I’m linking up with Lindsay for more fashion inspiration this week!

jeans: old navy, thrifted

top: super old, target

necklace: f21

shoes:  ? thrifted.  I love these shoes, but find them so very impractical for my real life.  I think running and tall shoes don’t mix.  It kills me, but I can really only last about 10 minutes in these.  boo

 

Once again I am a one outfit wonder, but this week’s challenge is to actually take pictures of the outfits you wore.  So, ahem…I will try.  I have been getting dressed, every day.  And it’s not just in yoga or running clothes.  I love having What I Wore Wednesday because it has challenged me to actually get dressed, and think about my appearance.  And that has really affected my days.  When I get dressed and put some thought into how I look I feel like I’m more efficient, ready to take on whatever the day holds.  And when I’m wearing shoes, even just in the house I feel like I could accomplish almost anything.  Really.  I know it sounds silly but it’s true.  So maybe, just maybe I’ll have some more pictures next week.  And a side note here, yes I do feel really silly when I take pictures of myself.  I can’t get over that.  I feel vain and self centered.  But that’s not why I post things here, it’s not about me.  Well, it is kind of about me.  But more than that I feel like it’s passing encouragement along.  Cuz if getting dressed affects my day so much, it just might be the same for you? 

So what about you, do you feel like you could be super mom if you’re wearing your shoes?  Or maybe that’s just me?