Living Joyful in the Moment

Remember in my last post,( ya, that post way back in July :) ) I mentioned how the moments slip by in the busy-ness of life and somehow you miss out on everyday life moments?
Well sometimes I find myself so caught up in the negative part of the moments I that I totally fail to see the positive. I'm thinking maybe, just maybe that's more the reason I miss out on those happy life moments.

Some days it seems are filled with moments like this...

 

And when I have too many moments like that  I begin to feel like this...

 



And it really doesn't help that I tend to be a perfectionist in certain things.
I like... no, actually I love when my house is cleaned every week, I like when the dishes are stacked and properly put in the cabinets, I like the toys picked up and ALWAYS put into their proper bins, I really love when the shoes are lined nicely in the closets and so on and so on!
But then you should see our vehicles and my oh my! my windows! It seems I can go weeks without cleaning these areas, and it bothers me but I can deal with it :) Strange, I know!

Hang in there with me and keep reading and I'll share part of my convicting journey with you.

 The thing of perfectionism has robbed me of joy in many of my moments! I focused on the cereal that's strewn over the sticky floor and the toys that haven't been put away to perfection.

The beginning of this year I had the privilege of attending the Mom Heart conference in NC. I think I mentioned it before, but that Mom's conference was so inspiring and uplifting and spoke to me in many ways.
I also have read books throughout this year that have been exactly what my Mom Soul needed to read. I highly recommend each of these books!

~ The Ministry of Motherhood ~ Sally Clarkson
~ The Mom Walk ~ Sally Clarkson
~ Desperate ~ Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
~ No More Perfect Moms ~ Jill Savage
~ Real Moms Real Jesus ~ Jill Savage (This one I read the other year and thoroughly enjoyed it!)
~ Unglued ~ Lysa Teurkerst

I have found myself so weary and worn trying to keep up with the demands of motherhood PLUS my perfectionism on top of it. And this year God just spoke to me so loudly, not just through these books but in various ways, as to where my priorities should be. My priorities should not be in a clean spotless house, but in loving and serving those around me. My family, my friends. Because they (people) are the only thing that really matter on this earth.
I need to slow down, lose the constant hurry and love on those around me. Think positively in a negative situation.

I can keep my house clean, but it doesn't have to be  a "diamond sparkle" at all times. It's ok if the dishes are "thrown" back in the cupboard sometimes. And the toys, well, you should see the toy bins now!  The play dishes are mixed with the animals and the cars are mixed with the dishes - You get the picture. The closets are lucky if they get swept every two weeks. And yesterday when I was cleaning I handed my 5 year old a rag and the windex bottle and put him to work on windex-ing my windows and stove front etc. He thought he was Superman! And in the end I had a much happier child on cleaning day. (Windows with a little wiping are much better than no wiping at all, right?! :) )

When my 11 month old empties my cupboard for the 10th time that day, I can thank God that she's a healthy baby who has the strength and energy to do that. Some people could only wish for that.
In the moments that I have to break up arguments and fights I can thank God that I have the energy and strength to keep up with all the demands.

I realize that these examples are just very minor things...but when I get ahold of the minor things I will be able to also find the positive in the major, what seem like negative life issues. I believe that with all my heart!

Reading "One Thousand Gifts" has been showing me how I can find joy in the midst of constant thankfulness. The Author's "Joy Journey" inspired me to embark on my own Joy Journey. I have now started my own diary of "One Thousand Gifts."

 

I have this note hanging on my fridge. It's a reminder to find the good even when it feels like bad! Remembering to choose Joy is shifting my thoughts to the positive.

 

I in no way have this joy/perfectionism thing perfectly down pat. I have my days when I really don't want to see the positive and my perfectionism comes roaring to the surface. But with God's help I'm learning. I'm taking baby steps forward. And that makes me happy.happy.happy. :)

 

Today I'm very thankful for

 

 

and

 

 

It makes me happy to be aware of the beauty around and to pick out all the positive things in my life.

 

I know my "Joy Journey" will be a challenge, but I'm excited to see how God will work in my life!

 

 



 



Busy Lives Need a Getaway Now and Then

Did you ever get that feeling that life is way to busy and is passing much to quickly?

And when you stop to think about it you realize you are missing out on so many moments.

Moments that you should be laughing and enjoying.

But instead your running here, running there, trying to meet a much to busy schedule.

It might all be good stuff, stuff that needs to be done. But sometimes it just catches up with you!

 

 

 

Summertime seems to do that to us.

Even if you cut stuff out there's always something else there to take it's place.

 

And I think it probably seems worse to me having three little ones to take care of. Seems like I always have something to do and will never catch up :) So sometimes things just don't get done.(this week my house didn't get cleaned. Seriously.)

 

  Friday I was super excited about having a day off of my normal housework and headed to work with Joel. (Let me just say, that if you ever have a chance to head to work with your man, do it! I realize some men have jobs that it's not possible and that's ok. I'm only talking about when it's possible) In our case it is possible for me to work with him every now and then, and I love it! We joke and laugh while we work. And sometimes we discuss the serious things in life. Every now and then we work "shoulder to shoulder." (If you've ever gone through the love and respect series you will understand that term) In our case it means I shut up and we work in silence :) :) :)

Anyway, we had a great day and by the end of the day we had a spontaneous trip to the beach planned. I mentioned the beach and he was thinking along those same lines.(great minds think alike :) ) We had wanted to take the kids sometime this summer anyway.

So we headed home. Hubby booked a motel and I  did only what I needed to get done. That included washing clothes, and doing the rest of the peaches. Which only was a few. And wiping down the toilets (that really is a "need to do!" right?) oh and sweeping the carpets! (I hate carpet filth)

I decided the sticky kitchen floor wasn't a "need to do"! And the layer of dust everywhere wasn't a "need to do" and the lawn...it could wait! 

So Saturday morning found us heading to Savannah with some very excited children.

 

 

We had never been in Savannah before to "vacation." We usually head to Charleston. But with a little coaxing I convinced Joel that it'd be fun to try something new.

Savannah was great. But I do think Charleston is better  ;)

 

 

I love their expressions on this picture! :)

 

We all had a great time. Maddie LOVED it! She ate sand for her lunch...ok, not really. But she did eat sand!

 

We went to Tybee Island. It's a beautiful island with a very nice beach. The beach was packed full. We don't very often go right in the middle of summer like this. Usually our beach trips happen more at the end or the beginning of summer "vacationers." So it probably seemed extra full to us. For the most part it was ok. But when you catch sight of a "couple", who both happen to be the same gender, "enjoying" the beach, it's not quite so pleasant. Anyway, I'll leave it at that.

Lil' "snookum's" did great! She took a good nap in her stroller. I'm just amazed how good she does on weekends like this.

 

Braxton and Hailey absolutely LOVED it. They especially loved when Joel was helping them build sand castles. I don't mind getting dirty, but getting sandy and wet is a whole different story! So I sat in the chair and took in the beautiful sight of "daddy playing with children." :)

We did go "tour" the little town of Savannah. And I was not happy because I forgot the camera in the car. So all day Sunday I didn't get any pictures of anything.
I think our favorite stop was the candy store. We always visit the one in Charleston and Braxton wanted to go there. So we were pleasantly surprised when we stumbled across a cute little candy store in Savannah :)

It was a weekend of memories we made with our little family. Sometimes it's just good to leave the busy-ness of life and pretend like we have no responsibilities! :)
Monday morning we are always reminded that there are plenty responsibilities left to deal with :)

Happy Monday to everyone and may you be blessed with a wonderful week ahead!









 

 

 

 

Our Growing Baby...

These are pictures I've been meaning to post for quite awhile already! Maddie who is 7 1/2 month by now did have her 6 month pictures taken. :)

Photo Credits go to Heidi Mast. Oops,it's actually Heidi Stutzman now! :)

 Heidi is a friend and a great photographer. I'm always happy with the pictures she takes. You can check her out here.

A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds.
-- Barbara Cage

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
-- Alan Beck

 

Her smile beams like sunshine, which fills our hearts with love.
-- Birgit B.

 

Little girls dance their way into your heart, whirling on the tips of angel wings, scattering gold dust & kisses in our paths.
-- Author Unknown

 

My name is NO NO but grandma calls me precious.
-- Author Unknown

 

 

Like star dust glistening on fairies' wings
Little girls dreams are of magical things.
-- Sherry Larson

 

 We are in love with this baby.It's hard to believe how fast these first 7 1/2 months have gone by!

 

~Staci

~Celebrating Life,Summer and Friends ~

I thought I'd pop in and give y'all a little update real quickly. Real quickly, because today I have a million and one things to do. You see, the time for our looooooooong awaited Texas trip is here. Almost here. That takes lots of prep, so that's the million and one things I'll be doing. At least it's fun stuff  ;)

In May we celebrated Braxton and Hailey's birthdays. Birthdays are a celebration of life around here so we try to always make it special. Having two birthdays 10 days apart makes it a little difficult.At the end of May we are usually partied out.But their excitement makes it all worthwhile!

Braxton thought it was so,so cool being 5! One time soon after his birthday I really praised him for being obedient so promptly and he answered "well, I'm 5 now!" So I asked him if that means he's going to obey me all the time, even when he doesn't feel like it ? His reply to me was "I'm going to feel like it, I'm 5 now!" Somewhere along the way I think he lost that feeling. ;)

Choosing the cake is something we talk about months ahead of time. For him we finally narrowed it down to a fire truck. He was excited about that and it really was an easy cake to do.

 

His birthday is usually celebrated with lots of friends.That's usually what he requests and I usually decide it's once a year, what can it hurt.They are a fun bunch of little boys. We had a great time with them.

 

He thought getting a tool set would be awesome. That's what I had ordered for him so I thought I hit the nail on the head :)

We also decided that it wouldn't hurt to bring on a little responsibility for them this year, so we surprised him with a bunny. Nevermind that it just brought on more responsibility for me and Joel too. Clover joined our family and Braxton took his responisibilty very serious - for the first few days at least! ;)
We've had a little bit of an issue keeping this bunny alive because there is some dogs in the neighborhood that think a bunny would be so tasty! One night I woke up and heard a terrible ruckus in the carport. I bounded out of bed and tried to wake Joel. I rushed out to the door to figure out what was going on and saw two dogs at the bunny cage, barking and viciously grabbing the cage with their teeth, actually moving the cage. And the poor bunny was squealing in terror! I tried to chase the dogs away with little luck! When Joel finally got to the door he went running and hollering after the dogs and got them chased away.
I couldn't believe dogs were actually that vicious! but we're pretty sure they were pit bulls, at least part pit bull. I've seen them in the neighborhood since. All I can say is they'd better watch out ;)

Hailey's birthday was 10 days later. She decided she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake cake. Needless to say that cake frustrated me but we got it done. It sure wasn't perfect but she didn't mind!

 

For her birthday she got a kitty. Dora is the name she decided she'd like to give the kitty. It just doesn't look like a Dora to me but hey, what does it matter?

This kitty has been through a lot already! Toted in an ice chest, put into the tree and the dog pen, thrown into her own water...yea, let's just say slightly abused! But she's still alive.Hopefully she'll live and grow up and catch mice! Isn't that what cats are for!? ;)

With summer finally here It also means that Miss Jan has off of school. So we try to make the best of spending time with her while she's on summer break. We started , could you call it a tradition of going to the zoo. The kids always love it and when warm weather hits it just seems like you have to get out and do something like that!
So we packed up and headed out for a fun filled day at the zoo. We love to mosey along and take our time, so we ended up spending pretty much all day there, with a break inbetween for lunch.

 

 

One of our favorite things was the baby flamingo we saw there. It's right in the middle of the stump if you look right. They are a white ball of fur and so cute!

It's hard to believe that I have a 4 and 5 year old already! Time really does fly, just like all the little old ladies in town tell me :) And although I'm not real fond of it when people tell me to "just enjoy it. they grow up so fast" I do know that what they are saying is very true.
Braxton and Hailey are at an age that I really do enjoy! I'm not a huge "baby person" like some people. But having said that, I do LOVE my baby with everything I've got!

And I can't believe that she's already 6 1/2 months old! She has brought much laughter and joy to our family these past 6 months. She is now starting to get ALL over the place, WHEREVER she wants to get to.She's at that stage where her older siblings get so annoyed at her because she gets their toys and sits in their way. It's actually kinda funny how they get so upset about it.
 Hopefully sometime soon I will share some of her 6 month baby pictures that Heidi (my favorite photographer) took.

When God made children, he was thinking joy and laughter and love and forgiveness etc.
Those days when I mess up, they still hug me and tell me they love me.
The days when I'm down they can make me laugh!
Then there's days that are going perfectly fine and they come along and make it finer!

One day Braxton brought me this dandelion and told me "I brought this because I love you."
 I don't care if some people call it a weed, this weed was a beautiful flower to me!

Water colors are their new favorite. Gotta love back to school sales on those! I picked these up last year for a little bit of nothing and hope to stock up on some more this year.

 

 

And every painter needs to have some chocolate chips!

 

" It's the small things "

 

Go ahead and celebrate life, even if it's just chocolate chips and weeds.

Because it's "this moment" filled with "small things" that will make the precious memories!

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Days and Snail Mail...

It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong.
-- John Cheever

I was up to a day of tackling strawberries and motherhood. It was going to be a good day! I was feeling great and thought "I can handle this! no problem!" (ok,actually, I think I was dreading the day just a wee little bit!)

Somewhere along the way life happened, attitudes fell and things went downhill - fast!!!!

Now I always hear that facebook and blogs always show the best of a person. The clean house, the combed kids, the playful,creative mom who makes life a hoot, the perfect lawn graced with delightful flowers, weedless, beautiful!
But I'm here to be honest and to say that life does not always go that way, at least not at this house!

I soon discovered that a fussy baby does not work well with strawberries and in the end the fussy baby wins.( and somewhere in my mind I was stirring up a big pity party that I didn't have my mom next door :) )
And to add to the mix there were other fights to be taken care of and a whole lot of other ugly issues. And I was feeling overwhelmed.
 I soon gave up to the fact that my day was not going to go as planned and I may as well just suck it up! :)
I went out and pitched ball for the two oldest, searched for a mower piece that hubby needed and held my baby.
I wish I could say that I threw my bad attitude into the wind, but I didn't. When hubby got home I sat down and cried to him, told him everything that went wrong that day, and he, in his gentlemanly way put his arm around me and said he's sorry that things went that way.
I went to get ready for bed and just for good measure chomped a bite off of my snickers bar.
This morning when I was reading a chapter in the Ministry of Motherhood this sentence stuck out - "They saw him (Jesus) work until he was utterly exhausted and yet still remain gracious and compassionate" - and immediately I knew I had failed! There was an apology to be had and I must say I am blessed with a wonderful, forgiving husband! :)

Now, I know that sometimes it's probably hard and embarrassing to admit when you fail! What will people think? What will people say? But in life I have discovered that I relate to the "real people" a lot easier than to people who can make everything look like a dream life.
And there's a balance between being "real" and being just plumb whiny and complainy and telling everyone, e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g that went wrong! :)

So in this life I am trying to be real :)

This yummy strawberry dessert did make the day better :) And the day wasn't all bad! My children had me laughing when they came with their britches hiked way high and said they were "amish." Not sure where they get that description of amish but it made me laugh! :D Their energy and excitement make me happy!

Last month I was blessed with letters - snail mail style. My heart gets all happy and excited when I get letters and boxes!

There was a letter and birthday card all the way from Germany, from my German "sister." It was fun reading the letter she sent and to read all about her life there. Erika was an exchanged student who lived with my family for a school term. It was fun to go visit her in Germany years ago. And it's fun for me to be able to still have contact with her.

And there's this awesome friend I have from Canada and she sent me pictures of her adorable baby! I got to spend a few years in Liberia with her and she is one of those friends, that even when we don't talk for a long time we just kinda pick up where we left off. I'm dreaming of a reunion with her sometime.

And then my mom...she sent a box of material ( I sew for her) and in that box she had goodies for us.

It causes excitement when there's a box from Grammy! My personal favorites were the plantain chips from Liberia, let's say "YUM!" and the new Tupperware 9x13 pan. Yep, my mom rocks!

Anyway here I go to finish my busy day. I hope each of you have a wonderful week. I'm excited about the weekend! A birthday party for my almost 5 year old (gasp) and probably a family night out with the kids to celebrate. A trip to Abbeville to see my aunt and her family...and just the weekend! That makes me happy!

I'll leave you with a quote to make your bad days a little less serious...
p.s. if you find it a bit crude I'm sorry. I really don't' mean it that way it just made me laugh!

"God grant me a vacation to make bearable what I can't change. A friend to make it funny and the wisdom to never get my knickers in a knot because it solves nothing and makes me walk funny! :)

Pictures Only :)

Spring is finally here! I think... :) I have faith that it's here to stay! We are sick and tired of winter and spring was long awaited for!

I really don't have much to say but figured I'd put up some updated pictures for everyone to see. So here goes :)

 

This girl loves her baby sister more than ever! Her waking question is "may I hold madawyn?" And yes, I get tired of that question but hey, I'm just happy there's love :)

 

 

Here she is geting her coupons togther :)

 

 

These kids love their daddy! And yes, he's that awesome :)

 

 

The peach orchards are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! This picture doesn't anywhere near describe the beauty!

 

 

This baby, well, she has our heart! Look at her sweetly, innocently sleeping! How much more does it take to melt your heart. She's changed our lives ... but we wouldn't wanna go back! She adds so much joy to our family.

 

 

This baking soda and vinegar is something that keeps my kids entertained...for maybe 15 minutes or so :)

 

 

 

 

Aren't baby feet and toes sooooo cute!?

 

 

 

 

This picture makes me laugh :)

 

And I will leave you with a few pictures we took on Easter Sunday. Unfortunatley Madalyn was sleeping right over the time that we had a few minutes to whip out the camera, so there's none of her in her cute outfit :(

 

 

 

 

These babies make my life interesting! I'd never trade them for the world.