Whew!  Do you feel that?  That’s called sun and humidity, my friends.  Welcome to Southern Kentucky, where we’re no stranger to muggy weather.  Let me pour you a glass of sweet iced tea and see if we can stand the heat out on the patio for a chat, shall we?

The grass is bright green and in need of regular mowing, now.  The dandelions are in full bloom and the wish balls are ripe.  My herbs are really starting to pop up, which means sweet tea with a touch of fresh mint, soon.  Dorothea Benton Frank’s books are making it hard to get the house work finished–by the way, have I mentioned that she will be here, in Bowling Green, in July for a book tour?!  I don’t know about you, but that bit of information caused lots of jumping up and down with excitement for me.

Summer is definitely here.  I’m desperately saving for a trip to the beach.  We’re averaging about a pitcher and a half of tea every day and the temptation to turn the A/C on, full time, is really starting to wear us down.  Sun dresses are my daily attire and braids and pony tails are a must.  Goodbye tinted moisturizer; hello lotion with sunscreen.  I made one attempt at sunbathing and failed miserably after barely an hour of laying in a pool of my own sweat glisten.  Who needs skin cancer, anyway, right?  I’ve decided to proudly own my porcelain skin, instead.

My next decision is to invest in a fabulous wide-brimmed sun hat, to help protect my freckled fair skin.

I’ve decided to shop around online to make this purchase.  The only drawback is that I can’t try it on in-person.  But hey, as long as it blocks the sun from my delicate white face and shoulders, I’ll be happy. During my pursuit to find said inexpensive fabulous hat, I found some of these lovelies, and thought I would share (click photos to go to the sites):

Amazon $24.99

Ebay $16.99

Ebay $5.99

I love all of these because they are wide enough to give me plenty of coverage from the suns crude rays, each one is a neutral shade so they will match anything and they all look light in weight and floppy and loose for extra comfort.

Do you have a great summer hat you can’t part with?  Where did you find yours and what do you love most about it?

Well, I think that about does it, for renovations, for now.  I know I’m lacking color (which drives me bonkers), but I’m kind of at a stand-still.  I did, however, decide to just go with my own name as a title, for now.  Someone made a very good point about our every changing likes and interests, but my name will, most likely, never change (Thanks, Lauren).  Wordpress.com is very limiting (at least for a control-freak).  Until I learn WordPress.org, I’m going to have to just settle with this.  I hope its not too much of an eye sore you you all and I hope I don’t scare anyone away with my color simplicity.

Since I don’t know anyone locally to help me learn the ropes, I’m going to have to do it all myself.  I’m completely lost as to how I even download and install the program.

Does anyone know of any sites or tutorials that i could go to for the most information?  Also, can I still get free hosting here on WordPress.com?  Or will I have to seek and and pay for hosting else where?

I’m just doing the SAHM thing right now and this is still just a hobby, so I really don’t have many bones to be spending on it.  Low cost with needed and ‘free’ is great!

I hope to hear from you soon!
xoxo

I’m just going to put it bluntly.  I do NOT like the appearance of my blog.  I do not like the colors, I do not like the layout and I am not happy with the title.  I don’t feel like any of it truly reflects me.  Honestly, red is actually one of my least favorite colors.  I don’t mind using it in decor.  And this shade of red is ok.  I like the texture.  I just didn’t feel like I could really go with much else.

The title of the blog is really restricting, I feel.  It irritates me, now.  I liked it and thought it was clever when I first started the blog for my class, but I’m over it now that I’ve been writing on my own for a bit.  That may seem silly to you, all.  I hope you will stop me and tell me if I’m crazy.  It might not make any sense at all, really.  Its just that the deeper I get into the blog world, the more I see of what I do and do not like.  I’m learning more about what appeals to me and what seems to match my personality.

I’m writing to you today, to let you in on what’s about to happen.  I don’t want to scare anyone away with my antics.  I’ve already done a lot of brainstorming and I think I’ve decided on a new name and some possible colors I want.  The hard, rustic look that I have right now will soon change to something with a more whimsical feel.  I want to colors to be a little more soft and the feel to be more comforting and swirling.  I’m sure none of these words are helping you really create an image in your head of what I’m talking about, but none the less the image is there.  Its all up inside this crazy jumbled mess of a thing that’s sitting on my shoulders.

I just want to make this blog better.  I want you to like just as much as me.  I want it to be fun and appealing, and yet still informative and helpful, when need be.  I want this place to put a smile on your face.

So over the next two of three days, if you stop in and feel lost, don’t panic.  Its still me, here.  We’re just going through some construction.  I guess my blog is kind of like a young woman.  She’s just trying different things and styles to try and find out who she really is.  And you all are her poor closest friends who get to deal with all of her identity problems.  Hmm, sounds like I know that situation all too well, doesn’t it?

Now, I want to apologize for any craziness I put on you through this identity crisis.  I also want to give you a huge thank you for hanging in there through it all.  You have no idea how much I appreciate your loyal readership.  Really.  I think its awesome to know that my words are really getting out there.  I do hope if you have any comments, what so ever, you will share them freely.  Feel free to comment or see my ‘Contact’ Page to email me any suggestions you may have.

Here, we go!  Say goodbye to ‘Textbooks and Teddy Bears’ and hello to ‘Fuzzy Little Wish Balls.’

Here it is again.  Friday!  Looks like its going to be a chilly gray day.  I wouldn’t mind laying around in sweats and blankets and being cozy all day, but I don’t see any of that in my crystal ball.  I have two busy little girls to keep up with, story time at 11:30 and my little sister’s high school graduation this evening.  Nope.  No lazy day for me.

I find myself staring at the blank screen running through my thoughts.  I’m reflecting and reminiscing and trying to think of a small bit of “wisdom” I may share.  I feel stumped, already, and this is only my third week doing this.  So, I’m looking around me for some small bit of  inspiration.  And of course, its only right in front of me.  I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.

Little girls.  What magical little creatures.

I love little girls.  I never really saw it until I had one and was able to observe the way they work.  They truly are enchanting.  I love having these little ladies around.  It teaches me a lot.  What I love most about them, is the refreshing perspective they bring.  Something we all seem to grow out of around the middle school ages.  They teach me about appreciating the small things in life.

Fuzzy wish balls (dandelions) are delicate pieces of magic.  Clovers make the most beautiful flower arrangements.  Earth worms are loyal, low maintenance pets.  Jellies make any outfit fabulous.  PB&J is a delicacy.  The refrigerator is the most high class venue you can find to hold an extravagant art show.  Fine jewelery is made with fishing line and mismatched, colorful plastic beads.  Simply changing your outfit can turn you into a royal princess and strapping on a pair for glittery wings makes you a glowing pixie.  And best of all, a piece of paper with bright swirls of color makes the most wonderful,  meaningful gift.

So, what have I learned from these girls?  Simplicity and perspective.  If we’re not careful, we can get to be a little too big for out britches.  Every now and then, its a good reminder to drown back down to our knees and take a good look around.  Open your eyes and see more clearly.  All the fancy stuff can some times get in your way.  Take joy in the simplicities that are always around you.  Try not to overlook the beauty of the every day norm.  The fact that its always there and you’ve seen it a million times, doesn’t make it any less brilliant or fascinating.  Everything has a purpose.  Whether for its use and/or its simple artistry.  Really take it in.  Appreciate it.

Over time, a dandelion becomes a weed.  But what is a weed, really?  Just a valueless plant, growing wild.  Its only a weed if you make it a weed.  Give it a little attention and it turns into an exotic, lavish blossom.

Photo Credits

Time for another installment for the Summer of Growth series!!  Last week, I wrote about building up our self discipline.  Have you been working on yours?

Remember that getting up early and running thing?  Well, I guess I could say I haven’t been doing too bad.  I only missed one morning.  It was rainy out…. Really!  Ok, well it had been raining.  Plus, Lilie had crawled in bed with me and she’s so snuggly in the mornings.  I just didn’t want to leave her.  I plan to make that up by getting up early and running one morning this weekend, ok?  I’m trying, here.  Honest.  I think I might have missed one day of my quiet time, so far, too.  But I certainly have proof of having completed those, since I wrote a couple posts about resting in His grace and saying ‘thank you.’

Last week, I promised to tell you about the five “pillars” of self discipline.  Now, I know you’re busy, so I’m not going to bore you with a lot of words and descriptions.  I’m going to try to do this list-style.  Take the first letter of each one and you get ‘A Whip.’  So, here you go.

A WHIP:

• Acceptance – You need to accept where you currently stand with your self discipline before you can decide on a plan to change it.
• Willpower – You need to create a plan and tell your self to get going.  Choose your objective, come up with a plan, and then do it.
• Hard Work – Strong challenges require hard work.  Hard work usually pays off in strong results.
• Industry – Be industrious.  Put in the work.  Be consistent in your work.  Don’t let up.  Get the job done.
• Persistence – Don’t give up.  Even when you feel like quitting, don’t.  Push yourself to keep going.  Remember: its not your motivation that will bring the results, its your action.

Click for Photo Credits"Th

Last time (before the birthday speech), I told you I wanted to share a couple things I had read about during my quiet time.  I wrote about resting in His grace, as the first one.  There’s another one I wanted to share with you all real quick.

When most of us pray, we ask for things.  We ask for material objects, for jobs, for love, for advice and direction.  Things happen through out life.  Things that are beyond our control.  Things like illness, divorce and death.  And, sometimes, we can’t help but ask ‘why?’  We are constantly praying for answers.

Well, I read something that helps make getting past this habit a little easier.  In the study by Sheila Walsh, that I’m reading, she ways we need to thank God for his love when we’re tempted to ask for answers instead.  I love this.  It changes our whole perspective.  I mean, where does asking these ‘why’ questions really get us anyway?  No where, but a little more down, confused and mentally and emotionally weakened.  However, if we focus more on thanking God for His love, I don’t know how we could go any where but up.

Be thankful for the love he has shown you.  Be thankful for all the glorious things you have, whether it be good health, food in your belly, a roof over your head, or getting a promotion at work.  Walsh says that we should be conquerors.  She says that instead of being conquered by the challenges life throws at us and getting caught up in why they happened, we need to take a step back and just say ‘thank you.’  We need to learn to be satisfied with His constant love, instead always wanting answers.

I think this kind of goes back to the post I wrote about happiness.  Instead of choosing to be pessimistic and wanting all the time, I hope you choose to be optimistic and be satisfied with His pure love.  After all, its a choice only you can make.

I know a guy.  He’s tall, slender and pretty darn good lookin’, if you ask me.  But that’s just what you can see.  You might know who I’m talking about, but you don’t really know him.  Not like I do.

I know that he tells every one he’s allergic to tomatoes, when really, he just doesn’t like them.  I know that he loves his girlfriend’s homemade mashed potatoes just as much as he did his Granny’s.  I know that he likes a bowl of cereal, just about every single night, before bed (ok, so do I).  I know that His favorite cake is yellow with chocolate icing.

I know that loves a certain little girl like she’s his own, even though she has a daddy she has to visit every other weekend.  I know that he secretly adores the time she refers to him as her dad.  I know that he gets a little overwhelmed with all the estrogen in this house, but there’s no where else he’d rather be.

I know that he likes to hold his girlfriend’s hand in public.  I know that he thinks she’s “beautiful,” even on lazy pajama days.  I know that he sometimes enjoys sharing a bottle of wine and a chick flick  (don’t tell him I told you that).  I know that he’s really not crazy about going out with the guys, any more {minus golf}.  I know that he likes going for walks in the woods with her.  I know that he enjoys spending childless nights just sitting at home.

I know that he’s thirsty for love and overflowing with it at the same time.  He has an incredible heart.  I know that he’s strong and loyal and caring.  A good friend.  I know that he has secret struggles of his own.  I know that he loves God and continually works on his relationship with Him.  I know that he is constantly trying to be a better man.  I know that he has some regrets with his life, but he’s doing everything he can to overcome them.

I know that he wants to hurry and finish college, get a good job, and buy a house (with/for his family).  I know that he wants to travel…with me.  I know that he loves  me  us.  I know that he wants to get married, eventually.  I know that he will make this relationship work.  I know that he puts forth his effort.  I know that he won’t walk out on me.  He will always be here.  I know that he cherishes and appreciates me, just as much as I do him.  I know that he is there for me and he always will be.  I know that I can trust him and he will take care of me…. even if I try to tell him not to.

I know that he just started a new job today.  That he had to spend the entire first half of his birthday at a new job.  I know that he did that without whining or making excuses.  I know that he did that for us.  Because he loves us and wants to take care of us.  Because he is a good man and because we are a family.

I know that today is his 26th birthday and I hope, despite work, that he is able to have a wonderful birthday.  I hope, on this day, that he knows how loved he is.  I hope he knows how appreciated and valued he is.  I hope he knows that he is ours and we are proud to call him ours.

So, I know this guy and I love him to pieces and am so proud of the man he is.  He is wonderful and amazing.  More than you know.

Happy birthday, babe.  We love you.

“Love that goes upward is worship.  Love that goes outward is affection.  Love that stoops is grace.” 

As I’ve shared before, I’ve started making more of a point to make sure I sit down for a little one on one time with ole big guns up stairs.  I’m doing a Bible study while also reading one of Max Lucado’s many awesome books.  I can feel this calming my soul and clearing my mind so that I may think more clearly.  I also like the feel of having Him in my heart, always.

I wanted to share a couple things that I studied recently.  This first one is about grace.  This word has always captivated me with its beauty and mystery.  The word grace seems to mean so much.  It seems so broad.  Dictionary.com pulls up nine results:

• elegance or beauty
• a pleasing or attractive quality
• favor or goodwill
• mercy; pardon
• favor shown in granting a delay
• an allowance of time
• theology
• moral strength

The end of the week is coming to a close and as I’m sitting out here, on my back patio, I decided to do a little more reflecting.  What valuable things have I learned thus far?  What is one thing I do to really make life easier on myself and those around me?

Something I quickly learned as a young adult, is that your happiness depends on you.  You make your own happiness.  Nothing on this Earth can make your happiness.  Not money, jewelery, or clothes.  Not spouses, children,  or friends.  Not partying, traveling or education.  Only you can make your own happiness.

It frustrates me to see all these books and television shows with people offering to tell us the secret to happiness or even try to sell it for some crazy price.  It frustrates me that someone even needed to devote a whole book to such a thing.  Is it really something that difficult?  And I’m not talking about people that are clinically depressed.  That is a real illness that needs real treatment.  I’m talking about both rich and poor, both popular and unpopular, successful and unsuccessful people that just choose to be unhappy.

Yep.  I think happiness is a choice.  Either you choose to be happy or you don’t. Its up to you.

Another thing that frustrates me, is people that seem to only complain about the bad things that have happened or are happening to them.  They never ever give any credit to the good things they have.

I have learned that bad things are going to happen.  There is nothing anyone can do to avoid them.  But the thing about bad times is that without the bad times, we can’t truly appreciate the good times.  So basically, the bad times make the good times good.  They wouldn’t be good because we wouldn’t know what bad was.  So, be thankful for the bad times and completely appreciate the good ones because of it.

I have learned that bad times will come in and out of your life.  They may only stay for a while and then leave, but they will be back.  So why be surprised and caught off guard?  Build a solid happiness for yourself and keep a good mind, so that the bad times don’t shake you so badly.

I have learned that things happen that are out of my control.  Being the control freak that I am, this will drive me insane, if I let it.  But you know what?  I choose not to.  Here’s my thought:  if you can’t do anything to control it, why waste your time being upset about it?  Being upset and mad all the time is an absolute waste of time.  It changes nothing, except your quality of life.  After coming to that realization, I found it a lot easier to breathe easy and deal with problems properly.  I was able to get through my day to day life a lot more enjoyably, as well.

I have learned that the bad times make us stronger.  The bad times make us more mentally and emotionally prepared for what’s to happen later in life.  The bad times build our character and make us better.  They make us wiser and better problem solvers.  They bring us closer to God, who becomes our strength when we have no more.

Like I said, its no secret, really.  So, I really haven’t enlightened you any, right?  This was just a statement of what most of us already knew, right?  I was only trying to send out a simple reminder

So, are you happy with your life?  How have you been choosing to live?  I hope you think only positively from here.  I hope you choose to see and focus on the many blessings in your life and be thankful, still, for the bad times, too.

Hey there, everyone.  Ready for some more of the Summer of Growth Series?  We’ve already touched on the cooking part, and I haven’t really seemed to have a problem in that area lately, so I thought we should move on to something more critical.  The self discipline.  This has been a constant struggle for me.

I’ve been trying to make a point of setting aside a quiet time for myself and God. I have been doing this and I really enjoy it, but I haven’t been very consistent.  Its not that I don’t want to or that I don’t have the time to do, its just that I get distracted by something else that needs to be done (and I’ll be honest; sometimes its just another good book I can’t put down).  So the real problem just seems to be “self discipline.”

Also, I have been wanting (needing) to start running.  I started to right before we moved, but then the weather got cold and the hustle and bustle of moving became my scape goat for slacking off.

Since I don’t seem to be getting too far on my own, I’ve decided to do some research.  What I’m finding, of course, is just common sense,  it seems.  Ugh.  I was hoping to stumble some ancient Chinese secret which I could in turn share with you all and forever be the hero of self discipline.  Alas, its not that easy and does take some work.   Improving your self discipline is much like improving your physical strength.  Like muscles, your self obedience is only as strong as you build it to be.  If its something you’re constantly working on, you’ll be stronger.  But if you slack off, you lose that strength.

Also, like physical training, its something you have build up to.  When you decide to start lifting weights, you can’t just jump right in to lifting 200lbs.  You have to start with something a bit smaller.  Something just out of reach.  You need to set obtainable goals.  Goals that do make you work, but are obtainable.  Once you’ve accomplished that goal and made it something you can easily keep up with, its time to up the ante.  Make a new goal one step above the last.  Setting and completely small goals will also keep you in the game.  No one likes failing over and over.

So, here’s my ultimate goal for the end of the summer: I want to get up early enough, every morning, to have my quiet time and go run with my thoughts before Lilie ever gets out of bed.  Now, Lilie wakes up between 8:00 and 8:30 every morning.  That means, ultimately, I need to be getting out of bed by 6:30 every morning.  Or maybe just during the week.  Can’t my weekends just be weekENDS?  A girl needs her beauty sleep, right?

Ok, so lets break this down into smaller goals for me to meet shall we?  Let say I start off by just doing my run in the morning and continue to do my quiet time during nap time.  That means I just need to be out of bed by about 7:30am (which is a feat all in its self).  I will also be sure to make myself sit down for thirty minutes, during nap time, each day for my alone time with God.  Once I have completed those two tasks every single day for a week, I’ll try to start getting up just 15-30minutes, earlier each day, to check me email before I go run.  I think once I have conquered that, I should be ready to move my quiet time to the early mornings before I go for my run.

I think you’ll see that the more you build your self self discipline, the easier life, in general, will become for you.  The challenges you once wouldn’t have thought twice about attempting, will become a walk in the park.  In turn, I also believe that the stronger your self discipline becomes, the more successful you will be in life.

I wonder if any of you are doing anything to try to be a better ‘you,’ right now.   If so, how’s your self renovation coming along thus far?

Next week, I want to write about the five pillars of self discipline.  I hope to see you then!