POTW - Books

SO, I don't like this photo but my life has suddenly gotten SUPER crazy - in a good way though. I don't have time to re-take! I LOVE books - English major here people! I love the smell of them, the feel of crispy pages, falling apart or brand new, books are wonderful! I never studied in my dorm in college if I could help it. I always found a quiet spot on the second floor of the library to get my study time in. Something comforting about being completely surrounded by words!

POTW - Peace and Comfort

So, I'm terribly far behind of photo-of-the-week assignments. I'll have to make up “signs” at some point, but for now, I'm just going to push forward!
Peace and comfort can come in many forms for me. I have found that when I am the most “at peace” are the times when my family is all together. Caleb and Dylan go to their dad's every other weekend. While I think they are safe there, I never have the complete feeling of comfort that I have when all my kids are in my sight – under my wing. There is just something calming (and wonderful) about being able to check into bedrooms at night and see all my children safe and snug. This weekend we had snow. WHOHOO! I am so thankful that is snowed THIS weekend, while everyone was home. I'm thankful that mother nature timed the snow so that I got to witness the sheer happiness of snowball fights, snowmen, red noses and frozen grins. Peace and comfort in the freezing snow is a magical thing.

Grandma's Quilt

In a world full of plastic, fast and cheaply made items, we sometimes lose perspective on how easy “things” are for us to acquire now. We want a new blanket for our bed, we simply drive to the nearest Target and pick out one. We bring it home, slap it on our bed and when we crawl in at night feel the warmth of our new purchase. During the short time ago that was my father's childhood, the quilt that kept him warm at night was painstakingly and lovingly made by his mother. My grandmother, who died before my birth, sewed all her children's clothes and bedding. My father was the youngest of 10 children, so this was no small task. The quilt that has always been my favorite was made from flour sacks. Some pieces are so tiny, I would have probably just trashed them. My grandmother, however, didn't live in my fast and easy world. She saved every tiny scrap to create this hand stitched quilt. I remember it on my bed throughout my childhood as well. It was almost like an “Eye Spy” game to me – every time I'd look at it I'd notice another interesting fabric. This quilt is extra special – the small hand embroidered hand print is my father's hand print. She stitched “1955” and a number “4” in the center of the hand. My father's hand was so tiny when he was 4 – he was little once too, and thanks to a grandmother who must have always wanted to remember the size of his tiny hand, now I get to witness it too. This quilt is nothing short of a work-of-art to me. I hope to one day leave something this special for my future grandchildren, and that they will appreciate “handmade.”

Old Farmers Advice

Found this on a friend's blog and loved it too much not to pass along! Wonderful advice, so much of it seeming really relevant to my life at one point or another!

Old Farmers Advice:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

POTW- Sweet

I have to admit, I have a lot of “sweet” in my life. When I think about all the syrupy sweet deliciousness I have in my life I realize that I'm incredibly blessed. What's even more amazing is that I probably don't deserve half of this yumminess. I decided upon my one “sweet” based upon this photo of Lacey and Travis; wonderful daddy, husband, and love of my life.
The father/daughter relationship is so important to me. Being close to my own father, I know how many times I relied on his strong and sincere backbone to pull me through. Lacey will be my shopping buddy, she will share a love of pink and purses, shoes and such, but there is nothing quite like the way she runs to greet her Daddy every evening when he returns from work. She puts her hands on his cheeks and squeezes him like she hasn't seen him in weeks. It's a sweet, sweet love. She has him wrapped around her little finger!

For the Birds

We recently celebrated my husband's 42nd birthday, and birthdays always make me think. I remembered the first Christmas gift I ever gave him (before we were married) and then just a few short days later I gave him his first ever birthday gift from me. The birthday gift was a shirt and a huge bag of bird seed. Birdseed?? Yes, because his Christmas gift was the bird feeder in this photo. Here it stands, still making multitudes of birds very happy, five years later! We both love bird feeders and it's surprising such a simple, inexpensive gift can bring us so much joy and evoke so many memories. Happy Birthday to Travis, my rock, my support, my heart and soul. May birds feast in our yard for many years to come!

POTW - Home

There are little corners of my house that I love and parts that I do not hold so dear. You know, those little nooks that seem to attract clutter and out-of-place bobbles. If I were willing to spend lots of money I think I could make my house look exactly like the vision in my head – but would it really be worth it? Considering I have four children, several of which throw, sling, swash buckle, "allioop" everything that enters their hands – NO – not worth it. But everyone needs a roof overhead, a spot in this big universe that brings them happiness; a little fragment of earth and timber that they call their own. For me, my home must bring me peace and comfort and must be filled with the footsteps of those I love. It must be a sanctuary and offer security on many levels. When I have all these elements, I am home.

POTW - Beginnings

So here we are, January, a new year, a new beginning. “Beginnings” are wonderful – they are times to renew, wipe the slate clean and try to do better, and achieve more. The ultimate new beginning was granted by our Savior when he died so that we may have the chance to repent of our sins. It is wonderful to know that no matter how far we fall, we have the chance to change, to climb back up the hill and try again. Sunrises are stunning examples of new beginnings. Every morning the vibrant colors of the sun streak across the sky as if to say, “Go away dark and bitter night. It's my turn again.” So whether by the “sun” or the “Son” we have the daily capability to begin again, for this I am so grateful! I also would like that thank all of you who believe in me, who know my character and what I stand for and for never doubting me. We will make this “beginning” extraordinary!

Sunrise – 7:30 AM January 7, 2010 (from my front porch again!)



A very cold beginning!!



**I added the POTW themes to the bottom of my blog for easier access! **

Cold

Today is January 3rd, and it is cold almost beyond description. But since I have a degree in English that I seldom use, I will dust it off and share a few adjectives that describe the weather. Let's see: frigid, blustery, numbing, bone-chilling – well, you get the idea. I'm not well-equipped for the cold. Being a flip-flop wearing summer girl, this is a tough time of year for me. I just want to bundle up until it's over! But, I have been working on my attitude. I think of how many people would love just one more day on this earth, one more day to wake up to a new sunshine, and yes, feel the chill of winter on their noses. If today were my last – I don't think I'd complain about the cold.
I find it very difficult anymore to go a day and NOT take a photo. Photography is therapy for me on so many levels. So I ventured as far as my front porch to get a few shots on this beautiful January 3, 2010. As the wind was paralyzing my fingers, I snapped a shot of the sky and sun – so beautiful in every season of the year, and one of my darling Dylan. Dylan, a boy of age eight, seems to be immune to Jack Frost – but that is the nature of boyhood I think – and I will save that for another post. Happy winter.

One Word - 2010

One word. That's it. No lengthy resolutions spanning into paragraphs of promises that are hard to keep. No spectacular goal that seems to get farther and farther out of reach as the new year progresses. My friend, Connie, has inspired me to choose one simple little word – a word that will ring in my thoughts throughout the new year. A word that can be easily be remembered and called upon when I need it most. One word that I will apply in my life to make me a better person in the year twenty ten.
As I contemplated my life and what 2010 may bring, I knew I needed a powerful word. A word that would represent resilience in old battles and entrepreneurship in new endeavors. I have a lot planned for the coming year, many of these plans have been in the works for a very long time. Plans that have now become a passion. In all my efforts, in my relationships with people, old and new, past and yet to come I need THIS – this one word:



You see, I lack courage quite often. I cower down in the name of peace and relent myself to the world around me. I receive 100 praises and allow one criticism to send me plummeting. I tend to care entirely too much about the one and don't appreciate enough the 100. I'm a lot like the lion, in the Wizard of Oz. If I can only get my courage, and keep it, I will be okay – more than okay. So, in 2010, I'm following my yellow brick road. I'm getting my courage.
My beautiful – oh so beautiful – children will give me courage, my unbelievably wonderful husband will be my rock, my friends will be my sounding board and my courage will remain. I will be able, with courage, to melt away the wicked witches of self-doubt and hopefully sway the arrows of mean people as well. No, I wont be perfect, but I will have the courage to keep trying.

I look forward to building on budding friendships this year. I feel my friends – and you know who you are – are kindred spirits. We will be courageous together!! Happy New Year to all. We are all blessed to see 2010 and to have the freedom to follow whichever yellow brick road that takes YOU where you need to be!