Oh. My. Demigoddess!

       Some women hold the title Domestic Goddess; some Total Goddess. I am NOT one of those women. I have tried to meet all the criteria in those job descriptions, and have fallen short in many categories. Some, however, I have conquered. When I was still tossing around the idea of this blog, a friend of mine asked if this would be a blog about food and crafts. I wanted the blog to succeed, which is why I have refrained from including such topics in my writing. If in the future I take ground in those areas I'll let you know. Until then, I will focus my efforts in other arenas.

       We are all great at something. Most likely you are great at many things. On the flip side, we all have our weaknesses. No matter how great we are at something, it's always the weakness that gets the attention. Why is that? It's as if there is something within us that says, "Yeah, I'm great at this, BUT I'm weak over here." We throw all of our energy into bettering our weakness while our greatness sits on the shelf. Part of being who we are is knowing who we aren't. There is strength in recognizing that! I can't be you, and you can't be me. We were never meant to be! (Pay no attention to the rhyming that just unintentionally took place.) God loves variety, which is why he didn't create a bunch of clones. Each of us have been purposefully created for a unique cause. We all have passions and desires that are paired with specific gifts and talents. So, let's use them!

"OMD!"

       I, for one, do not possess the art of sewing. Or cooking, or cleaning, or crafting, or organization. Note that I said "art". I can do all of these things, but none of these are my passions or strong suits. I love learning, creating, writing, music, singing, and I am good at these things. I love people, which works out because I have 6 little people running around me all day everyday, and they know they are loved and cherished. 

       What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What season are you in? Strengths may change with the season. Don't get frustrated with yourself if you were once fantastic at something, and now it just isn't working for you anymore. Find out what God has given you, and where He has placed you in this season. Own it. We aren't meant to do what we weren't created to do. When I find myself trying to keep up with Princess Pinterest, it drains the life out of me. That's an indication that I am trying to fill someone else's shoes. What is life-giving to you? Could that be something God has gifted you with to influence the world around you? Our gifts are to be used for a purpose greater than ourselves. How cool is that?! We each possess something, that when shared, can change the world!

       Whether you find a pen in your hand, or a baby on your hip, know that you have purpose, and the opportunity for greatness. Stand tall, and walk with confidence. Know that you are strong with weaknesses, NOT weak with strengths. We can't all be goddesses. So, for now, I'll settle for Demigoddess.

Until next time, Beautiful.

Searching For Substance

       It was a day like any other. I woke up, and began my daily routine. As I went about my day, the feeling that something was missing kept nagging me. I couldn't quite figure out what it was, until it hit me. It was ME! I was missing! In that moment, I realized that in the midst of the mundane, the free-spirited lady who laughed at everything, and who clumsily (and I do mean clumsily) danced through life was gone! What I did find was a woman that was great at getting up, and doing the "Mom thing", the "Wife thing", the "Homeschool thing", and any other list of things that needed to be done. Those things are great, but who was the woman behind the motions? I realized that morning that I had gotten so caught up in "doing" life, that I forgot about the "being" aspect of living. My search for substance was on!

       Maybe I'm the only one who has ever dealt with this, but I'm guessing not. Too often our identity gets wrapped up in our surroundings and/or tasks. Sometimes it seems to disappear entirely. Who we are begins to take a backseat to what we are, or what we want to become. The sexiest woman, the smartest woman, the independent woman, the perfect wife, the best mother, the funniest friend - these are just a few of the definitions we as women sometimes find ourselves wanting. Shoot! I want to be ALL of these things! (Come on, you know you do, too) None of which are bad, however the depth of our identity needs to run deeper than abstract definitions. We NEED to have substance. Who we are needs to be absolute. It is what grounds us when what we are changes. When our beauty fades, our jokes fall flat, or our failures seem to outshine our victories, who we are is what's left.

       Our creator is very specific about who He's created us to be. He has knitted us together with intent and purpose placing potential for greatness within each of us. (More on that next week!) When we are secure in who we are, we can approach what we were created to do with confidence. Your favorites, hobbies, interests, and career choices are preferences that make you unique. It's who you are that threads those things together forming strength and character. There is a beauty that emerges when the one who defines you is the One who designed you. Ladies, let's be known for such strength and beauty! Let's let go of what we think we should be, and grab hold of who we are meant to be. 

         I now know who I am. I am loved, I am redeemed; I am His. That fierce and free-spirited woman was never "gone." I had just simply misplaced her. It happens. If you feel as if you've been temporarily misplaced, keep searching; keep praying. You'll find her. She's in there. May we know who we are, be the women we were intended to be, and succeed in all we are meant to do!

Until next time, Beautiful.

*UPDATE*

She's back...

And clumsier than ever!

Wound Tight

       There are warriors, and there are worriers. I want to be known as a warrior. As women, we care deeply and love fiercely. God created both man and woman intricately forming them with their own strengths. I mean, let’s face it, women aren’t wimps! We endure physical and emotional feats daily, and just keep rockin' it! Our maker has placed a fire within us, but unfortunately we sometimes use that flame to fuel our worry. If we aren’t careful we can go from warrior to worrier in a minute flat leaving us “wound tight."

Toddler-attacked toilet paper

       When a woman is wound tight, it overflows until pretty soon everyone around her knows it. At least when this woman is wound tight. My kids know it, my husband, bless his heart, definitely knows it, and sometimes even the poor neighbors know it. It’s not pretty! But how do we get that way? How do we get so wound up that we don’t even recognize ourselves? God made us warriors, but we run around being worriers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about concern. Concern is necessary. Concern is an awareness that spurs on action, and brings about change. Worry is not. Worry is an emotional REaction that produces no positive outcome. There’s a difference. 

       There are numerous things that cause us to cave into worry. We worry if we will ever find a mate. Once we find a mate, we worry we will never reach our “ever after” status. Will we ever get promoted in our careers? Will we ever have children? If we have children, will something happen to them? Finances? Retirement? The list could go on FOREVER! I can work myself up over a “what if” scenario, and be crying tears of worry in minutes! Over a made up occurrence! (You know you’ve done it too, so don’t judge.) Let’s just stop right there.

       The antidote to worry is trust. If you find yourself wound tight, and don’t know how to unwind, begin to trust. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. I'm not saying that action has no part to play. It does. Though sometimes we need to take action in an area, it's trust that will resolve our inward reaction to any situation or circumstance. Ultimately, we need to place our trust in God. We need to trust Him with our future, with our relationships, our finances, with our children, and with their futures. He knows the desires of our hearts, and wants His best for our lives and the lives of those we love. 

       We were made to do great things, but worrying wasn’t one of them. I still occasionally get wound tight, but I choose to wake up every morning a warrior. I know who I am, and though I may not know every detail of my future, I know who does. When you feel like worry is trying to grab hold, defeat it with trust. Live your life with confidence because you know He holds your future as well. You are fierce, you are strong, and you are a warrior. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you differently.

Until next time, Beautiful.

       

Just Keep Sipping...

            Dory says, "Just keep swimming." I hate swimming. I hate water. I hate things that swim in the water. In fact, if Dory wasn't so stinking cute I'd probably dislike her too. However, I DO love sipping. Coffee primarily. So, I say, "Just keep sipping." (You may insert drink of choice if you don't like coffee. I don't have the time to try to understand why that is.)

       There are two reasons you will almost always find me with a mug of coffee in hand. First, I love coffee. LOVE it. Second, is the pause. For example, if I am about to blurt something out I shouldn't, I take a sip of coffee. If I need a "come to Jesus" moment before addressing the kiddos, I take a sip of coffee. If I'm processing a situation or decision, I take a sip of coffee. I’m not saying that I’m addicted to coffee. (Although, I might be.) What I am saying is that I am drawn to what happens during the pause. It's in the pausing that I am able to take a much needed breath, reflect, and grab hold of peace.  
       Life can be crazy, and at times, chaotic. I love our life! It is a loud environment with 6 kids living and learning all around. You can imagine how often I have to pause in a day! However, it's the peace that we need to pursue in the pause that is key. Peace isn’t the absence of chaos, but the ability to maintain a calmness on the inside. Notice I didn't say outside! We should aim for an outward expression of an inward experience, but that doesn't always happen. Do you know what does happen? My face goes rogue, and betrays my brain! I don't know if this happens to you, but the outward expression often reflects the inward "What the...!" Some of you may have seen this face. For that, I'm sorry. I'm working on that. (Another reason to just keep sipping!) 
       Peace is important. Peace helps sustain us in the midst of madness; it can help release the grip of worry, and it can also help pave the way for joy in less than joyful circumstances. It's obvious that I enjoy coffee, but it’s the pause that it forces me to take that I really love. The peace, I had to learn to tap into. I'm still learning! Coffee doesn't bring the peace, only the pause. God is who brings the peace. After all, He IS peace. 

       We all know what it feels like to be swept away by chaos, worry, discontentment, grief, unforgiveness or even fear. It's awful! All of these are thieves of peace. Storms and challenges are inevitable and unavoidable. So, how great would it be to be able to navigate through those seasons with confidence, courage, and grace?! Regardless of what wave you're riding, seek out peace. It may be that peace lies just on the other side of the storm, so hang in there. Life is an incredible journey with high points, and low. So, breathe deep, shine bright, and if you like coffee, just keep sipping!

Until next time, Beautiful.

Love me some lattes!

 London Fog and my man.

(I do sometimes reach for tea. Don't tell coffee.)

Long For The Future, Love In The Present

       I sweep and vacuum a lot. No, I mean, like three to four times a day. Sometimes less, sometimes more, it depends. The reason is twofold. One, I hate littered floors - crumbs, leaves, uneaten apples, crusts from sandwiches (because apparently the crust will kill children if they eat it), whatever, I hate seeing them, and hate feeling them underfoot. Second, we have 12 little hands grabbing food to put into 6 mouths to fill stomachs that know no end. Yes, we have allotted meal times, but I feed them more than once a day, so we spill more than once a day. Hence, the multiple sweeping. One day, I was performing said sweeping, and I was over it. I began to dream a little dream that went a little like this:

       I look forward to the day where there's no pizza smushed into the carpet. Where there is no food smeared on the walls as I play the "WTH Is That?" game. When Legos aren’t scattered about like confetti in Time Square on the first. Days I won’t run around holding back swears because the pain of stepping on a Lego can be worse than childbirth. When the spills, stains and mysterious artwork on the walls disappear. Ahhh, yes, that will be a good day. I will have clean carpets, counters, and couches. I will have grownup decor! I will be able to cook from a love for food rather than cater a crowd for survival. That will be the day! 

       Then as I continued to sweep crumbs, and whatever else, I noticed I had swept up some legos (which I didn’t mind because we have four billion of them), and also noticed a piece of paper that had made it into the dustpan as well. As I read the words scribbled on the paper, the dream that was playing out in my head suddenly took a turn down KillJoy St. I suddenly realized what my picture perfect home will mean.

       The day my dream of nicer things becomes reality, is the same day when the giggles cease, running into mommy's arms is no longer their favorite game, and the love notes littering my kitchen floor no longer exist. The morning I come downstairs, and my house looks like a photo from Better Homes and Gardens is also the day that Goodnight Moon gets packed away. Oh, how I will wake up dancing the morning after I get a full night’s rest, but that also means that I will no longer be going in and hushing the children from their midnight conversations, or comforting a little one from a nightmare, or saying prayers with the children I have the honor of raising. 

       The picture perfect home and the restful nights will come with time, I know that, and look forward to that. However, I also know, that the very same day those dreams come true, I will long for yesterday. So, while I am drinking the same cup of coffee that I have reheated 142 times, and sweeping up crumbs and cookies mixed with Legos and love notes, I will constantly be reminding myself of how blessed I am to have a home to sweep, crumbs to clean, and love notes to gather. 
       We all long for the future. It might be better jobs, better homes, or even better lives. Let us be reminded as we long for our future, to love in the present. It's what we do in the present that helps shape our future. So, may we recognize our blessings, live and love well in our longing, and have few regrets in the years to come!

Until next time, Beautiful.

Bestie-Less

        First, I will start out by speaking some truth. Ladies, we are amazing creatures! We can multitask like nobody's business, love some kind of fierce, change our minds on a dime, mother anything that moves, and most importantly, make leggings and yoga pants look GOOD! However, somehow with all this awesome in one package, we sometimes find it hard to make friends. I know, I know, it's crazy, but making girlfriends can be harder than finding a mate! Forget about mommy friends, and couples friends. Maybe it's because one room couldn't possibly contain all that awesomeness, BUT maybe it's something else. 
        Besties can be the greatest people on the planet. They are the sugar to your spice, the sweet to your sour, and the mayo to your mustard. (I probably should refrain from writing when I'm hungry.) Moving on from food analogies. A friend can calm you down, and hype you up. They can speak frankly, yet do so in a way that is accepted. They point you towards greatness, and cheer you on to success. Though, have you ever been in a season that seems as if you are Bestie-less? 

I'm not implying that your bestie is no longer, or that you are a hermit with no friends. I am saying that maybe you are in different seasons, or maybe busy with life, and lack the time to catch up. I have a BFF that has been in my life since we were five. FIVE!!!!! I can call her no matter what. Yet, I’ve still gone through seasons where I feel lonely and distant. I have often wondered what was wrong with me, or at times with everyone else because I'm usually pretty awesome! Kidding! (Kind of.) However, in those seasons, no matter how hard I try to push into relationships they seem to come back void. Why?

 Sometimes there are obvious reasons, or, sometimes the relationship isn’t healthy to continue, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I am talking about times when all is well, but you still can’t seem to connect. I have found that in these spells of feeling friendless, I haven't stumbled into that season, but have been placed there. If we just stop and reflect in those dry seasons we will often times find that God is gently calling us to pursue Him more passionately, read His word more frequently, and “befriend” Him more purposefully. These times aren’t always easy, but if we press in instead of stress out during our friendship droughts, we will find a strengthening in our relationship with God, and shortly thereafter, an outpouring of friendship in which we have something to offer. 
           You are amazing. So, whether your friendships are plenty, or you find yourself seeking more, be aware of your purpose in this season. Be your own kind of awesome!

Until next time, Beautiful.

Optimism And Bird Guts...

     
       We've all had "those" days. The days when you wake up with a smile ready to greet the day with optimism, but you end up with dead birds. Ok, maybe that's just me, but we all have days when everything we touch either spills, breaks, or injures us. Sometimes all of the above! I have "those" days quite often around here. Actually, now that I think about it, "those" days have become the new normal for us. We are a family of eight. This means life is never boring. Ever. We are loud, loving, adventurous, opinionated, and always shooting for optimism. We might miss, but we try.
       The other day, was a day we were really reaching for optimism. It was a day full of messes, moods, and meltdowns. A, "Why do you hate me, God?!" kind of day. I know I can't be the only one who has days of drama like this, so don't judge me. My husband, being the amazing guy he is, told me to go grab the biggest latte I could find (we had a free drink on our account), and while I was out, to grab some pizzas. My love for him grew leaps and bounds that day. So, I loaded up the kids in our giant, green vehicle (Yes, green. It's Starbucks green, so that makes it ok.), ordered the pizzas, and cranked the radio. I pulled up to Starbucks, ordered the biggest latte ever, and then found out the freebie had expired. Nooooooo!!!!! I angrily handed over my cash, and drove on to get the pizzas. The coupon I had for the pizzas wasn't expired, so there was my silver lining for the day. As I was driving home with my pizzas and my million dollar latte, I exhaled loudly, "It's ok. Days like today make me LOVE and APPRECIATE the great ones!" The words hadn't even left my lips, and SPLAT! I hit a bird. I looked over at the kids' faces wondering if they had noticed. Of course they had. I hear, "Mom! You killed a bird!" My response? Laughter. Full on, mad lady, lock her up in the loony bin, laughter! I tried to keep a straight face to console the children, but I couldn't! They stared at me, and finally said, "Well, at least it was only one!" Optimism!!!! And bird guts.
       When we can't seem to change our course, we can change our outlook. Find optimism where it can be found, and seek grace when it seems hidden. Any day is a good day if it doesn't end in murder, right? If all else fails, remember tomorrow is coming. New days, new mercies!

Until next time, Beautiful