Butterfly Wings

Hey Y’all … I missed you this week.  Really, I’ve thought about sharing with you several times but each time I put the brakes on.  I didn’t want to break my Wednesday post schedule….as it’s the ONLY thing I’m consistent with in my life right now….that and brushing my teeth …. well sometimes I slip through the cracks on that one.  

Warning: bullets in use

Preparing for our new life on the road … I’m a teeny bit overwhelmed by all the work that must be done...collecting like items together, taking pictures, and posting them to the garage sale sites—giving—selling—organizing.  However, on a much-needed side note; I must say, I’m wildly displeased with my responses on this Facebook group…..unimpressed!!!
So this gal might try the new Let Go app.  Have you heard of it?  Everything MUST GO!

We leave these corn fields July 28th.  (Colorado for a week, then Vegas for a week, then Oregon for a month…then….hmm…I guess California somewhere, then San Diego for a month, then Phoenix, then Texas and so on all the way down to Florida by February and the northeast by early fall of next year)

A new life is just beginning.

In honor of randomness, today I’d like to bring you to some seemingly structured, intellectual, thought-provoking, life-changing bullet points.  This post looks as if it makes perfectly good sense and reads easily enough.  Paragraphs, sentences (for the most part…sometimes I go a little heavy on the dot dot dot dot dot form of continuing a thought while pauses fill the air….. but that isn’t even a thing, eh? oh back to the sentence I’m in the middle of—thank God for parentheses), punctuation, and even bigger fonts in places.  These tools are meant to serve as a false front.  

Below you actually have a slew of ideas, statements, thoughts;  disconnected and mostly unrelated.  Although at times I allow my bullets to morph into each other….but there are NO guarantees.    A bullet will do what a bullet does....point out the thing that it's so ardently pointing out.  Making sense?

Please excuse this new style of writing….My experimentation takes me to new heights (and even depths from time to time... but hey failure is a part of success, am I right?  Not that this is a failure, by any means, but if it is I’m ok with that.  I’ll own it.  Am I really still typing inside the parentheses?) 

 Let’s move on:  

1. Sometimes a dream may seem impossible…far out of reach….too lofty from a person of your background….too many obstacles in the road.  “I could never” 

2. I’ve never been big on writing things down.  Dreams…goals…ideas….feelings.  Keeping a journal has been a hit or miss kinda thing so when I started this year off I decided to take control of this area of my life.  Maybe I decided, but maybe its more like I just realized I’ve taken control as I’m typing this blog.  Go, Me!  

2. b.   My honey got me a Passion Planner for my birthday and I got started immediately.  I wrote down some goals.  (I haven’t looked at them since….but Hey!)  I wrote down affirmations. Quotes. Scripture verses. Appointments. Thoughts.  Plans.  And I topped it off with colored pencils and markers.  Perhaps even a little glitter and dried flowers pressed between its pages.  

1. b.  All that to say this.  (yes I jumped back up to number 1 and just added a “b"…so what)

My dream is big!  

Bigger than BIG!!!!  

Bigger than I could EVER do on my own!  

2. c.  My hope for you is that you dream bigger than you can imagine.  What are you passionate about?  There’s a reason for it.  What fuels you?   Where would you like to be in 10 years?  Take time to really tune into the answers here.  

3. Now y’all know I’m ALL about living decorated, right.  I mean Good Lord…..it’s the name of my blog for cryin’ out loud.  Queen obvious.  So let me shift gears and share with you one of the million ways I decorate my life ..... by putting God’s will above my own.  To listen quietly and often.  To practice Silence and Solitude.   It isn’t always easy.  In fact it rarely is.  My brain is constantly going…my world (much like yours, I’m sure) is quite noisy.   

4.      To be alone…to silence the noise….

learn to listen.

5. In all honesty, I thought I’d be further along by now.  Seriously.  I mean sooooo many lessons were to be had.  How many of them did I repeat 'cause I didn’t learn it the first time around?  I’ll never be through learning and constantly growing but hopefully I can learn a bit faster as time goes on.  

5. b.   What lessons have you learned lately?  
6. What are you learning right now, as a result of your circumstances and attitude toward them?  My attitude needed some tweaking on Monday.  I’m coming out of it slowly.  Funny thing is, I tell y’all to have a positive attitude and at times that same words need to penetrate my soul and take up residence.  Be positive:)  Yep.

7. Help us start a new life of adventure by supporting our journey.  We would love if you would pray for us as this is the most giant of excursions.  We could also use an RV.  A drivable one.  Know anyone?   Loan or rent or donate???   Another way to support us is follow us on our YouTube Channel, Twitter, Instagram and yes even Facebook.  (But follow my business page because I’m migrating over there rather than my personal page….that just gets the leftovers.)   

Why subscribe?  

Why follow?  

7. b.  Well if the life of adventure isn’t enough for you just think of it as giving us a wink and a prayer as we depart.  And thank you:)

8. Next time…brace yourself... we might have to talk about how peeling the shell off farm fresh eggs and how that relates to life as we live it.  I tell ya, anything is possible and it's actually quite fascinating.
9. Please let me know your story….how you’ve come out of the darkness or maybe you’re going through it as we speak.  Tell your story.  Even bullet points are acceptable in this judgement free zone of love and respect.  
10. Much thanks for letting me pound this out in a unique, non-author-like kinda way....and for letting me share these real-life pictures (see below) that are far from perfect (almost painful to sift through, really).   I'm stepping far outside my comfort zone to share with you the raw truth....removing any pride left and humbly accepting my mess and its process. 
11. oh and one more thing:  please share this with everyone you know 'cause they gotta read the next bullet....it certainly applies to them as well.  Share away and you're welcome.
12. In all honesty: You’re an amazing individual who is the only person ever who can do what you do, think like you think, act like you act, help like you help, and laugh like you laugh.  You're a powerhouse.  So unique and beautiful in your own special "you" kinda way.   Don't just look for the easy way out....look for the underlying lesson attached to this trial or mountain (so to speak).  Stay strong and focused …full of faith (let me take my own medicine here).  

May God bless you with blessings so great you won’t even be able to contain them.  

May you be blessed to be a blessing to others.  

Loving you,

Blu Wyatt

Me.... on a giant dimmer switch

So I read this story today…just now….about a lady who has postpartum depression and wanted to speak out to shed light on Postpartum Depression Awareness Month…(the month of May).  She posted very candid pictures of her good days and her bad days…side by side.  Transparent and vulnerable...love her!

this shot represents how I felt all those years of living
in the dark...in the prison of inexplicable depression

In her story Kathy DiVincenzo says "We need to break the stigma and #EndTheSilence by sharing our stories and letting others know they're not alone.”   Read her compelling story here.   Her talented photographer friend, Danielle Fantis, who took all the pictures, also shared her heart wrenching story.  Read it here. It was her May 3rd post. 

So to Kathy and Danielle I’d like to say…..thank you … so very much with sugar and sprinkles on top for sharing such a moving story and not being ashamed to the point of silence!!!  You inspired me to tell my story.

Soooooo….that leaves us here….you and me…

Before I dive right in to whatever story parts we’re going to discuss in this post you should head over to the blog and read the first depression confessional I posted.  It was my first time EVER stepping out and admitting I had a problem. 

Depression….anxiety….mental illness in general has such a stinky stigma.  So few people ever have the nerve or wherewithal to tell their dark stories.  I have some dark stories my friend.  But it wasn’t like a light switch went off right after I had my first child…it was more like the overhead lighting was on a dimmer switch and it just kept getting darker and darker.  Harder and harder to face life.

a little freak out...no big deal...help!

The rain pours down.  The sky is dark.  The house is quiet.  The kids are at school.  The to-do list is dwindling….that is if you don’t count EVERYTHING I have to do to prepare for this journey ahead.  

I’m curious.  What would you do…if you felt the nudge to leave it all behind and venture into a new realm of the unknown?  Would you take the leap? Would you

Perfectly orchestrated...yet, facing impossibilities

In all honesty, and shockingly so, my life feels pretty. perfectly. orchestrated. at the moment.  Don’t get me wrong there are obstacles.  

Impossible Looking Roadblocks, more like.

However, in all of our imperfect circumstances and stupid insecurities and among all the questioning and doubt, I find myself … grateful in this moment….excited about my future.

Finding ME...embracing the discovery.

In all the striving I find peace.  I find rest in the midst of the motion of life that surrounds me.  This is a shocker to me.  I had no idea I would be in this place.

I’m sure you’ve been there…so busy your head is spinning and you can’t figure out which task to pickup next or why you can’t get 37 things done at the same time.  You know I have this entire house to go through …inch by inch…drawer by drawer…closet by closet.

A Giant Journey...our BIG news

Life is one grand adventure.  Occasionally this adventure seems to take on a life of its own.  When I started traveling in my early 20’s I developed a passion for seeing new places and meeting new people.  The desire for greater adventure and experiences seemed to be coursing through my veins at an exponential speed. I was hooked.

One word for 2017...what's yours?

We’re one month into 2017 already and I’m curious as to what you’re experiencing so far.  If you were to give 2017 ONE word what would it be?  Check out the post from the beginning of the month.  As a refresher: Mine is FREEDOM!  Freedom from insecurities that have had me bound up for most of my life.  Freedom from fear of other people’s opinions of me. Freedom from doubt and unbelief.  Freedom to be the woman God has created me to be. What’s your word?

Words contain so much power.

What are you feeding?

faith or doubt? future or past?

Whatever you starve has no opportunity to grow.  Without food something surely dies.  What are you spending your energy on?  That’s what will grow and flourish.

My past is littered with pain, constant change, failures and on the other hand, major adventures and travel.  As you may already know, I was diagnosed with

a dream for your life...a fresh start.

A new year is approaching.  A chance to begin again.  A fresh start.  Will you set a new year’s resolution?  Will you keep it?  I’m not a huge fan of them, myself.  They’re just something we start and never finish; then laugh about it 6 months later as you pass the fitness center eating a donut from the Tipton Bakery.  Just saying.  

Don’t get my wrong…I believe its

What's hiding in your drawers?

I have a secret candy stash.  I used to call it a chocolate stash until recently when I opened a desk drawer to find lolly pops, skittles, gum and sweet tarts.  Halloween candy remnants.  They’re all over…..the shoe closet, lingerie drawer,  office desk, kitchen cupboards, laundry room and even the garage.

There may be a problem here but I can’t give it a thought now.   

laying it all out there...in the pit.

Outside, the sun is shining.  The first snowfall is melting slowly away.  The boys are at school.  Marc is working.  I’ve spent the morning soaking up Bible verses, reading some of Michael J. Fox’s memoir Lucky Man, and researching further this messy business of bipolar depression disorder.   I hate it.  The label, the symptoms, and even the fact that I’m forced to take medication to keep me “level”.  

Truthfully, I miss the high (or manic). 

I got so much done. 

I was more fun. 

I didn’t need sleep and life was certainly more entertaining.  

They say one of the biggest struggles with bipolar folks is continually taking their meds.  I get that.  I would LOVE to get off but last time I ran out of one of my medications for a few days it sent me into a tailspin of sorts.  So, trust me, I get it.    But I wanna scream!!!  I wanna cry for a day and wake up to a better feeling tomorrow.  Bury my head in the proverbial sand.

I certainly DON’T want to open up and share any of this with a soul.  I want to look and feel good and spread joy and hope all the time.  

   

transition, even death ... then gratitude

Newly designed, created and installed curtains hung in the large picture window in the kitchen…reward for skipping last night’s sleep. But dang, it looks good!

               Laundry and cleaning day, kids, errands, repair something, make phone calls….and on and on and on.  This was my life

Oh yes I am!

Welcome to my thought filled early evening run.

The Run of our Lives

The chilled wind is blowing. The sun is shining brightly.  The ground is still wet from last night’s rain.  Perfect morning for a little run….well, the pace at which I “run” might be better referred to as a light jog but for my world of happy I’ve decided to say I RUN:)   

Yesterday I had an epiphany of sorts while I ran this course.  It reminded me of life.  

"because that's not your story"

Because that’s not your story...

These words reverberate in my brain space as I drive down Main Street contemplating the beautiful yet irritating story unfolding in my neck of the woods.  A story of a local gal, a mutual friend of many friends, who struck it big when one of her blog posts landed her a spot on The Today Show.

the dream from a distance...ANYTHING is possible if you only believe.

HUH?!? 

Yes, you read correctly...The Today Show.  Now that I have your attention

Day 3...continued of my Life Changing Iowa adventure...the farm

And here I am....once again at the farm where I spent as many summers as I did at the stables....cherished memories I’d love to share with my boys.  I need video of my GrandDad and time is running out. 

The battery’s registering under 20%. 

Space on my wee iPhone memory is on warning mode.   

Oh boy!  

sweet little old farmhouse looks a bit consumed by those bushes....I could help with that when I go back:)

I did manage to capture a few videos so I hope you can find time to watch. 

Excuse my....ummmm.....well .....‘I just don’t know what the heck I’m doing’ behavior I seem to easily exhibit, I’m sure I’ll get better at this. 

So much revelation was flooding my heart during this trip and I thought I was articulating my process quite well....that is until I see the videos for the first time since recording them....oh boy!

What a blessed lady I’ve been in my life to experience so many cultures, worlds unbelievable adventures....one of which is having spent my summers on this farm. Going back is so much more meaningful to me now that I have kids of my own.  I want them to experience all the goodness that comes from learning hard work, safety, peace on the farm, freedom and yes, as always, adventure starting with the apple orchard and organic garden.

these unusually soft farm kitties have been following me all over today, which included a short nap in my rental car (them not me:)

Mom actually rented a moving truck to get this back to Texas.  She has memories of riding in the back while the grain poured over her.  Check back for the day 4 post to see the video of her telling the story

I don't remember ever seeing that ladder.  When I talked to my mom she said because it was always behind the hay...we'd start piling it along that back wall.  I would love to preserve this old barn & turn it into something unexpected...I have my ideas:)

GrandDad, as you’ll see here, is a PRO!  He’s a pro story teller who also exudes total freedom in speech and worship, with or without a camera on him.  I look up to this remarkable man of faith and hope to share with my boys some face to face memories they’ll never forget!  And if they do I’ll just replay the video.  You see why I need to go back to Iowa.....so many stories to be told, memories to be had, lessons to be learned.   I need about 73 more videos of him.....get me back up there, is what I say.  

I actually used to drive these big tractors...more for fun than anything:)  I think I was 13 when I learned.  I asked Mom how old she was and she said FIVE!!!!  I hope I caught that story on video...you'll have to come back to Day 4 to see for yourself.

I bet I could re purpose this feeder...whatcha think? The colors are perfectly vintage....and check out my scarf...I coordinate with the farm feeders!

always a good day for a little silliness:)
don't take yourself too seriously, that's my lesson in this picture.


hope you enjoyed the pictures and maybe even made time to see some videos.  I know it's a LOT for one post:)  Hope it's not irritating.


One more thing before you go, assuming you're still here, have you thought about what Living Decorated means to you?  I'd love to hear a bit about what makes you the special you God created so perfectly beautiful.


Love
Diella Wyatt

3 Summer Me's

I’m about to embark on a journey.  A journey northward to farm country.....Tipton, Iowa to be exact.

While leaving one of my famous 5 minute messages for my cousin, Aubrey I had a realization.  I have 3 me’s when I’m back in Iowa.  In order to understand the 3 me’s let me start by saying I spent my summers in Iowa for most of my childhood, if not all.  Who can remember all the little detailsJ

So my summers were split between 3 places:

1.  At the farm: my mom's parents raised cows, pigs, grew corn & hay and about every other fruit or veggie imaginable.  This was a place my sister I spent hours and days running through pastures, climbing, driving tractors, helping bail hay, work the corn fields and muck through the huge mama pigs pen.

2.  in town: my dad’s parents had a cute white house just blocks from the city park & pool so this was a really fun place as a little girl.  We could walk just about anywhere in a matter of minutes. I spent teenage summers rollerblading, riding bikes, adventuring, sneaking out (let's not talk about that) and even midnight running in the rain with my girlfriend Julie.

My cousin Melissa leading me around at the stables before I could walk perhaps

3.  at the stables: my dad’s uncle had a gorgeous

locked out...how we got back in...the miracle story!

What a night!!!!  You wouldn’t believe what happened....so I’d better tell ya before I forget the details and move onto the next exciting adventure.  We returned home from a visit with friends in far north Austin around 7:30pm.  I delayed the inevitable long enough it was time to go to work.  I headed out for the salon I’m currently redesigning around 10pm knowing I had a long night ahead of me....hanging shelves and painting.

after phase 3 of the salon transformation...more than halfway there....stay tuned for more pictures please lovely.

As you may already know I hate making several

Weekend bliss joyfully welcomes my Monday reality

You ask "what does BCBG have to do with anything?" you'll find out

Can this new reality paint a completely different picture than last weeks’? 
The answer is yes!!!!

The showcase of my weekend’s adventures, tears, laughter, videos and the making of new friendships is finally in.  

Like a urgent news flash except NOT....because this flash of fun through photos brings JOY!!!!

Let’s highlight a glimpse then we’ll travel in order of events: