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.
the smell is making its way up the stairs to my bedroom. Tonight's big family BBQ looks like it could get rained out but I'm holding out hope and making pie in faith.
I set the kitchen timer for 10 minutes. This represents the LAST 10 minutes of freedom ....for ....about .....15 months. I will then pickup my boys from the "bus stop" ... you gotta see the video to experience our bus stopfarm style ....
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
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.
I'm getting way thrilled, to say the least, about this wild journey ahead we've fittingly coined "The long way home" (seems to be the best way to describe it as we'll be finding our next home somewhere along the way.) Read here. Or watch the YouTube video here.
planting, watering and growing...in this life...all around...now begins the adventure
(I wrote this a few days ago while nearing the end of our little Texas Spring Break adventure…read on.)
Talk about a long way home....Last Thursday evening about 5pm...after a brief discussion of what we'd do on our upcoming Spring Break we decided to load up the Land Rover and set our sails for Texas (16 hours away) to visit family and friends. Within literally 2 hours of packing we were on our way.
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.
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?
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
I have been blessed with several beautiful women in my life. I mean LOADS! So I thought I’d feature one today. Since I have no idea if she’ll like the thought of me writing a blog about her I’ve decided until she approves I will change her name for the purpose of my story.
So this friend “Lola” has inspired me multiple times since the beginning of our friendship. I feel like I missed out on a huge opportunity during the short time we were neighbors. You see I think she was supposed to be my design mentor for a season yet somehow I managed to avoid
Life is good! I mean really GOOD! But, on the other hand, it can get pretty ugly. Did you realize our thoughts have a major impact on the direction and quality of our lives. Dr. Caroline Leaf has found that "75% to 95% of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life. What we think about affects us physically and emotionally." Twenty Seven times, yesterday alone, I found myself wrestling with negative, self-doubting thoughts. I'm a mess. I'm all over the place. What am I even doing with my life? We've all been there, right?
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.
I’m looking into this year with great expectancy and anticipation. More so than any other year in my life. In this moment of clarity, bravery is my close companion. Will there be days ahead of insecurities or doubt? Most likely, but I will face those days with patience and prayer…and a sound mind. I want to live in each moment fully and optimistically; purposefully making lasting memories. I wish to decorate each chapter as best I can using what God has graciously and abundantly gifted me. In doing so I believe some good people will be encouraged to see the beauty in everyday simplicities and ultimately learn to Live Decorated in their own special way. We’re all on this planet for a purpose and each of us should utilize our gifts to lift each other up and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
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
When's the last time you had a really bad day? A
day where you go back in your mind to that Calgon commercial ....sing it with me ladies.....”Calgon, take me
away!”
Ahhh, you remember.
That was my day; take me AWAY!
I try never to tell you (or
my other friends Twitter, Instagram or even Facebook) when I’m having a
struggle with something because I don’t want to speak negatively. No one likes to read your junk as they’re
scrolling....people want to be encouraged...uplifted....not read your (or my)
drama. So I keep it to myself, my husband and my sweet
children.
I just miss you....I have so many stories I want to tell. Like how Marc and I ran across this rockin' bakery today in Oakhill (Austin, TX to my friends from around the globe) called Sweet Treets.
elegant, refined, delicate, fanciful yummy to the tummy ART is what we have here
click through to read entire post and see loads of pictures...
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.
Ok so we're only on day 3 of
the 5 day adventure composition set in the rural mid-west (at least I think
Iowa is mid-west....I just wanted to use words other than corn, farm
& small town) you get the idea though because you, my friends, are smart
cookies (we balance each other quite well).
Oh boy, have I sure missed YOU!?! Life hasn’t slowed down & certainly if I’m
to once again Live Decorated I’ll have to make some serious adjustments....mainly
to FINALLY get moved out of this house.
Tomorrow will be ONE full week since Operation Adorable Small Town
MoveIn began.
Friday morning.
Life is good! I mean really GOOD! But, on the other hand, it can get pretty ugly. Did you realize our thoughts have a major impact on the direction and quality of our lives. Dr. Caroline Leaf has found that "75% to 95% of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life. What we think about affects us physically and emotionally."
