finally.....our first destination :: Las Vegas

Since this journey began I find myself sad ....a little sad that a few of my closest friends never experience my world ... because they're social recluses.  No offense, you friend out there with No FB, Instagram, Twitter, or even Pinterest account....for the love.....get with ONE of them for the sake of all my sanity.  Heck, make up a fake name....use a picture of bananas as your profile...just make it happen.

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

My LAST 10 minutes!!!

Friday morning.

homemade apple pie. 

in the oven.

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 stop farm style ....

This marks the end of my transition period.

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.

The Purging Process of the Journey

Have you ever experienced one of those team building exercises where you have to fall straight back and trust that someone will be there to catch you?  This is about how life feels right now.

I feel like ... I'm falling.  Trusting.  Expecting.  

This journey "The Long Way Home" is completely changing me already

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.

New Year New Me....time for new you too

Coming home on the red eye flight from Cali

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

Life Changing Trip to Iowa: Day 3 (finally) Sunday

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).

In case you're just joining us....start here if you want the story in order....or here if you want to go for the Iowa back story:P

Sunday: I knew I was going to

The Great Iowa Adventure: Day 2: Part 3 winding down....or so you thought

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.  

isn't this precious????

 Below are 2 videos of the getting

Life Changing Iowa Adventure: Day 2: Part 2: from a 5K to the wedding

Still with me?  If you have no idea we were in the middle of an adventure head back to 3 Summer Me's and catch up...then you'll be ready for what's in store.

My journey to Iowa was nothing short of life changing.  After the 5K and our community 5K breakfast I made a run to Walmart (the only store in this tiny town) for some panties.   In my mind's eye, supported by the fact that I don't have a watch, I figured there was plenty of time before the wedding so I took a farm road adventure in my little Fiat.  I've always loved back roads and since I learned to drive here I knew them pretty well.

I just love old barns.  It makes me sad when they're in this condition but it takes a lot of work to maintain a farm

As I stopped in front of this barn for a little

Life changing Day 2: Part 1: Iowa cold can't stop the 5K miracle

Day 2:  
8:15 AM:

Aubrey wakes me up....HELLO....the 5K starts in 45 minutes!!!  Are you serious!???  

I had planned on having at least an hour in prayer to prepare myself for this ridiculous challenge.  Why did I sign up for this thing again?

My look today: pig tails,  yoga pants, leg warmers (I bought 3 years ago and just opened the package) and a cute swimmers shirt and jacket I borrowed from Aubrey.  Despite the freezing Iowa wind I was sweating bullets.

Kneeling at the foot of the bed crying out (in a whisper) to Jesus for grace to do this thing...He gave me the scripture "you will rise up on wings like eagles, you will run and not grow weary and you will walk and not faint"  (wish I knew the verse to share with you).  Ok, that’s a good one God, thanks.

PEACE

I looked in the mirror before heading downstairs: lo and behold.....I LOOK LIKE A RUNNER!  No, really, if I didn't know myself I'd say I was a runner.  But I Do know me and I couldn’t be further from it.  

Walking down the stairs of my Grandma Barb's house that morning for the zillionth time in my life I had peace....a strange peace that I had to fight for in the midst of great fear.  As soon as everyone saw me the chuckles commenced.  Huh, why is everyone laughing....

Life Changing Iowa Adventures: Travel Day Friday

5:30 start to this wild ride adventure:
Well I made it on the plane after a little oopsie with my full water bottle....duh!  Had to leave and walk all the way back to the front guzzling my water all the way.  Then back through security once again....no biggie, everyone was wonderful to me.  Go American Airlines!!!

huge vintage suitcase art in the San Antonio airport

The flight over I sat next to

My Life Changing Iowa Adventures: Start Here

This one’s a bit deep....ya think you can handle it?  Here’s the heart probing question of the day:

Have you ever found yourself in a pile on the floor asking God to change you?  To forgive you?  To make something of your life so you won't be such a MESS?  

Last Tuesday I had this moment.  My boys were just down for a nap and every part of my being wanted to crawl into bed to crash!  The weekend before was terrible!  I was sick to my stomach, I missed T's soccer game and lay in bed all day Saturday.  With NO energy I muddled through the busiest Sunday we had had in months.   Monday I was lifeless!

I was at my end.

(I think maybe we have to come to the end of ourselves to run with our whole being into the arms of our loving Father, repent and surrender our entire world to Him because He cares for us.  I think 1 Peter 5:7 says it all for me right now)

Back to that afternoon: I want sleep!  Something, disgust I think, rose up in me.  I made my way to the living room, grabbed my Bible and even though not one ounce of me felt like it I dropped to my knees.   I cried out to Creator God:  “I can’t go on like this anymore: God I give you ALL of me...please use me for something great!”  

That afternoon on my living room floor something happened. 

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

FULLY charged with PHOTOS to share

On my way to bed trying to process everything I experienced in the past 4 days at The Sound Worship Conference in Dallas I’ve decided to give you the story in picture form until I can filter through what to share & what bits need to stay private...you know I tend to be an over-sharer (I'm sure that phrase exists...if only for me).    

I know in the next few days or weeks some special words will come