Sneek Peek....

                    

I am in love with the March wax warmer! Seriously!  A sweet, vintage garden gnome. He's available during the month of March ONLY (starting tomorrow:)  perfect for any spring time gifts you may need...think upcoming wedding showers, Mother's Day, birthdays; and, don't forget maybe a special treat for yourself;) 

All new spring/summer line comes out tomorrow (March 1) as well. New warmers and lots of lovely new scents to brighten up your home. 

www.cowboyandmoonbeam.scentsy.com

Happy....

I'm not gonna lie....the silliest things make me happy and content. My family, of course. Then things like this....

   

   

 

 

The New "Date Night" Phenomenon.....

Get ready for a little rant today.... go ahead, get your beverage of choice, your glasses, curl up in your favorite spot, and be ready to shake your head, thinking " there she goes again" ;)

Craig and I are at that  "caught in the middle" age, I guess.  We are old enough to be enjoying the fruits of our hard work from our entire lives, yet we are still raising our daughters and starting to realize our responsibilities toward are parents as they continue to age.  We've been together nearly three decades... longer than we weren't together.  We've seen tough times and amazing times.  We've ridden the ebb and flow of marriage and a lifelong  relationship.... and admittedly, Craig has put up with a lot from me, as I know I'm no picnic to live with at times.  We've managed to maneuver our way through our pasts, our birth-order traits (he as the oldest, me as an only), and we've even kept our sanity as two introverted personalities with very creative "right brained" wiring, all while raising very creative "right brained" daughters (code for messy and emotional;).  We come from an era where our grandparents were very involved and influential in our daily lives, as well as our parents, and we were taught the value of hard work ~ both in relationships and in life in general.  We are of the bent that it's better to fix things, in most cases, than to throw them out.... while living in a very disposable society.

Why am I going down this path, and what does it have to do with "date night"?  Well because, like most everything in today's world, marriage and relationships have become nothing more than a Pinterest Board, and I find that within our christian communities, it is only being fostered.  I have my radios set to a christian radio station most of the time (although the girls might argue that it's set to talk radio;), and it's begun to grate on my nerves that EVERY break they take from music, they are promoting "date night".  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely believe that married couples need to prioritize their relationship to keep it strong.... but this popular "date night" mentality is nothing more than a living pinterest board and it's a dangerous path to go down.  Think about it... this mentality has taken something very normal and needed and created a need for it to be PERFECT and blown out of proportion.

There is nothing wrong with planning something special for your spouse.  I tried to plan something special for Craig for our anniversary, he planned an amazing surprise for my birthday.  But it's normal protocol around here for me to look at him after a long day and say, "Can we go get a bite to eat tonight?  Just you and I?  It's been a long day and I need a break with you."  Then he's whisks me off to dinner as the girls eat something I've left for them at home.  See.... We are accomplishing exactly what "date night" is suppose to accomplish without making it into some big hoopla that only adds extra stress (and in many cases, financial stress).  In just getting away for an hour or two, just Craig and I, we are 1- reconnecting as a couple, 2- finding comfort and security within our relationship, 3- prioritizing our marriage, 4- not adding the pressure of high expectations that normally apply to "Date Night... pinterest style".  It's normal.  It's fun.  We laugh, talk, vent, dream.... uninterrupted.  And, most importantly.... IT'S REAL and WE ARE REAL.

This whole date night phenomenon is in place to sell books and seminars.  Yep.... every single time it's mentioned on the radio, it's followed by an add for a marriage retreat.  Now, don't get me wrong... it's a great retreat.  We actually attended several years ago and had a great time reconnecting.  But here's the deal.... we come from a generation that doesn't think everything has to have a selfie and hashtag attached to it.  A generation that values real relationships and desires to invest ourselves into them... invest ourselves into each other.  The danger with turning life into a Pinterest Board is that when it's not pinterest perfect, it's viewed as not valuable, not worthy of saving...just delete and start over.  That isn't life, at least it's not a sustaining life.

Marriage isn't scripted by Hallmark.  It's not meant to be on Pinterest.  Everything in life doesn't have to be a big deal.  STOP MAKING IT SUCH A BIG DEAL.  What I've seen happen is that over the past dozen years or so, Date Night has become one more thing to check off the list, and consequently, if it's not pinterest perfect, it causes stress and guilt... that's not what it's suppose to accomplish.  The goal is to help spouses reconnect and grow closer during the craziness and chaos of raising a family.  Making it into such a big deal, an organized activity that must occur once a month minimum, tends to create fallout when things don't go as planned.  Not to mention, there are families like ours, who just didn't have the option of a regular date night.  Parents with special needs kids who don't have a support system around them, can't just up and plan a special occasion with each other on a monthly basis.  When others don't understand this, and they, in a well-meaning way, preach the importance of "date night", it does nothing but add an extra burden on that family, as well as a sense of guilt and failure because they can't do what is the popular teaching of the day.

May I suggest we all just get back to going out to dinner with your spouse.  Enjoy and cherish that one on one time together without worrying about the mess you'll come back to when you return home after dinner.  After all, how many of us ever remember our parents or grandparents going out on "date night"?  What we do remember is that they set aside time to spend together.  Maybe it was going to dinner then to do the weekly grocery shopping together.  Maybe it was a lemonade break while they were doing the yard work together.  I personally remember my parents going on walks after dinner.  Yes, I absolutely agree that married couples must prioritize their relationship and make sure to strengthen it, especially when they still have children at home.  But seriously, date night, as it's presented now-a-days (not only in society but within our churches as well) doesn't strengthen a relationship.  It only serves to make for good instagram posts and puts a ton of pressure on everyone to "get it right" or feelings get hurt, angry words are said, relationships are cracked.  Personally, I find that simple everyday things build our marriage.  Craig taking me to dinner after a hard day, me trying to make his favorite meal so he knows his likes and dislikes are important to me.  Taking a walk on a nice evening.  Curling up with pan popped popcorn to watch a movie together (only to fall asleep within the first half;).  Building each other up rather than saying things in anger that only serve to tear each other down.  It's the impromptu that makes me feel loved and cherished more than the planned.

It's the little, daily things that build love and relationship.  After all, we can delegate the planning of everything, even date night, to event planners... but the little. daily things there's just no delegating... we have to sacrifice ourselves to show our spouse (or anyone important to us) we love them and that they are important to us.  Stop making your marriage into a pinterest board.... just something to think about  ;)

I'm Dreaming Of A Primitive Christmas...

              

As y'all know, I've declared this my year of quilting, and I'm having a GREAT time getting back to it after so many years of unintentional hiatus. I opted to join a block of the month club to make a sweet Christmas wallhanging. Using mostly wool along with a bit of velvet, it has an unusual primitive yet somewhat shabby chic feel to it. There are 9 applique blocks that spell out "CHRISTMAS" when it's all complete. This weekend, I made the first one. Completely appliqués by hand with a blanket stitch. So much fun!!!  I can't wait for the next block to arrive in my mailbox the middle of next month!  I think I may actually be able to stay on top of this and get it finished on time, for once 😉. 

               

   

 

 

 

The Seekers (Amish Cooking Series)

           

True to form, I could barely take a break from this book. I absolutely LOVE Wanda Brunstetter's stories. She has a way of almost taking you by the hand and walking you thru, introducing you to each character along the way, and allowing you to almost form a friendship with them. This book was no different...and since it's the first in her new trilogy, I'm so excited to foster these literary friendships with such sweet characters, whose lives always end up connecting in the most surprising ways.  

My copy hasn't arrived from Barbour Publishing yet, but I couldn't wait any longer so I picked one up at Sam's Club last night. After a quick Friday night dinner of pizza, I curled up on the sofa in my office, under a quilt Mamo made in her youth, with Annie dog asleep on my feet. I then spent the next several hours reading....by the time it reached midnight, I was well into my delusion of "only one more chapter then I'll go to bed".  Right!  It was close to 2am before I headed off upstairs to sleep. After taking Mom to work this morning, I sent Craig a text and told him I was going to grab something to drink and read a bit further.  By noon I'll admit I was starting to feel a bit guilty about being so indulgent so I got Drive thru for the family for lunch and headed home...only to curl right back up on my sofa and finish this sweet story. 

Closing the cover at the end was almost like shutting my front door after friends had come to visit. Bittersweet...I didn't want it to end, but now I might be able to focus on getting some much-needed chores done around this house;)

 

Thru the Looking Glass...

                

What a glorious start to the weekend!  Seriously....the yuckies are beginning to lift around here and everyone is on the mend. The weather is AMAZING!  I'm curled up on the sofa, under a quilt my grandma made, annie dog laying on my feet, windows open and a beautiful spring-like breeze coming in taking all the stuffiness out of this house. Keep in mind....it's February, IN NEBRASKA....we normally have a blizzard about right now. I am loving it around here today:)

I am blessed to be apart of a book club with my very favorite author, Wanda Brunstetter. She has a new trilogy in the works and the first book in it was released on my birthday :)  Wanda's stories have a way of pulling you in and making you feel right at home "living" within the pages of her books. She so effortlessly spins details that help you feel you're actually friends with the characters she writes about, and she paints vivid pictures thru her words, allowing you to see each one of those details. There are times I start laughing so hard, I'll actually snort (gasp), then I'll start reading aloud to my family but can't get the words out because I'll still be laughing so hard. A chapter or two later might find me with tears slipping down my cheeks. Wanda is just one of those very special authors that can capture your heart with every story she pens, leaving you wanting more when the last page is finally read. Well, this weekend I've set aside to read "The Seekers", as uninterrupted as possible (around here anyway;). I'm sure I'll be up all night tonight, telling myself "just one more chapter"....yeah, we all have our little delusions;). Truth is, when I start her books, I never put them down till I'm finished. There's a bonus with this new book: you see, the setting is an Amish cooking class, so you know what that means:) Yup!  Amish recipes from the story are included in the back. YUMMY!!! I may have to try them out and see what everyone thinks :)

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Time To Freshen Things Up Around Home...

       

I don't know about all of you, but by this time of the year our home needs to air out. The sun is beginning to shine, the breeze is refreshing, and I want the inside of our home to smell and sparkle as much as the outside. With my family, "sparkling home" isn't a reality, we are just too creative to not be messy. However, I can make it smell fresh and wonderful :)

I signed up to be a scentsy lady this winter, in anticipation of this time of year. You won't find me "peddling" it but I will share the adorable warmers and yummy scents in case y'all need a fresh take in your home too. I love scentsy because it's a safe alternative to the paraffin and chemical laden wax melts found in the stores. The scents are amazing and they last for days. So, if the mood strikes and you are feeling like you need a non-fattening pick-me-up, please check out my scentsy website and take a look around. www.cowboyandmoonbeam.scentsy.us

                     

This seriously will never stop making me laugh😂😂😂. The run close like this at least half the time. Who knew!  Apparently sisters who dexcom together, stick together😂😂😂

 

Homeschool and Sick Days.....

Y'all have heard me sing the praises about the flexibility that homeschooling naturally allows our family and just how much I LOVE IT.  Never is it more of a blessing than times when one or more of us, especially me, is sick.  We don't have to just totally miss out on learning because we aren't feeling good; rather, we are able to adjust.

As y'all know, just about the entire family has some sort of crud at the moment.... strep, tonsillitis, bronchitis, old fashioned cold, etc.  What this means for our days is that none of us are totally upright and "with it" at the same time.  Maybe Hannah is napping after taking her medicine and Gracie is doing a reading lesson.  Or Hannah is doing math while Gracie is combating high blood sugar due to her illness and antibiotic so she's watching a video lesson.  OR..... mom has hit her wall, taken her medicine and needs a 30 minute nap before she can listen to anyone read to her or even begin to get her head in the game to help with math.

It's at times like these that I enjoy youtube and seeking out interesting things for the girls to watch and learn something new.  We are a HUGE history family..... it's our favorite subject and it's a lifelong passion (well, except for Sarah... it's her least favorite subject EVER).  We love learning the little tidbits and details, the personal stories, that make historical facts REAL.  Today I decided to have the girls learn about the Quilts of the Underground Railroad, and I found that Eleanor Burns series is actually on Youtube.  I love her teaching style!  While it's geared toward quilters and recreating the quilts from the underground railroad, she tells the personal stories of runaway slaves and those who helped them along the way.  She teaches the patterns and what they meant, right along with the possible variations that would've given extra details.  She is a very engaging teacher, not only for quilters, but for anyone interested in the history of these quilts.

We will spend the rest of the week watching this series, as we are all moving pretty slow at the moment and we tire out quickly (We are all improving each day though, thank the Lord!).  I also have the book and plan to make an Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt from it in the near future.  It's a testament to the rich history of our great nation and the people who've gone before us.  They were steadfast and strong and it's up to us to show them and their lives honor and respect.  I'm secretly hoping that Hannah and Gracie will love this as much as I do and want to make their own quilts alongside of me  to remember this particular part of our American History ;)

Valentine's Day In The Schroeder Sick Ward...

                   

Craig is the last man standing around our home, and thankfully he is off the road for the next couple weeks. Just like clockwork, even with all the precautions we've taken, our home has been struck with the yuckies. It started with strep throat with Hannah, who graciously shared it with Gracie several days later. Sarah is hanging tough with an old fashioned cold. Dawn came down most likely with that lovely strep the girls so lovingly shared, which promptly started to travel down to her lungs and turn into bronchitis. Finally today, Tess was diagnosed with tonsillitis. Antibiotics all around🤒. 

Being Valentine's Day, none of us really feel like doing much more than curling up and coughing the night away as opposed to dancing it away. Craig is as awesome as ever tho...he is picking up take out as I type and we will enjoy dinner and a movie at home😍

I heard this song earlier on the radio and thought it was rather appropriate for the day. Love isn't a feeling, it's an action. It's not just words and roses, it's putting those you love ahead of yourself, no matter how you feel or what kind of day you're having. Craig is a true servant leader in our home. There's absolutely nothing he wouldn't do for any of us no matter the personal sacrifice it means to him. He proves his love everyday, even when we are all feeling crappy and grumpy. We are so blessed to call him ours ❤❤❤

https://youtu.be/lY0cdhDbmt0

Enjoy!  

See? I Told Ya so;)

                               

                                         

We have driven my mom crazy, quite literally FOREVER, because the girls and I are always barefoot. We only wear shoes when we HAVE TO. Like, you know, when we are actually going into the store or restaurant as opposed to drive-thru;). Don't get me wrong...we love to buy shoes and there's proof of that scattered all throughout our home...we are females, after all;).

Several years ago I ran across scientific proof that going barefoot is healthy and presented it to my mom. She just shook her head and I'm sure thought I was making it all up...but seriously, there really are health benefits from going barefoot :)  I love that there is now a name given to this along with a true definition....it equals validation for us "barefooters". 

See Mom, told ya I wasn't kidding. It really is SCIENCE:)

Midlife and Milestones

Well, I finished my annual rotation around the moon and the universe graciously plopped me right back down where I love to stay... right at 36;)  Craig has now started referring to me as "Moonbeam, his Genesis 1 wife" :)  That's why I love that man!  He lets me sit right where I enjoy staying, even if I choose to do so forever ;)  In all honesty, I really don't mind turning 50.... my entire childhood, my parents were told by all the doctors that I most likely wouldn't live to see this age because of the severity of my asthma and all the damage to my lungs, not to mention all the damage that a lifetime of prednisone will cause.  But, being a classic redhead, and not liking to be told what I will and won't do... I set out to prove them all wrong :)

I'm not a big one to enjoy much fuss over birthdays, but this year was a milestone, so, a little fuss was in order.  I had spent a few weeks trying to figure out what I wanted to do to celebrate.  We tossed all sorts of ideas around.  We thought about a trip somewhere, Craig offered a quilting retreat at Missouri Star Quilt Co....then I realized what I really wanted; the ability to have my own personal quilt retreat anytime I wanted...at home:)

Unfortunately Craig had to be in Colorado over my birthday, but the girls worked hard to make my day special.  There was a lot of whispering and secret texting going on around here.  Anytime I'd ask "what, where, who, why" I'd be reminded that it was too close to my birthday for me to be asking such questions.  By Monday, I got news I didn't want....Craig's schedule was mixed up and instead of coming home late on my birthday like he'd planned, he wasn't going to be getting home for another couple of days.  UGH!  Well, the girls kicked things up to compensate.

The morning started out with brunch with my mom and the girls (sadly, Tess was working).  Then a little shopping...nothing special, just some girl time and a few necessities.  A quiet afternoon at home, then the girls told me that I had a mystery date picking me up around 5:30.  Gotta be honest here, I was really hoping it was Craig, but they assured me it was NOT their dad.  Shortly after 6 one of my dearest friends came to whisk my off to dinner.  What a treat!  Julie and I never have enough time to get together and visit as often as we'd like so this was a wonderful gift!  She took me to my favorite restaurant, and we chatted over chips and salsa and amazing mexican food.  After a couple hours, Tess joined us.  I was confused at first but she quickly informed me that she was there to take me off of Julie's hands:)  We visited for a bit longer then Tess and I headed off to coffee.  It quickly became apparent that I wasn't allowed to go home and she was keeping me out until she got the all clear.  That's ok because I was having a great time with my oldest daughter and enjoying some rare 1 on 1 time together.  Shortly before 10:30 we were finally able to go home.  Sarah, Gracie and Hannah had worked hard on birthday surprises.  They decorated the house with balloons and chocolate kisses, had a cake made with patchwork quilts in each corned, and even went shopping for some gifts.

We were having fun giggling and opening gifts when the doorbell rang.....let's just stop right here.  I don't care how old I am or how many rotations around the moon I've made, I've never outgrown my fear of the dark and I still believe in the boogey man.  There was NO WAY I was opening that door after 11pm.  Being the quick thinker she is, Tess convinced me that Logan had just texted her and it was him at the door.  I hesitantly went to the door and opened it..... nobody was there.  I mean, I looked and looked (without opening the storm door) and there was nobody there.  (note to self....remember to get lightbulbs for the porch light;)  I cracked the storm door open to look when I hear " HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"  ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!  I jumped out of my skin and back into the foyer!  My heart was pounding and I was nearly in tears.  My poor husband busted his behind to get home ON my birthday to surprise me!  It was the best surprise EVER, wrapped in my biggest nightmare :)  We will laugh about this for decades to come, I'm sure!  My Birthday was complete... or so I thought.....

The next morning we woke to just a little snow and Craig told me he had cleared his day for us to go up to Omaha to tour Accuquilt.  Remember how I said I'd finally figured out what I wanted for my birthday?  I requested a cutting system to make quilting easier and faster :)  Problem was, I was struggling to figure out which one I wanted.  By going to their headquarters, I'd be able to see them all and even try them.  We enjoyed lunch at Cracker Barrel and were warmly welcomed when we stepped into the front door of Accuquilt.  Their offices are beautiful!  Quilts hanging everywhere.  Happy sigh.  Pam, our tour guide, shared the story of how Accuquilt came to be then showed us into their Quilt showcase.  A lovely room built to showcase a different quilt artist's work each month.  Each quilt on display was made using their cutting system and it was so inspiring.  From there we went into their Dream Studio.  WOW!  It was like Disneyland for quilters;)  This company makes this room available for all their employees to enjoy creating in.  They have the use of all the accuquilt cutting machines and every die made.  Drool!  I got to try the different machines and was so impressed with the fact that they easily and quickly cut up to 6 layers of fabric in a single pass.  After that we marveled at the efficiency of their warehouse.  We ended our tour back in the office, meeting the owner and CEO of the company.  Very nice gentlemen who graciously came over to introduce themselves and welcome us. They even gave me a birthday card!  WOW!  Everyone there was so nice, wishing me happy birthday all the way throughout our tour.  They handed me a "happy birthday" sign and we all took a picture under their logo :)  That's when they told me about what my wonderful husband had pulled off for me and left me speechless, which if you know me well you know that is a rarity;)

I came to find out that Craig had taken things into his own hands while I was struggling to decide what I wanted to choose for my gift.  He called them the day before, after hours, and was so persistent with their automated system that Pam had, on a fluke, answered his call.  He had explained to her that it was my milestone birthday and he wanted to order my gift so that I could actually take it home and start playing instead of waiting for it to arrive in several days.  I looked over to a large rolling shelving unit full of boxes as Pam was saying they were ALL MINE.  WHAT?????  NO WAY!!!!  They were all so tickled to be a part of this surprise that they even gave me extra gifts beyond what Craig ordered.  I seriously felt like Queen For The Day!  We loaded the back of the sequoia and headed home.  My amazing husband had gotten my my dream kit.... every foundation set so that I can make any quilt block my heart desires in 4 different sizes, along with an appliqué set.  He also splurged even more and got me the electric cutter, knowing that with my fibromyalgia it can sometimes be painful to stand and cut quilt pieces out and cranking a hand crank machine would cause me pain in my shoulder and elbow on those days.  Accuquilt gifted me with extra cutting mats, rotary cutters, rulers, a book, extra dies, and they even gave me a GO! Baby to take along to any classes or retreats I may go to.  Seriously...I was blown away by it all.  Within an hour of getting home and unpacking everything, I made my first block for Craig.  We will frame it as a reminder of this amazing day :)  It's a windmill block and the colors remind him of our farm life together.

So, if anyone is wondering what I plan to do with the second half of my life..... Quilt!  I plan to enjoy quilting as much as I possibly can :)

As you can tell, my sweet family treated me very well as I celebrated this milestone.  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday :)

Time Warp...

I'm working on my first quilt for 2017, and as I'm sitting at my worktable piecing 32 of the biggest pain in the backside blocks you've ever seen (they're not difficult, I'm just really OCD about my points and these particular blocks are ALL ABOUT POINTS), I'm listening to the Sunday evening news shows in the background.  My mind is on a dear friend who's husband is suffering some medical issues and they aren't sure what is going on.  I'm praying over them.  I'm pinning these points, sewing the seams, and pressing everything just so.  And, all the while my mind starts to wander as it's prone to do....

I was born in the 1960s, grew up in the 1970s, graduated and got married in the 1980s, and started having children in the 1990's.  I was blessed to grow up under the watchful eye of two grandmothers, right along with my parents and aunts and uncles.  My cousins were some of my best friends.  I grew up at a time in when childhood was an adventure and we learned respect right along with independence and work ethic.  Why am I recounting all this?  Because I'm heartbroken that my children and grandchildren will never know the kind of life I knew.  Am I surprised by how the world has spun out of control?  Nope.... because I witnessed it as it was happening.  I watched what the "women's lib" movement did as it was doing it.  And while my opinion may surprise and tick off many, I stand by it..... the sexual revolution of the 1960's and the women's lib movement of the 1970s and 1980s are what has driven us to where we are today.

Today we are a country in turmoil.  There are fewer intact "traditional" families than not and kids have no real guard rails like we use to.  Sorry, but being a helicopter parent does not equate to guard rails because it does not teach kids how to grow up and deal with success and failure; it can't when the kids are not given any opportunity to fail therefore they don't know what success really is.  Mom's started entering the workforce in the 1940s because there was such a need for workers during WWII and then didn't want to go back to "just being a housewife" when the men came back.  The 1950s fostered the "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality and by the 1960s it was becoming more common to see married women holding down a job outside of the home.  What was the collateral damage for this societal upheaval?  Children were now left to their own devices while both parents were at work. Remember the term "latchkey kids"?  It wasn't a positive label.  We saw families eating around the dinner table less and less, and eating fast food more and more.  Cable TV came about and became the babysitter rather than generations interacting with each other, face to face.  It became more important to have the right labels on everything in your life than in having the right relationships.  It wasn't long before families began to fall apart at a quicker pace and we were told that kids are resilient and will be just fine no matter what choices their parents make.

When I was young, I heard a few couples say they were staying together "for the kids", it was expected that families stayed together unless it was dangerous for them to do so.  It wasn't just about being "happy" it was about sticking together through the good times and the bad.  We kids witnessed all that and took it all in, both the good and the bad.  We learned to "suck it up, buttercup" rather than to throw in the towel when things in life got tough.  We learned to put others before ourselves.  But, along with the introduction of Cable TV, came MTV, VH1, and talk shows like Oprah, Donohue, and yes eventually Geraldo and Jerry Springer.  These did not strengthen the family, rather they were the beginning of the deterioration of the family.  The message was "it's all about me" and that message came across loud and clear.

Fast forward to 2017...We now live in a time in our history where our own country is so incredibly divided because people don't know what to do with their feelings.  Yes, you read that right... it's not really about the big issues we face (and yes there are MANY HUGE ISSUES we face as a country and a society); our country is divided because we as a people no longer know how to handle differences in opinion.  Most people focus on the millennial generation, but forget to ask themselves why that generation is so volatile.  Well, for starters, it's pretty hard for them to know how to handle their feelings when they never saw the older people in their lives handling their own feelings in positive ways.  They witnessed anger or ambivalence; and they were never allowed to be bored, therefore they never had time to think about their own feelings racing through their soul.  When you keep children constantly busy and orchestrate or schedule every moment of their childhood, you aren't equipping them to handle their emotions let alone any problems or issues that arise in their life.  We've tried to neutralize everyone and everything, rather than celebrating and taking comfort and pleasure in our differences.  (OK, side note here.... this is actually what got me off on this rabbit trail to begin with.  I'm so tired of "the women's movement" and the message it pounds into us.  Women are not created to be the same as men; we are created to be their opposite.  Our strengths are their weaknesses and vice-versa.  If the women's movement was truly about feminism, it would celebrate our differences and help us find strength within them rather than telling us all that we are to be the same as men.  Neutrality is not feminism and I'm tired of hearing women say "I can take you on, do better than you, am smarter than you, etc." when talking to men.  I'm also sick and tired of them trying to tell my daughters and myself that they are fighting for "equal rights".  NEWS FLASH!  We have the same exact rights as men... stop lying about it.  If they want to say they are fighting against a wage gap, or even a gender gap within the working world, fine with me.... BUT STOP CLAIMING TO BE FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE THEM.  I have freedom of speech - hello, I'm using it now.  I have the right to vote and used it just a couple of months ago.  I have the right to bear arms... yup, something I also exercise.  I have the right to my own religion and that is not just where I choose to worship.  Shall I continue?  THE SAME RIGHTS AS MY MALE COUNTERPARTS) We also have failed to teach our children, as a whole, to respect others regardless of how they feel about them.  Common Courtesy has become all but forgotten in our country and nobody knows how to agree to disagree any longer.  It's a sad and pathetic state of affairs to be in.

We just endured one of the ugliest and angriest election seasons in our history.  We all, no matter what side we were on, stated more than once that we would be thrilled when election day came so it would all be over with for a few years.... no matter the outcome of the election, we all had hoped we could put it all behind us and "get back to normal" once again.  The problem is, since we have become a society that doesn't know how to handle our feelings and difference of opinions, we can't get past the anger and rage, which has been manifested into fear.    Really???  We are excusing horrible behavior, riots, plundering, violence, hate... and on what?  All because people no longer know how to just treat others with respect and kindness.  I may not like the other candidate and may be disappointed that friends support that candidate, but my love for my friends is not made or broken by them being in 100% agreement with me.  I accept our differing opinions and we agree to disagree.  I remember all the wonderful things I love about them and know that our difference in opinion is just that, a difference in opinion.  I don't turn my dislike, disgust even, for their candidate or their cause into a pseudo  characteristic in them.  As an adult, I'm able to distinguish between my friends and politics.  My friends did not turn into my enemies over an election or a politician or a hot button issue.   I have every right to hold to my own beliefs and have my personal values based on my faith.  I needn't justify them to anyone.  But, just because the "other side" doesn't agree with me, doesn't mean they have the right to use bully and intimidation tactics to take my rights away or tell me that my faith values need to change, and punish me if I don't comply.  I wouldn't do that to them.

We endured 8 years living in a country run by politicians I not only felt were completely off base, but were malicious in much of their intent.  Did I scream and cry, call names, riot, burn down cities, destroy other's property, bully people, cut off relationships with friends and family, or in general behave badly because I claimed to be fearful?  Nope.  I continued to live life, enjoying my family and friends and looking for God's blessings, knowing that it was only a season and things would once again change.  IT'S CALLED BEING A GROWN UP.  The fact is, I have many friends whom I don't see eye to eye with on political issues.... but rather than focusing on that, we choose to enjoy what we do have in common and love each other in spite of our differences.  I don't try to belittle and bully them into changing their opinions, I accept that they have those and try to understand why.  It also doesn't mean that I sacrifice my deeply help beliefs to comply with theirs.  Unfortunately, our society seems to really struggle with how to do this.  People no longer know how to accept differences or how to respect others opinions.  They strike out.  In my half a century on this earth, I've truly never seen anything like it, I've only read about it in history books and throughout the Bible.  It's nothing but petulance and tantrums, all because society no longer knows how to handle their feelings. We've orchestrated every waking moment of our children's lives, leaving them no time to be bored and find something to do, use their imagination, or work things out within themselves or with others. We've rewarded all behavior rather than exceptional behavior. We've not made our children suffer the consequences for their choices. We've not expected our children to keep their word, rather we've taught them it's ok to make excuses. We've taught our children that respect is only earned and earned subjectively otherwise it's not given. We've taught them that education for the sake of looking good on college applications is what's important, rather than learning for the joy of learning and being able to use what they learn to better their everyday life as well as our society.  Now we are left with the outcome of a truly "ME CENTERED SOCIETY".   It's not too late to turn this around.  It starts in our own homes and then reaches out into our community.  Stop accepting Hollywood's version of tolerance and start living with common sense and common courtesy.  Start showing respect to those whom you disagree with and stop hiding behind the glass wall of "I fear for my kids" and "We are better than this"  because, frankly, our country IS much better than the mess it's become, but the only way we will ever see that is if we look outside of ourselves and try to see things as others do..... give people a chance and they just may surprise you.  And stop trying to neutralize everyone and everything.  There's beauty in difference... look for it, accept it, and enjoy it; don't work to squash it out of existence.

Alright, I think I'm done ranting for the night.  Hopefully it's brought a smile to you as you shake your head and say "there she goes again" and that maybe it's also given you a little food for thought to mull over and ponder while you attempt being a little bored for the first time in forever ;)  Since most people might classify me as a bit on the hippy side, I'll close with a genuine PEACE OUT PEOPLE.... No, seriously, turn off the news shows and tune into your family and find some peace :)        

The Craziness of Quilting ;)

Over the years, I've had many people wonder and comment about why someone like me would take a perfectly good piece of fabric, cut it up into a lot of little pieces, only to sew it all back together again.  I suppose it's a perfectly rational question.... but to a quilter, we look at them as though they are visiting our planet from Mars.  I mean, seriously???  Look at a quilt, really LOOK AT IT.  There's no way you can get something quite like that printed on a piece of fabric.  Lord knows, many have tried, but it's never quite the same.

My grandmother, Mamo, began teaching me to sew when I was still toddling around in those hard leather baby shoes that were so common in the 60's.  By the time I was 4 years old (and graduated to wearing red keds instead;) she was teaching me to sew on her Singer sewing machine (of which I have the very same machine and sewing cabinet in my living room.  A loving reminder of days gone by).  I remember her telling me that she was saving pieces of all the clothes she ever made me to make a special quilt... she'd chosen a log cabin pattern for that project.  Then, when I was about 13 years old, while we were having a family garage sale, I spied a black old fashioned foot locker sitting at the curb.  Nobody could get it unlocked and didn't really want to try, so they set it out for the trash. I was nosey and had nothing better to do, so I spent the rest of the day prying that trunk open.  When I FINALLY popped the lock.....BONANZA!!!!!  It was the Mother Lode for my vintage loving little heart!  Old linens, tea towels, embroidery hoops and floss, all from the 30's-50's.  And then, buried on the bottom, underneath the mounds of stamped linen table dressings waiting to be sewn....3 hand pieced quilt tops full of authentic flour sack prints, all pieced by my Mamo before she had children.  A Bow Tie, Grandmother's Flower Garden, and Double Wedding Ring.  She'd never gotten to quilting them and had forgotten all about them until that afternoon.  Those three quilt tops are what spurred my passion for quilts and quilting.

Fast forward about 10 years.  I still had every bit of "loot" I'd found in that old musty trunk.  I was married and a young farm wife, enjoying making our little house into our home.  I wanted to finish those quilt tops, but I wanted to know the proper way to do it so as not to mess them up.  Although I'd sewn nearly my entire life, and I'd pieced some simple quilts, tying or machine quilting them in the most basic of ways, I wanted to respect these three treasures and treat them well.  I took a beginning quilting class through the community college... what was suppose to be a 6 week class to learn the basics of REAL quilting, turned into a lifetime passion.  I honestly didn't think I'd really enjoy it; I really only wanted to be able to finish those tops and thought that would be it, because I HATED to hand sew anything.  I loved (still do) making clothing, bags, home decor, but all that is done with a machine, hand sewing seemed tedious to me, not fun.  One session of that class and I was completely hooked!

Thankfully God gave me a husband who appreciates craftsmanship and handmade things as much as I do.  A husband who also encourages me to express my creativity and to enjoy the process.  He was thrilled to watch as I grew in my newfound hobby.  After a few years, that hobby turned into a small business and it allowed me to share this art with others through lessons, classes, and fellowship.  COMMUNITY....that is what quilting is.  Whether it's quilting bees like in days gone by, or simply one generation passing this skill onto another, quilting is the physical essences of memories encapsulated within fabric....and in the end, you can wrap up in those memories to keep warm.  Can you think of anything more beautiful than a bed with a stunning quilt, a picnic enjoyed on a quilt tossed on the grass, a blanket fort made with quilts, or even a wedding in the country will quilt covered hay bales as the seating?  I can't!

While living in the country, I enjoyed quilting with my friends each month at our quilt guild.  I loved it when friends would come to either my shop or home to enjoy working on projects - new or old.  And, quilt shows in the summers during the local town celebrations; those were amazing and so full of inspiration!  Over the past dozen and a half years, my quilting has dropped down to occasionally finishing a project I'd started years ago and dreaming as I poured over quilt books and magazines.  But now our girls are older and they don't require so much undivided attention.... which means that I can once again enjoy quilting.  I've started piecing again, working on a Block of The Month kit I ordered over the holidays.  Cutting those little patches out of "perfectly fine" beautiful fabric serves as therapy for my heart and soul.  As I'm piecing each block, I get lost in the moment, my mind floods with memories, I have the time to just talk with my Lord and pray for friends and family, dream.  I look forward to eventually getting moved back to the country and hosting quiltings with my friends, sharing stories, catching up, swapping fabric and recipes, enjoying a meal together, laughing together, even sharing one another's burdens.....COMMUNITY.

So, for those who've asked and wondered why anyone would cut up a perfectly good piece of fabric, the answer is Friendship, Community, Heritage, Memories....most of all, because it's FUN :)  

Hidden Broken....

In Asian culture, I've read, they repair broken pottery with gold so that the cracks and chips can be seen for generations to come.  Why on earth would they do that?  I mean, aren't we suppose to cover up, sweep away even, anything that breaks?  What about Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior?  When He appeared in the upper room after He'd died and was resurrected, one precious disciple had a tough time believing Him to be real so He showed him the holes in His hands and feet, and told him to touch them, even the hole in His side, so that Thomas could believe.  Brokenness.... shattered hearts and lives.  Are we alone in our brokenness?  Can God use us in our brokenness?

I don't know about ya'll, but I struggle at times with my own brokenness and sense of worth.  I wonder what God can find among the shards of my spirit to actually use for His glory.  Why would He want to even bother with something as messy as me?  How can there be any value in a spirit that looks much like the dinner plate I've dropped on the kitchen floor.... a million pieces scattered across the room, and the one piece left that you might be able to even recognize as what it actually was, is chipped in more than one place.  So I do what I guess everyone does.... scoop it all up, get the glue out and piece it all back together; knowing that even with my best attempt and using invisible glue, it is never going to be the same.  The cracks run like veins on a 95 year old's hands, there are a few pieces missing, leaving holes, and the surface is now rough.... it's no longer pretty by any definition.  But unlike a dinner plate, we are able to hide our cracks and chips; tucking them down deep inside and hoping nobody sees.  Which brings me back to wondering about the tradition of repairing chips and cracks with gold, once again.  Why?

Well, these worn, cracked and broken pottery pieces with the veins of gold running through take on a different kind of beauty.  The gold holding them together has intrinsic value which infuses value into the pottery as well.  The pottery can once again be used as it was intended to be.  And, beyond that, as you look upon it, you begin to see a beauty that wasn't there before.  It's as if by it's very brokenness it's actually become more beautiful.  It's not hidden away in some cupboard up high, only to be forgotten; rather, it's used daily and on display for all to see.  How can that apply to us?

When we are young, and the chips and cracks begin to appear in our spirit, we tuck them away so nobody can see them.  But in the dark, hidden place in our soul, they become more fragile and begin to chip and crack some more.  We look around and see everyone else living perfectly lovely lives, with no cracks or chips in their spirit.... then we begin to feel very alone.  Oh, we don't show it, of course.  We always smile and do the polite and appropriate things, but those cracks are growing all along.  Why would God allow you to be shattered and nobody else?  Suddenly one day, someone else gives you a glimpse of their own brokenness, and oddly enough it makes you feel better, more real.  Hmmmmm..... can God use brokenness to minister to the needs of others?  You ponder this and pray..

We live in a society now that seems to be dictated by Pinterest, or so it appears, and that leaves many of us to feel lacking in many ways.  We socialize more on Facebook and Snapchat than we do face to face across the kitchen table.  As wonderful as it is to be involved in our friends and families lives on a daily basis through their posts, as well as our own, we've lost a genuine vulnerability and realness.  We no longer feel comfortable if a friend pops over to visit and catches us with a messy house, we post the cute things our kids do, not the heartbreak they may cause, we lose ourselves in "the picture" rather than the realness of relationship.  We post prayer requests for the flu, but keep the really hard problems to ourselves.... The thing is, our really hard problems and how we are dealing with them, is our greatest witness for God's glory, BUT we have to be willing to show our hidden broken and not keep it all tucked away.  Ask yourself, when someone was genuinely real with you, didn't you walk away loving them all that much more AND no longer feeling alone in your own broken?  I know I have on many occasion.  

I'll never forget many years ago when our girls were young.  We struggled every Sunday morning to get out of the house and to church even remotely on time.  It was usually a screamfest as 8 little shoes needed to be found and put on, hair and teeth brushed, and don't forget the BIG BOWS that needed to adorn each of their sweet little heads.  By the time we got everyone strapped into their seats in the van, there were six frowning faces, some may have even been tear streaked, and needless to say our hearts were not set on worship.  But then we'd hit the driveway into the church parking lot and it was like a switch.... everyone put on their smiles and cheerful "church voices".  I kid you not!  As a mom and as a christian, I felt like a failure and a fake.  And, I felt alone in all this, because I knew that we were the only ones who endured Sunday mornings like this.  Then one day, I happened to be visiting with our pastor's wife; I don't even know what we were actually chatting about, but somehow or another the subject of Sunday mornings came up and she began to recall how it was for her when her two kids were little.  Her memories sounded much like my current life!  You have no idea what that did for me!  No, it wasn't a "misery loves company" sort of thing... it was a healing thing.  Knowing that someone else shared a similar "failure", as I saw it in myself, helped me to not only realize I wasn't alone, but also that this was only a season in life.  She showed me a real struggle she had and it helped me with a hidden struggle I was carrying.  God used her hidden broken to minister to me.  This was the first time in my life that I can remember someone showing me their hidden broken, and since that day I've determined to allow God to use my hidden broken to minister to others.  

It's not easy to be "real" with others.  I crop the pictures I post to eliminate the mess behind the cute child, I know how to hold my camera to make me look thinner, I post the good things we eat rather than all the times we hit drive-thru, I post "Starbucks STAT" rather than the ugly rant I was just on with my family..... but maybe, just maybe, if I'm more real, leaving myself open and vulnerable by showing my hidden broken, God could minister to others through my broken, just as He has ministered to me through theirs.  I look at those dear to my heart and see nothing but beauty BECAUSE of their broken and healed spirits.  I see their struggles and love them all that much more BECAUSE I see strength in their weakness.  I see their broken paths through life and cherish them all that much more BECAUSE I see God's redemption through their willing and repentive spirit.  Yes, God uses our hidden broken to minister to others, and through that ministry He repairs our cracks and chips with threads of gold.  A mended spirit and heart is a true masterpiece.  

And, for my dear mom..... no, there's no major problem over here; I'm going through a study with Ann Voskamp called The Broken Way and it's gotten me to pondering something I've thought about for a long, long time :)

      

A Gentle Reminder.....

There are some days you just need extra encouragement and a reminder of whom you belong to... Who's name you bear.  This afternoon was one of those times for me... for us.  Driving to the grocery store and pondering something we've been facing for several years; my heart hurting for my husband and daughters over broken promises and broken relationships that we didn't break and want so badly to see restoration with those involved.  Searching for an answer and a solution, not willing to give up our dream, trying to figure out "why" yet knowing there is no way to fix it even if we knew the "why", thankful for the knowledge that regardless of everything we are a strong family of 6 that loves each other and pulls together to face everything thrown at us, even when it's meant to destroy us.... AND THEN, God stepped in and gave me, once again, my fight song. The song He ALWAYS sends me when I'm facing my own personal giants and my steps begin to feel like they falter.  The song that reminds me I'm not alone.  I'm loved and protected by an amazing Heavenly Father, who "knows the plans He has for me" and I can rest assured that He will never fail us.  A gentle yet powerful reminder

Wake Up Calls.....

See those two up there?  Yeah, those two goofy girls; my two T1D kiddos.  They share much more than just looking a lot alike, sense of sarcasm, and T1D....They share my heart, my sleep deprivation, my exhaustion, my sense of humor, just to get the list going.  That picture was taken shortly before we all headed off to bed on Thursday night.  Who would've guessed what the night was going to throw our way.

Thursday, January 19th:  all in all, quite a normal day around here, generally speaking.  Gracie needed a pump site change and both girls needed new Dexcom sensors put in.  I sent them off to bed with fresh sites, good "in range" numbers, and tummies full of long lasting carbs to get them through the night.... then we all crawled into bed.  I checked on the girls around 1ish and they were still doing well, but at 2:34 I wake up to a strange buzzing sound, which I quickly identify as my phone ringing. Through half open eyes and sleepy fogginess, I realize it's Craig calling (He's in Colorado this week)....there must be something wrong for him to be calling in the very middle of the night.  I answer to hear him tell me that he just got an urgent alert on his phone and Sarah is crashing on us.  I fumble with my phone to flip open Dexcom and sure enough I see 42, I fumble a bit more to turn on my flashlight, make my way to the kitchen to grab a juice box, then downstairs to wake Sarah (no easy task, may I add).  Through her own grogginess I get her to drink the juice, complaining the entire time how she hates grape juice and that she's "fine" (yeah, baby girl, you're not fine, trust me).  As she's drinking the last of the juice I spot the package of Oreos on her dresser that she'd asked my to get for her when I was at the store earlier (totally a God thing because I buy Oreos about once a year and it's when I'm having the worst day EVER, plus Sarah rarely ever asks for junk food).  I give her a couple of oreos as well to "wash away" the taste of the juice she was still complaining about (you need to understand that Sarah only drinks water, coffee, tea, or smoothies).  Back upstairs I go and check in on Gracie only to find that she is 255...UGH!  Seriously?!?!?  I bolus her with insulin to bring her down and crawl back into bed to wait and see what happens.  I continue to watch Dexcom and see Sarah coming up decently, thinking "great!  Dodged a ball on that one and now I can go back to sleep"  Yeah.... NOPE.  Within an hour (and I was still awake) I see that she is crashing on me again 45 with two arrows straight down.  Back to the kitchen, this time I find apple juice, back downstairs to her room.  Wake the sleeping teenager yet again and work at getting her to down the apple juice.  She doesn't like that one either (note to self, find out what kind of juice this kid likes).  Give her 4 more Oreos.  Tuck her back in.  Give her another kiss on the top of her head.  Pet Annie, who seems genuinely confused why I keep coming in to wake up her mom.  Then back upstairs again.  Check on Gracie... she's still hanging in the mid 200s but has insulin on board.  Crawl back into bed and wait.  Only this time Sarah is awake as well and she's beginning to get scared.  She's seen this happen over the years with Gracie, but never really gave it much thought.  But now.... now it's her and she's faced with the fact that T1D is unescapable.

She begins to text me: "Mom" Me: "yes" Sarah: "I don't want to go into a coma" Those 8 words shatter my heart.  We raise our girls to live healthy, productive lives, not focused on their disease and what it can take from them.  Her realizing that a low blood sugar, missed because nobody wakes up to check on her, can lead to her going into a coma, or even her death is bittersweet.  Heartbreaking and renewing all at the same time.  Renewing in the sense of importance and purpose.... Not taking anything for granted. Me: "You aren't going to go into a coma sweetie, because I will stay awake and watch over you.  I promise"

By 4am Sarah was up around 120 and appeared stable, Gracie was coming down at 160; I could safely get a few hours of sleep before starting our day.  But I did not miss God's hand in all this.  First off: we've had trouble with Dexcom working with our phones and Craig and I sometimes go days without getting any readings or alerts at all.  The early hours of Friday morning it was working and Craig woke to the low alarm even though he was hundreds of miles away.  He was able to wake me up as well.  Second, we actually had some Oreos on hand, which we NEVER do.  Oreos are great in an emergency because they typically have longer acting results with raised blood sugar, not just your fast spike and immediate crash (the heavy fat in them, I'd guess).  Finally the third God moment of the night: Sarah learned that 1- T1D is not something you can wish away and 2- her mom and dad will do all they can to keep her protected, no matter what it takes.

Yesterday, the day after all that, Sarah was still having trouble with crashing blood sugars.  Thankfully, Dexcom was working as it was suppose to and I was able to watch her from home while she was at work all day.  What is going on?  Why is she struggling all of a sudden with severe low blood sugars, even though we've pulled back on her long acting insulin several days ago and upped her insulin to carb ratio?  My best guess is that she is beginning to exit her honeymoon phase and that her pancreas is spilling the last little bit of insulin it will ever make (barring a cure of course) in it's one last hurrah.  I don't know how long this will go on; a week, maybe a month; but we know that she's heading into the next phase of life with T1D.  Thankfully she has a loving God who places his hand of protection on her, his angels around her, and provides her parents with the technology to care for her and her sister in the best way possible.

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge: his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (NIV)

Simpler Times.....

The first week of 2017 found me cleaning/organizing/re-arranging my office-studio.  A much needed task, to say the least.  This is the creative space in our home.... the sewing space, the quilting space, the painting space, the building space, the school space, the work space, the "anything you can imagine" space.  All that means that it's the messy space :)  But it's also the space that brings me the most joy and sense of purpose; I feel grounded when I'm working away in there.  And, I lose all sense of time, which is WONDERFUL!

Obviously, in a space that serves so many purposes as this one does, storage is vital and there's just never enough of it.  Books, Fabric, Pretty Paper, Scrapping Supplies, Sewing Supplies, Quilting Supplies, Yarn, Looms, Embroidery Floss, Patterns, Equipment, Sewing Machines, Thread, Needles, Paint, Brushes, and on and on and on.....not to mention the ordinary things such as notes and stationary for writing to friends, my Bibles and Bible study books, DVDs, Quilts to keep us warm, Office supplies, etc.  Storage is essential and fleeting and that leaves me to get creative in finding storage solutions.  One of these solutions involves my love of old lunch boxes.  They are wonderful for storing small things such as note cards, embroidery projects I'm working on, sewing supplies, you name it :)  They also add an instant smile to my day every time my eye falls on one of them around my office.  They bring back happy childhood memories.

Another fun storage solution I've found is canning jars in the shape of owls.  These are adorable!  And, they're perfect for buttons, needles, or a ton of other things.  Colored Ball canning jars are wonderful as well, and always make my heart leap when I see them sitting on a shelf, amongst other supplies.

I'm nearly finished organizing in here.  It's taken longer than I anticipated, but is well worth the effort I've put in.  Once I'm finished, I can start back to sewing and quilting each day.... the one New Year's resolution I set for myself this year:)  I'm very much looking forward to that and am hoping to start this week :)  Until then, I'll keep plugging away, and I'll smile as my eye lingers on one of my vintage lunch boxes and my mind floats back to childhood and some of the simple memories of days gone by:)

No matter how old you are, cubbies are always awesome!

A domed lunchbox is perfect to store greeting cards waiting to be mailed out 

A picnic basket is great for storing cards and scrapbook pages you've made that are waiting to be used

Children Of The Prairie...

There is no end to the entertainment when left to their own devices out in the country.  A HUGE 100+ year old tree becomes the best playground in the entire world, in their opinion ;)  Exploring the ruins of farm life in the last century as they tromp thru old, abandoned barns, sheds, and houses is better than any blockbuster movie today.  Collecting little treasures found on these excursions will offer them memories to last a lifetime :)  This IS a living education and I'm so thankful we can offer this to our daughters through homeschooling :)

2017... ADVENTURE

I have always loved Hannah's sense of adventure.... she is FEARLESS when it comes to facing life and it's challenges.  Yesterday, on the eve of a new year, we took the girls to explore the same canyon that Craig spent his childhood exploring.  Enjoying the outdoors, investigating everything that caught our attention, even the littlest details deserved our thought.  Finding the perfect "walking sticks" to lean on when the path was a challenge, tracking bunnies and deer by the foot prints they left behind in the dirt, poking around to try to guess what made a cave-like shelter, coming upon a mass of gopher tunnels, searching for seashells in the canyon walls, because what is now great plains prairie was actually once an ocean leaving shells behind to be discovered, watching the train speed by and counting the cars, guessing how old the trees are, and even talking about the calvary that once drove through this same land as it sits on the Fort McPherson Trail.  All in all, just following the girls lead and enjoying their laughter as they were on their grand adventure.

All this got me to pondering 2017 and what it may hold for our family.  While I do not know the answer to that question, I do know that I want to face it with the same sense of adventure that the girls have.  Life drags us down, and we are left with the massive weight of everything it throws at us. This year, however, I want to throw off the shackles of negativity that all that stress leaves us with and take a leap of faith to see where this life and God's plan is going to take us.  I want to embrace the journey and not just focus solely on the destination, taking in the detours as blessings and not just inconveniences.  No, I'm not talking about heading off to Bora Bora or something crazy; I just want to take our life back and enjoy the simplicity of generations past.

Modern life has gotten chaotic and busy for the sake of "busyness" and that is something I no longer want to participate in on any level.  That doesn't strengthen our family nor does it drive us closer to God.  On the contrary, it divides and conquers.  As I think about my grandparents and their generation, I realize all we've lost in our own generation.... the sense of community, the face to face relationships, helping each other rather than competing with everyone.... SIMPLICITY.  Personally, I have too much to distract me in my daily life; too much to keep me unnecessarily busy.  So, this year, I'm going to weed out what isn't important or needed.  I'm going to shake off the shackles of what I'm "suppose" to keep/have/be, and instead tailor our home and life to one of SIMPLE JOY.  This is not something that will be accomplished overnight.  It's the adventure I've decided to take in 2017; only instead of heading SOMEPLACE, I'm heading back... back to our roots, our foundation.  Back to a time when life was actually good and joy was abundant, found in the simple things that you may miss if you don't take a moment to actually notice the detail.  The smell of coffee wafting through the air, the chirping of a happy guinea pig, the sound of cats racing through the living room, the laughter of my daughters ringing throughout our entire home... the little details of life that we miss because we are too busy "taking care of business", whatever that business may be.  I'm going to stop taking the path of least resistance and start looking for the fun of finding a new way to face the challenges life presents us with :)