To Live Beautiful

What's Your Motivation?

2009-11-19T17:36:00.002-06:00

The holidays are fast approaching and I'm finding that I'm already eating more than my share of sugar. I'm eating Dave's share, Cali's share and Owen's share... as well as the neighbor's down the street share. I'll admit: I'm a sugaraholic, if there is such a thing. I love chocolate; it's hard to motivate me to love running or exercising more than chocolate.

The K-LOVE Music Cruise is coming up (going with the Downhere Family!) and I still have about 10 pounds of baby weight to work off. That gets me down to pre-baby weight... but I'd love to go 5 more beyond that, to get to my 1st baby pre-pregnancy weight. Don't laugh. It can be done.

But What's My Motivation?

I'm thinking of hanging up some pictures of beaches - and women who look really good in their swimming suit. Maybe I should just stick with beaches; I don't want Dave staring at other women in their bathing suits.

But hanging up a picture of a beach may not be enough motivation for me. I'll still just as easily eat a chocolate chip cookie.

I think this shows lack of discipline. I lack discipline in practically all areas of my life right now. After having baby #2 (who is 4 months old now)- I really see its effects. I'd love for things to run smoothly around the house and I'd love to do all the things I want to do in a day: 3 mile run/walk, catch-up on laundry, read my Bible, work with Cali on her ABCs & 123s, relax while feeding Owen, hang out with Dave (although he's in Norway at the moment), continue to research and organize my growing photography business, read a good book... (reading Donald Miller's "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years") - totally recommend it....

Since I've been struggling with discipline and organization, Dave recommend I listen to a sermon from Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. It's on his series in Proverbs. This is part 4 : Planning. I STRONGLY urge you to listen to this if you need a little kick-start. I bought my "mole skin" aka notebook as a result and have been doing really well keeping a better handle on things.

Here's the sermons' description:

God is sovereign—he is in control of every person, every thing, and every outcome that ever has been or ever will be. Yet, Proverbs has much to say about planning for the future. We should plan open-handedly, meaning make plans that honor God yet be willing to change when God calls you to something else.

Back to motivation. What is my motivation? Honestly, it's still hazy to me. I need more motivation than to just "be in shape, be more healthy, look good." Those are great things - and I want those for sure.

So while I think of something to motivate me, I'll go walk on the treadmill while Owen takes a short snooze.

What motivates you to be more disciplined? What areas do you feel you need help in?

The Journey

2009-11-16T10:54:00.002-06:00

Are you enjoying yourself on this journey? Early morning as you yawn in bed listening to the sound of your ankles crack, are you filled with gratitude for the life you’ve been given?

The road may stretch ahead like a sleek black snake flanked by lined trees or dimly lit street lamps.

You might drive all night, weak and delirious from the exhaustive trip.

Focus may elude you and the only thing you manage to envision is dotted white and yellow lines.

But look there.

Do you see that?

It’s a soaring hawk. And would you look at that. Have you ever seen a more majestic or regal mountain?

Hear the laughter of your children. Wait for it to sink into your soul like a medicinal balm. Life is happening. The road remains, but you move, you move on.

Are you delighting in the setting sun, the wild turkeys chasing each other in the brush, the miracles sweeping the earth?

Is there joy on your journey?

Or are you too busy yawning and paying attention to the sound of your ankles crack while distracted by thoughts of aging, debating whether life is too long?

The road remains. But you move. You move on.

~ Wendy

Someday . . .

2009-11-10T05:02:00.000-06:00

Someday, little girl, you won't want to hold our hands anymore. We'll have to grab you before crossing the street or walking across the parking lot; we'll have to holler, "Wait for me!"

Someday, sweet baby, you will be so adept at walking that it would not occur to you to drop to your knees and crawl. We'll have to run after you and shout, "Slow down! Be careful!"

Someday you won't need us nearly as much as you do now.

We won't have to serve ketchup with every meal and change diapers and run bubble baths and pick up toys and walk slowly and put socks on your feet and cook chicken nuggets.

And we won't get to hear, "Mommy! Help! Buckle me! Milk! Walk, walk, walk, walk! Daddy! Do that! Toys! Out! Up!"

Someday you won't want to hold our hands. Someday . . . but today, I'm glad you still want us to hold your hand and help you walk.

Sleeping Beauty

2009-11-02T13:58:00.003-06:00

What’s Beautiful?

I’m sitting here trying my best to think of what is beautiful. I glance over at my toddler child tucked under a Peter Rabbit blanket on the couch. She cried for hours for me to hold her just before she conked out. I’ve held her for about 27 hours in the last day and if you’re good at math, you understand just how much holding that equates to.

So her sleeping is beautiful to me right now.

What else is beautiful? The tiny rubber duck smashed into her cheek is. And, okay I’ll go for it; my toddler’s ever so slight two-year-old unibrow is beautiful. Now you might be scrunching up your eyes, audibly saying, “Huh? What is she talking about?” And of course, I will tell you. The duck and unibrow represent one powerful message. This message is often lost on teenagers and those weeding through life and society wanting to impress and craving to be liked. I won’t make you sit and try to guess where I’m going with this. My toddler is in her element. She isn’t worried about what her face will look like when she wakes up with the imprint of a duck on her cheek. She also doesn’t beg me for tweezers so she can pluck those little innocuous hairs that have sprouted between her eyebrows. She’s unconcerned. She is the true definition of natural beauty.

She’s sleeping. She is at peace and right now at this moment, I am too.

~ Wendy

Clean

2009-10-19T13:19:00.002-05:00

The word of the day is clean. Writing sucks up my time. Loving on my children sucks up my time. Cooking sucks up my time. About one hundred other things suck up my time. Cleaning, however, cleaning has not been sucking up my time and my house is the proof.

I’m having a gathering of friends over tonight. Since 7:00 AM, I’ve been mopping, dusting, vacuuming, straightening, and rearranging (throwing a lot of things in drawers). My toddler has helped me rearrange as well, which as you know means I’m doing a lot of doubled duty rearranging. And I just discovered toddler got an eraser stuck in the handle of our dishwasher. If you’re mom, you know this is a small thing. Am I freaking out? No. It’s going to take more than that (which is simply a statement, not a challenge, God). You get my point. I’ve wiped myself out cleaning. I’m going to have to drink twenty Red Bulls to get my energy back for company. I could do that.

Or I could pray.

Prayer for restoration, for wisdom not to leave all the cleaning until the last day, for laughter, for light-heartedness, for a servant attitude and for a night where I can exude His loving kindness.

Before I pray, does anyone know how to get an eraser unstuck from inside a dishwasher handle? Didn’t think so…and now for prayer.

Only One You

2009-10-05T15:00:00.001-05:00

Short post today because my stomach has taken a turn and I’m not feeling all that well. Might I add that taking a bath is not all it used to be? Toddler standing over me chucking toys onto my legs and belly, flinging washcloths my way and eventually stripping out of her Pull-Up in hopes to join me…Makes me miss days when taking a bath wasn’t quite such an action sport.

Anyway, today I’ll write a bit about you--the uniqueness of you. There will never ever be another that has that exact tint in their eyes, the mole right where yours is located, that silly grin, the twittering laugh, the robust voice, the tender touch, the boing of curl in their hair or confident step. There will never be anyone who knows just the right thing to say, writes notes with that special signature, or who sneezes every time it rains…you know all those little things that add up to you. They are part of your makeup--part of your existence here on earth.

For those of you who were born today, Happiest of Birthdays to you. And remember, your fingerprint is yours alone and there will never ever be another you. Oh, Happy You!

Beautiful Intentionality

2009-09-28T13:18:00.001-05:00

My husband and I are taking a marriage class at our church. Have we learned groundbreaking things about how to keep our marriage alive and how to reignite that age old flame? Not really. But are we demonstrating to one another our commitment and loyalty by attending the class together? We sure are.

The word intentionality came up about a dozen times in our class. Are we intentional about spending time together? Marriage demands time and attention if you want it to thrive, as does anything really. Some of the talks my husband and I have are time spent hashing through deep and ugly issues. Then again, some of talks we do little talking and instead find ourselves laughing most of the time at ourselves.

There are so many things we choose to be intentional about. I know my list includes, writing, making sure my children feel loved and develop a spirit of resiliency and faith, reaching out to loved ones, delving into creative projects, healing from the past, etc. I show intentionality in many areas of life. My marriage is one area that has the potential to reap the most rewards. There’s nothing like having a best friend and romantic partner to laugh with and to go through life with. When we allow this relationship to slip away as a priority, we put our core relationship at risk and the rest of our life can suffer because of it.

So when I wrote that we aren’t necessarily learning groundbreaking things, I was mistaken. We are being reminded of how essential it is to live with intentionality in our marriage. Hearing that reminder shakes things up a bit and it’s good to be shaken once in awhile.

Painted Cans by Kate Mulherin

2009-09-27T00:08:00.000-05:00

This is the latest post on the Live Beautiful Photography blog -- and I just had to post it here too!

What defines beautiful artwork? These painted aluminum cans. Kate Mulherin would never, in a million years, consider herself an artist or crafty in any way. A few of her children (nine total!) admitted that they never knew their mom to cook or bake. They would often find a butter and lettuce sandwich for lunch. One daughter remembered enjoying another classmates lunch while he was left wondering how he ended up with lettuce between two pieces of buttered bread.

Kate is my husband’s grandmother; we traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit her this weekend. Dave’s mom and two of her sisters flew to Tennessee to see their mother for probably the last time. She is dying of cancer, all the while suffering from Alzheimer disease and dementia. But her illness does not shadow her spunky personality.

Dave’s dad Sam tells the story of one of the first times he met his future mother-in-law: Some kids were writing curse words with chalk on the sidewalk outside of her house. Sam witnessed Kate coming out of the house, shooing the kids away and sternly shouting, “That’s not very damn funny!”

Kate would probably consider these cans just pieces of aluminum with paint, but to her daughters and son they represent something they rarely saw in their mother. It is a gift that each one will cherish.

view more photos of Kate's painted cans on Live Beautiful Photography's flickr photostream

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Precious Gifts

2009-09-21T13:19:00.000-05:00

What is your gift?

You may be sitting there frowning, bunching up your eyebrows while thinking to yourself, “You know I really don’t know what I’m gifted at…”

I went to a U2 concert last night. Clearly that band has been gifted. Sometimes though, our gifts aren’t so evident. They aren’t as vocal.

Maybe your gift whispers silently.

I believe we all add certain uniqueness in this world. So I’m going to provide a list of gifts you might not have ever thought of before.

Are you an intense and focused listener?
Do you enjoy talking with the elderly?
Does rocking a baby to sleep make you melt?
Do you wake up thinking about craft projects?
Are you fantastic with numbers? Memory? Photography?
Are you a superb ironer?
Is there always just the right amount of cream cheese on the bagels you prepare?
Do your daughter’s French braids stay in all day?
Are you a skilled phone talker?
Do people smile when you’re around?
Does the idea of cooking someone a meal get you out of bed?
Are you the most interested in collecting things on your block?
Are you kind?
Do you have an unusual amount of patience?
Can you plan like a pro?
Do you have game?
Are you the best shower singer you know (hopefully you don’t know too many or that might be strange?)
Do crossword puzzles fear you when you reach for a pencil?
When others laugh at your jokes does something zing alive inside you?
Do animals gravitate toward you?
Can you sew?
Do you know how to amuse teenagers?
Can you set a mean table?
Can you cry with the best of ‘em?
Soap carving?

Okay, you get my point. Sometimes we diminish the importance of things we do. We strip the value and meaning behind things that God intended for us to do with flare and finesse. If you are truly concerned about not being able to identify one specific gift, take comfort in this verse:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men…” Colossians 3:23

Meaningful Messages

2009-09-14T07:55:00.003-05:00

I’ve decided to be intentional about what I have around my home. The way I look at it, I could have a clean orderly home (which of course it always is) that says little about what I want my children to know. I could also have a cluttered, distracted home (which oddly enough it also always is) that remains in such disarray; specific messages can’t be easily deciphered.

So, my solution: I have two wooden signs in my living room, easy to read and simplistic in style. One says, “Giggle.” The other says, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” And you know what, I’d have to admit those are two of the most powerful lessons I’m trying to teach my girls. Laugh and laugh often. Life is hard and messy and unpredictable. Laughter is medicinal and a rich gift from God. Also, it is a wonderful life. We have one but one life. I long for my children to seek out the blessings all around them, to adopt a half-full attitude of thanksgiving even in the midst of hardship. Most of all, I hope they discover both of the messages originate with God, the creator of laughter and life.

There are all kinds of messages to place around your home. I’ve seen “Live, Laugh, Love.” I’ve seen calligraphy signs stating, “Family is Everything.” There are lots of messages out there to choose from. Which ones do you invest in? What are you decorating your home with and in turn, what messages are you teaching in your home?

Do You Make Jewelry? Want To Make A Global Impact? Read This:

2009-09-10T21:36:00.001-05:00

Do you think that a simple bracelet can impact thousands of men, women & children in a third world country?

I do.

My friend Josh of Watermelon Ministries has been to a dozen third world countries; his travels have ignited a passion for reaching their widows and orphans. His latest project provides wells to communities who desperately need clean water.

Together, we are looking for someone who has a passion for making jewelry - specifically bracelets. These bracelets will help raise money to build wells. Each bracelet would be sold for around $30. Thirty dollars will provide one person clean drinking water for their entire life. Only $30!

The goal is to build 100 wells within the next year; that's a lot of bracelets !

Please contact me if you would like more information about this amazing project! I'm excited to be a part of it -- and I will keep you updated on the progress! Once we get the project going - I'll be asking you to tell your friends about it - blog about it - tweet about it - just spread the word! It's a very tangible way to support our brothers and sisters in third world countries.

If you would like to read more about Josh and

how Watermelon Ministries began, you need to check this out!

"Where It All Began."

Living Without a Computer :: It CAN Be Done!

2009-09-09T09:43:00.001-05:00

My computer decided to just quit working. It was giving me problems starting up before, and I knew that one day it would quit working. But I was hopeful. Until last Wednesday. I took it into an Apple re-seller (not the Apple Store's Genius bar - which I TOTALLY recommend over any re-seller) and the technician said it was most likely the logic board -- aka - the MOST expensive part of the computer. yea.

Last Wednesday was also the day my husband was leaving for a week to meet up with the band . That meant no computer, no video Skype with Dave while he was gone, no checkings of the emails, no googling on the world wide web, no Lightroom (photography) or Photoshopping.... oh the list goes on.

But I made it !

I find myself so attached to this stinkin piece of technology. It was nice to get away from it for a while.

How about YOU? Could you use a break from your computer? I don't recommend breaking your computer - but maybe just shut it down for 3 days straight and take a REAL break.

Learn how to Breathe Again!

Running Ahead

2009-09-05T01:48:00.004-05:00

Independence can be defined simply by looking at a toddler. My youngest son was the perfect example today. We had to run some errands at the mall, and I knew that I could not carry him and everything that I needed to purchase, so I asked my husband to bring our stroller along. Munchkin, our middle son, gladly jumped into the stroller even though he really did not need it still at five years old, but my precious little almost three-year old Pumpkin refused to get in. Throughout the afternoon, we struggled with him to stay in the stroller and to keep his seatbelt buckled.

Finally, I gave in. The packages were heavier than he was, and it seemed like it would be easier to just let him walk and push the stroller full of packages once again. He took his time exploring store windows and lagging behind, then he would look up, realize we had gotten ahead of him and come running full speed to catch up with us. Then he would get excited with something he saw ahead of us and would run ahead, paying no attention to anyone else around him.

His enthusiasm and passion were precious, but the mother heart in me kept skipping a beat as I saw all the danger that he did not even know he was narrowly missing. Tonight as I prayed, I realized that so often, this could be a picture of me as well.

How often do I actually walk beside my Savior? It seems like I am perpetually lagging behind because I am afraid of what may happen, or I am racing ahead excited that something fun is about to begin. But when do I enjoy the now? This is the day that the Lord has made. I want to rejoice in this day. Not worry about what happened in the past, or day dream unnecessarily about what might happen in the future. Just live in the moment. And in that sense, Pumpkin lived his day just right.

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*Photos from www.Flickr.com

Not What You Think

2009-08-31T09:59:00.002-05:00

I posted this video on my blog not long ago and haven't been able to stop thinking of it since. It's worth a look.

The following verse is what came to mind after I watched it:

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance of his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16: 7

What thoughts did this video inspire for you?

*Thanks to Dove for this campaign

Perceptions

2009-08-28T00:51:00.002-05:00

Today I have the amazing opportunity of starting my service as a MOPS Coordinator. I have struggled with this for several months as I have slowly softened my heart to obey God's leading. This has been such a scary journey for me since early in the spring of this year. When I first felt led to pursue this position, I came up with every excuse that I could for why I could not do this position. One by one, God removed every barrier and even gave me a peace that I was doing exactly what He had planned for me.

Slowly, my fear turned to acceptance, then anticipation. But still, I had a fear. One person that I had to work with had a reputation for being incredibly difficult to work with, and I would have to work with her on a consistent basis. I was dreading having to deal with her, so I began to pray for her and my relationship with her. Over the past months, I have begun to get to know her much better and I discovered that many of the things that I had been told about her were not exactly accurate. Yes, she is a perfectionist, but it is because she takes pride in her work. And, yes, she can seem a bit frustrated with her work, but that can happen when you do not have access to the information that you need.

I have discovered that I am actually looking forward to partnering with her and working together to make this an amazing year for our group. If I had allowed my perceptions of her cloud my judgment, I likely would have acted like others before me who became cold and distant to her. But through God's grace, He allowed me to see through to who she really was and get to know the woman behind the shell. She is a beautiful, loving, dedicated woman who is passionate about serving. I just hope some more of her dedication can rub off on me.

Have you developed a friendship with someone whom you thought would never be a friend because of something that you thought you knew about them? How did it work out for you?

Spices

2009-08-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

Truly one of the best gifts I’ve ever received would have to be a box of spices. You want to know the weird thing? I struggle to remember the name of the lady who gave them to me. We were barely acquaintances. Picture this: me with a five-year-old, three-year-old, a newborn and an eighty pound dog on the second floor of a Residence Inn for over a month during icy winter storms. That was us several years ago when we first moved back to the East Coast.

We had a visitor at the hotel though. I’d met a lady in a Bible study I attended in Louisville who had a sister living just fifteen minutes from our hotel. She came to see us and keep us company at the hotel. I invited her to our home once the towers of boxes had cleared and there was a place to offer her to sit. It was at that time she handed me the box of spices, a housewarming gift, she’d called it. Oh how I love that term. I’ve moved twice when I’ve been pregnant and once with a newborn and each time the concept of warming a house seemed like the most treasured accomplishment.

Spices. What a clever idea. If you think about it, usually the box hiding the spices is one of the last you find. It’s not an essential thing to get to. Giving spices is a simple rather inexpensive gesture, but one that spoke volumes to me about “warming my house.” Bay leaves, Italian seasonings and basil (come on, what is better than basil?) and a handful of other unique spices huddled together in a box for me to pick up and smell one by one. Her gesture moved me. So much so that the next time I purchase a housewarming gift for someone I will buy spices.

Have you given much thought to reaching out when a new neighbor moves in?

Finding Rest in a Busy World

2009-08-21T15:49:00.000-05:00

If I could figure out a business model for making a full time salary by just keeping busy, I'd be a multi-millionaire. I'm not trying to brag here, but I'm really good at not resting.

Many times I think of what it would be like to live in the early 1800's or 1900's when life seemed so simple. The truth is, if I lived back then, I would probably find a way to organize the chicken coop.

I'm holding onto Matthew 11:28 today,

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Case in point: As my 2 year old and 4 week old are currently sleeping, my husband just said, "So, you are going to stay up and write a blog post about resting?"

Need I say more?

Discouraged? Yeah, Me Too... So Let's Fix It !

2009-08-17T11:31:00.000-05:00

Ok. I've started writing this blog post about 3 different times and deleted them all. I sit down and have lots of passion and lots of things to say, UNTIL it's time to say it. Now I've got nuthin'. That makes me discouraged!

So instead of me sitting here telling you about all the things that discourage me and how I'm going to fix them (because I have no idea yet...) I want to point you to a brand new blog that will brighten your day: (In)Courage: Take Hope To The Heart. In fact, one of our former Live Beautiful writers - Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect is a contributor!

My Mom's Hands

2009-08-17T11:11:00.002-05:00

This is one of those days I want to feel the soft touch of my mom’s hands. Since I can remember she lathered her hands with lotion. As a child, I believed there was nothing as tender as her hands, styling French braids in my hair, patting my leg after a recital or clasping my hand at the tenuous nervous times of my life.

My mom’s hands are still intimate reminders of her love for me. While I was growing up she reached out time after time, physically showing me she cared. Each time I gave birth to one of my girls, I looked forward to them curling their tiny hands around one of my fingers, securing their grasp. I awaited the connection we’d share in the way we held hands.

I think the reason I appreciate my mom’s hands so much is because they signify safety to me. I felt safe if she was holding me or squeezing my hands. She pumped confidence into me when she’d squeeze her hand over mine.

Rivers of veins tunnel in her hands and are even more pronounced now than they were when I was a child. The pads of her fingers, still delicate and gentle have communicated volumes of comfort in my life. I miss my mom. I miss her kind touch and how she’s reached out in such memorable ways. I only hope as I tie my girls’ shoes and fix ponytails in their hair and wipe food from their mouths that they experience such softness from my hands.

I thank God for how my mom held me in her hands. I thank God that He holds us all in His hands.

Owen is here - and I'm back! Sort of...

2009-08-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

The last three weeks have been a blur. My mom has been in town taking care of Cali and helping with meals and cleaning as I figure out how to take care of a newborn again. It's only been two years and, for the most part, I got the hang of things quickly this time! Other than a huge pain-in-the-boob time with breast feeding (and getting that dreaded mastitis), things are going smoothly... today.

Today is the first day mom is not in town; today is the first day my husband is out doing work. Today is the first day that I've had both kids - ALONE for more than an hour. And right now, they are both sleeping. I probably should be too!

I'm excited about this new chapter in my life. It means new opportunities for our family, but it also means letting go of some old things. I'm finding that life can keep throwing things at you and you can't possibly catch them all. And that's okay! We're not meant to be everything to everyone. It's freeing to be able to say "ya know what? That's just not for me and my family right now."

Here's a peek at Owen Franklin Lewis - born July 22nd at 8:56 PM. 7 lbs 2 oz 20 in long. He loves snuggling with daddy!

Mosaic of Love

2009-08-03T09:23:00.002-05:00

This mosaic my sister made for me years ago reminds me of the variety of ways our God loves us. The Bible mentions that God disciplines those He loves. In Zephaniah, we read that God sings over us and quiets us. We also know God loves by healing, by listening and by challenging us to, “Go.”

There are countless examples of how God loves us and ALL of them are good. This framed mosaic depicts one of the most dramatic and most powerful demonstrations of how God loves us; He sent his only Son to die for us. As I study the mosaic, I notice that it’s made of dozens of red shards of glass. For me this is a beautiful symbol of not only all the unique ways God shows His love for us, but how we are offered an opportunity to respond every day. We can live aware of His sacrifice or we can live oblivious to it.

Every single day we are gifted with eyes to see and believe that what God did for us changes our present state of living. The mosaic signifies a choice and a decision we have to live either thirsting for and knowing God or ignoring and refusing Him. What drives this point of decision home for me are the broken pieces of glass. All things broken become whole with Him. He mends, He fixes and He fuses. And He does this because of the blood He shed.

The mosaic is on my living room wall. I’m grateful to my sister for it. I’m thankful for its message. I’m infinitely grateful to a God who loves in infinite ways.

The art of accessorizing.

2009-08-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

As we all have figured out by now, times are tough and you can't necessarily go on a big shopping spree for a whole new wardrobe. Personally, I've been having a tough time fighting the urge, but i'm fighting it! A solution has been found! Accessorizing is the perfect way to spice up an outfit, and bring something out in a shirt that you've already worn more times than should be allowed. So next time you are fretting over what to wear, and have not a clue because your wardrobe looks drab and boring, spice it up with a colorful necklace, some fashionable earrings you;ve had laying around for ages, or put a ribbon in your hair!

What are some other ways you freshen what you're wearing?

All in a Day

2009-07-30T20:59:00.003-05:00

Yes, we all know that I can talk, and talk, and talk. But can I speak? I guess I'm getting ready to find out. I'm sitting in my hotel room, laptop still completely out of whack (more on that later), thinking about my upcoming weekend.

A few months ago, I signed up to attend the upcoming She Speaks Conference. Well, it's finally here, and I feel completely unprepared. So far, I've only been here for about 4 hours, and already I've discovered that I forgot my snacks (not a good thing for a gal who has food allergies and can't order even one snack off the room service menu even if I wanted to spend that much money); I forgot my hairspray (really bad for limp hair and lots of humidity... at least I can solve that problem since they do have a salon downstairs, but again, it's going to be pricey); I forgot to order the business cards that I was going to be sure to hand out this year since I forgot them last year; I forgot to bring any socks, and this hotel definitely does not seem to have a problem with utility bills since the room is freezing in the middle of summer, but perhaps worst of all... I left my laptop sitting out last week, and an unnamed little angel pulled off about 13 of my keys.

Now, normally, this would not be such a big deal; but I had to go and get a light-weight Mac Air. Apparently, they are the only ones that have to be completely disassembled in order to get the keys back on. I mean, really? There's no way to do that in the shop? And it's going to cost $250+, and, oh, you did understand, Ms. Mueller, that it would take 5-7 business days, you understand that it is not calendar but BUSINESS days, right? And this is just an estimate, so the price might go up. Seriously? Two hundred and fifty dollars and two weeks because my darling son pulled off some keys?

So, tonight, I'm sitting here typing incredibly slower thanks to all the missing keys and wondering if all of this is due to my distracted and nervous state all week, if it is supposed to be a welcome distraction to keep me from worrying about the speaking that I will be evaluated on over the next couple of days, or perhaps a challenge to see how I can write without using "O" "L" "S" "F" "H" "Y" along with a bit of punctuation and numbers. Honestly though, I'm grateful that I have a computer and a son, so I'll focus instead on where I am and what I do have.

How about you? Can you relate to a day like this? Tell me about a time when things went completely out of control.

Mommy See, Mommy Do?

2009-07-28T05:29:00.001-05:00

As someone who has struggled with healthy eating and even [shudder!] dieting for the majority of my life, I have been determined that my daughter will grow up with healthy habits.

[Disclaimer: It's not that my parents didn't try. So I'm not saying that I'm determined to do something they didn't. Just, you know, better.]

Fortunately, my kiddo has been a great eater for most her life. Born just over seven weeks early, she was on a feeding tube for her first several days. The nurses had all told me she'd need that tube for at least another week when one night, she just yanked it out herself!

And, really, she's never looked back.

Now that we are entering the toddler stage, her good eating habits only show up every other day or so. But still, she does a pretty good job.

So do I, if I do say so myself. I make sure each of her meals has meat, fruit and veggies. And sweet treats are kept to a minimum. She only drinks milk and water, and I watch the sugar and sodium content of any snacks we buy. And so far, we haven't had to have the cereal argument - she's content with plain Cheerios.

Today I'm wondering, though: Why is it that I can prepare healthy, balanced meals for my daughter but not for myself? Why can I have the discipline to ensure she gets the nutrients her body needs but have no discipline to do the same for my own body?

Hmmmm. It does make me wonder. Perhaps this mom needs to learn a lesson or two from her kiddo!

What good habits could you learn from your kids? Or from kids in general?

The Story of New

2009-07-27T08:50:00.001-05:00

Recently I got wind that some new things have happened. New things, that’s what I’ll be writing about today and when I write those words I’m not referring so much to things bought at a mall. Instead, I’m referring to the morning after a good cry when your perspective is fresh and the slate feels clean. I’m talking about a budding crocus or the way a baby’s fingers wrap tentatively around your pointer finger. Newness comes in the form of hugs after a fight, the splash of sun across the bed quilt, a brown package containing that book you’ve been dying to read. New is without blemish or stain. It’s crisp, clean and rattling with life.

Other examples of new are expressions a child makes upon seeing their first rainbow, firefly, ladybug or slug for that matter. Newness radiates in the look of child tasting lime for the first time, jumping their first rope and successfully tying their shoes. New-fangled joy over positive results, rain drenching freckled faces, and snow swirling through late fall air, all tell the story of new.

Just a reminder, God says He has the power to make us new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Here’s to NEW!