I can never sleep very well the night before a big trip. I wake up over and over again, checking the clock each time…half hoping I have a few more hours to sleep and half hoping it’s time to get up and GO!
I do have a few more hours to sleep, but gave up a little while ago.
I’m too excited to sleep.
I am starting out on my own this trip~ meeting some girls in Florida for a Writer’s Retreat. I met Tarryn Fisher through a writer’s group we did back in the Spring and we’ve stayed in touch. (If you haven’t read The Opportunist yet, you should.) She was working on a retreat and when she found out I was going to be in Florida, she scheduled it around my trip. I cannot wait to meet her in person. We’ve emailed back and forth, become Facebook friends (she’s hysterical) and talked on the phone once. We covered a LOT of ground in the phone conversation. I’m pretty sure she’s crazy (in the best way) and I love her.
So now that that’s settled, I am off to meet her and a handful of other writers that I’m excited to meet. Not only are we going to have fun, but we are going to WRITE. It is something I have looked forward to for a LONG time. I can’t believe it’s finally here.
Take a look at what I’ll be seeing for a few days…
Oh yes.
I’m packing for a long stretch. The family will be meeting me along the way and we will continue the vacation fun. I think I’ll keep you posted every now and then, but you just never know…the ocean might carry me away…
The last two nights I have fallen asleep at old lady hours…and had a brief interlude with 4 AM each morning…thankfully, sleep came to me again for another couple hours. I feel like a new woman.
It’s a good thing.
Saturday, I woke up and knew my brain was fried.
Just plumb tuckered out…that’s Southern for really, REALLY tired.
Side note: Apparently “plum” is acceptable now to replace “plumb”…who knew? I still like plumb.
I could not think what to make my company for lunch. And it was my brother and the fam, so it wasn’t that it had to be all grand or anything. I wondered around the store, aimlessly, even with a list. And normally, I make my list in the order of the aisles~ my husband especially appreciates that about me. This time, I was up and down the aisles and back and forth a dozen plus times.
And then I left all the groceries at the grocery store.
I was halfway home and realized I had nothing in the back seat.
Fried.
It reminded me of the story of how my grandfather, Paka, couldn’t remember how to get home from the store one day. It was the first sign that he had Alzheimer’s.
Every now and then I’ll see someone I know VERY well and blank out on their name and think about Paka.
I really want to remember. Especially all the good stuff. All my loved ones and the fun times…I hope it doesn’t go away.
I pulled off lunch. Nate bought me a HUMONGOUS pot at Thanksgiving time. I made Chicken Enchilada soup~ doubled the recipe~ and it looked so tiny in this pot that I began adding more and more and more…until I filled the pot up. We have enough soup for the whole week, 3 times a day, if we’d like.
Take that, Alzheimer’s.
It was wonderful to see my niece, Brittney~ I haven’t seen her in 10 years! She’s all grown up into a lovely woman. I’m kicking myself for not getting a single picture of the day. I’m blaming my complete space out, but no one else thought of it either, so I guess we’re all going off our rockers.
Sounds like sleep, vitamins and crossword puzzles are in my future. Any other helpful tips?
Lollygagging on the couch~ ha, that word makes me smile…lollygagging
Watching TV
Staring out into space
Even, gasp, reading~ I have a hard time thinking reading is wasting time, but sometimes, I suppose…
Those are the typical time wasters…
I’m talking about the other type…
Pouring love into people who don’t want it
Giving chance after chance to someone who doesn’t seem to notice
Mentoring…only for that person to walk away
Maybe this doesn’t happen in your life. I can’t imagine it NOT happening, but maybe your job or your relationship styles prevent these things from happening to you. If so, I’d like to know what you’re doing…maybe I can sneak into your suitcase and live YOUR life!
Sorry, bad joke.
This is a common part of my life and sometimes I get so weary from it, so brokenhearted, I just want to hole up, not love another single person, spread my mother wings over my little family and protect us all…forever.
But I can’t.
I’m compelled to love.
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Luke 10:27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When I’m having a good day, I realize that none of my love is wasted…on anyone. Ever.
Recently I heard our dear friend, Jason Gray, sing this song and was reminded again that this is true. I will try to remember it the next time I hurt for what seems like wasted time.
Nothing is Wasted
Jason Gray/Jason Ingram/Doug McKelvey
The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope’s a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow
And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
It’s from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what’s lost will be found again
And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
From the ruins
From the ashes
Beauty will rise
From the wreckage
From the darkness
Glory will shine
Whyyy is my alarm going off in the middle of the night?
Oh wait…it’s 6:30. AM.
UGH.
It’s pitch black outside.
There’s something wrong with this picture.
It is with a sad heart that I send my kids back to school. I do so enjoy seeing their sweet faces during the day, slow leisurely mornings and staying up later at night…
However…it will be good to get back into a routine. My house needs to get back to a routine too, if you know what I mean. Somehow, it gets so much more cluttered with the kids around all the time. And there’s something about the New Year…even though I don’t plan to do resolutions…there is still a reevaluation ticking off in my head of what is going to be different and BETTER this year. My house is in that category. Oh yes.
There are so many exciting things happening this month. I can’t wait to tell you about them all…but I will. My lips are sealed a little while longer. Oh OK, I can’t take it~ let’s just say, it involves writing, friends, plane rides, Mickey, cruise ship, and tropics…EEEKK!
Now that THAT cat is out of the bag, sorta…you can probably see why my mind has been going a mile a minute. Not only is there so much to do BEFORE…money to be saved, swimsuits to be procured (ahem), work to get done…but, it is somewhat challenging to not wish the days away until the fun comes. I’m doing my best to be in the moment…truly! But if you see me drifting off into lala land, you’ll know I’m already on the beach.
Soooo, back to today, right now…
If you didn’t see yesterday’s comments, you should go back and look at them for some great book recommendations. Please keep book suggestions coming at all times, I can’t get enough. You should see my To Read list! It’s a mile long.
Winter finally blew in on New Year’s Eve. I’m trying to pretend that howling wind is the ocean~ at night it’s been working, try it! A beautiful snow covered the brown that has been somewhat freakishly eying us the last few months and the wind has nearly blown it away again.
It had to happen sometime. Didn’t it? The tundra is inevitable, I’m pretty sure. So let’s just go with it.
Nothing says COZY like a good book.
If you haven’t read the following books, you might like to give these a try…
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is a fictional account of a journalist who uncovers secrets in her own family while writing about the Vel d’Hiv round up, which took place in Paris during the War. The story follows Julia, the journalist, and Sarah, the little girl whose family was captured. There are gut-wrenching moments in this story that will forever stay with me. We watched the movie over the weekend and it closely followed the book. The DVD also has extensive special features~ often my favorite part of a movie. This book is especially worth reading.
I’ve written about this series before, but it bears repeating…
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I got on this bandwagon late and read them all within a few days…I don’t like waiting for a sequel, so this works! It’s crazy to even explain what it’s about. It’s a “young adult adventure science fiction” series, but pretty violent for anyone very young. The twists will keep you guessing until the very end. (I’m Team Peeta, by the way.) I’m nervous about them wrecking the story with a movie, but we shall see…maybe it will be done right.
If you prefer nonfiction, anything by Donald Miller, Anne Lamott or Madeleine L’Engle will be worthwhile.
My daughter adores the Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L’Engle…
And I adore this one…
Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle is another favorite of mine. And Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. And The War of Art by Steven Pressfield…and I could go on forever…
Think you don’t have enough time to read? I used to think so too. And since my deepest wish is to read or write 24 hours a day, I’ll probably never feel there’s enough time in the day for it…however, once I gave up the idea of long, leisurely reading and just took whatever time I could get, it began to work.
Did you know besides the obvious~ reading before bed, in the tub, or while waiting for your kids during their dentist appointments, you can also read while…
Brushing your teeth
Waiting for the coffee
Boiling water
At a stoplight
Any time a football game is playing
On the dentist’s chair or doctor’s table~ he/she can work around you!
Do you have a favorite place to read? Growing up, I had a window seat in my bedroom where I spent hours reading. It was such a wonderful spot. Now, I like to read on our front porch swing or in the red chair in our Cozy Daisy. (That’s what Greyley dubbed our family room when we moved in.) Anywhere by windows is nice…
So, happy reading! If you have any favorites to recommend, I’m all ears.
*Reading now: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone...
Happy 3rd Anniversary to Girly Muse! 3 years and 722 posts later and I still get a kick out of writing this blog. It wouldn’t be the same without you. Thanks for hanging with me all this time. If you’re new around here, welcome.
Since resolutions are such a big part of the New Year, I feel I should come up with some, but I’ve actually given them up in the last couple of years. Last year, my resolution was to be happy and By George, it took me a full year to get there. Not really, but some days felt that way. I’m grateful to be in a better place all the way around this year…whew. I can’t tell you what a relief that is.
If I could have one wish for this year, it would be to continue the goals I have already put into motion…
Go forward, don’t look back.
Continue eating healthy food and drinking lots of water.
Exercise more. (This is the one that needs extra work right now)
Have more fun and be more fun, especially at home…
Write more. Finish my book. Get brave about publishing, etc.
You know, those sorts of goals…nothing new for me, really. What makes it feel easier to accomplish is that I don’t have the sudden urge to make everything better all at once just because it’s the beginning of the year. I’m feeling that tug to do better on a regular basis, day in and day out, plugging away on what really does make me happier at the end of the day.
Anyhoo…what about you, are you doing resolutions this year?
I’ve made some changes around here, can you tell? I hope you’ll check it all out…take a little tour. There’s even new things in the shop.
Oh! And I’ve been pestered by certain someones to start a Girly Muse facebook page…so I finally did. Still figuring it all out, but come say hello. XO
There’s a good feeling in the air…hope. I like it.
*Thank you so much, Matt Khoury, for the new look and the new pictures!
Happy last week of December! I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays. Christmas has come and gone and now there is the feeling of Newness in the air. For now, though, I’d like to recap on the past week.
Last Friday, our Youth Choir Christmas concert was so much fun. It was bittersweet because our fearless choir director, Steve, is being promoted to Media Director at our church. He has been part of the Youth Choir for 20 years and will be desperately missed. Thankfully, he is not going anywhere, really…we will all still be working together. AND…we are so excited for all the great things he’s about to do.
If you haven’t heard, we still don’t have snow. We had a brown Christmas. And I was completely OK with it! I just cannot bring myself to wish for snow. It’s been so mild and I know it’s bound to hit eventually.
This is my son’s idea of winter wear.
It broke his heart for me to tell him the shorts weren’t fit for the cold.
He won.
What? It was in the upper 30s!
Christmas was wonderful. My late sleeper, Greyley Kate, woke up bright and early. We waited for the little man to wake up and it didn’t take too long.
Here are the two lovebirds waiting to go downstairs…
And the Silly Sabins in their Matchy-Match Jammies
Indigo LOVED Greyley’s present to him
This was my present from Indie:
All day long the kids said, “This is the best Christmas EVER!” And it really was. We gave them stockings and then surprised them with an Air Hockey table. (We found the Air Hockey table at Goodwill~ what a FIND!) They played together all day and are still hooked on the game.
The next day, the family came over…we had an Italian Christmas. DELICIOUS. It just might be my favorite…although I really enjoyed Mexican Christmas and Greek Christmas too…no, Italian Christmas was the winner, pretty sure of it.
Take a look at this sweet and gorgeous family…
love
One of the best, most relaxing, fun Christmases I can remember…
The next night, we had a party for Steve…also Italian themed.
And then the next day, I crashed…after I took down the Christmas decorations.
This weekend has more fun in store…
I am looking forward to 2012. The year 2011 was a challenging one, to say the least. I am excited to bring in a new year. I will see you then! XO
Today is the beginning of our Christmas break. Woohooooo! It was so nice to have a leisurely morning…made it feel like Christmas really is around the corner.
Tonight is the ABCYC Christmas concert…always my favorite concert of the year. (7 PM, 1545 Dieter Street, St. Paul 55106)
Here’s an oldie, but goodie. Jesus, You’re Beautiful~ written by my husband and featuring Ashleigh Still…
Is it wrong that I want to call her my little Brace Face?
The very best part of her day was hearing the orthodontist tell us to stock up on ice cream. We did NOT see that coming. I think that might have convinced her that braces are the greatest thing EVER!
Until before bed, when the soreness kicked up a few notches…here’s hoping that the pain is minimal and that these braces do the trick. They’ve said it might even help lessen the migraines! Oh, please Lord, let it be!
This time, I was up and down the aisles and back and forth a dozen plus times.
