Telling Vignettes

I was sitting at the kitchen table, reading my devotional, Holley Gerth's What your Heart Needs for the Hard Days, a daily habit I started about 3 weeks ago.  I say 'daily habit'... I read one segment a day... and I've read about 7 so far, so you can see how the 'daily' thing is going!

Anyway, she was giving me new insight into the 23rd Psalm... how the green pastures aren't just clean, cool, and refreshing, as I'd imagined, but for sheep they're also sustenance/food. And since these life necessities are offered, we don't need to worry so much, and can rest in that promise. I was staring off, thinking about this new idea when I brought my gaze into focus, and saw this counter.  Not happily, I realized it was a vignette representative of my life right now...

First of all, it's messy, disorganized, and like many areas, rooms, and surfaces of our home, there are things there that don't belong.

Other things evidenced in this scene:

• We have medical and dietary issues going on in the family that often mean different meals for each person.  For this, I am sorely unprepared (I keep not thinking ahead and having to 'punt' at each meal time), as well as the whole individual meal situation being frustrating, inefficient, and expensive.

• Unpaid bills and pieces of mail with which I know not what to do taunt me.  I am in charge of mail, bills, and all things paperwork around here.  I've done it for 32+ years, but it's not my strong point, and it's all catching up with me.  The balls I used to juggle so well, to keep everything up-to-date and to know where everything is, even if not filed neatly, are all falling around me.

• A box from a charger symbolizes our (over)use of technology.

• Pet care items remind me one dog needs grooming and all our pets need shots.

• Food items and gadgets show the projects my family starts, but leaves me to clean up.

• The stack of books represent all those I mean to read but haven't, and the notebook is full of lists and project ideas yet to get past the 'write-it-down-before-I-forget' stage.

After stewing in frustration and overwhelm for a moment, uncharacteristically, I decided not to let that counter view define my day. I decided to unfocus from that, and, instead, "be present" for myself and my art today...To let my soul breathe...thank you, Emily P. Freeman! (You don't know Emily, her blog, or her books?  I highly recommend any.)

THIS is the type of vignette I'd prefer to represent my life...  

...A closeness to God and His Word, and letting my creative projects out of the notebook and into existence!

Today, I decided to take a Bible verse Prince Go-for-It and I had briefly discussed earlier, and make it into the wall canvas that had drawn itself in my mind.  







Unfortunately, my mind didn't create a background for it, so it is an example of my long-fought weakness in reaching design 'completeness' in my projects.  But I was pleasantly surprised that my rusty lettering skills still served me pretty well, and I'm attempting to be less 'neat' and less of a perfectionist, so this project certainly fits that bill!  

I enjoyed myself and it was relaxing.  A win for today.  --Not that it made the pile of bills disappear or the countertop properly organized.  Somehow, I want to simplify to be rid of that first vignette and live more often amongst the second. 

It doesn't seem like accepting a gift should be so difficult, but worry, busyness, and living in constant crisis distract us. Taking time to let my creative ideas come to life is a way of accepting the gift offered in Psalm 23... a version of 'lying down in green pastures and restoring my soul.'  

Finding my Way

I ordered myself 2 new books a month or so ago...I knew I 'shouldn't' because I had so many others waiting to be read. But I needed to understand more about my NEED to be creative and make art, and the voices in my head (mine and others from my life) getting in my way. I made myself a rule... Actually read the first one, Art & Fear, without stopping...that is to say, without getting distracted by starting to read anything else.

Art & Fear. For me, like taking a class for $7

I'm glad I ordered it and I'm glad I dove right in. I got a lot out of it. I loved reading it as much as if I was going to a really good class, so sticking with it took no particular discipline. 

Finding quiet time to read and absorb was the biggest challenge, but that's what alone-time in the car... with only the light from my phone during Prince CuddleBunny's baseball practice... is for!

Besides a lot of underlining and taking notes, in beginning to feel ok about my own ideas, I sketched right onto the pages! I have so many projects in mind, I hope I remember them all. I suppose only that ones that should will get lost in the shuffle and process.

I think I am finding MY voice... Or, actually, understanding that MY voice, expressed MY way, is all that's needed for MY art. It's not more or less than what anyone else can produce. I can't control how others will respond, so there is no value in worrying about it. As the author explained, all artists are different in what they have to offer and how they express it, but we're all the same in that we can only produce our true and best art, at least figuratively, alone in a room, and with who we are as individuals as the source. It's about accepting myself, which isn't a new concept in the self-help world, and, certainly, something I'd heard and read before, but maybe I am just starting to 'get it.' At approximately 56 and 11 months... Better late than never.

I felt sad to get to the end of the book. I've experienced that before, but this is a first, I think, for non-fiction! I went back through it to review my underlines and notes, to better imbed what I'd found important. 

Ha!  I just noticed that the title is printed
on the mailing label.  So much for my surprise!

I highly recommend this book for those with a yen, even a mostly hidden one, for being creative! Art can be a lot of things, and I think a lot of people have an artist in them, waiting to come out from behind all sorts of negative comments or perceptions, a view that such things shouldn't be an important priority among life's demands, or a lack of confidence. Artists aren't born great, and they're not more special than you are. They just get in and DO. --And practice, and fail, and do some more.

Now I get to open the envelope that has locked the 2nd book away from my view ever since it arrived...I don't even remember what it is! It'll be a surprise gift to myself.




This post includes Amazon affiliate links.

Yeah, What She Said...and He Said

A couple bits of wisdom I read recently that have spoken to me...  I thought you might enjoy them, too.

"When I say I am a perfectionist, what I am really doing is just giving my fear of failure a pretty label.  Perfectionist.  Instead of insecure.  Perfectionist.  Instead of fearful." 

Susan Stearns, in Crazy Tuesdays

"Youth is still where you left it, and that's where it should stay.  Anything worth taking on life's journey, you'll already have taken with you."

"Arthur," in Wedding Night: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella

Have You Met...

...William Wilberforce?

Maybe you saw the highly rated movie, Amazing Grace.  (If not, I highly recommend it.)  I know I'd heard of him before I saw it, but I didn't know anything about him.  I've learned even more from the chapter dedicated to him in 7 Men and the Secret of their Greatness.

He was, with the Lord's help (he'd be the first to give the glory to God), instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade, and then slavery in England, decades before the Civil War in the United States.  

He wasn't a Christian until he was an adult and already in Parliament.  He struggled with how to mesh his new and strong faith with his political life.  He gave up gambling and men's clubs to concentrate on God's plan for his life.  After much prayer and guidance sent by God, much of it through the amazing people he encountered in his life, he saw that he could best work for God by staying in politics. He zeroed in on 2 purposes for his life: To abolish the slave trade and reform the manners of society.

By manners, I don't mean which fork to use at dinner, but much greater issues. There were big divides in England's society of the time.  The "upper crust" of society thought the poor 'deserved' their station in life and to help them would be against what some now would refer to as 'karma.' Drinking and carousing were major sport, as were sexual exploits.  25% of women were forced into prostitution.  Extensive child labor was common. Anyone who truly believed in God and lived with any sort of faith, other than attending church on Sundays for social reasons, was looked upon as a fanatic.  

Wilberforce became a role model.  He eschewed immoral behavior, and unlike most men of his time, gave time to his family and actually played with his children.  He had a heart for anyone who was unfairly used or abused. In Parliament and other dealings in regard to his feelings about slavery, he was able to stay above the fray, respecting his opponents and understanding that the whole society, including himself, had been part of the problem.  He received grace from God, and gave it to those around him. This opened doors and helped him be heard, and resulted in great changes in England and the world.

This is just a quick recap. I have not done his life, nor the book's description of it, justice here.  

I want to remember what I learned from the life and example of William Wilberforce.  In fact, I want to know more about how he lived his faith on a daily basis, so plan to read the book, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery.  (It was written while or after the movie was in production, but is a more comprehensive and accurate biography, not based on the movie.)

I think the way the life of Wilberforce has grabbed my attention, and the revelation I wrote about last week are related, each helping me better understand the other, and give me a new view of the purpose and/or direction of my life.

 - What I want to take away from his story is the ability to live for the Lord in every word and deed of my life, like he did.  --To do everything to the glory and honor of God. 

 - I want practice grace; to avoid judging those who don't agree with me, but show them love, with genuine regard and interest, and understand that they may not be convicted in the same areas.
                                                          
 - I want to remember that it's okay not to do EVERYthing, but to concentrate only on those things which God intended especially for me.  

As a "Jill-of-all-trades," knowing what I should choose is difficult in itself.  One thing I do know, though, is that I can let go of feeling guilty over things others may want me to do, that just aren't what I need to do right now.

Monday Movie Madness

Back to my healthy breakfast:
plain Greek yogurt, almonds,
& a squirt of Blue Agave nectar

I have noticed symptoms that warn me I am 'running on empty.' - Interrupted sleep pattern, nervousness, cold all the time, feeling overwhelmed and an inability to cope.

The answers to that are always adequate rest, healthy diet, exercise... blah, blah, blah.



But another stress reliever/relaxation remedy is fun and, of course, laughter.  They don't say it's the best medicine for nothin'.

Sometimes it's OK to just take the afternoon off and watch a fun movie, like we did last Monday.  

We had a DVD left over from our weekend RedBox rental, and didn't want it to go to waste!  Besides, it's about getting into college... so educational for homeschoolers, right?  ;-)

We watched Admission.  

Admission with Tina Fey & Paul Rudd,
 plus Lily Tomlin

From the advertisements, we expected a light-hearted and silly, romantic comedy.  I think that's, perhaps, why it has mixed and, mostly, 3-star reviews on Amazon from those who expected more laughs.There were funny parts, but the characters had deeper issues and past baggage with which they struggled.  These challenges included issues revolving around parent-child relationships, life dreams, career choices, and aging, and were given due respect in the movie, I think.

It was still fun, and definitely entertaining.  I really enjoyed this movie.  A nice break from our usual routine. 


Speaking of movies, though...  Based on this weekend's experience, if you find yourself standing in front of RedBox on a Saturday night and many of the movies have been rented, like we did, and the only one that looks at all interesting is "The Host,"turn around, drive home, and play cards, read, or opt to go to bed early, like we didn't.  

The original book was written by Stephanie Meyer, the woman who wrote the Twilight series, which my kids love, and, admittedly, I am not fond, but did get sucked in when the movies were playing in our house.  The same people produced this movie.  I think it was supposed to be Sci-Fi Romance?  We all, kids included, agreed that it was not the best use of our time..  Tiresome, "hokie," and ridiculous, and I have nothing good to say about it.  Oh, wait... Prince Inventive liked the Justin-Bieberish, shiny, chrome sports cars the aliens drove.  :D

31 Days at The Nesting Place

A Reading Respite

I feel so self-pampered when I take the time to enjoy a good book.  I can go far too long without allowing myself this "luxury."  But it can feed my mind and my soul, and refreshes me, so I would do better to have at least one book going all the time.  

I am trying to remember to always take a book with me, so in those guaranteed moments of waiting in the car for kids at various times and in various places, I have something worthwhile to while away the time.  And, of course, it always helps keep me reading to delve into a book I don't want to put down!  And these are 3 that have done that for me recently...

Crazy Tuesdays: Courageously choosing fun and free-spirited parenting was authored by the daughter of friends of ours.  She is a Christian military wife, and mother of 2 toddlers, and shares about their life together. Truthfully, I wondered if a mom of such young ones could have something to say to more seasoned wives and moms, since she has such a long way to go in the motherhood experience.  But I know her to be bright and clever, so I ordered her book.  

The evening it arrived, I meant to just glance at the opening pages before I started dinner.  I soon found myself past the title and intro pages, and to Chapter 3!  Granted, Chapter 3 meant I was only to page 7, but by then, as cliche' as it sounds, I'd laughed, I'd cried, and I'd found deep insight into my own psyche through what she'd shared about herself. It's a short book, with short chapters, so a quick and very fun read... but with lots to get from those comparatively few pages.

Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness is the book we're reading for our church small group.  It's not meant as a Bible study book, but describes the lives of 7 (surprise!) men (surprise again!) in history and how they gave of themselves to serve others and follow God's leading. The short biographies of each man are packed with interesting information.  The book addresses the concept of what it means to be a great man, or to be manly, and what that has meant in previous eras, which, unfortunately, is in stark comparison to what we often see now.  That doesn't mean it isn't interesting to women, as we can all learn something about how we all serve as role models, intended or not, and how we might do better.  

The men discussed are an interesting and varied assortment: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II, and Charles Colson.


The Rosie Project: A Novel is pure fun!!  This is the only one of the 3 here that I've finished.  I loved it, and was so aggravated the few times I forgot to take it along to read in spare moments.  I looked forward to it, and would use it for motivation, like as a 'reward' for getting to bed early.  I was convinced to read it by the review by one of my favorite British chick lit authors, Sophie Kinsella, whose description included "quirky," "endearing," and "laughed the whole way through."  I love her novels because they're romantic, yes, but mostly, funny, so if she thought it was that entertaining, it was worth a try.  

Don is a character much like 'Sheldon' on The Big Bang Theory television show, a buttoned-up, socially-challenged scientist, most likely dealing with Asperger's Syndrome.  (I had a hard time picturing him without seeing Sheldon. Since he was supposed to be Australian, I wish I could have shaken that image. Trying to imagine Keith Urban in the role didn't work, LOL.)  He has some interesting ideas about friendship and marital relationships.  He gets caught up in helping Rosie, who is someone he would've never considered as a proper prospect for either, and of course, hilarity ensues.  

The ending is a little hokey maybe, but, for the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed every one of the 300+ pages.  The only sad thing is that this is Graeme Simsion's first novel, so I have to wait awhile to read another!  

The maybe good news is that The Rosie Project is probably going to be made into a movie.  After my disappointment in the movies made from Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada, though, I am nervous.  But the movie based on Bridget Jones's Diary, was delightfully true to its book, so I have hope that justice is done for "Rosie," too.

31 Days at The Nesting Place

An Apple - Just the Facts, Ma'm

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  

We've all heard that old adage throughout our lives.  Of course, it means apples will help you retain your health so that you don't need a doctor.  But do apples do this?  And how?



I have to admit that I never before looked up the nutritional info on apples.  I've known that the skin offers a good source of fiber, and as a fresh fruit, it must offer some healthful vitamins... but that's about all I could tell you for certain.





So, if you're like me, and really know little about apples, and why you might want to grab one or include them in your kids' lunches, here is a little more to back up that decision *(for source, see image & caption below):

*My source.  I was introduced to this book in college.
When my college text fell apart from use,
I just had to get myself another.
Bowes and Church's
Food Values of Portions Commonly Used

1 medium apple (138 grams) offers:

81 calories
0.5 grams fat
0 grams cholesterol
1 mg sodium
0.3 grams protein
21 grams carbohydrates... 3.7 grams of that is fiber (eat the skin!) and 18.4 grams are sugar


According to the USDA, quoted here, apples provide
10% of an adult's daily requirement of Vitamin C
1-3 % of an adult's daily requirement each of some B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Iron, and Calcium



So although apples don't offer many vitamins and minerals in appreciable amounts, the Vitamin C level is helpful.  Vitamin C supports the immune system, which should help keep those doctor visits to a minimum. 

Most of the fiber is in the skin, but as long as you eat that, it meets 12% of the daily recommended amount of fiber. (Wash it good, of course, since the skin is where any contaminants may be, also) Fiber is good for colon health, and also benefits weight control, energy levels, and heart health, according to WebMD.

Since over 90% of the calories in an apple are in carbohydrates, and mostly sugar, at that, it is advisable to have some protein and fat when you eat your apple for a snack or meal... Maybe nuts or nut butter, a piece of cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt (not too sweet), meat, poultry, or eggs.  

My kids don't feel their lunches are complete without an apple.  They are old enough now to care about what's healthy and to give up old previous desired treats, like chips and cookies.  They are glad to be able to keep their apples.

31 Days at The Nesting Place

Parent-Kid Date: Prince Stoic

In November, when we took Princess Sassy and Prince Steadfast along for a couples' weekend, and in December, when we took Princess Bossy and Prince Helium to Portland's Powell's City of Books and Flying Pie Pizzeria, we were reminded of the summer we did individual outings with our kids.  We took each to somewhere or something special, as they requested and we could afford.  These dates were so enjoyed by all of us, that we vowed to continue them as a yearly thing.  That was the summer I found out I was pregnant with Prince CuddleBunny...so 9 years ago!  Being obviously quite overdue, we prompted the kids to think of date destinations.

http://www.the1moto.com

I thought maybe we'd have to prod Prince Stoic a little extra to come up with a suggestion, but he had one right away.  He wanted to go to Portland, too, but instead of Powell's, which he also loves, he chose The One Motorcycle Show.  

There he could combine his interests in motorcycles and photography.

This event had all sorts of special motorcycles, many vintage or antique. --All beloved, and many of them jazzed up in one way or another.  














This one had a lot of work and detail put into it, to be sure

...And this one had high-tech additions to stay connected while on the road.





































But this one is much more my style... Jazzy, a little bling, but still sleek and sophisticated... 

Classy.

Hubby, having ridden motorcycles when younger, and the prince could talk clutches, starters, CCs, and "monoshocks."  I could say things like, "This one looks cool."

This was a German model from the mid 1930s.  Hard to
imagine it existed years before the one Steve McQueen
zipped around on to evade the Germans in one
of our family's favorites, The Great Escape.
I have always thought that's who most guys
on bikes want to be... If not, maybe they should.  ;-)

All 3 of us had fun, looking at the bikes, and spending the day together.  
































A lot of the attendees arrived by motorcycle.  I thought Prince Stoic probably wished he brought his own Honda cafe racer to park amongst the rest, instead of arriving in his mother's 4-wheeled Honda vehicle instead.

But we would've had to come in something like this, I guess.  And I think
that might've been a little cold and shaky on the freeway! 

We finished our Portland visit at the Flying Pie, where Prince Stoic chose the exact same pizza types we'd shared with his sister and brother-in-law, and we sat at the same table!  Seems like the definite makings of a tradition.

Grasping Time

My first step in making better use of my momming potential and time is to make more intentional use of this summer.

I don't intend to weigh the kids down with "schoolwork," but don't think it will hurt them to use parts of their days to enrich their minds and know I care about their continued development.   In going through our books, and noting how the family is not going to the bookshelf when they want to read, but too often to the teen trash section of the library (judgmental, I know!), I remembered that I used to give them summer reading lists.  These lists included age-appropriate reading to suit their interests; introducing/sharing classic books they didn't know existed.  

For Princess Eager, I plan to suggest choices such as Little Women or her sisters' favorite, An Old-Fashioned Girl, by Louisa May Alcott, Elsie Dinsmore, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Meet Me In St. Louis.








Prince Go-for-It already has a couple of books he wants to read: 
Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine and Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Cofounder.  They're both about running, but historical, biographical, and the fun pursuit of his own passion will help him also improve his reading speed and understanding.







Princess Eager might enjoy The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and/or Emma.  She is already reading Emmitt Smith's Game On: Find Your Purpose--Pursue Your Dream.

Prince Go-for-It's summer help:
The Key to Algebra series 

It's also a good time to help those with 'gaps.'  For instance, Prince Go-for-It would like to take 9th grade algebra at the junior high, but isn't sure he's prepared for that challenge.  I can sure help him do that.

Here is where I also admit that Prince CuddleBunny isn't reading yet... and some of you may be shocked and dismayed.  I read to him, and siblings read to him.  He does phonics.  Mostly we talk and 'do'... He watches, is in the middle of most any action, and absorbs information and skills like crazy. (I'm so jealous that he spotted a Cedar Waxwing on our huckleberry bush the other day... I've wanted to see one my whole life!)  It just hasn't been a priority for him to put together what he's learned and take off with reading on his own.  

Just a couple of the books by
Raymond and Dorothy Moore

Early in our homeschooling, I read books by Raymond and Dorothy Moore.  They homeschooled their 5 kids before homeschooling was at all a trend.  They believed in growing a whole child, not just a scholar, so their 'homeschooling' included manual work and service to home and community.  They didn't believe in early, formal schooling, and their own experiences included having one son who didn't read on his own until he was 11, at which time he was so eager to see 'what happens next' in a book his mom was reading aloud, that he took it to his room and figured it out.

A favorite reading-help:
 Teach Your Child to Read
 in 100 Easy Lessons   

Each of the 5 Moore children graduated from prestigious universities and are professional successes.  I don't think it will hurt Prince CuddleBunny in the long run that he didn't read by age 8.  He is a busy and smart child, and will easily catch up once he starts.  But I do think it's time to put more consistent time in helping him reach this goal.  I think he just doesn't fully realize the fun of reading enough to want to do it on his own.

We also have a 'fun' workbook to chase away summer boredom, when the other kids are busy.  Scholastic Success With: 2nd Grade includes some lessons in map reading, math, penmanship, and grammar.

Among the books he and I will enjoy together this summer are Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Prince Stoic's old favorites, Some Summer!, and Soup.


I foresee some nice times ahead, around the fire or in a lounge chair on a covered porch...