Rambling

 

 

After taking an extended break from blogging, I often have a hard time deciding what to write about.  After a lovely Christmas and a holiday with friends and family, my mind and my desktop are stuffed with memories. Perhaps I should give myself the permission to ramble on about whatever pops into my head.

I still have crumbs on the lips from the most delicious homemade bread that Amelia brought home from sparks a couple days ago. I NEED to find out who made it and get the recipe. Have I mentioned how much I love good food!

 

I am trying to motivate myself to finish waxing a dresser for a friend. She gave birth to a sweet baby boy this week and I am sure she would appreciate the extra storage space.

I tried tackling our finances today after taking a break from adding up receipts for the past year. Yikes. We seem to chronically live outside our means despite our best efforts to live on a budget. We are still trying to find the balance between being "good stewards" and "living a little".

I finally packed away the last of our Christmas décor away and have started a gallery wall dedicated to our travels. It gives me SUCH intense joy to glance over at photos of the far flung places we have traveled, especially now that my world is so small. Nathaniel and I have started dreaming about the day we will be able to take our kiddos to Hawaii. I can just picture Amelia hording anoles (little lizards), Claire loosing her mind over all the flowers and Levi frolicking in the waves.

Speaking of Levi, he has FINALLY started sleeping through the night. Hallelujah! The world is a whole lot more sparkly with a decent night of sleep.

 

Nathaniel's schedule at worked changed and I am thoroughly enjoying the change in our routine. I love that he is home by 4:30pm everyday, the fact that the children get to spend more time with him after school and that I don't have to deal with the girls at bedtime  (my least favorite part of the day).

 

I am so glad that we went up to Kamloops to visit our friends and frolic in the snow, because I have a feeling that we won't be doing much of that around here anytime soon. I finally got a chance to go through our pictures over the holidays and choose a few to share.

Making perfect snowballs with Allan.

Enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Dodd's house.
 

Captivating scenery

Sledding is pretty awesome when you don't have to climb up the hill. Props for the guy who brought two ski-doo along with him

And made an awesome fire to keep all the kiddos warm.
 

 

 So much snow!!!!

These logging trucks reminded me of my childhood when my parents would take my siblings and I  up the mountain to go sledding.

Babies and snowflakes falling out of the sky!

 

Gratitude

 

My heart feels full of gratitude this dark, early morning. I am grateful for hot, soapy water  to wash out pukey bowls, for a washing machine, for a hot cup of Echinacea tea, for cozy socks, a decent night of sleep and the fact that my sweaty, sleepy baby is happy being carried around on my back while I get stuff done.

 

  Although it was NOT nice to wake up to a puking baby, I can't help but think "at least it was not the middle of the night", "at least Nate was home to help with the sheets", "at least it is a Saturday and I am not trying to get the girls ready for school". The remainder of our morning was spent listening to classical Irish music on spotify and slowly catching on the dishes that I did not have the energy to tackle the night before.

 

Gratitude.

It is not always easy to find things to be grateful for in the midst of a crummy situation, but it is a valuable skill to have.

 

Lately I have been reading a heavy peice of medical literature about the horrific conditions in which people lived in the 1800's. As a result I have found myself appreciating the things in my life that I ordinarily take for granted. I also find myself overwhelmed with gratitude that I don't have to watch my children die of scurvy or starvation. Man, if that doesn't put things into perspective, I don't know what will.  

 

We have SO much to be grateful for.

 

I admit I have not been a source of gratitude the past couple of years. I have grumbled and complained a great deal. I have not always been enjoyable to be around. I have been guilty of being cynical, critical and negative.  Sleep deprivation has certainly played a role in my attitude and in my ability to cope with life, but I think it is possible to have a cheerful heart and a positive outlook despite one's circumstances. I admire people would have been through insane amounts of loss and brokenness and yet are still able to utter the words penned by a man named Horatio G. Spafford. You may recognize the words...

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well with my soul.
2.  

I feel as though the Lord is working on this area of my life right now, teaching me that it means to be able to say "it is well with my soul". Teaching me how to have an "attitude of gratitude" as my father would say. It sounds corny, but there is incredible beauty in those words.

 

 

Quote of the day

 

"The emotional labor pains of becoming a mother are far greater than the physical pangs of birth; these are the growing surges of your heart as it pushes out selfishness and fear and makes room for sacrifice and love. It is a private and silent birth of the soul, but it is no less holy than the event of childbirth, perhaps it is even more sacred."- Joh Kusek

These days: January

Looking

forward to making some adorable polymer clay foxes with Amelia at 4cats studio next month.

 

Reading

"How Jesus Became God" by Bart D. Ehrman, and "Dissolving Illusions: Disease, Vaccines and the Forgotten History" by Suzanne Humphries

Longing

to go dumpster diving after watching a documentary called "Just Eat It!"

Drinking

all the delicious  loose leaf Christmas teas my hubby brought me from David's Tea

Blog loving

Rachel Held Evans, Azzari Jarrett. and Under the Cycamore

Enjoying

sleeping through the night and de-pilling my couch

Not enjoying

Levi's 5am wake up cry

Eating

Egg whites and oatmeal

Learning

 how to choose foods that will help me achieve my goals.

Instagram loving

tissespieces

 

Focusing

on keeping a food journal and exercising at least five days a week.

 

Watching

the new season of Downton Abbey (Hurray!!!!!)

 

Working

on finishing up project life 2015 and December Daily 2015
 

Feeling

inspired to document my fitness journey with something like what Cathy Zielske has created