Posts

31/31 days of honest: the end (and beginning)

/0 Comments/in /by

I have watched this video by Ann Voskamp–several times.

This 22 minute video of a new DVD series sums up where I am right now–with my 31 days, with my blog, and with my life.

I want to take my faith to the next level, I want to open my hands fully to the heavens and catch grace, love, peace and feel joy–in every moment of my life.

I won’t lie about my weight.

I will embrace my heartache.

I want memories not perfection.

I will find my sisterhood.

I will try to understand my limits.

I will try not to yell at my kids to get in the car (or at other times).

I want to clear out all the extra stuff that does not add value to my life and that does not assist me in living an intentional life.

I have learned so much about myself in the past 31 days of honesty–I have referred to it as my basement therapy–my intention was to clear out the physical clutter in my basement–what happened is that I let go of old; pain, dreams, heartache, and a huge box of what ifs, could have’s and might’s.

Be Blessed today.

I’m linking up with Good Morning Girls, Walk With Him Wednesday, Whatever Works , Women Living Well, Work in Progress Fellowship Fridays

7/31 days of Honest: Perspective

/1 Comment/in /by

(I wrote this on Saturday–because Sunday is a stay home day of “rest”).

Today as I was driving to get my kids under armour shirts–these fancy shirts that they wear under their soccer jerseys to keep them warm . . .  I saw a woman on a bike.

I recognized this women because a few weeks earlier she asked me where a church was so that she could get dinner and she was stressed because they close the doors at a certain time.  I felt for her–unfortunately I was the next city over and being newish to the area I didn’t have an idea of where she needed to go.  I know her pain–I know what it is like to be alone, to be hungry and to be without a home.  I was at a park pushing one kid on a swing while the other played soccer.  I thought I could check my iphone but it was in the car.  I was no help at all.  My mind kept going from where I am now to where she is, where I was and I wonder where she will end up.  I have hope.

I felt guilty.  I have money to buy my kids special shirts to keep them warm, I have money to put them in soccer, I have money for a car with gas, I have an iPhone.  I sleep in a nice house and I eat good food.  Maybe guilty is the right word . . . I feel very blessed and very fortunate.

This month of honesty has started me questioning everything.  As I identify each area of my life that I feel is out of balance, I am creating a “schedule” of what I want to change and how I might go about it.  I am remaining flexible as I add things and accomplish tasks.

It is sort of overwhelming but the best part has been people who have responded to say they feel the same way.  When I write or when I say it out loud, I end up letting it go and because of you I do not feel like I am alone.

Thank you so much for reading and sharing your stories–because we really do share the same pages of our own story.

Day 4/31: Honesty, Authenticity and Trust

/8 Comments/in /by

Day 1, Day2, Day3 (a series to write for 31 days–my topic is honesty)

Day 4:  Let’s be honest–kids toys!

I had 4 kids in 5 years.  My once tidy house exploded and turned into a mini Toys R Us almost overnight.  I’m a thrift store shopper so I bought clothes and toys and even the most beautiful crib . . . all at thrift stores–since I was getting such a great deal on stuff I bought more than what I needed AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE BABY WAS BORN.

Then I wanted my kid to be a genius so I bought every baby Einstien toy, CD, DVD, flash card . . . out there.  Then came Tonka trucks and Bob the Builder–we have almost every Bob toy (and bedding/plates/cups . . . )–still!

Then my next child was a baby girl–the house exploded in pink and dolls!  I am forever grateful for each and every toy and piece of clothing that my kids have been given but it became more than too much.  Did I mention Care Bears–I’m pretty sure we had every single one . . .

where is that lego Mom?–you know the grey one that had a thingy off the side–I NEED it so the winds will move on my speeder.

My #3 and #4 have not had the volume of toys and clothes–they just don’t need it.  But we have managed to add Pet Shop and millions of more legos and duplos.

lego table–some days I really want this space! but for now they spend hours creating . . .

But still we have a playroom full of toys and closets that were overflowing–I purged the kids closets first and now they have 7 outfits winter, 7 outfits summer and a couple of swim suits.  That is all.

Duplos and Star Wars guys–you can’t buy this anywhere–only a little boy could make this.

So now that I have admitted that we have too much stuff and I want to make a change–how do I do that?

I need to say no.  I need to say no to cloths for me, food for me and toys for the kids.  It is so hard!

Christmas is coming and I do not want to get the kids plastic toys–last year I did a great job of getting them what they need–a new backpack, a electric toothbrush, I made knitted gloves and headbands.  This year I want to keep Christmas simple.  I have been “shopping” in the basement for things that we already have.

Duplos will always be everyones favorite! They can turn into anything.

It must start with me–I need to be able to say no to myself–and mean it and hold myself responsible then I can say no to them.  Because it really isn’t about the toys is it?  It is about setting boundaries and limitations.

I have identified the problem but I do not yet have a workable solution.  I welcome your loving recommendations.  I feel like if I had a scripture verse as a mantra for saying no that might help.  I think of St. Augustine “our hearts are restless until they rest in you” but that doesn’t quite work. . . I do feel restless.

I just want to say thank you for all of you who are following my 31 days of honesty and supporting not only me but all who read your comments.  I embrace the encouragement and my heart sings to have so many women (and men) being so positive in helping each other.

Thank you.

Thought Provoking Thursday
Thoughtful Thursday
Thankful Thursday
Life in Bloom
Thrive at Home Thursday, Thriving Thursday at Serving Joyfully