journaling

 I love the idea of journaling, but I struggle with the consistency of it.  My problem lies in the fact that I want to record too much.  I will start off strong for a while journaling pages every day and then I just can't keep up with it.  I burn myself out and then I quit, only to start up again.  Well, I found a journal that seems to be helping me stay consistent.

I purchased this journal from paper coterie about a month ago.  It's one that you customize yourself.  You drop your photos in and add quotes and sentiments that just speak to your heart.   It's pretty and personal.

It has about 5 lines set aside for each day for journaling or listing.  It's been tricky trying to condense my thoughts into 5 lines, but what I've found is that because I'm being less wordy...I've actually stuck with it!

Yeah for consistency!! I'm still figuring out what exactly to record each day, but I'm learning.  For example, I don't need to write that we did school each day...that's a given, but I do want to remember the triple that my boy hit in the baseball game or the fun that the girls and I had shopping for clothes!

I use these fun colorful pens and it's like I'm recording a rainbow.  One of my kids opened the journal up the other day and you could hear the ohhs and ahhhs.  Gotta love that!  And that pencil pouch that I made for the girls and I this fall is perfect for holding all my pens!   So, do you journal?  How do you make it work for you?

sniffles

We went college visiting last weekend....and I brought home a cold.  Despite my cold, it was a good visit and was actually the last of the visits that Maggie wanted to do as she is wading through this entire college decision process.  I've been so proud of her as she has applied, prayed, visited, researched, prayed and talked through all of the options that are before her.

We're all learning so much throughout this journey and most of it has nothing to do with college!  It all has to do with trusting the Lord and leaning on Him for wisdom and direction.  (I feel like I keep learning some of these lessons over and over....I guess that should tell me something, huh!?)

So, I've been froggy all week and nursing my throat with hot drinks.  I actually had the house to myself 2 times this past week, but I felt too cruddy to even enjoy it!   (you know it's bad when that happens!)
 I've been having to remind myself to be nice....even when I haven't felt very nice.

I've been trying to lay low and get better.  What's that they say about a cold lasting a week or 7 days?  I think I've put in my 7 days so I'm hopeful that this week will be on the upswing!

 I've got to finish reading The Great Gatsby for book club and I think my energy level is up enough that I can keep my eyes open long enough to knock that off.  Have any of you read TGG before?  This is my first time and I'll wait until I finish it to completely decide how I feel about it, but so far I'm feeling like empty extravagance seems quite fitting.  Sometimes I wonder who decides what makes a book a classic.....Anyways, have a great start to your week!  Hope it's full of sunshine and substantial blessings!  (the photos all came from my instagram feed this week....)

fall table runner

I stayed home from a hometown football game to sew one Friday night.  It was a perfect night for football and an even better night for sewing.  I had the windows open and Pandora playing.  I might have been able to hear the cheers from the football game had I not had my sewing machine humming!

 I used my fall fabric stack and added a couple of stash fabrics to make my new fall table runner.  I cut all my strips 2 1/2" by 11" and then sewed them together.  I added a 1/2" border to the outside. (The border is a clearance sheet that I cut up and used.) To finish it off I stitched in the ditch all the way around the outside and called it done!

 I love the pick up it gives my dining room table.  The oranges are a fun shot of color but the browns tone them down a notch.  I took all of these photos outside in natural light, because the colors turn out so much better, but here's a shot of it in use on my dining room table...(from instagram - my morning quiet time)

Right now I've got flowers in a pitcher as my centerpiece, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving I've got the perfect ceramic turkey candleholder thingy to sit right on my table runner.  How about you....what's on your kitchen/dining room table right now?

insta friday

Happy Friday!  I'm linking up my Instagram pics with Jeannett!  These are from the last 2 weeks...it's been busy!  We've been visiting colleges and watching baseball games and knocking out some really good school work.  Hope your weeks are going wonderfully!

 My first born turned 18 at the end of September.  We celebrated her special day all weekend long!  I can't even believe she is 18!  That just sounds so grown up...which she is. She's a terrific young woman.  She loves the Lord and is teachable, kind and so fun to be around.

 She's also still a kid a heart because this bear is what she asked for as a birthday gift!  He is 53 inches tall and he took up my entire grocery cart at Costco.  I had some hilarious conversations with people as I pushed him through the store.  She named him Bubba Griz.

 My brother took all the September birthdays (my mom, my honey and Maggie) and the rest of us out to lunch at one of our favorite downtown restaurants.  The cousins bonded over technology.  It was a fun time just visiting with family and being together.  We don't get to do that nearly enough.

Maggie got glasses. She noticed that her eyes were straining when she was in her college English class...good thing I took her, she's a bit near sighted.  

 I had a bit of time one afternoon and I cut into my fall fabric bundle....sometimes just a bit of creativity is all I need to brighten my mood!

 I'm teaching this year outside of our home.  I teach a history class on Thursday mornings and I just love it!  I've got 10 kids in my class and they are all so wonderful.  We took our first quiz last week and they were quite serious about it.  The girls all put up binders to shield their work from 'cheaters'.  The boys, they didn't seem to care....I kept a closer eye on them! ;)

 My sweet friend and I met for coffee and breakfast....I needed it so badly.  Sometimes a friend and a good cup of coffee is just what you need!

 Here's a sneak peek at my new fall table runner...I stayed home last Friday night and got in some much desired sewing time.  It really was fun.  I listened to Pandora and sewed all evening...with the windows open and the crickets singing in the background.  heavenly!

 My guy is turning into a baseball player.  He just loves it (He's on the left with the black batting glove on).  The dugouts have been pretty nasty lately.  A homeless person has been residing in them and doing other yucky things in there.  The boys hung out on the bleachers with us during the last game. It was fun to see them interacting and just being boys.  

My girl Mckenzie is a chemistry whiz....I was so not sure about how she was going to do in Chemistry this year...I was a bit nervous.  But, she has really applied herself and she is doing great!  We are bonding over significant figures and specific heat and calorimetry problems.  So proud of her!!!

Well....that's the run down of the last two weeks.  I'll be back soon with some sewing and a peek at my new journal!  Have a great weekend friends!

today I'm....

*struggling with trust.  grabbing hard to the truth that in the midst of what I would call a mess God is working and redeeming.  He is stretching me and calling me to trust Him.

*wanting to see some changes and some glimmers of hope but knowing that if they don't come, if I can't see evidence of change.....that God is faithful.  God is trustworthy.  God is still in control.

*not understanding those that say 'faith in God is a crutch'....crutches are temporary.  Crutches take the weight off...but this walk of faith, it's a hard thing.  It takes all of me, every day.  I am engaged in the pursuit of Him.  I'm  continually learning to listen and wait and hear, to step aside and let Him reign.

That's where the struggle lies...allowing Him to be Lord and giving my agenda and my desires over to Him.  In knowing that if nothing changes, that all is well.  He is my source of strength.  He is my mighty tower, my strong fortress.  I'm spending time today reflecting on the Word that says "He is your constant source of stability."  Isaiah 33:6 (NET)  So thankful for that!

*hoping you know that He is more than enough.  "He is your constant source of stability."  "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you."  Isaiah 54:10

friday night fun

It's Friday night and I'm sneaking in a little sewing time.  My boys went to the local football game to watch our friend play.  {Go Hornets!  Go Caleb!}  I begged off to stay home and work on this! Happy Friday to you!