If the shoe fits....

I was pleasantly surprised today with how comfortable my new shoes were.  They fit well - stayed on when I walked - and they had absolutely no scratchy or "rubbie / rubby??" areas.  Just all around great feeling shoes with good support and stylish to boot (excuse the pun).

Disclaimer- I'd bought them yesterday at a consignment shop - one of my favorite places that has consistently delivered for 10 years now.  If they had been worn, it was very little wear as the sole was without wear - without any wear.  They drew me to them as they were the black dress shoes with a-little-heel that I've been looking for but that have been eluding me.  And they were kind of cool in a stylish way that said - we're a little sassy but traditional enough.  What - your shoes don't talk to you?!

Imagine my amazement when I finally look up the designer of these podiatry accessories sent straight from heaven and find that for a mere $15 I've bought $200 to $400 shoes!!

Wow What a find!  I'm getting over my Eddie Bauer lustings quite easily with such a thrifty find.

May God lead and Bless your shoe shopping as He has mine.  

Coveting ....

I received in the mail this past Friday the new Eddie Bauer catalog.  I almost threw it away because I had visions of the clothes I wore in the high school in the 90s and visions of walking through their store back then - and now thinking - nice quality but just not my style any more.  

Had I tossed it then I would have been better off - because I didn't and now I've been sinning away for the past day coveting every single outfit in that book!  I'm usually pretty predictable in my wearables.  Mostly modern cut Tshirts and boot cut jeans.  Come on, give me a break, I'm a mom of two and for the past year worked in a plant where I had to wear a lab coat all the time anyway.  I think I do pretty good going for the modern cut.  

But gracious, looking through the pages of that catalog - I've never had an experience before where EVERYTHING I saw was something that I said - wow that's my style - I'd feel really comfortable in that.  

So, just musing but the redefinition of Eddie Bauers style is really something to check out.

Blessings for a wonderful Sunday celebrating our God and our Saviour.  And perhaps some prayers that I could get the coveting under control ;-)   Thanks in advance! 

Life Revised - Finding Balance

Sometimes I've felt like I'm still learning to balance ....

Recently I've felt like I'm mastering the perfect balance whilst whistling ....

I've posted before, auspiciously and not so, about how ... honestly ... hard it can be to balance family, work, fun, chores, etc.  It seems that for the past year my energy during long commutes has been focused exclusively on "how to decrease said long commutes" and how to get done in the day everything that needs gettin' done and that I want to get done.

Recently, my work schedule / work requirements have been modified and it's been pure bliss for me.  I am getting to work in the office and avoid the 1+ hour commute in each direction.  My commute is now more like - 20 minutes - so doable!   Of course the first week I had all sorts of things planned to fill that time space like grocery shopping before getting the boys from the babysitters, running past (and stopping at) the bank, restarting karate with the boys ... the list goes on, you get the point, no need to bore you.  The second and subsequent week I discovered the art of sitting on the couch in the evening and relaxing - doing some reading, watching a show with my husband.

The stress level is significantly reduced, I feel like I'm getting things done, the boys and I are getting fit again with karate - I feel like there is some semblance of balance - relatively speaking.  I'm getting to enjoy life and not just feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water.  I'm getting to be awake and see my kids more.  Get them up in the morning, pick them up in the afternoon and not pass out for a "quick mommy nap" on the couch but actually spend quality time together.  I'm really really enjoying this pace.  I'm praying desperately that it can continue.  If it's where God wants me and I'm doing what He intends then I'm sure it will continue.

Prayers that you'll find your balance and get to enjoy life as well.

Until the next call ....

My boy is a communal sleeper ...

We have had the nicest bedtime routine since we could have a bedtime routine with the oldest.  Baths or at least teeth brushing - ok sometimes we even skip that - but we do always read a story and say our prayers.  We've started doing catechism questions also thanks to our godly pastors wife who provided the neatest books with which to do that.  We are learning at the same time as the boys and it amazes me how much my oldest knows / gets about God and Jesus and Holy Spirit and how it all fits together and governs and guides.  So proud!

Now with said oldest, we'd go through our routine, hugs and kisses and off to dream land for him.  And it worked - from early on - even when he had a cold.  He was a pretty much sleep-on-your-own kid from quite early on.  Of course he was not a napper since early on too - so there was probably some exhaustion factor at work there.

With youngest - well - he is a napper and a darn good one!  After lunch to late afternoon.  Weekends are a different story usually because we're on-the-go enjoying the time together.  But during the week he's very structured and naps well.  Which leads to "but I'm not sleepy" after our very nice bedtime routine.  He stays in bed for a while then has some excuse to why he no longer wants to stay in bed - I'm not tired, it's too dark, it's too light, I'm scared, but I want to watch TV, etc. etc.

This evening for instance, after stories and prayers he climbed in his bed, had his George monkey to hug, I turned on his car light (cute little one bulb low wattage light that with the heat of the bulb causes the shade with cars to spin around and thus the cars to "drive" around his room) - all set - not too light - not to dark - fingers crossed - and heading downstairs for some bible study.

And a bit later - arrival of son - but I'm not tired and it's scary in my bed.  Ok. So we have him lay on the couch - no snacks, no fun, just lay on the couch and hug monkey.  He's good with this and falls asleep within a few minutes - peacefully.  

• At the babysitters he naps in a room with other kids, and falls asleep easily
• When we vacation and he sleeps in the big bed with his brother, and falls asleep easily
• When we camp we all sleep in a row of sleeping bags, and he falls asleep easily

Maybe he just wants that tiny bit of extra time with us and wants to know that we - or someone is there.

Is it really that bad?  Didn't families all sleep in the same room in years gone by?  

I think he's a communal sleeper and honestly, if he falls asleep well and peacefully and is not in danger and is easily transferred to his bed when we go to bed - I may choose my battles and let this one go - and wait for a more pressing calling...

Blessings and Sweet Dreams - even if they are communal

  

Getting ready to fly

We're flying tomorrow for the first time with the boys.  I'm a tiny bit concerned that they may have issues with the pressure change and the popping of their ears but I know that I shouldn't worry - what kid isn't going to want to chew lots of gum - because their ears need to pop of course ... I fear this may follow us home and become a new excuse.

We're flying to Madison Wisconsin for the US Transplant Olympics.  My husband is an athlete in the games.  He's doing a 5K and a swimming relay - though as a dear friend clarified - he's not in it to win it.  He's in it to be part of the experience ... to show that you can undergo a transplant and have a life afterward.  He's probably the most healthy and in the best shape now.  It's funny how much the value of health becomes obvious when it's taken away for a time.

I'm glad he's participating in this incredible event.  I'm glad that he's here with us and able to.  And I'm glad we can be there to support him.  But most of all I'm glad that God used the transplant of my husbands liver to transplant Himself in my husbands heart.  He was saved through the experience realizing that he wasn't in control.  Now, God's in control of it all and it is prospering mightily - as only things that God controls do.  

We're blessed further because his donor was a friend and the transplant was a living donor transplant (liver's regenerate to the size needed by the body).  So we'll be enjoying the games with his donor and her husband as well.

Consider giving the gift of life by being an organ donor and saving someone else's husband - someone else's Daddy.  

Blessings.

Pruning and Gardening

I planted a garden several weeks ago, however, other than an occasional water when it hasn't rained recently enough, I haven't been back much to check on it.  To cut it back, pick it's produce or even just appreciate it's bounty.  I justify it because those plants need some time to grow and produce, but really it's just life "getting in the way".  When my day ends, it's way to late, way to dark and I'm way to exhausted to, well, care.  Perhaps I should plan on prioritizing and fitting that in somehow.  I know it needs some attention and a trim or pick here or there.

I, on the other hand, have been getting trimmed - well - down right pruned by the Almighty recently.  A few passages have really been sticking with me and made me ponder in recent days.  Those being, Lot's wife and the whole pillar of salt thing.  I always wondered why was she being picked on for just wanting to gaze at the car wreck on the side of the road.  I had the epiphany that when she "looked back"  it was not to see the destruction  but now realize it was that she looked back and dare I say it longed for the sinfulness.  

Also I've been pondering the temptation of Jesus when he's led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil.  It says he's led there by the Spirit to be tempted.  Good gosh does the Holy Spirit actually provide temptation to us or us to temptation.  Upon study and talking with other believers ... I understand that God does allow temptations / tests to see what's in our heart - what we're actually made of - where we stand.  

And then ... He prunes.  He cuts off and tears out the deadness so that we can be more His image and less ours.  

I have a friend who keeps calling me their angel.  It's amazing to me how God works to change a circumstance and make them - well mine - my angel that is.  An angel that's shown me the test so that I can understand and submit and hopefully pass God's ultimate test.  

This all to say, as we look to others to fill that space or void or to have the answers, perhaps it's just God, providing us, the opportunity to look to Him for those answers and to fill that space.  

May your earthly and eternal angels be as numerous and hard working as mine.

Sailing

The forecast yesterday was for scattered thunderstorms all day.  Just before leaving work my husband checked the weather and it was clear at the lake, so we took our chances.  We went sailing last night ...  we won the gamble. 

There were virtually no boats on the lake.  There was very little wind too - but just enough to keep us moving with both sails out and, at times, to get us going a little faster to make it a little exciting.

We were able to sail up the lake and turn back and sail toward the marina until this happened.  

How beautiful.

God's creation is so magnificent - the pictures He paints each night and morning are more beautiful than anything in a gallery.  What a gift He gives us when we take the gamble, slow down and just look.