This is my baby girl…she’s almost four years old now!?!

I’ve been thinking lately that I want to be more intentional in the present, to soak it up and enjoy it for what it is and not miss/waste a single second of it. Recently a friend reminded me that “how we spend our days is how we spend our lives”…so true. Baby steps grow into long journeys, so I need to worry less about the bigness of everything on my mind and just BE.

Oh, and I’m still working 24/7 on that big project I mentioned…um, how many weeks ago was it? But it’s almost finished–you can see it here. Just a few details to finish up, and I can move on to my sadly neglected pile of projects! Or at least get a few more steps down the road. {grin}

Yikes! Where is January going? Mine has been spent largely on family (yay!) and on a monumental work project (double yay!).

In the meantime, a couple of my posts were featured on Tip Junkie over the last few days, so “Hi” to anyone jumping over from there, so glad to have you!

Gotta get back to that project, I hope to have it wrapped up in the next week or so. Ta-ta for now!

I don’t even know where to start, I think I might have fallen off the face of the earth…does anyone else ever feel like a hamster on a wheel? So yeah, lots going on, not much to show for it just now, but hopefully next week I can get my mo-jo moving again. In the meantime, here’s a sneak of a project I’m currently frantically pulling together, as my deadline is looming!

I hope everyone had a beautiful, relaxing, grateful day of Thanksgiving. I know I did.

Back to the grindstone,
Audrey

In the end, it’s not what we know, but what we do that makes a difference. (Talking to myself here…)

xoxo,
Audrey

It snowed last night. But I think Spring is coming…I’ve been putting things out here and there to help me feel like it!

Speaking of hope, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the situations developing in our world, and trying to keep a positive outlook on the future. I read this passage by Benjamin Franklin last week, and wanted to share it here, because I believe it is a profound and powerful statement:

“We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we’ve selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make…

“Since the foundation of all happiness is thinking rightly, and since correct action is dependent on correct opinion, we cannot be too careful in choosing the value system we allow to govern our thoughts and actions.

“And to know that God governs in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayers, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, is indeed, a powerful regulator of human conduct.”

My baby girl turned three over the weekend. Sniff, sniff, hooray! She was princess for a day, and she loved it. After the house was made mostly presentable for a family party (more about that below), we ventured out to the park for a warm-wind-blown picnic. It was so nice to soak up some gentle sun after the long winter months, and the kids enjoyed climbing and playing.

So, about birthdays. I LOVE to drool over the fabulous over-the-top parties that fantastically creative mothers throw for their kids! And every year, I fully intend to plan three of them. But somehow, before I know it, the big day is here and I am entirely unprepared. So I’ve decided to not stress about it. My goal in life is to do the best I can, and let the rest just go. I like the idea of relaxed entertaining over high-stress pursuit of perfection.

In keeping with that habit/philosophy, I shopped for birthday supplies late the night before Miss M’s b-day. (As evidenced by the lack of professional writing on her cake in the picture above…bakery was closed. But I did my best to write her name with sprinkles I had on hand!) Miss J happened to be with me and requested that we purchase crepe paper for streamers to decorate. I declined, saying we’d do something else with supplies we already had at home (does anyone else get annoyed at how much money can go into embellishments that are immediately thrown away?). And forgot about it. Ten minutes before guests arrived, Miss J was in near-meltdown mode at my lack of decorating, so I grabbed some spools of ribbon and quickly came up with this centerpiece. It took three minutes, and was big enough to lend the festive atmosphere I was looking for. A few more ribbons around the room, and strategic placement of the ginormous singing Princess balloon gifted by one of the best grandmothers on the planet, and we were good to go. Phew!

Here it is folks, the object that rules my life: “The List”. I’ve spent the last week or so trying to get it under control, and I’m happy to say that I think I’m making some progress! (Knock on wood.) I’ve been a bit of a freak about my list for years now. It’s kept up to date on my computer, and transferred over to this handy notebook for ease of carrying with me and for taking notes on the go. Plus, I get this wonderful sense of accomplishment when I actually cross something off. I’m so easily entertained.

How do you keep track of your life?

(P.S. Pay no attention to the un-ironed tablecloth in the photo. It’s not even on the list.)

I’m still here…I’ve just been busy with non-inspiring tasks like bookwork, taxes, housekeeping…you know the drill. I have a lot of ideas for things I want to share, just haven’t been able to get to them! I’m workin’ on it.

I got my last issue of Country Home in the mail today. I’m so sad this magazine is closing up shop–it’s been my fave for a few years, I wish I’d discovered how much I loved it sooner…and that they’d keep publishing it. Darn economy. Grrr.

Photo from Country Home website.

A couple weeks ago, I was seriously snowed. So much to do…some big work projects going on, my house was a DISASTER, and my surgery was looming. My dear friend (from fifth grade) called to check in, and when I mentioned as off-handedly as I could that I was going in for a tonsilectomy in a few days, she said, “What can I do to help you?” It’s so hard for me to answer that question, I mean, it’s my responsibility to take care of MY LIST, you know? I told her I was fine, just needed to get myself moving. Thirty minutes later, she knocked on my door and said, “Put me to work.” I can’t quite put into words how much better I felt when the sink was clean, kids were finished with homework, and my Christmas tree was finally packed away. My family and I have been so blessed by “small” acts of people I love dearly over the last little while. I am so grateful both for their service and for the tender reminder that you don’t have to do big things to make a difference in the life of another.

It’s snowing outside and I just bought a swimsuit. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Actually, I bought a suit similar to this last year (at full price) and loved it: it is flattering on, doesn’t gap at the top when I move, sucks my tummy in, and has a nice modest leg line…so I stalked this puppy for a couple months, waiting for it to go on sale. Then forgot about it. I just stumbled on it again today, for $19.99. Score! It’s on it’s way to me now…I’m so thinking a tropical escape is in order for my near future. Even if it might be wishful thinking…..