tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471576266310454152023-11-16T09:35:00.792-08:00chocolate + paper + scissorsCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-48542371908197356242014-11-03T07:29:00.004-08:002014-11-03T07:29:59.786-08:00Clarity + comfort for a Monday:<br />
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For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...</div>
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-1 Corinthians 14:33</div>
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<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-46162617943470215042014-10-31T11:20:00.004-07:002014-11-03T07:31:37.102-08:00A life of more passion<div class="MsoNormal">
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I woke up very early this morning with a few important things to do: getting our day started, finishing up Sweet Boy's costume for his kindergarten book character parade today, getting everyone up and ready for a Halloween Friday. And in the middle of it all, realizing today is the last day of the 31-day writing challenge, the phrase that quieted my mind was <i>a soft place to land.</i><br />
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This is what we all need. A soft place to land.<br />
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This blog space - my tiny piece of real estate in this giant digital world - has become my soft place to land at the end of each day (or the beginning of each morning). Although posting each day takes much time, planning and execution, I knew that at some point in each of the 31 days this month that I would get to have creative time. I would return to my blog space and get to have reflective time, time to think about what drives people to live more creatively, more beautifully, more passionately. <br />
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Where is your soft place to land? What creative efforts do you return to each day? In the business of the everyday, how will you step out into the creative realm? Or, perhaps you've figured out a way to combine the two?<br />
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Writing is my favorite craft - it moves me, it energizes me, it stretches me and makes me grow. I've been able to see things so differently this month with some clarity that has been missing. Photography is my second love. Photography and writing together have reminded me that it's our privilege to get to illuminate God's world. As a creative being and a child of God, I have the unique opportunity to serve as a mirror by receiving His light and shining it back to the world.<br />
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This month, I've touched on the importance of creativity quite a bit. I hope I've inspired you and introduced you to a new blog, podcast, book or artist that perhaps you didn't know before. <br />
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I hope that you've taken time to be creative this month. Or, in the coming days, I hope that creativity becomes part of your regular routine. And I hope that being creative and pursuing a craft to get to know yourself better will lead you to a more passionate place.<br />
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This month, I hope you've found time for some quiet. And I hope you've heard God's whispers a little more, and the many conversations in your mind a little less.<br />
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Remember that the Oxford Dictionary defines passion as <i>strong emotion or
enthusiasm; eagerness, intensity, zeal, mania, obsession, craze, hunger, itch,
yearning, longing, desire.</i> I hope that this month, you're a little bit closer to having one of these words in your life that = something special to you.<br />
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Today is a lovely, beautiful day. Today is a day of being reminded that we can complete something. We can put our minds to creative efforts by moving one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. We can run the race set before us. We can fight the good fight!<br />
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I'm extremely thankful for the <a href="http://www.thenester.com/" target="_blank">special people</a> who organized the <a href="http://write31days.com/" target="_blank">Write for 31 Days</a> effort. Writing for 31 days is a wonderful metaphor: we've been in the wilderness, hunkered down, listening closely and sharing for 31 days. Now, it's time to decide how we will maintain this for the coming months.<br />
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I will see you on the journey.</div>
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Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-85701490249001354532014-10-30T21:23:00.002-07:002014-10-30T21:25:34.206-07:00On living beautifullyThis past summer, our family had a chance to visit a special place for a good six-week block of time. Our special place is a tiny beach town in coastal Oregon. And on that beach there was a house. And in that house there was a huge library of many books. And in that library was a book that would restore my faith in beauty and its importance. And in that book were simple words that served as good reminders, such as these opening words:<br />
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"Making the things you do every day as beautiful and pleasurable as possible is a way to live a happy life. Yet many of us don't seem to do this." - Alexandra Stoddard, from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/72294.Living_a_Beautiful_Life?from_search=true" target="_blank">Living a Beautiful Life</a><br />
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She goes on to explain in her note to the reader that her "aim is to inspire you, by useful examples, to go ahead and create beauty an ease in the areas of life that mean the most to you, day after day...I'm trying to provoke and inspire you to set up your daily life for effectiveness and grace."<br />
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Having had a busy season heading into summer, these words were like honey to my soul. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beautiful-Life-Hundred-Elegance/dp/0394555392/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414727298&sr=8-2&keywords=living+a+beautiful+life+by+alexandra+stoddard" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beautiful-Life-Hundred-Elegance/dp/0394555392/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414727298&sr=8-2&keywords=living+a+beautiful+life+by+alexandra+stoddard" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgzyVQe4EFT5CPjK8sQWtgkSn_btPWIievLQA3T7PDSLSjqwDvLz-gqg5I7kCYABAslPAwiX60RIgYQzkZyaKd_6378kIB-PPM2wB6MH3CoYNFX16cHNguh7zyR0LtR2_IedgDA2zG37G/s1600/Alex+Stoddard+book.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a></div>
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One of my goals for the New Year was to bring more beauty into our home and our lives - to focus on the whimsical and lovely, rather than just the practical and functional. I felt like this book had been placed in my path!<br />
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As I made time to read, I wanted to take notes on every chapter. It was an answered prayer. How do I make our home more beautiful? I love that she used her words and examples to educate the reader on a how-to topic. No photos, no magazine spreads, no Pinterest pins. It was just her words, her heartfelt advice, her experiences and her successes with friends, colleagues and clients.</div>
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Chapters two, three and four were my favorites. Chapter two focuses on creating the special from the ordinary, chapter three is my absolute all-time favorite, which covers the ktichen, where I spend much of my time: The Kitchen: Enhancing the Flavor of Good Eating. And, chapter four covers the balance between busyness and solitude...which is a constant struggle in this season of life for many mothers.</div>
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I also love that it was published in 1986. Things have really changed since then...but then again, things are still the same.</div>
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If you plan to pursue a path to finding your passion, I highly recommend this book. This will certainly not be the last time I mention it. </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-34975598831623145872014-10-29T21:59:00.003-07:002014-10-29T22:15:25.985-07:00Beauty matters.Making things look and feel lovely is a gift that comes naturally for many people, both women and men. These individuals are definitely artists: they bring beauty and aesthetics to our worlds to stop us in our tracks and make us think - or more importantly, to make us feel.<br />
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In this season of my life, much time has been spent raising little ones, trying to keep up with their needs, their growth and development, their rest - all things that occur in the every day. And in keeping up with these sweet ones, I've noticed in the last year how much our family's home reflects a very simple pattern: all function, sometimes clean, sometimes chaos, then clean again, with very little focus on color or decor. We have a few pieces of art on the walls and some photography - but we don't have much decorate-y-ness going on.<br />
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For our family, order = beauty.<br />
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Over the last few years, I think I've had a chronic insecurity with feeling like our home isn't as "grown up" as other neighbors' and friends' homes. But what I've learned is that we don't need giant, elaborate pieces of art. We don't need perfect home accessories. We just need the presence of creativity and real life.</div>
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It's amazing how bringing order to your home, then adding a small accent here and there - like some new throw pillow covers, or a tiny candle, or even setting out a snack for your children before they come home from school is a small act of beauty, gratitude and celebration. It helps our home feel warm - and we feel God's presence. And experiencing beauty, which I have found brings God's peace, allows us to feel more alive. And to reflect upon why we're here. And to think about our priorities and what truly matters.<br />
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Beauty in our environment comforts and grounds us - and keeps us true to our path.<br />
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Thank God for beauty!<br />
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Amen.Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-52044761705058556492014-10-28T13:35:00.003-07:002014-10-28T13:35:39.945-07:00On order and passion, part 2.Yesterday I touched on the importance of order in our environments, and it went something like this:<br />
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Order = harmony. <br />
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(or)<br />
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Disorder? <br />
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Ain't nobody got time for that.<br />
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Today, the order-ing in our home continued. Today I put up several large loads of laundry, cleaned out and ordered our master closet (which is awkwardly large and more like a storage room than a lovely dressing place), and set aside piles of clothes our children have outgrown to go through tomorrow. And, I have three more loads of laundry to fold tonight, which I will do while watching...<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (Season 4!).<br />
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The point of sharing all of this housework with you is not to give myself gold stars. It's to let you know that although housework isn't my favorite thing, it's absolutely necessary to stay on top of - or it will snowball - and you'll be spending hours putting pieces back together like I have the last couple of days (and, more to come tomorrow). Going through extreme nesting like this is my brain's way of saying, "I can't think clearly about anything else until all of this chaos goes away." I love it when my brain functions this way because it gives the housework-procrastinator in me a swift kick in the pants and helps me get our house back in order. <br />
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Hopefully things in your home aren't too out of order. But if you live in some type of space with a few belongings, be it a house, apartment, a spare bedroom...keeping it orderly will keep your mind sharp.<br />
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My husband, who is slightly obsessive when it comes to cleaning, grew up with a father who constantly repeated the mantra, "a clean house is a clean mind." I like that very much - and it's so true. Sweet Boy and Sweet Girl mentioned yesterday when they got home that it seemed like I was "turning into Daddy." (I took that as a compliment!)<br />
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If you keep things in order here and there, and clean as you go (another mantra my husband loves, which is nice, except for when I'm creating something in the kitchen), you'll save yourself some time. Taking multiple days out of your week to re-order your home is alright every now and then, but in reality:<br />
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Ain't nobody got time for that.<br />
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So, cherish your space. Have respect for yourself and your environment. Keep things in order. Have your children help you tidy up at the end of the day. Don't do it all yourself. Give yourself grace when things do get out of order, and just move forward and do the next thing - and take charge to let order prevail again.<br />
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Protect your time - it's important. We have been given time as a precious gift by our Creator to use carefully. He has trusted us with it, so use it well. Create art. Love your family. Help others. Pursue a dream. Love yourself.<br />
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You are a lovely and beautiful being. Don't let anything distract you from putting your heart where it's supposed to be.<br />
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Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-78541543688299238662014-10-27T21:36:00.001-07:002014-10-27T21:36:05.088-07:00On order and passion, part 1.<br />
This morning, I sat down to write about the importance of order and beauty when it comes to taking a step closer to living a more passionate, creative life.<br />
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But, I just couldn't write about this when I was literally hiding from all of the chaos that was our house this morning on the other side of our office walls. Last week was one of those weeks where routine was turned upside down. Although Sweet Boy was at home sick, I still loved having him home. We rested, played, and I was lazy with the dishes. The weekend came, and we played with Sweet Girl. We made Halloween decorations. We hung out in our yard. We went for walks. (Our dishwasher stopped working on Saturday.) Sunday night, we had a cozy night watching a sweet Halloween show: Curious George! Then, this morning when I woke up, I felt like everything was out of order. It was like I had blinders on last night. Ugh.<br />
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How did our morning go? I'll spare you the details. But after the bus picked up our children, I wanted to cry. I used to be a very focused, organized person. But getting everyone ready and out the door for school seems so challenging some days. Many days.<br />
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My point is that order = harmony. When our home gets out of order, our children are never really unhappy (though my husband and I get extremely irritable)...we all just keep moving forward. But - when things are put back in place and floors are cleared and vacuumed and beds are made, there is a beautiful calm that exists, followed by an amazing energy. Our children are definitely more productive and happier when our home is in order.<br />
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I cleaned all day. I went from room to room, purging, sorting, laundering, making beds, washing dishes, putting away toys. And things. (And wanting to throw the things out the door!) All of the chaos, anxiety and frustration I was feeling this morning had melted away. And although I didn't get much sleep last night, I could think more clearly than I've been able to in the last week. It was lovely.<br />
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And when our children came home from school, they came home to peace and harmony again. And that's all I needed as a mama today.<br />
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Amen.<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-41502438637245006012014-10-26T06:08:00.004-07:002014-10-26T06:08:44.842-07:00Nature = rest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and
rest a while." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-<span class="p"></span>Mark 6:31</div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-3428886297721946582014-10-25T14:02:00.003-07:002014-10-25T14:02:14.644-07:00October, create.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-82842177590223299862014-10-24T07:40:00.000-07:002014-10-24T07:42:13.212-07:00Creativity amidst chaos<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This week, we've had a few curve-balls - unexpected happenings that weren't on the calendar. Sweet Boy was under the weather and has been home since Wednesday. Next: fever, doctor appointment (hand sanitizing!), pharmacy visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> I’ve been under the weather and have been super tired (which = patience shortage). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">W</span>e are low on groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our home is out of order (and my desk is missing).</span> Daddy has been out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Sweet Girl was upset that she had to buy her lunch for the last two days because Mommy hasn't been to the store. </div>
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Things can't always be neat and clean. Thankfully, we're all doing fine. It's all about perspective, really. When you're super tired, things seem much more chaotic than they really are. So, in the midst of chaos, how do you think creatively when you can barely take care of the basics?
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Set all of your expectations of yourself down and allow yourself some grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> These are some things I find helpful, in completely random order:</span></div>
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<b>Fuel the well</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eat well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hydrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Drink hot tea. Listen to your body. Lay down with your children when they lay down. Until you are rested, look away from disorder. Handle this when you're feeling more rested.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.handmadebyizz.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/cita-de-erma-bombeck.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.handmadebyizz.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/cita-de-erma-bombeck.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqkpTqHCoZmskyKohJMBqnzKfMGWY_58cfapg15hsgOlO7noqQPrRibwEtycBW-Ww4ODh7XlLvfEW8HtNBQK__1tAJFXFqJVofOYBuBUktX2vqGwdyxCcNDyqcrFOK3AvJLrDgGirw7e_/s1600/Erma+Bombeck+Housework+quote.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from<a href="http://www.handmadebyizz.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/cita-de-erma-bombeck.html" target="_blank"> Handmade by Is</a></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b>Fill yourself with good, happy things</b>. I remember once that Oprah said, "We are what we read. So put good things in there." R</span>ead some inspiring words. Review a favorite book you've read before. Look
at your favorite cookbooks, or cookbooks you've neglected. Peruse some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lovely catalogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flip through your favorite magazines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Cut out clippings of things that inspire you.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Enjoy being creative with your little people!</b> Yesterday afternoon, it was a lovely fall day in Texas. We went outside, got out some white paper, crayons and scissors, and we made tons of Halloween decorations. It was so much fun to color and cut with Sweet Boy! We laughed and colored and enjoyed ourselves, even being under the weather. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Go on a digital creative excursion.</b> One of my favorite suggestions from Susan Ban Breathnach in <i>Simple Abundance</i> is the idea of personal creative excursions: taking time to visit places that really light our creative fires. But, if you can't get away (or are homebound this week like we have been), do it online! Visit and catch up on your favorite blogs. Visit Pinterest to find some new recipes, craft projects or quotes. (Just beware - don't get overwhelmed with too many projects you want to do.) Watch some t.v. shows that inspire you - or give you some mental escape so you can take a break. (Have I mentioned my obsession with <i>Friday Night Lights</i>?)</span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">As part of your digital creative excursion, visit Instagram. Look at the people you follow...and observe who they follow. You may find some new inspiration immediately! Instagram is one of my very favorite apps - it's a wonderful collection of visual inspiration + personal storytelling. I look forward to my Instagram time every night. </span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Try to make time for yourself. </b> Remember the battle of the early birds vs. the night owls? Keeping rest a priority, try to carve out some quiet time for yourself, morning or night. Each morning this week for me has been an important time of prayer, writing and mental rest. And, when your children are awake, I like to save their technology time for when I need productive time. Right now, Sweet Boy is saving the world on his (very loud) Angry Bird Transformer game on the iPad. We're cuddled up together in a big fluffy chair in our office (which is totally worth the very loud noises).</span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Reach out to others. </b>If you're feeling a little isolated and need some connection today, be sure to reach out to others. Reach out to your friends and neighbors. Or, comment on some amazing blog posts you've read recently. Offer some words of encouragement on Twitter. Or comment on some photos on Instagram. </span><br />
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<b>One thing today: </b> Take time to do any of the above tips. Even if you have no little people at home today, they still apply! Don't forget the importance of rest! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.erinulrich.com/2013/01/find-rest-for-creativity/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.erinulrich.com/2013/01/find-rest-for-creativity/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS4yYUbebDvEzUoTnHK8nZpm8V1A2hwYFZg2XFdoFucbk7RRN443kX4LTNDM0H2BK6BTqJ9AFT7fC5LgbijFv0KS-e27N2fQX7TVL8ib-cyDEoyKmCaQwa4xSPTXoAXycj1jQpS8VbDYR/s1600/find-rest.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.erinulrich.com/2013/01/find-rest-for-creativity/" target="_blank">Erin Ulrich</a></td></tr>
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<b>Creative resources today:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/748862.Simple_Abundance?from_search=true" target="_blank">Simple Abudance</a> by Sarah Ban Breathnach<br />
<a href="http://www.instagram.com/" target="_blank">Instagram</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
Your cookbooks, books + magazines <br />
Quiet devotional timeCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-91976864980838701942014-10-23T07:39:00.001-07:002014-10-23T08:06:03.592-07:00Beautiful ladies and their real-life creativity:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/187413177/new-camellia-print-pouches-in-coral-or?ref=shop_home_active_21" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzD93QopWvEbqkOPZaGtu6Q0r6wh9JC3gnCCKabOsv7gwdldr7I4KV1ArnYfJsYXHarmCRwMrOT3yXr2WC5ZVtYinv9dlTqbG2I0boS862QDhDx9qpv185qsFh9LkWwMRUTEfMJXYY1oZC/s1600/annajoycepouches.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/187413177/new-camellia-print-pouches-in-coral-or?ref=shop_home_active_21" target="_blank">Anna Joyce: Handmade in Portland, Oregon</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.ashleybrookedesigns.com/coffee-mugs/ain-t-nobody-got-time-mug-pre-order.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsjHTe1YAFRaBI0W8z9ENMTpJ4ySiLsgCDsxrnORsgSib_nHKrny_wylIrjkXNChphclOQ87Bz4mS-_Rr-GU5kYiCa21z1VAh2N_Sm1McmZCFhxCHEDyjfhYdn_GgFsh3ZaMMQxlgiD_Y/s1600/ain_t_nobody_got_time_for_that_coffee_mug_via_ashley_brooke_designs.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.ashleybrookedesigns.com/coffee-mugs/ain-t-nobody-got-time-mug-pre-order.html" target="_blank">Ashley Brooke Designs</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.emilyley.com/collections/simplified-planners/products/2015-simplified-planner-navy-dot" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccsbe3z5Iq9m8olG_cQHfwYKxppXkroi0BHNRuXKJjoHynQQQLr7fqemwVenMiMiGQAwhwfgOonvprJ48lzJSLyfnM1rVNIF0Rp4djsKchTTGo7MzHzg2OUUDhc5ylIH-6PAXpKgQdcjY/s1600/Emily-Ley-Simplified-Planner-2015-03_grande.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.emilyley.com/collections/simplified-planners/products/2015-simplified-planner-navy-dot" target="_blank">Emily Ley Stationery, Gifts and Organization</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116537267/granola-bread-and-4-peanut-butter?ref=shop_home_active_14" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfb6TDPI4QNWLUlzqd8zOjHqabYPLU0WaPp1RPWRdRB1iCr6xYB7aafeOBia82zsifDV_Br8lEyHJtzxE0afMUyFMC3_yeBak_7qW-3K7bmzSCenWnXB6Nf96IXLy5h8Ub98qwNAdwaL2/s1600/hellogranolabread.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116537267/granola-bread-and-4-peanut-butter?ref=shop_home_active_14" target="_blank"><u></u></a><u><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">hello granola</a></u></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116537267/granola-bread-and-4-peanut-butter?ref=shop_home_active_14" target="_blank"><br /></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116537267/granola-bread-and-4-peanut-butter?ref=shop_home_active_14" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr>
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Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-62759278374096414762014-10-22T06:50:00.003-07:002014-10-22T11:06:33.773-07:00Creativity + Exercise<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I was reminded yesterday while I was on a run that creativity and exercise go hand-in-hand. We can't really talk about creativity without mentioning exercise. Exercise has a profound effect on one's creativity.</div>
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I am an early-morning exerciser. It's how I start my days: my energy is highest in the morning, so it's a time when my body can have fun, while my mind rests a bit. Cross-training, running, and even walking - whatever it may be that gets the blood flowing through our bodies and to our brains - provides a natural means of 'lifting the mental fog." Exercise brings new life through our bodies and minds. And it helps me greatly reduce my amount of mental clutter - the type of clutter that keeps me from thinking clearly and creatively!</div>
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A friend asked me the other day if I was training for
anything.
No, I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But actually, I'm training for a vibrant life, and to put my best creative foot forward.</div>
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We have been given these glorious bodies that were made to move so that we can fully experience life. Our bodies, as well as our minds, are our blessings to
appreciate and nurture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like the
only way I can put my best foot forward creatively is to take good care of what
I’ve been given by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>eating well, exercising and resting (which is tough sometimes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to maintain some type of balance allows me to be healthier for myself and my family. And it opens my channels of creativity to hear what God has intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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Regular exercise also helps us sleep better, which results in
more rested minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And more rested minds = more clarity, more productivity, and sometimes, less emotional
upheaval (and as a mama who wrestles with her emotions, I am very grateful for this!). </div>
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I like to think of exercising as the equivalent of cutting off the stems of flowers before we put them into a
vase of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exercise allows us to
remove our “stale” stems and allows us to soak in the water: to fully take in what God
wants for us for the day and to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">bring His desires into reality.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGgnZfio13slNXEg2Fojjy9Xpkrjt6YbMoFqq7F2KMxGbg4lxd830_9-nuJYwlsEOoAgJq_8j5EM6qfobfBMFaUf2TgPEBsVNF3Nv-nOAbhp-XALzyKhemoGrQ9a5h7hbJE907vFz_Gvu/s1600/runnersworld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGgnZfio13slNXEg2Fojjy9Xpkrjt6YbMoFqq7F2KMxGbg4lxd830_9-nuJYwlsEOoAgJq_8j5EM6qfobfBMFaUf2TgPEBsVNF3Nv-nOAbhp-XALzyKhemoGrQ9a5h7hbJE907vFz_Gvu/s1600/runnersworld.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>One thing today</b>: Pick a time when you can begin some form exercise if you don't already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking is a great option...a 30-minute walk will make you feel amazing! Start out gradually - then build your way up. See if you feel better and have more clarity. Some days I wear headphones. Some days I don't. Listening to podcasts is really enjoyable. But, sometimes I just
need really fun music to allow my body and mind to have some fun! See what works best for you. And don't forget to drink more water!</div>
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<b>Great resources:</b></div>
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<a href="http://anothermotherrunner.com/" target="_blank">Another Mother Runner: A Virtual Aid Station</a> - All things running for busy mamas. Be sure to check out their podcast!</div>
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<a href="http://thewritepractice.com/run-writer-run/" target="_blank">Run Writer Run: Why Exercise Will Help You Write Better</a> - The Write Practice</div>
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/exercise-creativity-physical-activity_n_4394310.html" target="_blank">Regular Exercise Could Boost Creativity</a> - Huffington Post </div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-79045401237077235752014-10-21T10:56:00.002-07:002014-10-21T10:59:51.130-07:00Honoring our King of Creativity<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-ESV-28232">Do not be conformed to this world,<sup> </sup>but
be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may
discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and
perfect.</span> ~Romans 12:2 (ESV)</div>
<br />
God is our Creator. And we are His creations. He created us to live out His great plans. We know that He loves us, as children of the Most High King. He creates new days each morning for us. And His creative spirit lives in us.<br />
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Each night, we lay at the foot of our children's beds with them as they drift off to sleep. This is a tradition (some
would say "habit"!) we started when they were little tiny bitties. And now, at 9
and 6, my husband and I still take turns switching each night. It's a special time of night - I love it! But most nights, if I don't concentrate to keep myself awake, I'm
asleep within minutes. </div>
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One night, when I was laying at the foot of Sweet Boy's bed, all was quiet. As I kept trying to focus on the quiet (without falling asleep!), I felt brushed by the Spirit, and I was reminded, simply: if God is ultimately creative, we are, too! This moment sparked one
of my favorite meditations that I play through my head at bedtime to stay awake and to be inspired:</div>
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God
is beautifully creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God's Spirit lives in
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am beautifully creative.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or, in the form of a math statement: </div>
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If God = beautiful creativity and God lives in you, then you = beautiful creativity.</div>
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(From yesterday:) Creativity = new life.</div>
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Therefore...creativity is super important! </div>
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There are so many spiritual elements of creativity, which is why I think I'm so attracted to it. God wants us to be close to Him and to experience the creative energy that He has given to us! Sometimes, though, in an information-driven world, we need to remind ourselves that we are, in fact, creative beings. We do have lovely ideas that no one else has thought of. There may be millions of Pinterest pins, blog posts, and other ideas floating around out there, but there is only one of you - and God speaks to you and inspires you differently than anyone else. Your creative ideas are so very important to this world!</div>
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Taking time to be creative is important - as is acknowledging any creative efforts in my day that I may not have perceived as "creative." Taking time to be creative is taking time to be with God. All good things come from him - as well as all good ideas. Taking time to be creative fills up our cup.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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God is beautifully creative. God lives in you. You are beautifully creative! </div>
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<b>One thing today: </b> Unplug from your productive pace today for a few minutes and ask for God's guidance in your day. He wants to help you and wants you to be creative! Have your pen and paper ready to write down any ideas. Then, set a little bit of time aside this week (or weekend) to do something different + creative.</div>
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<b>Amazing inspiration:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/03/why-everybody-needs-to-make-art-everyday-7-keys-to-creativity/" target="_blank">Why Everyone Needs to Make Art Everyday (7 Keys to Creativity)</a> by Ann Voskamp</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17384603-a-million-little-ways?from_search=true" target="_blank">A Million Little Ways</a> by Emily Freeman</div>
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...And, a good, hot, strong cup of tea.Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-49895830044505720032014-10-20T09:19:00.001-07:002014-10-20T09:25:11.509-07:00Creativity = new life.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b>"This, then, is the beginning:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to know that we have a right to the creative
and to follow it where it leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
should that be so difficult?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~Deena Metzger</b></div>
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Creativity is one of my very favorite topics - yet a giant, broad topic. There are endless sources on creativity online. So where in the world should we begin?<br />
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With you. Do you have a creative outlet?</div>
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If you have a creative outlet, do you take the time to exercise this gift? When was the last time you felt like you were thinking of new ideas? If you feel you don't have a creative outlet, let me remind you that creativity is everywhere. You're probably being quite creative on a daily basis without even realizing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Yes, really.</span></div>
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The book <i>Nurturing Creativity: A Guide for Busy Moms</i> by Renee Tougas is a wonderful, reassuring resource that reminds us that
creativity can exist anywhere in our day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As mothers, we don’t always have the luxury of large blocks of time to
allow us to create.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days it’s a few
minutes here, 15 minutes there (or as long as your child’s favorite television
show!). But Renee reminds us that creativity can live in our everyday tasks. And, we can even plan creative works around household items and tasks. This concise book is lovely, simple and insightful - I highly recommend taking some time to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Creativity doesn’t have to be researching Pinterest for hours and then finding a perfect craft (although that would be okay - no judgement).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creativity doesn’t have to
be spending a small fortune on craft supplies (although that can happen
sometimes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creativity can be as simple
as looking around your home and asking yourself – how can I make things
different here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> How can I change the way the kitchen looks? Or, how can I rearrange items in our laundry room to make room for backpacks and shoes? </span> </div>
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Creativity can be how you think - h<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>ow you look at things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you address challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you keep your desk organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you cook for a meal or a snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you organize your time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you choose to wear (this is a great creative
outlet!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jewelry you choose to wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you decorate your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Simply, c</span>reativity = new life. </div>
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Creativity brings something new to the world, be it a product or process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the act of creativity also creates
new life in us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after using our creativity, we are changed,
different.</div>
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<b>One thing today:</b> Think about your creative interests. Make a list of all the things you love to do - and see how many of these are creative acts. Pick one thing to focus on this week. When can you take a few minutes to think about this creative outlet?<br />
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<b>Creative resources..</b>.<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15778051-nurturing-creativity" target="_blank">Nurturing Creativity: A Guide for Busy Moms</a> by Renee Tougas<br />
<a href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/category/what-im-wearing" target="_blank">What I'm Wearing</a> - Artisan Lisa Leonard shares with her customers/blog audience her wardrobe picks! She has inspired me to pick one day during the week (Sundays don't count!) to dress creatively and boldly. (Thank you, Lisa!)<br />
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<a href="http://stampington.com/Where-Women-Cook-Autumn-2014" target="_blank">Where Women Cook</a> - An inspirational journal about women and cooking. This always lights my creative flame. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-53168324170763607232014-10-19T18:43:00.004-07:002014-10-20T09:23:16.414-07:00Love your city.<br />
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<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-49270005950257280462014-10-18T15:28:00.001-07:002014-10-18T15:28:33.889-07:00Words to drink:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandwrittenWord?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Handwritten Word</a></td></tr>
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<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-8112415392781116772014-10-17T10:24:00.000-07:002014-10-17T10:34:54.824-07:00Listen to the quiet (part 2): On reducing mental noiseYesterday we covered the concept of using boundaries to remove ourselves from the physical noises of our world...in hopes of focusing better. Today...let's talk about mental noise.<br />
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<br />
According to the super cool and fascinating <a href="http://www.visualthesaurus.com/" target="_blank">Visual Thesaurus</a>, other words for <i>noise</i> include interference, disturbance, dissonance, racket, haphazardness, randomness. These words often describe my mental state (!), which happens for various reasons, such as when I've... a) taken in too much new information, b) haven't had any time to myself for processing or writing, c) have had very little downtime with too many commitments, and sometimes d) when I'm tired/a little foggy and really just need a very strong cup of coffee.<br />
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Sometimes, too much mental noise = total overwhelm.<br />
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This topic is quite timely for me this week. We are in full fall mode down here with Sweet Boy's birthday last week, our elementary school's annual fall festival today, continuing to post each day during this month, volunteering for this past week and the coming weeks, thinking ahead to November and the holidays. I have been in <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18110681-say-goodbye-to-survival-mode?from_search=true" target="_blank">survival mode</a> a bit this week - I can always tell this because of the stacks of papers and books that accumulate. And - much of my to-do list comes at me here and there - and sometimes I write it down, while other times I don't because I think I'll remember (which I don't recommend).<br />
<br />
Sitting down for a brain dump on paper helps. Cleaning up paper clutter and giving the old desk a good scrubbing definitely helps! So, if you need help reducing your mental noise, start with restoring order somewhere in your life.<br />
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You know what else helps? Not taking in so much random information. I have several friends who (lovingly) tease me about not "being on Facebook." (For the record, I'm on Facebook, but I'm just not active.) Every now and then I use it for getting some information - but it's not my favorite.<br />
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Let me repeat that, because it feels good to say it aloud:<br />
<br />
Facebook is not my favorite.<br />
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(Facebook = total overwhelm.) <br />
<br />
I think much of my discomfort with Facebook has to do with my <a href="http://chocolatepaperandscissors.blogspot.com/2014/10/who-are-you-anyway.html" target="_blank">INFJ-ness</a>. (Not that all <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lovelenablake/infj-personality-type/" target="_blank">INFJ</a>'s dislike Facebook. But, many of my personality traits conflict with the social nature of Facebook.) Once I read a handful of status updates,quite a bit of mental space gets occupied. At that point, I have so much mental noise in my head, where I'm thinking and re-thinking about what people are doing, how they are doing, what I'm not doing enough of, guilt for not posting more photos of my children (which I don't do because I'm super private), who I'm not keeping up with regularly, who I should be messaging more, how I can't believe that person is traveling there...the list goes on and on. The rabbit trails continue on the screen, and then later, in my head.<br />
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Also, if I'm consuming too much digital information, I sometimes forget
what my own thoughts are. Sometimes I can't remember which thoughts are mine - and which ones came from someone else. (Did I have that idea about nutrition? Or did someone else tweet that earlier this week?) We have to be in touch with our own thoughts - which inevitably means unplugging from everyone else's. (And by the way, if you have an amazing thought, write it down! But just because you have an amazing thought, don't feel pressured to share it on Facebook.)<br />
<br />
This summer, when I took a break from being online all the time, I was reminded to look within. To find my own thoughts and experiences. And to let these guide me more than others' words. And that was uncomfortable in the beginning, but now it's normal.<br />
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If we maintain a connection with ourselves, despite the very social and information-laden world we live in, we can maintain some boundaries for our minds. And it should result in a more peaceful, productive, more relaxed and happier version of ourselves.<br />
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How do you reduce your mental noise?<br />
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-19927351123833649012014-10-16T11:44:00.001-07:002014-10-16T11:44:03.896-07:00Listen to the quiet (part 1)<br />
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I don't know about you, but experiencing quiet is at the top of my desires each morning when I wake up. And maintaining quiet while everyone is sleeping is pretty easy to do in the morning. (Mid-day quiet, or even yet, after-school or before-dinner quiet are completely different challenges.)<br />
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During the day, I find it hard to exist quietly. I love podcasts and all types of music - they move me through the day. On most days, when I hop in the car, I always have music playing. Periodically, though, I will get in the car and desire to have total quiet for a few minutes - time to be alone with my thoughts. (But some days, this is super uncomfortable!) And without thinking, I'll turn the radio back on. Have you ever paid attention to your media habits? Sometimes I wonder why I try so hard to find just the right song. Am I trying to distract myself from something? <br />
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Ironically, as I type this, I just returned to my desk with my earbuds, so I can listen to some music while I type this post. My husband and I share an office, and at this very moment, he is talking on the phone with a client. He speaks pretty loudly - and it makes concentrating almost impossible. So, my earbuds and Pandora (usually classical or instrumental) turned up pretty loudly give me a "quiet" space - where I can block out the world and focus on my work. Mozart helps me write better...he allows me to leave this world and transcend to a timeless place, unreachable by anyone. Just me and words exist there.<br />
<br />
I have a lovely friend I used to work with years ago who only listens to wordless music when she writes. She used to listen to jazz quite a bit. And I think of her each time I sit down to write with my earbuds. She taught me the art of zoning everything out and concentrating on the task at hand. (We also worked in cubicles, where there was no privacy. Headphones are a great solution for this!) <br />
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<![endif]-->It's good to create an environment where you work well. Even if it's not completely silent - you can still have mental "quiet" by creating boundaries.<br />
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What quiet boundaries can you create today?Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-62942466327299017912014-10-15T09:57:00.002-07:002014-10-16T04:27:45.697-07:00What is your work?When women talk about our work - the efforts of working toward accomplishing a goal, pushing us closer to the person we want to be - we can get pretty passionate. (Speaking of passion...) The question of "do you work outside the home?" often comes up when meeting new mamas around here. <br />
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Many of us do work outside the home. Some of us work out of our homes from our home computers. And some of us work inside of our homes each day, managing a household and family. We have all been created differently. We each have very different roles, different families and various gifts and talents. Do you feel like you're using your gifts and talents? You're probably doing so more than you realize.<br />
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Whether you're at home with young children today, or if you're at the office, hoping to see your children before dinner tonight, your role is extremely important. You are setting an example for your children and your family, so don't take your role lightly. Treat it (and you) with love and respect. <br />
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I have a dear friend who worked throughout her children's baby and toddlerhood seasons. This friend is a brilliant accountant, who is an organized, genuinely warm and very loyal individual. She had been with her company for many years and didn't want to leave after starting a family. Her company was her other family, and she wanted to keep them in her life. I greatly respected her decision to continue working. I always inspired by her ability to come home and truly connect
with her family. She was always been a super present mother who leaves everything at work when she comes home - and
extremely giving of her time at home. She gave everything she had to her work, and then she came home and gave even more to her family. <br />
<br />
<br />
We had very different experiences in our early season of motherhood with babies and toddlers. While she left for her corporate office each day, I was at home in my yoga pants, trying to maintain a (somewhat) organized home. Her
husband (who became one of the "girls"), for various reasons, stayed
home with their daughter, and three years later, their son, and we often met at the park or with a
playgroup. When her son was in his early preschool years, she left her full-time job and relocated with her family to West Coast from Texas. <br />
<br />
This year, both of our youngest children (both boys) began kindergarten. And so we have both begun a new season of motherhood and are in very similar places. But, still very different.<br />
<br />
I shared my friend's story with you because we all come to motherhood with different professional (and personal) backgrounds. Some of us may set down our work for a while, and some of us may pick up the same work years later, or - something new altogether. And some of us may continue to work to keep our family in check. <br />
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We all work differently. And we are all part of the sisterhood of motherhood. <br />
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Whatever your work is, be all in. Have passion for what you do. If your work isn't your passion and you can't escape it, then pursue an interest that is your passion. This may mean saying "no" to opportunities that come your way and saying "yes" to your important work. And when you are reunited with your family at the end of the day, be all in there, too.<br />
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<b>One thing today</b>: Think about your current work - what you focus on the most. How can you be better? What can you say "no" to in order to say "yes" to things that will further your work? Do you need to rearrange some priorities?<br />
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<br />
<b>Work-ing Resources</b>:<br />
<a href="http://www.designsponge.com/category/biz-ladies" target="_blank">DesignSponge BizLadies</a>: Read some great profiles on creative business ladies.<br />
<a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2014/10/biz-ladies-discover-how-you-work-best.html" target="_blank">Discover How You Work Best</a> - What are your working styles? How can you work smarter?<br />
<a href="http://www.elisapulliam.com/" target="_blank">Elisa Pulliam</a> - A lovely writer, speaker and life coach.Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-27292047251407717422014-10-14T10:09:00.002-07:002014-10-14T10:11:11.735-07:00Only time will tell.How do you spend your time?<br />
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Ugh - sometimes that's a pretty tough, general question to answer. But if you take some time to really think about your answer, you should be able to break things down pretty clearly. How we spend our time directly reflects our priorities. <br />
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If we think of our time in terms of getting closer to pursuing the work we're passionate about, how would you spend your time differently? What tasks, responsibilities or commitments can you lay down in order to free up some resources? </div>
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The biggest gift we have been given is time. And once the day is over, we can't get that time back, people! But, we can make sure that we choose the right, appropriate priorities, and at the same time, we can choose not to waste time on things that may not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> be pushing us toward our goals. </span>Time is a precious resource for everyone these days - and especially for those of us with school-aged children, when our time may not always be our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Writing is a priority for me, which means I may not always be available for getting together with friends, or taking regular creative excursions. In addition to writing, I have several other responsibilities that also must be met. In order to take care of business...I have to eliminate time wasters, which is not always fun - but necessary. </div>
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These days, I keep putting off errands I need to run for our house - they'll have to wait. I don't lounge on Facebook much (which is another topic altogether), which may cause me to miss some things. I don't watch much television (but I do love some <i>Friday Night Lights </i>on Netflix), and I'm not a phone talker, though I probably should be more. These three things will use up my time before I can even blink. So, on busy days, they're simply not an option.</div>
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As The Fray says in their song "All at Once": <i>Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. </i><br />
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One of the most helpful and inspirational pieces of writing on how to stay focused and using our time wisely that I have read to date comes from author <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/06/how-to-focus-in-an-age-of-distraction-make-it-a-good-summer-10-things-to-do-before-you-click-printable/" target="_blank">Ann Voskamp</a>. She retells a conversation she had with her children about being disciplined, staying focused, and "staying in the pool." This piece of writing has changed my work ethic and discipline forever. I will never look at checking e-mail the same again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Image from <a href="http://fancyhands.com/">FancyHands.com</a>)</i></td></tr>
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<b>One thing today</b>: Take some time to make a list of every thought and task you have in your head. Put it on paper! Make a crazy long list and help clean off your mental plate. Then, take some time to think about how you spend your day. What things can you do that will help push you closer to your goals? What things can you reduce or eliminate that aren't productive or that will keep you from reaching your goals?<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Inspirational +Helpful Resources:</b><br />
Ann Voskamp::A Holy Experience - <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/06/how-to-focus-in-an-age-of-distraction-make-it-a-good-summer-10-things-to-do-before-you-click-printable/" target="_blank">How to Focus in an Age of Distraction</a><br />
<a href="http://tomato-timer.com/" target="_blank">Tomato Timer</a><br />
<a href="http://emilyley.com/blog/2014/10/simplicity-meg-hamilton/" target="_blank">Simplicity Series</a> by Emily Ley<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18110681-say-goodbye-to-survival-mode?from_search=true" target="_blank">Say Goodbye to Survival Mode</a> by Crystal Paine<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-21380331798037005062014-10-13T13:14:00.005-07:002014-10-14T03:57:07.417-07:00Creative Day Off: Home ComfortsAfter a full weekend, we've had a quiet day at home. It was our decision: we could run errands today, or we could stay home to enjoy cozy, quiet, resting, playing, baking, listening to the dark, rainy, cold thunderstorms that brought in our first taste of fall in Texas. Viva la autumn! <br />
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I usually leave school holidays wide open. We often need rest more than we need to be anywhere else. This is one of those days when my body says: I can't go any faster.<br />
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So, today, our math is as follows: holiday = home = rest = playing camping outside = comforts = comfort food.<br />
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After tidying up the kitchen this morning, I lit a candle, brewed some Pumpkin Spice Oolong tea (my new favorite tea!), turned on some nice music. The kids played while I baked our <a href="http://mealmakeovermoms.com/kitchen/2010/10/18/ina-gartens-pumpkin-cupcakes-get-a-healthy-makeover/" target="_blank">favorite amazing pumpkin cupcakes</a>, then some rice and beans for lunch. This is our second time this fall to bake pumpkin cupcakes! I make these every year for Sweet Boy's birthday celebration at school. And he likes them only one way: without icing. They're a bit more like muffins, with a little more sweet. I could easily eat 10 of them in one sitting!<br />
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<b>One thing today</b>: One day this week, resist the urge to run a ton of errands when you really need some rest. Stay home, make a comfort drink, move slowly, and bake something simple. Take time for quiet...and for listening. An extra day off screams for this!<br />
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<b>Cozy things:</b><br />
<a href="http://dawnathome.typepad.com/" target="_blank">By Sun and Candlelight</a>: A lovely online space that is the most comforting I've seen. You'll understand more when you visit her blog! Dawn is an inspiration.<br />
<a href="http://mealmakeovermoms.com/" target="_blank">Meal Makeover Moms</a>: These ladies have great recipes, and they often remake classic recipes (like today's cupcakes) to make them healthier. I've been a fan of theirs for years.Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-10124717415009896522014-10-12T14:14:00.002-07:002014-10-12T14:14:37.101-07:00Gratitude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="jquote">The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. -Mark 12:31</span></div>
<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-68314631163944766532014-10-11T15:03:00.001-07:002014-10-11T15:03:52.300-07:00Out of your comfort zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend, I hope you take some time to pursue something that's new and different. Stepping outside of our comfort zone is something (obviously) uncomfortable. But, it stretches us and grows us.<br />
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It's a good mantra to repeat: stretch and grow, stretch and grow.<br />
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Sweet Boy received a football game for his birthday this week called "Football Guys." It's a great toy that allows you to teach a child about the game of football, the strategies, plays, positions. I helped him set everything up and found that although I know very little about football, I was going to try my hardest to read the directions and act like I knew what I was doing.<br />
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I'm really not a football fan (unless <i>Friday Night Lights</i> is involved), but Sweet Boy is really into it these days, since Daddy loves it. Daddy was in the next room listening to me explain the game and editing certain things I said.<br />
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I'm pretty sure this was my husband's comic relief for the week.<br />
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(Although he would never tell me. Bless him.) <br />
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I stepped out of my comfort zone as a mama to teach my boy about something I've never really been interested in - and it felt good. I even learned a little about the game. Ha!<br />
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Get out there and play!<br />
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And stretch and grow. Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-18201684862353766782014-10-10T21:58:00.002-07:002014-10-10T21:58:29.148-07:00Celebrating life times six years.This evening was Sweet Boy's birthday party at the park, and it was a lovely time.<br />
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I spent all day getting things ready for his party. I am not a party planner. (Whimsy + creativity + planning = a birthday party.) I don't obsess about all of the tiny details. I struggle with creative ideas and parties. <br />
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But, I love doing things I think our children will love...and that's always my goal. Honor the simple, sweet things they like: homemade cakes, apple cider and hot dogs. And time with their friends and family.<br />
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We closed down the night with opening a few presents, watching an episode of <i>Full House</i>, and crawling in bed to have sleepy dreams.<br />
<br />
Good night, Sweet Boy. Happy, happy birthday. Welcome to the land of six!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-36623036112246129122014-10-09T11:05:00.003-07:002014-10-09T11:09:15.525-07:00Messy, beautiful chaos.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Sometimes taking time for ourselves is when all is quiet, be it late or early in the day - feels like a luxury. There are always those days, weeks, and maybe even seasons of our lives when we just have to take care of business in the midst of chaos. When everyone is awake. When little ones aren't feeling well. And perhaps when your house is a mess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">That is where I have been this week.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Sweet boy was home Monday and Tuesday and thankfully, he is feeling better and is back at school (with a really rough cough). Monday was his 6th birthday! It was still a special day, even if he was in his pajamas most of the time. We played, watched <i>Star Wars</i> and ate tomato soup. He asked when Big Sister would be home about 15 times. It was<span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">a lovely</span></span> day.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX53yJY37M_8sPR-pxM8ldcc7QkDqiuRiaeaRJhhd6GFTSOqH0mHxV_QqxcDhFe77Ve_t9gAFM4M1vtFqOT-pU0PkbZ5-tp3X3rJaxheh0eizAJ2RIwCMTy38IzKHN6oIickd80aWeu8/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX53yJY37M_8sPR-pxM8ldcc7QkDqiuRiaeaRJhhd6GFTSOqH0mHxV_QqxcDhFe77Ve_t9gAFM4M1vtFqOT-pU0PkbZ5-tp3X3rJaxheh0eizAJ2RIwCMTy38IzKHN6oIickd80aWeu8/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">As I type this, I can see loads of laundry spilling onto the floor in the next room. My desk is a mess, as is our den. And so is our bedroom, since I have all Sweet Boy's birthday party plans and items laid out on the floor. Oh, and our closet is out of sorts. And we need groceries. And I need to bake a birthday cake. (The kitchen is amazing because of my very clean husband. He gets all the props here.) But these are all things I have accepted as part of the beautiful chaos of motherhood and life. To these, I say yes. And thank you.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">And yet, I still write. I am still here, doing my part to contribute my tiny portion of art and insight to the world. I'm still here, wanting to give words to mamas who need it, who are trying desperately to get to know themselves again. Mamas who cherish being mamas - but who need to make a difference in other realms, too. This is where I'm supposed to be for now. For these few hours.</span></div>
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We can’t wait to pursue our creative passions + work outside of mamahood (or in conjunction with) if we wait until all conditions are perfect – when the laundry is
done and put away, the toys organized, everything dusted, the litter box scooped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don't need to put our work and passions on the backburner. We just need to be able to set them to the side sometimes, so they're just right there. Mamas, we need a balance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlTWN7HjEj5_YZgPqLKoipSk5ChyOzJFM1JQ4ht77YZGqQSMW7YCAMKsMzs5s-yKx7ZDC0YuAyDZFXEl0SHutsLfDRL_powmyXlkw-uBGqeSL3wjOVktrWS2eYkQHxDb30NA2xByBNR7E/s1600/Computer+Keyboard.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlTWN7HjEj5_YZgPqLKoipSk5ChyOzJFM1JQ4ht77YZGqQSMW7YCAMKsMzs5s-yKx7ZDC0YuAyDZFXEl0SHutsLfDRL_powmyXlkw-uBGqeSL3wjOVktrWS2eYkQHxDb30NA2xByBNR7E/s1600/Computer+Keyboard.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Otherwise, we forget our passions - the other gifts we are meant to use, in addition to our roles as mamas, and we become victim to the "tyranny of the urgent," as writer Charles Hummel calls it in his book "Tyranny of the Urgent." Let's keep our focus and say yes to the important things: our children, our families, and our other paths God is calling us to.</div>
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<b>One thing today:</b> Even if you house is a mess, put on your "blinders" - a tip from Kat Lee at <a href="http://www.inspiredtoaction.com/" target="_blank">Inpsired to Action.</a> Keep on workin' until your work is done. Then, tackle everything you had to temporarily ignore. If little tiny tasks keep popping into your head and distracting you, keep writing them down. You can think about them later.</div>
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<b>Inspiring stuff today:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://inspiredtoaction.com/2014/10/overwhelmed-learn-to-say-your-best-yes-an-interview-with-lysa-terkeurst-ita57/" target="_blank">Interview with Lysa Terkeurst on the Inspired to Action podcast</a>: Say Your Best Yes<br />
<a href="http://tomato-timer.com/#" target="_blank">Tomato Timer</a> - Pomodoro timer = blinders we sometimes need. Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647157626631045415.post-6624758554476704262014-10-08T09:00:00.006-07:002014-10-08T09:03:00.883-07:00The Battle of the Birds (part 2)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’m pretty sure that my six year-old son’s love for Angry Birds has
penetrated my subconscious by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I
think this is where the title for this post came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the whole subject of my son's iPad love deserves a post of its
own.)</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
(Another day.)</div>
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Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, there is no
right way to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you find
time for yourself – creative, alert time where you can really be present with
yourself – you can stay in touch with your creative voice.</div>
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In our home, we love to sit with our
children when they’re going to sleep, a tradition that began in toddler-hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a sweet time of day – one of my favorite times
of the day – but I often + usually fall asleep when they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call this “unintentionally going to bed
early.” I wake up
two hours later, feeling drugged, contacts to my eyes, clothes
still on from the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where does a mama
go from here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, straight to bed. Ugh.</div>
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But – if my husband falls asleep with them, he’ll wake back
up to continue the rest of his night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For him, the late night hours have been his time for solitude,
creativity, mental rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always
been secretly envious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I’ve tried to turn myself into a night owl, brewing
pots of coffee after the kids go to sleep, trying to keep myself up to take
advantage of hours of quite time. This time is lovely! But, the body
still wakes up early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I may be a little tired the next day - but those stolen hours are well worth it.</div>
<br />
We women and mamas are often exhausted – and sleep
is a necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes, it pays
to miss a little sleep to have some good, intentional creative mental
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My late nights with some
good coffee or tea at my desk, along with pens, markers, highlighters and
clean, fresh notebooks – lights my creative soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gift of a large block of time to reflect,
explore, create – to tap into new life - is priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BofRmtTmIDaRobGWbPZJFEM9UTfbTU6VVAOMP1fi1hCDuCw0jd_u1gJL38IbFTExNZ02ImIbgEsnzhDmSGltHYrfoV_HpPI7xn3moDd0sxLQnHWqF6CVIT9bxPd8VxMlgco8nYbm1ImY/s1600/DSC_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BofRmtTmIDaRobGWbPZJFEM9UTfbTU6VVAOMP1fi1hCDuCw0jd_u1gJL38IbFTExNZ02ImIbgEsnzhDmSGltHYrfoV_HpPI7xn3moDd0sxLQnHWqF6CVIT9bxPd8VxMlgco8nYbm1ImY/s1600/DSC_0648.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>“The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience
is the sensation of the mystical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
the sower of all true science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He to
whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in
awe, is good as dead.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i> </span>- Albert
Einstein</b><br />
</div>
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<b>One thing today:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>Sometime
this week, shake up your routine and steal some hours for yourself, Morning or night - make your time intentional. Plan for what you want to do with your time.</div>
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<b>Lovely, creative things:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/837531.The_Creative_Call?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Creative Call</a> by Janice Elsheimer</div>
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<a href="https://gadanke.com/products/journals/" target="_blank">Gadanke Journals</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/206139460/anniversary-sale-new-hand-stenciled?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=paper_goods-notebook-low&gclid=CjwKEAjwwdOhBRCG0fPrlfO1gGUSJAC1FmHX6u0xNGfIOTh3VuBTPAl6h5UpxzGn2eGXOVOTjI7TuhoCjSXw_wcB" target="_blank">Anna Joyce Hand-Stenciled Notebooks </a></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00907851730805959172noreply@blogger.com0