And so I blog...

I started blogging way back when.  I honestly can't even remember how long it's been...best guess is going on ten years now. My early blogging days were filled with newborn induced sleepless posts, potty training thoughts, political rants and endless photo opps of my adorable children.  Oh, and coffee...there's always been the coffee.  

Blogging 'gurus' will tell you to hone in on one thing; to focus your blog so that readers with similar interests can connect with you, allowing you to build a reader base.  Nope.  That's not why I blog.  Blogging is a creative outlet for whatever happens to be rolling around in my brain. Scary isn't it?  There's no rhyme or reason - It's real life in real time.  With me, what you see is what you get.  Obviously the topics I've covered have changed over the years because, well, I've changed.  There are topics that have come up that I would have never considered blogging about when I started this journey.  Things life's thrown our way that have woven their way into the fabric of our family.

Depression, though not at all on my radar way back when, has certainly shaped me into who I am today.  Journaling the struggle helped to process each piece as the LORD peeled back the layers of the onion called my life.  As I sit here now, I can't imagine who I would be had that not been part of my journey and I am grateful.

Our homeschool journey has come a long way over the years as well.  While we've just finished teaching our last little one to read, we've also jumped head long into the world of Algebra 2, puberty and other equally scary things!  We still love homeschooling, but the terrain looks a whole lot different than those days when art projects littered the table, hours were spent at the library and colored counting bears were how we rolled.

Through the years of blogging one thing that remains constant is JESUS.  I've always loved blogging about things He's teaching me through His Word and other amazing people He places in my life.  That hasn't changed, because He never changes.  Without Him none of the other moments matter.  He is the lens through which each of the other moments is viewed; bringing each part of my life into focus, weaving it into who I am becoming...and so I blog.

God and carnivals - yes, there's a correlation!

Angela at His Truth Endures shared a beautiful post about reflecting on her walk with the LORD over the past year.  She likens it in many ways to a kid at a carnival.  I'm a visual person, so her analogy struck a chord with me.  I hope you'll take a minute to stop in for a read.

No regrets

I'm not really big on new year's resolutions.  Yes, I could stand to lose 20 pounds, watch less TV, read more, eat less, exercise more, yada, yada, yada...who couldn't?  The pastor pointed out in his sermon this morning that while those things might all be good, none of them matters for eternity.  Good point.

So instead of a list of less/more, I have one goal this year - to live with no regrets.  To get to the end of 2012 and say, as best I can, that I lived each day, each moment to it's fullest.  That I lived fully present.  That I loved completely.  That I spoke words of encouragement and love.  That I bit my tongue more often than not.  That, whenever possible, I chose joy.

Now, I'm giving myself some leeway here.  I know I won't accomplish this every day, in every situation, but if I can do so as much as possible it will hopefully leave the world around me and the people in it a bit better off.  Not such a bad goal I think.

I'm also starting a photo a day project for 2012.  Inspired by something I found on Pinterest (of course!), I'll take a photo every day for the next year.  I think it will be a wonderful way to document the life and antics of our crazy family.  Check back for photos.  I'll try and post some once a week or so.

How about you?  Any goals for 2012? 

Pinterest inspired gifts

I'm B-A-C-K!  Thanks to those who checked on my blogging absence.  Still alive and kickin', just not kickin' it on the computer.  Our computer's on the fritz and I can't even begin to explain how crazy it makes me...yes, crazier than I already am!  What should take 10 minutes ends up taking 45 while I wait on the computer to unfreeze it's silly self and catch up with me. 

We had a whirlwind of a December that's culminating in a wonderful week off for Mike. Week off for Dad means a week off for us all.  We've been sleeping in, cleaning up, reorganizing and hanging out.  The week between Christmas and New Year's is my favorite of the year.  It's the one week I don't feel any pressure.  It's the one week there is nothing on the calendar.  It's like a deep breath before we jump back into reality. We can regroup and get ready to start a fresh, new year.  I like that.

Most of you are probably Pinterest addicts like myself.  If you're not, you should be.  Here's a glimpse of the Pinterest inspired Christmas gifts I made. 

 

DIY photo tile - used our own family photo...I have no idea who those people are.

 

Crocheted washcloths - so soft!

 

Peppermint sugar scrub - made myself some too.  LOVE this!  You really must try it.

Yarn tied scarf - made some in corals/browns/off-white.  Mine were fluffier than these, but you get the idea.  If my computer weren't so cantankerous I'd take my own photos, but we'll have to settle for looking at someone else's pics. The scarves turned out so nice I made myself one too.  Wow!  I really gave myself some great presents this year!

Hopefully the computer will cooperate and I will be back to blogging more regularly in 2012.  We'll see.

Blogging in sound bites

The busyness of life seems to leave little time for blogging lately. By the time the kids are in bed my creative juices have done been used up for the day. Blogging requires thought. It requires me to put more than two sentences together...dare I say even multiple paragraphs of cohesive contemplation. Facebook on the other hand requires minimal words and even less thought. Most of it seems to be whatever randomness happens to be rolling around in one's head at any given moment.

Having said that, here is a recap of the last month of my random life as seen through my Facebook status updates.

1/1/11 - Black eyed pea gumbo with chorizo sausage and a side of college football...a great way to kick off the new year.

1/2/11 - lesson planning for four kiddos...I don't think there's enough coffee in the house to cover that one.

1/3/11 - During break the kids are up at dawn eager to play Wii and relish no school assignments. First day back to school and there's still no sign of them. Should I enjoy the quiet, or make them get up and be responsible? Hmmm...

1/5/11 - Chex mix roasting in the oven...it smells so yummy. Granola is next on the list so Connor will stop bugging me about it!

1/7/11 - Just informed the kids that since the dishwasher is broken they will have to wash dishes BY HAND. Oh my goodness....they don't think they're going to survive. Of course mom pulls out her best "well when I was a kid" story.

1/8/11 - Getting ready for Greyson's first Upward basketball game of the year. He's sooo excited! GO GRIZZLIES!

1/11/11 - In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and in eternity. - Abraham Lincoln

1/12/11 - One of my kids sounds a lot like a seal...poor thing.

1/14/11 - Reason #2,374 why we love homeschooling - scones, hot cocoa and good books on a cold morning.

1/16/11 - I love my church!

1/18/11 - Mom to C & G - "Why do you think we bought you dressers for your clothes?". C & G in all seriousness - "I don't know Mom. It's so much easier to just throw them on the floor.". Sigh...looks like we've got some work to do.

1/20/11 - The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24

1/22/11 - Needed - recommendations for good beach reading. Ideas?

So there you have it. That's what you call blogging in sound bites. Maybe next time I'll find time to put some real thoughts together. In the meantime, you're all caught up on our lives! Aren't you glad?

Saturday morning blog hopping

It's a quiet Saturday morning. The whole house is still sleeping (insert silent cheer) and I am sitting here with my hot cuppa joe catching up on my favorite blogs. The busyness of life seems to leave me little time for blog reading lately, so when I can steal a few minutes I enjoy them even more. Here are a few of my favs for the week.

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land paints an amazing picture of grace that every mom can relate to. It's one of those posts that leaves you wanting to try harder...to do more to be a better mom. Yeah, it's that good.

Jamie at Creating Home reminds us of the beauty of God in a fallen world.

The Nester (you knew she would show up on my list) did an awesome series in October entitled 31 Days: A Beautiful Mess on ways to declutter and "demess" your home, room by room, messy surface by messy surface. See what great things I've been missing around the blogosphere? Thank goodness for archives.

Coffee's done. Time to get back to reality. Hope you'll stop by and say hello to these lovely ladies.

Out and about

I swear there are some amazingly wise and talented people out there. Here's a sample of this week's surfing.

Raising Olives shares a tutorial for making simple bookshelves...out of rain gutters!

Bake at 350 is one of my favorite cookie decorating sites. Take a look at her most recent birthday cookies and while you're there, spend some time digging through her site. Her step by step tutorials are super.

I will not covet, I will not covet...This lady's amazing Southern home focuses on her porch...her amazing, ginormous porch. Did I mention it is amazing? She's even named her blog Between Naps on the Porch. Looking for some fun tablescape ideas? Check out her weekly Tablescape Inspirations. Warning...it will take you hours to look at everything and probably make you crave a tall glass of iced tea.

This one's for my friend Marla who has a small addiction to cafe tables. You know you do Marla!

Chad at Captain's Blog is on a Learning to Live Loved journey toward transparency. No matter how far you think you've come, your past can still sneak up and bite you in the butt. Check out his journey and be encouraged in your own.

And since no list would be complete without a little Nester, here's a great question - How would you decorate your home if no one but your family would ever see it? So why aren't you doing it?

How's that for an eclectic list? Enjoy!

Decorating shout outs

I have a secret addiction (guess it's not so secret now is it?) to decorating blogs and let me tell you, there are some seriously talented bloggers out there. Here are three great posts I drooled over this week.

Savvy Southern Style on a Budget - Aliteration aside, the name alone got my attention. Her vintage nauticul guestroom makeover is absolutely Pottery Barnesque. Yes, it's a word...look it up.

Lisa at The Pennington Point is a new Texas blogging friend. I think we may be distantly related...or seperated at birth. Check out her latest painting project and prepare to be amazed. I was!

As always, The Nester got me thinking. Check out her post on "summerizing" your home. I love the idea of a beige/white/aqua blue scheme, but not quite sure how to pull it off without a major redo. Still thinkin'.

Me and Ree - catchy don't ya think?

You may have seen the movie Julie and Julia. Well, I've decided to go for my own version and work my way through The Pioneer Woman Cooks website. Yep, me and Ree...we're gonna be best buds by the time I'm done. And yes, I will weigh at least 400 pounds, but hey, I'm pretty sure it'll be worth it.

I love her site for several reasons. All the recipes I've tried so far (OK, so I've only tried one, but I've made it twice...I've just drooled over the rest) have been amazing, but the BEST part is the pictures. Hellooo, visual learner here. She has step by step photos of ALL her recipes. If the recipe name doesn't grab me that ooey, gooey photo sure will. Pretty sure I'm planning my entire menu next week off her site.

Not only does the Pioneer Woman find time to prepare amazing food, complete with color photos, she also writes books, dabbles in photography, gardens and oh yes, did I mention she homeschools her kids and runs a ranch? Yep, I want to be like her when I grow up...minus the ranch part.

Need a good recipe to start with? Try the Olive Cheese Bread. I guarantee you'll be hooked. I've even eaten it cold...for breakfast. Yeah, it's that good.

I'm a chicken too...and not the dainty one!

Ever felt like a chicken? Check out Emily's post today over at The Learning Never Stops. It is a hoot and will leave you feeling like you're in good company. I think there are a lot of us chickens out there, some smaller than others, but all just a little goofy.

Shout out to Jen

Take a minute to check out my friend Jen's blog, Light Enough to See. Don't you just love that title? It's one of my favorite songs. He really does make everything glorious if we take it all to Him. Only He could take my piles of problems and make something that would in any way bring Him glory. He's so cool that way.

Apparently the Lord has been chasing Jen down with the idea for quite some time. She's been dealing with some health issues and wants to use what the Lord has taught her to bless others. Stop by and give her a hug from me!

Blogging through insomnia

"You have no new messages"

Check my e-mail at midnight. Read a few blogs. Check my e-mail again. Why? Of course there are no new messages. Everyone but ME is sleeping soundly at 12:49 a.m. Nope. Not here.

The truly sad part is that the creative part of my brain is snoozing happily somewhere. I'm sure if I were dreaming at this moment I would be on a beach in Cancun, sipping something with Rum and a little umbrella. Creativity is overrated anyway. No seriously good blogging going on here. Mediocre at best. Apparently the only part left awake is the part that affects my eyeballs not wanting to shut. Go figure.

OK, Vicki. You wanted a new blog post, so there it is in all its creative blogging glory! Be careful what you wish for.

Hope through the eyes of a blogger

Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer is one of several bloggers chosen by Compassion International to travel to Africa for ten days and blog about the relief efforts in Uganda.

Think you've got it tough? Check out Shannon's post as she describes meeting a single mother of five living in a six foot by eight foot room and selling fried plantains to support her family. Or read the description of a mother's whose young son lays sick with sickle cell anemia. They live in a small home with a dirt floor, yet it is kept spotlessly clean.

Seeing these things so closely through Shannon's eyes stands in stark contrast to the things I allow myself to get upset over. I lament the fact I don't have enough alone time, while these women are fighting for the survival of their families. Wow. How selfish can I be and still breath?

Take a moment to look deeply into the eyes of these African children. Hear their stories and be challenged to change. I know I have been.

Moving day in the Blogosphere

It's moving day! Hop over to After a cup of coffee...or two and see what's going on. Christy is hosting The Big Bloggy Move to showcase bloggers who recently started a blog, redesigned an existing blog, or moved to a different blogging platform. It's a great way to meet new blogging friends.

November 2005 - I had never heard of blogging. No, I don't live under a rock, but maybe I do need to get out a bit more.

I read an article in The Old Schoolhouse magazine and I guess you could say I was intrigued. I checked out Homeschool Blogger and was immediately hooked. HSB was a great way to get my blogging feet wet. I learned the ropes and made some neat friends in the process.

December 2007 - Decided to venture outside of HSB and check out some other blogging platforms. I made the move to Blogger and have been thoroughly happy with my new digs. Moving my blog was much easier and less painful than moving my family 2,000 miles across the country, but that's another post for another day.

If you're a first time reader, leave me a note. I'd love to hear from you!

Free stuff - Great Bloggy Giveaway

Who doesn't love to get something free? The Great Bloggy Giveaway is coming soon. I'm usually not one to jump on bloggy bandwagons, but I'm thinking it might be fun to participate this time.

Having said that, what would you, my two readers, like to win? My first thought was a Starbucks card, but I realize that lacks a bit in the creativity department. The trip to Maui is out, as is the lifetime supply of chocolate, but seriously...any ideas?

Blogging with purpose

If you've been around the bloggy world for any length of time, chances are you have run across Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. If you're like most people, you probably have her in your list of favs. She has a way of making the ordinary simultaneously funny and thought provoking.

Compassion International has offered Shannon the chance to travel with other power bloggers to Africa and blog about the relief effort in Uganda. Amazing! I hope you'll stop by and read her story, then check back as she chronicles her life changing adventure.