Project-Fail = Life-Win

This lovely jumbled pile is my stash of journals (and I think I've even missing a few).  My whole life is contained in the pages of these lovely books starting from when I was just 4 years old...

On Friday we found out that ldsjournal.com is closing down and I was instantly stressed. I have many many entries that are only digital and are not found in these physical journals. Thankfully, the owner of the site is allowing our journals to be downloaded as a pdf.

But then, being the organized person that I am stressed again. Some of these journals (like maybe one or two) I transcribed to ldsjournal....but not all of them! My digital journal must be all formatted perfectly, right?

Well, so began the frenzy of frantically typing up my journals....because ldsjournal will be up and running until April 30.

I soon found myself in over my head though. What I thought would be a quick and easy project took hours on Friday and Saturday...and I made it through almost 3 journals. I had to take a reality check and realized that if I worked for hours on this project every day, I might, just might be able to finish by April 30. But did I really want to spend every waking minute at the computer typing and stressing? I have worked so hard the last few months to "de-stress" my life and become physically and emotionally happy and healthy....

By the time I was driving to the General Women's meeting on Saturday night, I knew that this was just a tricky ploy to get me off course. Most of the time we are not tempted to do great and grievous sins...sometimes, very good and noble goals and aspirations can be used to throw us off balance in life. And so when I returned home, I tucked my journals back into my dresser and closed the drawer on that dream.

I smiled and congratulated myself on this "fail," because really, it was a win.

Last year, at this very time, I didn't learn this lesson. I filled my plate much too high with noble and worthy endeavors and sacrificed my happiness and sanity in the process. But this year, I didn't make the same mistake. It was a bit hard to let go of this dream, but I know deep down that it was for the best. And if we are in tune with the Spirit enough, He will let us know when our lives are heading down the wrong path.

But nothing is wasted. And those 3 journals that I typed up were a pure delight to go back and remember the little girl I was at 4, 5, and 6---and in elementary school, middle school, and junior high. I started at the beginning and that's how much ground I covered in 3 journals. I don't think I've ever sat down to read my journals and it was enlightening to submerse myself in my childhood and see my children in so many of the things I said and did and wrote...

So for the record, I'll chalk this up to a Project-Fail, Life-Win. Someday I'll begin the process of typing up my journals again...but I won't give myself a timeline of 20 days.

And as for now, I will continue my healthy, happy, positive life and use my small, personal free time for reading my pile of half-read books, planning our 8th anniversary, and planning our summer. My season of "being" for this year is coming to an end, and with the advent of summer my season of "doing" will begin. I start with 3 photo sessions in just a few weeks and our summer will blast off from there.....not stopping until the end of August.

So may you feel peace for these last remaining weeks of Spring and savor this time to read and plan and just "be" in preparation for the whirlwind that always accompanies summer...

Last Night's Agenda.

It was a long, hard day, and remembering my manifesto of earlier this year, I decided that a warm soak in the tub with sugar scrub and calming music was in order.

Afterwards, I snuggled in my bed reading and pondering the questions I had asked the Lord earlier.  He gave me answers to both....

And this was one of them...my new quest to bring good cheer to the world around me.

First, through sincere and heartfelt compliments--to those I love the most as well as to those the Lord places in my path...those in the grocery line, at the park, or anywhere else I am.

And second, by leaving little sticky notes in random places--especially to those in my family {like lunch boxes, pillows, and laundry} and also to those around me whom I'll never meet {like on public restroom mirrors}.

It's not much, but these 2 little ways to serve will hopefully bring me out of my comfort zone and closer to the peace of my Father and Savior.

Living in Harmony.

So I've been trying a new experiment for my "year of connection."  I started with a renovation of my daily rhythm (which happens every so often as the little ones get older and present different needs) and the result has blessed my life immensely.

My morning rhythm is much the same...my personal getting ready time, personal scripture study, family prayer, getting Patrick and Easton out the door, breakfast, getting the 2 little ones ready for the day, cleaning the house, and doing the laundry.  Then I set in "liquid stone" time to have preschool and playtime with Tate.  I call it liquid stone because it's set in stone, but the liquid stone is kind of like corn starch...it can be hard or soft.  Therefore, if something comes up on a given day, liquid stone will allow me to be flexible.  (It's just an image for my mind to process consistency with flexibility).

After we pick up Easton from the bus stop, we make lunch, eat, and clean up.  Then the boys have their playtime together while I play with Maylie (for roughly 30 minutes) {This is also set in liquid stone.  In fact the whole afternoon is...}.  Afterwards, we read stories together (another 30+ minutes) and then we put Maylie down for her nap.  The boys and I have Mommy Playtime and we switch off doing activities that they choose with ones that I choose (usually super easy and fun ones that I've found on Pinterest).  After that they get their free time to either watch a movie or play a game on the Wii or iPod.  Then we do a quick pick-up of the house and make dinner.

During dinner we have family scripture study (which is a great way at this stage in our lives to combine the daily bread with the living bread).  Afterwards is clean-up, the boys get ready for bed, and then they get to have special time with Daddy.  They switch off the things they do each day.  Some days they wrestle, or play the Wii, read stories, or play board games.  While they have time together, I finish up any chores or tasks I didn't get finished during the day, or relax for a few minutes.

This rhythm has been the most successful one yet.  It's as if a light finally went on and every day is a celebration!  Celebrating my children, celebrating every season, celebrating their talents and interests, celebrating learning, celebrating fun, and most of all, just celebrating us!

After two weeks of implementing our new rhythm, I read a quote from my Simple Abundance book that summed up exactly what was happening:

"Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune.  When somehow we're able to strike the right chord--to balance the expectations of our families and our responsibilities in the world on the one hand with our inner needs for spiritual growth and personal expression on the other."   --Sarah Ban Breathnach

I now have a word for the feeling that has descended on my heart--it's harmony.  And though the times and seasons will inevitably change, I know that with the Lord's help, we can achieve harmony with every change.

September Projects

This month I have been busy at work starting and finishing so many creations.  In the two posts below, you can see the progress on my quilts and a fun fireproof date night.

During this month my mind has seemed to be doing a lot of "feeling."  You see, I get these impressions pretty often about a new project I need to start or a new talent to develop.  Last month I made a special Christmas surprise for grandparents...but in case they decide to read this, I won't tell you too many details.  Just know it involves one of my greatest passions--videography.

Then I've been working on Tate's birthday movie...which still has a lot of work left before completion.  I'll probably buckle down and finish that up in November.

I've also been decorating for Fall (see this post for pictures), planning Christmas gifts (definitely the early stages at this point), and working on my newest and most exciting hobby:  photography.

I've decided to pursue this in hopes to create beautiful portraits of my own children every year.  I've been taking a few photography courses and planning all the gear I will need...including a brand new professional amateur camera!  I have a blog all ready to launch with a beautiful banner created by a graphic designer...can you tell I'm excited?

Well, once I've saved up enough for the camera, I will launch my new hobby business and let you know!  While the reason I've taken up photography is to benefit my little family, I am more than happy to offer my services to anyone who would like pictures done...portraits of family, newborn, children, even bridals and engagements.  Let me know if you are interested. 

And now in closing, may I just say this:  

Creating is about finding your inner passions, turning them into talents, and then blessing the lives of others with your good works.

 Just feel first.  Move then to the creating phase.  And the inspiration part will naturally follow.

Happy Creating!