Joy in the ChAOS

Noni and the kids 2012(above) Addy by the tree(below)

Well...Christmas is in 12 DAYS and I have made a CONSCIOUS choice to enjoy (as MUCH as i can) the crazy days that lead up to it...The photos on here show my kids a few years ago but i put them on here because it reminds me once again how time marches on and the little moments....the teensy moments are to be cherished.

Lately, My kids and i have been watching You Tube's young Bethanny Mota ( heard of her?...her DIY You Tube videos are adorable and creative) to get ideas for holiday foods and crafts. She makes pretzel and cookie holiday treats, great homemade "Starbucks"drinks, shows you how to organize and decorate your room etc. She's got a fun personality and I love that the kids want to share this with me. Anywhoo, I do have to say that whenever i watch these different videos (she has MANY) I think back to being young and it makes me a little melancholy!!...........but also InSPiReD somehow. Sometimes i think "oh that's cute -to be young again!" BUT She has such a hope and excitement  for her life -- like my own kids --like kids in general!!!....It's that overriding JOY that they have ....someDAys i wonder where MY silly Joy for little things goes --too often really... I guess it gets lost sometimes in the midst of chaos and cleaning toilets...Ah to find a smile on my face - that JOY!- when cleaning toilets!!!( i think I'm setting my goals a little high for 2015! maybe not!)

i remember being young at Christmastime and i remember the excitement of the Christmas Eve play at church, the soft light of our little fake candles as we sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" and the annual (and often snowy) drive out to my aunt and uncle's- some 40 mins away that night. I remember their big cozy tree and the smell of their house. i think of the Christmas Eves where my Dad would be so excited and happy to get gifts that we would almost open them all that night and stay up really late. My life has been good...i have these warm memories and a million more.

and the memories continue every second..

So when i think of it...when i think about all the responsibilities...OK!!  Yes!! Joy AMIDST the responsibilities!!!! For this new year, i wish to have a smile on my face when my kids are being WILD and craZY and LOUD , a grin when I'm rewashing clean dishes from the dishwasher, an excitement when i am looking through my pile of clean orphan socks wondering where their match is...?(seriously people where are all the lost socks of the world????).....

...WHAteVER it is....FINDing the JoY...

                   -God's Blessings,
                           Julie
                      
      

Im TAkinG my TimE...

     So with the fall season comes the feeling that there is an ending...an end to baseball games and pool parties, lemonade stands and sunBURNS (ouch!)....and with this SeaSOn upon us, i am for some reAson compelled to SLOW down a bit...in my LIFE....
     You know just S.....L....O....W ....IT....D...O....W...N....   You hear it all the time " I 'm soo busy!! Busy busy busy!!!" I saY it conSTANtly!! With 3 KiDs It is-It's ALWAYS BUsy...BUT When did we all decide that being "busy" meant suCCeSS or hAppineSS...
Sometimes it's INevitable that's truE...and neceSSary... and even enJoyable At times....But sometimes -  it's NoT...and truly SOmetimes being BuSY brings no HAppiness at all......and acTUAlly.......you miSS out on thinGS... Oh the IroNy....

    The changing leAves up there on the hill reMind me that things chAnge QUICKLY!!! One huge wind storm can make a beautiful green and yellow autumn- time tree turn into a bare leaf-less trunk!! (but then again you get to see the intricate little branches that have been hiding all summer!!...but i digress..)  So today ask yourself....What would the world be like if  (even just a few of us)  "enjoyed the VIEW" a little bit more....Took Our TIME (somETImES)...

..I know what you're thinking...it's hard to do...( YoU're BUSY, right..???!!)

It's ReaLLY FaLL?????

Well it's here. Fall has arrived and it's soooo exciting around our house. Lovin' the football, the stews, the CoZY feel in general... Lovin' the chill in the ole air.....It's so RefreshinG ouT there!!!! For those of you who don't have a change of seasons like this you should go visit somewhere that doeS. There's nothin' like it.
Today my hubby and i sat at the table -mind you while there was SILENCE as the kids were off on their own daily school adventures- and i painted while he worked on his computer.....Suddenly it hit....A fall storm was a-brewin'...the wind kicked in, the sky became a dark grayish blue and all i could think was THIS  is amazing!!! For some reason i just adore that feeling of kindof NOT being able to go out....The wind was soooo strong ya just didn't want to go OUT THERE!!! And there's something to be said for that. Being inside....stuck indoors...
SO what do we do with our times spent inside.....what do WE do?....Do we make our homes a cozy place ...a haven...a place we enjoy? How can we enjoy our homes more...??...Because we should!! Think about your own home today...what are some ways you could make it better...Is there a closet that just needs to de-cluttered? Is there a room that could be re-orGanized?!! Is there a photo album that wants you to look though it?....A spice that really wants to be incorporated into some funky homemade dish?....A couch that wants you to plop into it's comfy cushions and enjoyed...?!! I hope this inspires you to think!!! Your home is there for you to Enjoy!!! It's a BLEssing and being indoors can be too!!!
Here's to Fall!!!