Thursday, June 16, 2011

Craving to be crafty...

There is something about being pregnant that makes me wish I was a "crafty" person. I tend to look at cute projects at arts and caft shows and say I could totally do that, but it never comes out just right. I am not particularly crafty, but enjoy taking a stab at it every once in a while, and with a baby on the way I really am trying to do some crafty things to make our house a home for all of our kiddos including Cub. A project is under way for all three kids, but these are baby focused. Not even sure they are for Cub, I like to give them as gifts also.  So, we shall see... Here are my attempts at being crafty :-)



A Summer Swim

So, I went to the pool this morning... Before it got to be 106... That's the normal here in Abilene. And I'm ok with that as long as I have a pool to go to and an air conditioned place to relax... I went to get some sun and swim some laps. Turns out I got more sun in than laps... I am out. of. shape!  Ugh, guess I need to swim more often.  Oh well, at least I got to work on my tan. :)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Art of Being Alone

So this is not something I have to do often. Usually my home is filled with two energetic kids and a husband that brighten and bless each day.  But every so often, when the stars align just right (usually in the summer), Zach will have to leave for a few days, and the kids will be away at their dad's.  This leaves my once noise-filled house with silence.... Which to me is deafening!

This happened a couple weeks ago over a weekend, and I had a friend ask "Did you just love the time you got to yourself?"  I replied brutally honestly, "No, I suck at being alone." But, that weekend made me start to think about why I hate being alone so much, and what I could do about it.

The why was the convicting part. The silence of being alone in my house usually leads to filling my time and home with useless, meaningless noise. The TV, the radio, a movie, etc.  I suddenly find that my email needs to be checked countless times, and facebook needs to be thoroughly stalked, and before I know it I have wasted hours on  the computer or watching meaningless TV. And when that isn't enough, I get in the car and drive... I drive to the store to shop for things I don't need, or to get something to eat that I easily could have made at home. So what happens when the noise and business stops?  Silence, which leads to my wild imagination wondering if that creak I heard was someone trying to get into my house, and if it is can I get to my phone in time to call 911 or get to my gun in time to scare them off.... Or even worse, I have found that I allow the silence a time for me to dwell on mistakes I have made, sins I have committed. I find myself doubting that I am forgiven, or even lovable. In the light of day, when all is well and the noise is plentiful this seems ridiculous, and logically I know this; however, logic doesn't play a large part in the thought process when you let the enemy into your mind.
So what can I do about this? 

First things first, I acknowledged that time alone can be a blessing. Not because I wouldn't rather spend time cuddling and playing with the kids, or doing things with my husband, but because it is a time I can be productive and focused to a degree I can't when my attention is divided.  This past weekend the kids were gone, and Zach left for a 4-day weekend. Yes, I had time to spend with friends and do activities, but I also accomplished things that needed to get done. I did not sit idle with nothingness.  In the evening, when the deafening silence is the worst, I filled my time with God's word, and prayer. It was a true comfort and  joy to read the Bible and spend so much time in conversation with my Lord. I also read...  just for fun!  I haven't done that since probably last summer! These activities sound as though they should be easy and logical choices for a Christian. But sometimes when your are so filled with silence it can be terrifying and it seems easier to be idle, or busy with nonsense. I can attest to the fact that filling your time with God's word, and tasks that better your home and family are so much more rewarding and encouraging!

I was so grateful when Zach got back Monday, but the weekend was not a waste, as they have been in the past. This is probably a post I will have to come back to periodically when I am alone, to remind myself what the Lord truly desires for me.  "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." (Proverbs 31:27)

I can do this!

A Two Pounder

Well, there is good news and bad news....

The good news is, it looks as though we have finally moved beyond papaya (which is good because I never saw any at the grocery stores) and I am now carrying around inside of me an eggplant sized baby. "The Bump" also says that the baby is somewhere between 1.5 and 2.2 lbs!  I would like to blame that on my boost in weight gain, but let's be honest it probably has more to do with the cinnamon roll I indulged in than the tiny baby :)... Oh well, I'd do it again, and I'd eat that New York Super Fudge Chunk as well!

The bad news, no one in my family actually likes to eat eggplant so we won't be enjoying this piece of produce the next few weeks. Guess we'll have to wait and see what is in store for us in the next few weeks.