WOTY Giveaway!

Welcome, March! 

It’s hard to believe we are 2 out of 12 down in 2022 already! To celebrate, I want to host a giveaway! I’ve been pondering on this for 2 months now, so it’s high time! I’ve finally settled on what I want for my WOTY (word of the year) reminder! And I want one of you to have one too! Check out this adorable wooden and leather little beauty! 

If you want a chance to win one with your own WOTY inscribed, please comment below with what your WOTY is, and if you think it’s been beneficial to you so far! 

I’ve almost regretted choosing UNEXPECTED. It feels like 2022 has rained unexpected things down on me, and I still can’t seem to open my umbrella of flexibility! So I just stand there grimly getting pelted! I wonder if it isn’t like when you pray for patience and God sends trials so you can practice it! 

But today’s a new day, and a new chance to embrace the chaos! And it’s a chance to WIN! Drop your comment below! 

Giveaway open until tomorrow at 8 o’clock in the evening, Central Standard Time. 

The Charity Chapter - Christmas Edition

 

Though I hum along to "O Holy Night" and wish the cashier "Merry Christmas" and have not patience with my kindergartener in Walmart, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

‭‭ And though I shop small and find the perfect Mudpie gift at the local boutique, and source out the exact item that was linked on the family spreadsheet for an even better price, and help my child memorize all the program songs; and though I have all the presents wrapped early with coordinating paper and ribbon, so that I could feel smug, and have not time to read the Christmas story in My Bible Friends, I am nothing.

‭‭ And though I bestow fresh cinnamon rolls upon all my neighbors, and though I diffuse festive blends of essential oils all season long, and have matching family pajamas, and have not unity on what is important, it profiteth me nothing. 

The true Christmas Spirit suffereth quietly while standing in long lines, and thinketh kind thoughts about husbands who accept plans without first asking making an already crammed month even fuller, it envieth not others’ new dresses for each festive event, the true Spirit of Christmas vaunteth not a Pinterest-worthy decorated house, is not puffed up with every kind of Christmas candy, 

Doth not stay up sewing until unseemly hours out of obligation to “what people might think if I wear an old dress,” seeketh not to stress out, is not easily provoked about Christmas parties, thinketh no evil towards the scale; 

Rejoiceth not in seeing every local lights display, but rejoiceth in the Light of the World; 

Beareth all butchered Christmas carols, believeth that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, hopeth that family gatherings will be tranquil realizing that we are all messed up humans, endureth weather that wasn’t expected.  

The Christmas Spirit never faileth: but whether there be Amazon or FedEx, they shall fail; whether there be parades, they shall cease; whether there be peppernuts, they shall vanish away. 

For we know in part what Christmas is all about, and we profess to do our best. But when the time for us to experience Christmas in Heaven is come, then that which was important for Christmas on Earth shall be done away. 

When I was a child, I spake merrily as child who hadn’t gone through hard things, I understood as a child whose most difficult puzzle was figuring out who had my name in the classroom name draw, I thought as a child who wanted the holidays to never end: but when I became a woman, I put away some of these childish thinkings. 

For now we see life as it really is, with parts that are dark as midnight; broken hearts, empty arms, and vacant chairs at the family table. Now I know in part these heartaches on Earth, but when we all celebrate Christmas in Heaven, then shall we empathize fully as we are known. 

And now abideth the happiest of holidays, peace on earth, goodwill to all men; these three important things, but the greatest of these is Love, His love come down from Heav’n, the True Spirit of Christmas.

Grace in the Wilderness

 I was pouring over Jeremiah 31 this morning while pondering life and its perplexities. "The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness;"  What? How? How can there be GRACE in the wilderness of all places?! Right now I have friends who are grieving, feeling like the sword has slashed through their lives taking a loved one way too soon. There are so many other situations too, that leave us feeling bewildered, asking why, and wandering bereft in the wilderness. And yet God would have us to find grace there?? Reading on I read, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."  And further, "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built," So God knows we will have times of being broken if He is promising to "build us" again... Verse 9 proclaims, "They shall come with weeping and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble:" God does have a plan, even though it sometimes makes absolutely no sense to us. He knows we will weep, and will struggle to accept the wilderness we find ourselves in. Life on Earth will never be normal; our Garden of Eden is over.  "...and their soul shall be as a watered garden;" God CAN give us rivers of grace to fill up those parched places and heal our broken hearts if we choose to turn to Him. And when life is finally "back to normal" and we are at home in Heaven with our Father, "they shall not sorrow any more at all." 

(The thought of the Garden of Eden being life on earth's "normal" is credited to Allen Miller.)

Loving With Our Eyes Wide Shut

  Ever since our special revivals at Southern Harbor the end of March, thoughts about love, and family, and being there for each other have been drifting in and out of my mind. So when my cousin Sheldon messaged me last Tuesday asking if I would write something on the topic of "The Blessings & Benefits of Church Family," I thought, "Yes! Yes, I would love to do that." These thoughts had been simmering long enough and needed to be collected and written down! So here they are. I really felt like I didn't have much to do with it, that it just sort of wrote itself. It was as if God was telling me what I needed in my own life. 

Loving With Our Eyes Wide Shut

(He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2

Benefits, just the sound of that word has pleasant connotations! God has given us so many benefits; blessed

us richly beyond what we deserve! One of those benefits is our closely-knit church family. We love being

together, singing and worshipping together, and feeling like we are in the battle of life together! But with all

this togetherness, we get to know each other pretty well, just like we do with our own personal families. And

then sometimes it’s easy to forget that being a family is a benefit and not a bother. We step on each other’s

toes and get on each other’s nerves. We can’t understand why people do and say and think the things they do!

Walking along by ourselves in peace and quietness even looks more appealing and stress-free. We just want to

do our own thing! Surely, that would be a benefit. But no, stumbling along on our own in our own littles bubbles

is not God’s plan for us! Satan wants us each to view each other as “heavy” and something that we want to

walk away from, but God has another way. He wants us to have the attitude of the boy back in 1918 at

Father Flanagan’s Home for Boys. When he was asked if carrying another boy who had had polio and was

wearing leg braces was hard, the boy replied, “He ain’t heavy, he’s m’brother!” We need to decide to love with

our eyes wide shut. Not excusing or making excuses for sin, but consciously overlooking each other’s petty

faults and humanness, just like we want others to do for us. Several years ago, Minister Shawn Becker told us

to think the best of each other! Especially of those of whom we say we love. Assume the good and doubt the

bad! When we want to feel overly reprimanded we can decide to think, “She’s not critical, she’s my mother in

Israel, and I’m so glad she’s looking out for me.” And we can go and ask her for more advice when we don’t

know what to do. When one of us is down and out again, we can say “He’s not needy, he’s my brother and I

want to sit with him in his darkness.” We can’t take away the burdens that our church family members carry,

but we can let them know that we know they have a heavy load and that we care. Sometimes just knowing

that we are seen and heard is enough. We can squelch righteous irritation by thinking, “She’s not flighty, she’s

my young youth sister with a heart full of dreams just like I used to have.” And we can tell her that we’ve

been there, and that it’s hard to trust your future to God, but it really is the best way. When we want to

sigh and plug our ears instead of hearing again about the horrible condition of the present world we can

remind ourselves, “He’s not a doomsday prophet, he’s my father, who’s handing down the faith of our

fathers.” And we can choose to empathize with our elders because deep down, they probably feel scared and

helpless because things are so different today than in the world they grew up in. When we can truly love with

our eyes wide shut like God loves us, we will fully reap the benefits of being a whole-hearted member of our

church family. People grow well when they are loved well. We can give grace and grow in grace! The benefits of

this attitude will be never-ending. Like Paul advises in Colossians 2:2-3, “That their hearts might be knit

together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the

mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and

knowledge.”

Let’s all remember that, “We aren’t heavy, ‘cuz we’re family.” We are all just walking each other home with our eyes wide shut.

Written by Sharon Faircloth 4-22-21

Welcome 2021 & WOTY 2021

 Happy New Year! 

Now that it's January 19, I finally feel ready to embrace 2021! I always feel like I need a couple weeks between December 31 and January 1 to get prepped and rallied and revived and to get my lists, aspirations, and resolutions resolved!  

But as the old quote goes, "Time and tide waits for no man."  That being said, I do have my WOTY chosen, and my 21 for 2021 list made. (I'll elaborate on this in a later post.)

Today I want to share my word of the year and the inspiration behind it. 

I chose the beautiful, calming, scary word ~ QUIET.

This year I want to learn how to be quiet. I am talkative by nature, which I embrace, but sometimes, it would do me and everyone me around so much good if I could just be more quiet. I want to live the quote, "If you can't be kind, be quiet."

Another benefit of being quiet is to hear what other people have to say.

I also want to have a quiet heart, a quiet spirit; to not let the voices of turmoil scream loudly in my mind. So many times, I can't change a situation anyway. I want to just trust God and let quietness reign inside.

And last, but not least, I made a WOTY goal to prioritize actual, factual quietness! Instead of feeling obligated or giving in to FOMO if I'm not constantly listening to some amazing book, podcast, lecture etc., I want to just listen to my own quiet thoughts as much as possible. It's not dull to just think! I want to leave my phone and its noisiness at home when I walk down Garrett Road.  

Did you choose a WOTY? If so, please let me know! This is my fourth year wotying and I love it! I try to get everyone around me to choose one too lol. Sorry, I'm so pushy! It just gives the year a bit of whimsy and somewhat of a goal/theme! The idea of a word or phrase of the year was sparked by my favorite author, Gretchen Rubin. I have all her books and listen to her podcast more than any other!

My past words were as follows: 

2018 - Home

2019 - Rest Up & Dress Up

2020 - Balance

I guess I never did blog about Balance, (I'll blame it on Covid!) but it ended up being very much of a blessing for the unprecedented year of 2020. 

So here's to choosing a WOTY and being QUIET in 2021!

The Symphony of the Sad Frogs

We survived Hurricane Sally! 

After sending us stir-crazy as she languished in the Gulf, she finally blustered inland stronger than expected! Danielle and I had gone to bed around 11; I was exhausted from having done every speck of laundry I could find, and having cleaned the house throughout, in addition to cooking and eating and cleaning up! #hurricaneparty #prepared

Gotta make hay while the sun shines; aka do electrical activities while you have power! Anyway, I had our “go bag” packed as Plan B was to take the dogs and head to Wade and Rhonda’s steel frame house if the gusts were supposed to higher than 85 mph. But I seriously didn’t think it would exceed that. I secretly hoped we somehow wouldn’t even lose power! But of course we did! Already around 9:30 pm! I was devastated as I hadn’t run the dishwasher yet. Grrr. But thankfully it came back on around midnight. I stumbled out, started the DW, and went back to bed with a smile! Danl said the power had gone off again around 3 am. He had been out helping his friends at Atmore PD since they already had power lines down, streets flooded, and people acting crazy. He was up most the night, pondering if we should head for a safer shelter or just weather it out. Which is what we ended up doing! I was glad that we could just stay home with Diesel and Leroy. A few times we wondered if the roof or porches would surely fly away as the wind shuddered and shrieked; I even lined up our boots and had our raincoats and backpacks by the door, but this old trailer and everything around us just stayed solidly put, PTL! We didn’t even lose a tree! 

But the frogs. 

When I woke up around 6:30 to a basically white, watery, wind-whipped world, I heard the strangest almost eerie sound. Danl told me it was the tree frogs. They were croaking the saddest croaks I had ever heard. Like water-logged frogs on their very last croak. Even though having “OFF 40% Deet” to end the lives of tree frogs that happen to hop inside our home from the crack of the cord going to the generator is on my Hurricane List, I felt sorry for them during this hurricane. Once the worst was over, Danl catnapped and I dozed and Danielle played and the wind blew and the frogs sang the symphony of their sad song. 

“Uuuuuhhhh,” one would wail, then another would answer, “Huuuuuuhhhh.” 

“Uuuhhh, huhhhh. Uuuuuhhh, huuuhhh.” 

“Thisss tooo,”

“Shalllll passss.”

And it did. At last. 

And the frogs were once again silent. 

And my OFF is ready. 

Fly High, JULY!

Fly high, July! 

Don’t let us down. 

Not too wet or too dry

Give us no reason to frown! 

Fly high, July!

Send the ‘rona away!

Make Covid cry

And not come back another day! 

Fly high, July! 

Keep America Strong. 

Don’t ask why, 

Just sing freedom’s song! 

Fly high, July! 

We’re in this together. 

God, and you, and I

Anything can weather. 

sFm

07.01.20

Acceptance or Action

I’m feeling philosophical as I sit here in the shaded area of the parking lot of Atmore’s Tom Byrne Park, pondering again the thoughts that have been rolling around in my somewhat scrambled brain. -side note: {We should be strolling the aisles of Piggly Wiggly, plunking necessities into our cart, but Danielle fell asleep just before we arrived. So we did the bank run, then I decided to just sit and write a bit, while I let her have a 30 minute snooze.}

So! Is acceptance a muscle that gets stronger with use? Sometimes I think I pretty much know how to accept whatever comes my way, and that years of practice have made it easier. But then other times, I feel like I still fall way way short of accepting the little things that I wish were different about my life in general, myself, or others around me. When I look at the big picture, it’s perfect. I have it so, so good. A husband who adores me, (most of the time lol) a healthy happy entergetic daughter, a place to call home, and plenty to eat, just to list a few blessings! But then, I find myself wishing I would get more done, or be like so-and-so, or just change the way I am in this area or that! When simple, complete acceptance would bring relief and peace. But! What about action? Maybe a little mental shove is needed to actually spur a change that would bring happy results! Who knows? Like somehow sticking to a schedule! Or learning a new skill! This whole subject makes me think of the Serenity Prayer. It really can’t be said any better. Lend me your thoughts though! Do you tend to try to accept the things about your life or yourself that you wish were different, or take action to make a change?

#thankfulthursday

I’m  thankful for...

• my blue bobby pin

• cans of cold raspberry bubly 

• local swim lessons

• friends who are real and raw

• chances to start over

• a foodie hubby who picks up fish & grills it

• Captain Smiley’s Seafood Market

• the pleasant sizzle of a new idea

• the comfort and perks of my job in the office at my parents’ home 

• AC

• the obvious hand of God in my life 

• Danielle’s timely reminder to “get gas!” today! Fuel light on, my mind off! 🤦🏼‍♀️

• Fresh blackberries 

• my silver satin pillowcase

Good Friday

Good Friday.... it is finished... but the Son will shine again. 

Rest Up & Dress Up!

Happy 2019!
This is not my New Year's Letter in case you are wondering! I may not even write one actually...time will tell! 

I love to choose a theme word or phrase for the year as per Gretchen Rubin's suggestion. It's a challenge to see what word you can come up with that sums up the ambitions, plans, dreams and schemes that you want to embrace in the new year! 

Last year I chose HOME. 

I wanted to stay home more, to "joy-spark" our entire home, and to learn to love being a homemaker! Overall, I'm mostly happy with how the year went! I "think" I was home more, I consciously tried to have days where I never left the premises. I found a pillow cover for the the couch that says "Let's Stay Home." Danielle even told me one day, "Mommy, I love that you are home." And I loved it too. I didn't get the whole house "joy-sparked" but I think I only lack 4 cabinets, and the drawer under the oven! So that's pretty good! I wish I knew how many POUNDS of accumulated clutter went the way of the waste heap or to WeCare! By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Marie Kondo's method and books.

So...for this year I chose a phrase, "REST UP & DRESS UP!" 

Before you are imagining boa scarves and polka dot socks in high-heeled shoes, hear me out! Obviously, "rest up" is pretty self-explanatory! I simply do not sleep enough. I'm a night owl by nature, and I always want to "over-live" and squeeze every last minute out of each day...not wise. I do realize it's almost midnight now, BUT I actually did my extra resting this morning since Danielle went back to sleep in our bed! Score! Also, I want to lay my unnecessary ambitions to rest this year. I want to choose cuddling over computing, relaxing instead of resisting, being present over trying to be perfect. 

Okay, now for the dress up part! Reading Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott was revolutionary! Now I am inspired to incorporate the "10 item core wardrobe" idea into my life! (More on that in another post if y'all are interested) I think it will definitely simplify my life! So I will be focusing on clothes! And sewing! I have decided that I love to sew and that it's amazing that I have been taught how to create couture clothing. So there. 

Now off to rest up I go! 

(once I find my other polka dot sock..!!)

a GRATEFUL heart

I am thankful for life... and that it goes on.

For God's protection, our guardian angel, for my friend who breathed a prayer particularly for me earlier in the day...

For airbags, car seats, safety restraints, and crash-testing technology...

That no one was injured when I rear-ended a Dodge pickup yesterday evening in the gloaming...

that the couple I hit were not angry or upset...For family and friends who stopped so soon to make sure we were OK... and got my Jeep off the road before anyone hit it...and came and got my groceries and purchases from earlier in the day...that Danl was home and could come comfort us and sit with me for the hours we waited on FHP. That Danielle was not traumatized...and seemed to understand that the Jeep was seriously injured and needed to go the vehicle hospital...That the young officer who worked the scene was kind and considerate and gave me the least possible citation.

I am thankful for pecans... And that I had plenty to re-toast for tomorrow's candied sweet potatoes since I severely over-toasted the first batch! #burnt

I am thankful for family recipes with notes at the bottom. 

#auntrose #candiedsweetpotatoes #schneidercookbook

I am thankful for the MRGA Book Club. It has, and is, totally enriching my life in in so many ways!

I am thankful that Mel brought me coffee this morning and took Danielle home with her to "help" take care of Baby Ellie.

I am thankful for crispy, ice-cold Diet Coke.

I am thankful my parents lent us their extra van for me to drive until we get our insurance rental.

I am thankful for Katie's crumb-topped banana bread. #perfection

I am thankful for ibuprofen.

I am thankful for our cozy home, for the warm bed into which I am about to crawl!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

Outside my Rain-spattered Window...

Outside my window... the last drops of rain are slowing slipping down. I was gonna get out and go to church tonight but with no carport or garage; the current deluge "rained" me in!

I am thinking....that it's really hard to know what to do sometimes when both options feel "right" and either choice will make one person happy and the other one sad.

I am thankful...that Danielle loves to eat! There's just something so satisfying about feeding a child. We had Socio's "deetda" with a friend in Pace for lunch today after checking on one of Daniel's jobs. It is truly the best pizza ever! We say this every time we eat it!

In the kitchen... sits a cast iron Dutch oven of boiled peanuts. They turn blackish/purplish from the iron and are just plain good! Try it!

I am wearing... BLACK! BTW, is black a color? Or the absence of color? Either way, I love it.

I am creating...a new hot pink and black lumberjack plaid dress in my mind. Hopefully in reality tomorrow. Or wait; make that later today. It's 12:37 AM.

I am going...to blog more! I've never missed or remembered that work I didn't get done or the zzzz's I didn't z when I chose to write instead! I decided to use this format again tonight because when I haven't written in a while, I feel overwhelmed by all the things I've missed touching on, and this style helps me condense it and feel "current."

I am reading.... Spark JOY by Marie Kondo. I need this woman to come to my house! ASAP. And I'm marathon-reading a new friend's awesome blog!

I am hoping...to sleep double. This is something I wish often was possible!To get the benefits of 2 hours of sleep for every hour slept lol. 

I am looking forward to...taking Danielle to a pumpkin patch. I will let her choose her own pumpkin even if it's really ugly.

I am learning...to accept myself. To be myself, but be my best self.

Around the house....things, stuff, clutter, is drowning us! You wouldn't know that I've been slowly KonMaring for a month now...you wouldn't know it, but I do. I've actually, amazingly taken several loads to WeCare and I can breathe just a wee bit better now. A tiny bit of negative energy from things that don't spark joy has flown away! YAY!

One of my favorite things.... is also one of my worst habits! STAYING UP instead sleeping like normal people do.  I mean I do go to bed when Daniel does, but I get back up! And relish the perfect silence of solitude, and read, and putter, and mutter, and tidy up, and eat, and think, and dream, and have my devotions, and write in my 5 year diary, and Danielle's 5 year diary, and my devotion journal, and sometimes like tonight, I blog. 

My Thankful List 08-20-17

I'm THANKFUL...

...that I'm taking this opportunity to write! Today I decided that during Danielle's  meager naps, I should try to focus on doing "forever" things like writing on this blog, recording in baby book, creating the light fixture I dreamed up years ago etc... instead of  doing "daily always" things like eating, folding laundry, washing dishes, pittering and frittering and so forth! So, here goes!

...for chocolate chip cookie dough WITH PECANS! Oh my word, why do we ever bake the dough into cookies?! It's SO much better in its raw state. And it saves electricity! Score! (Side note: I AM eating whilst I'm typing! I decided it was OK to combine a "forever" with a "daily always.")

....that Katie and I carpe diemed a day and half and transformed Miss Smith's classroom into a tasteful world of ice cream! Retro string lights, hanging cones, a wonky ice cream truck, wild fun facts, and a frosty little night light that's on its way from eBay all added to the magic! Every other year we seem to end up with a food theme...Wonder why?! 

I used this marc johns pic for my bulletin. 

#lovemarcjohnsart

...that it works to use baking soda and Axe body wash to wash filthy work clothes when you discover that you have NO, NONE, NIL laundry detergent  to do laundry in order that your husband might have the benefit of bestowing clean clothing upon himself the next day!

....for Google! How else would I know how to do laundry without the proper soap?!

...that Danl unearthed a cool brown glass bottle on his last home site clearing job! Some guys might not bring home to their wife the world's weird uniquities, but mine does! :)

 (Why isn't uniquity a word?! I should patent it. Uniquity: noun; meaning something strange or unique, not common.) 

....that Daniel kept Danielle so I could attend Katie's classy woodland-themed baby shower as a "sister" instead of a "mom." Don't get me wrong, I ADORE being a mom, but it was awesome to take in the magical decor and delicacies without worrying about my child dismantling them! #daddydaughtertime #happymeal #mcds

...that God answers prayer! Sometimes I don't know if He changes the situation or just helps me to accept it, but I do know that Prayer truly is the Power! One of my friends mentioned in Sunday School a couple of weeks ago that "You can never pray too much!" What an inspiring proposition!

...that I finally figured out how to listen to a podcast! One of those simple things that seem hard until you just do it! I've only listened to Typology Episode 1 (Is anyone else familiar with the Enneagram typing system?? I was just recently introduced to it by a friend, and I am definitely intrigued!) and How I Built This - Spanx: Sara Blakely so far. Totally fascinating! America truly is the place where anything and anyone is possible!

...for the lovely summer vacation we had July 17 - Aug 1! We had the best time ever with old friends and new places! I still plan to do a belated trip report another day, another post. 

....for being able to cuddle and love little Isla Francine in RealTime! So thankful Pierre and Alisha and our beautiful black-haired niece could spend a week in soggy Florida!

...that we will be able to welcome Baby "Bob" before too long! Katie's due date of September 12 is swiftly approaching! 

...for darling Danielle who turned 1 year and 5 months today! She stomps around all grown up in her little rubber rain boots, Coach purse on her shoulder; not a trace of the chubby baby she once was. Until she spies her precious bottle of milk!

 End of story.

We Have It All

I have had this picture as my phone lock screen for months....and the poignancy of it strikes me so often.

Sometimes amidst the hurry and scurry to do it all, make it all, buy it all, and have it all...it hits me that I already do!  I've almost blogged about this vast subject different times, but for one reason or another, the words never made it onto my screen. They did make it onto my lovely LED light box which is a super favorite birthday gift from my friend Moni! #nailedit

https://www.target.com/p/diy-light-box-led-room-essentials-153/-/A-52007695

Last night was one of those times that stopped me in my turbulent tracks. Danl decided to cut some of our grass before it needed to be baled for hay, and of course Danielle was more than happy to help! I was inside bustling about trying to take advantage of the opportunity to straighten things up a bit without a little Taby underfoot. I purposefully strode out to deposit a bag of trash in the dumpster when I noticed Danl waving at me to watch Danielle. He was letting her push the handles of the lawnmower, and she was beyond ecstatic to be in control; shrieking with happiness and grinning as wide as a one year old can can grin as they zigzagged crazily across the lawn! As I stood waving and gazing at them, witnessing the magic of their daddy/daughter mowing session, I consciously thought, "My heart could not be more full. Life does not get better than moments like this. Thank you, God." 

And I realized anew that truly, even though my "to-do" list would vehemently deny it, I had it all. 

All the things I was gonna get done lost their importance, and I climbed onto the gooseneck and just sat and breathed and watched them mow as the sunlight faded and the stars came out. And these lyrics that I've always loved played over and over in my mind...

Life Is Beautiful

by the Afters

Through the window

I see you waiting
You are smiling
Cause I'm coming
Your eyes are a story
An ocean of memories
Pictures of faces and places
And all of the things
That make us feel like we have it all

All of the times
That make us realize
We have it all

Life is beautiful

Living and dying
Laughing or crying
If we have the whole world or have nothing
I know there are long nights
But we'll make it
With every sunrise comes a new light
And all of the things
That make us feel like we have it all

All of the times
That make us realize
We have it all

Life is beautiful

A father's love
A wedding dance
New Year's dreams
A toast with friends
A soldier coming home from war
The faith, the hope of so much more
A brand new life
A mother's prayer
Shooting stars
Ocean air
A lover's kiss
And hard goodbyes
Fireworks
Christmas lights

These are things that make us feel alive
These are the times that make us realize
Life is beautiful

This week holds it all too...

Yesterday morning a wedding; a dream came true for Curtis & Janelle! I was privileged to have taught them both (#feelingold!) and could not be happier for their happiness! 

Yesterday evening a passing; my Great Uncle Ward laid his armor down in his courageous battle against cancer. His life was the enthusiastic embodiment of the words vim and vigor! I will miss him so much. Visiting Oakwood won't be the same without his contagious zeal and positive attitude.

And so life goes on, and the magic fades away...but then is suddenly there again, startling us to take notice of the normal, because it is so precious and we don't deserve it. It is a gift.

 I love that my little cinema box is currently reminding me of this 

every time I glance up and read these words:

WE HAVE

IT ALL

💜

All is Well

You know how sometimes you have that feeling that all's right with the world and there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? That's how I felt today! I didn't expect to; it was just was of those rare days that actually gets better and better instead of worse for once! And nothing huge or glamorous happened. Just sweet daily life! Daniel ended up taking the day off instead of working like he had planned. He suggested waffles for breakfast, which carb-loving me jumped right on! I threw chopped pecans in mine. Sublime! Then we all pittered around the house, just relishing togetherness. I hadn't properly "sorted" (as the Brits would say) my kitchen all week, so I washed up non-dishwasherable dishes for a good while. Danielle took an amazing 2.5 hour nap! After our lunch of Kraft shell macaroni and cheese and leftover brown sugar spiral sliced ham with horseradish, we cleaned up out in the yard and Daniel cranked up the lawnmower for the first time this year! Danielle was delighted to help mow the dog pen. At one point, she really pushed on the right lever and they leaped out of a straight stripe! Then she and I chillaxed on the front porch watching Daddy mow; she in her Little Tikes swing and I perching on the Pelican cooler I had just cleaned up from last week's oysters. We ate Mayfield Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream and soaked up the sun. The weather just kept getting better all day too. I had been pining for fresh pine straw in all the beds, so once Daniel was finished with the yard, he and Danielle drove the white truck back around behind the house and I raked up a large haystack of the free much-needed mulch. I distributed it around the front porch while Taby stomped happily after her daddy pruning trees. She LOVES being outside. And as I watched her toddling around, I couldn't help thinking, "Is this really my beautiful life? It's just too perfect...I'm beyond blessed." (disclaimer - I have MANY moments when life seems quite real and I have no problem believing that it IS my life lol.) Anyway, snap back to reality. Our yard, beds, and porch now look loved and cared for at last. They really look good if I may say so myself! Especially the porch with its new pale blue $5 metal table from Family Dollar! Danielle had wilted after her afternoon of adventures, so I put her down for a late nap. Then I sat on our front porch like a true Southerner and watched the sun go down as I ate a Cutie, drank water, and read in Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. Love that book. Levon Kimmons had come over, so Danl was out shooting the breeze with him. Supper was Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice, Walmart shrimp grilled on skewers, cheese green beans, and Reese Pieces store-bought cookie dough cookies barely baked, then frozen. Outlandishly delicious! And now day is done, gone the sun. All is well. Amen.

Sharnjean's Seasonal Shortlist!

I'm funny about feelings. 

Ever the analyst, I'm constantly scrutinizing as to whether or not I'm "feeling" the right feelings for the occasion. Like Christmas, for instance! When I was a teacher, festive fol de rols filled the air everywhere with the program, and parties, and presents, and caroling, and one couldn't help but have a magical mood! (Most of the time!) But now at the beginning of this holiday time, I realized that I would have to make the magic happen mostly on my own! If I didn't consciously Christmasize, I would be Grinching about quite grimly. Elaborate amounts of time or money to promote the proper perception were not an option, so I came up with this simple 6 item shortlist to add seasonal spirit to each and every day! 

I'm loving the word "shortlist" ever since adding a gift to my Google shopping shortlist. Especially the playful part defined as "winnowed from a longer list of possibilities."  Awww...the whimsical wistfulness of  unending possibilities!

short list

or shortlist

• Examples
• Word Origin

noun

1.

a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.

1. SPRINKLES. 

Add holiday sprinkles to EVERYTHING! Blop Coolwhip on coffee, add some tiny sugar holly sprigs & berries, and you instantly feel like singing "Joy to the World!"

(Be like me and buy up on Christmas sprinkles after the 25th when everything is 75% off!)

2. SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS INSTEAD OF LULLABIES.

Instead of crooning "Mama's Gonna Give You a Mockinbird" while rocking Danielle, I've switched to "Silent Night," and I feel just a tiny bit like Mary must have felt...the awe of my own tiny (aka huge) baby. And then the feelings of thankfulness that I can lay her down to sleep in a soft crib instead of in a scratchy manger of hay.

3. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER & LOCKSCREEN.

I have these on mine and every time I see them they give me a glow.

4. GIVE SOME MONEY TO EVERY SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGER YOU SEE.

There's just something so simple and satisfying about walking up to the red bucket, plunking in some pennies (or bills), and giving the ragged ringer a hearty hail of "Merry Christmas!"

5. SEIZE THE SCENT.

Make your house smell Christmasy! I put cinnamon oil in my Scentsy burner, and have also been burning fir branch candles.

6. REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Even though I wish to make cute crafts, sew festive frocks, and bake bunches of baked goods, none of these things are truly the backbone of this bustling time 'o year. If I can lower my expectations, and just make sure there's room for Him in my inn,

 it will be the merriest Christmas ever!

Taking Time to Think

Saturday was the annual Fish Fry at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. So enjoyable, as always. Miss Smith and I got our usual to-go boxes of a fillet of fried fish, fillet of grilled fish, and a piece of chicken! No decision this way, just the chance to enjoy it all! I did feel rather complicated when the cashier asked, "For our records, are you getting fish or chicken?" "Well....both!" "OK, for here or to go?" "Well...I'm getting a to-go box so I can take home any leftovers, but I'll be eating here!" Keeping it simple has never been my talent. Maybe that's why she gave us all non-winning tickets! Oh well, I'd rather win nothing than some junk or clutter that I don't need! (Wow! Did I really just type that?! Maybe I am slowly becoming FlyWashed...but the bags of loot I scored at Aunt Donna's family garage sale wouldn't prove that...I could do a whole post on my treasures!) Anyway, after a Walmart grocery run for Miss Smith, I dropped Danielle off at Aunt Rhonda's and donned my camo and grabbed my bow before meeting Daniel to get my hunting instructions. I had forgotten to bring the bag that contained the artificial scent killer, so we crushed some cedar (leaves?? they don't seem leafy...maybe I should say sprigs??) and rubbed them in my hair and on the back of my neck. Major ITCH. Then I climbed the ladder and sat happily nature-watching while basking in the bliss of having time to just THINK. I can honestly say I have never been bored a minute in my life. It feels sorta Dr. Suessy, but oh, the thinks you can think! I love to have the chance to just think and think....I thought about past memories good and not so good, projects I want to do.... projects I will skip this year (sadly I shelf the adorable pumpkin family I had visually created) I mentally clean-swept our home of current clutter and relished its "new" look, I thought about God and His plans for me, I thought about how fast our little baby is growing up... that the days with her being this needy and clingy seem long, but that the years are short, and I need to consciously enjoy her tugging at my skirt and live in this moment...that this will be the only Fall that she is 7 months old! And that it doesn't matter how much my friends with babies can accomplish, I shouldn't compare and complain, because I am doing the very best I can.

Then I thought I heard a deer approach...crunch...step...crunch...step....BE STILL, my beating heart! THUD, THUD, POUND, POUND....slowly I turned my head to view with disdain, not a deer, but a fat o'possum! So I watched him creep around nibbling on my deer's corn while the squirrels fought like two-year olds, the birds chirped, the leaves fell, and the stars came out. Then I wrapped it up by thinking that even though I am still a bow-huntress with no bragging rights, it had been a most successful THINK. From now on instead of going hunting, I'm gonna go thinking! I know I'll always be successful at that! We even heard in church Sunday morning that taking time to think is a key to success, spiritually and financially! So really, going thinking should become a priority! If I ever do happen to snag a deer, it'll be a bonus!  

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for this baby girl that currently has severe hiccups! And I'm thankful that I have had a healthy, relatively easy (I think! What do I compare to?!) pregnancy. Tomorrow makes 39 weeks, so any day now could be Baby Faircloth's birthday!

2.  I am ever so thankful that Daniel is finally feeling almost back to his normal self after fighting bronchial infection and mono at the same time! I have never seen him so sick, or so willing to go to the doctor/hospital and I hope and pray to never again.

3. I am thankful for my sister-in-law Alisha! All the wonderful help she rendered with her brilliant organizational skills got me "un-stuck" so to speak, and able to finish up various pre-baby projects! Thanks to her, I feel (mostly) calm and ready for this new phase in life. (I think.)

4. I am thankful for our dear family and friends. They have helped us through thick and thin and we could not make without all the love and support! 

5. I am thankful for baskets from Dollar Tree.

6. I am thankful for drugstore.com, fatwallet.com, and shoprunner 2-day free shipping! I love this day and age. Even though the UPS and Fedex guys probably do not. 

7. I am thankful that Grandpa Schneider "woke up" and I could talk with him again. He's such a dear grandpa and it's so hard to see him so uncomfortable and so frustrated. 

8. I am thankful for the new prison dog beds from Jeffers! Diesel and Leroy appear to be thankful also! And I'm thankful for my little sis who is "in the know" about all things pet-related. Let's hope these beds last longer than crib mattresses from the thrift store.

9. I am thankful that Daniel likes to cook! He has been making these awesome, rosemary, thyme, garlic, olive oil, seared chuck eye steaks in the cast iron skillet. Mouth-wateringly delicious!

10. I am thankful for the assurance of Isaiah 43:2. 

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." 

11. One more thankful! I was going to stop at 10, but I'm thankful that it's still Thursday and I can quickly post this before it's Friday, because Thankful Thursday just sounds so much bet.......(and then my computer died and I was too tired to go get the charging cord and just gave up and went to bed. and now it's Friday!)

12. A dozen seems more complete! And makes me think of donuts! I am thankful for HotLightApp and that Krispy Kreme is only 4 minutes away from Dr. Doyle's office.