An UNEXPECTED 2022!

This year’s WOTY fills me with wonder! •UNEXPECTED•

Just typing it makes me a bit apprehensive, yet excited! As I journey along trying to become a bonafide grownup, someone who is organized and plans ahead and is prepared for real life, I’m finding that I’m becoming more inflexible! Grumpier than I used to be when things don’t go according to Plan A. (When you don’t even have a plan, you don’t get as disgruntled or even realize when it gets disrupted!) So I’m striving for the balanced life, the dotted line between the ditches of chaos and calm. Real life is always messy, unplanned, and unexpected. But that’s where the beauty is if we can learn to embrace it! I want to expect the unexpected, to do unexpected things like being on time or even early, (EARLY was in my list of runners up in my personal WOTY contest.) or be the one who cleans up after an event instead of just sitting and gabbing, or who thinks of going the unexpected extra mile instead of just being oblivious to the needs around me. I want to learn to see a change in plans for my day as an adventure instead of an aggravation. I want to lower my expectations of my spouse and others and maybe even myself. I want to feel ready for unexpected guests in my home at any time, which for me I’ve decided is living in that sweet spot of having things not perfect but not nasty. Perfection is overrated anyway, but last week’s dishes are not. I’d also like to do little unexpected things each day! To give hugs and kisses and compliments at random moments! To be willing to be vulnerable and to ask hard, unexpected questions in love. To be raw and real and humble when it would be easier to just give the expected, “I’m fine!” answer. So here’s to getting aboard the UNEXPECTED train! I’m gonna hang on and enjoy the ride! Who’s coming with me?! Grab an empty seat and tell me what you chose for your 2022 WOTY! 

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.

Becoming Thirty-five

So, I’ve been THIRTY-FIVE for a whole week now! A solidly middle-aged 35! It doesn’t seem right. I feel like I should be 28. But, I digress. 

June 18, 2021, was most definitely an "EAT CAKE FOR BREAKFAST" kind of day! I had taken blueberry cheesecake cupcakes to VBS for snacks the night before and luckily had ONE left! So my rainy birthday day started off right with that small delight, several slices of medium cheddar cheese, and black Griffin’s Wharf coffee. After donning my new cute Joules rain boots which were a birthday present from my bestie Jill, Danielle and I scooted up to the Atmore Library to take in a “rodeo” that was presented for the summer reading program. Once we said our heeyahs there, we headed to good ole WeCare where I had a $5 birthday reward to spend! I mean how cool is it to have $5 off at a thrift-store?! Erica Lyn and Summer joined us there, my mom soon also. We scavenged and dug and smiled and scored! I fell so in love with a comfy, Old Navy, thin, cotton blouse that looked cute over my dress, that I just wore it out of the store and for the rest of the day! It looked clean and smelled freshly laundered! What you don’t know, doesn’t hurt you! I also got 3 more books, and a small kitchen strainer I had been needing. Danielle got a large Ryan’s World pirate treasure chest. This daughter of mine… sometimes, I just don’t know why I let her choose “one thing.”

Katie and kiddos joined us at Cafe 251 for an amazing lunch! It was my first time dining there, and it did not let me down! For one, the kids’ play area is just beyond  brilliant! They quickly gobbled chicken fingers and then happily played away while we lingered over our lunches in peace, mostly. I had chosen the “Greek Goddess” wrap which was an excellent selection, along with loaded baked potato salad and sparkling water! My fave. Thanks, Mom, for treating us all! Next stop was Mutton Hollow Farm where Danielle and I gathered fresh eggs and picked Japanese cucumbers from Rhonda’s garden since they were gone. I was most delighted to open the gift she had left for me on the counter in a darling reusable bag! The electric teapot I had been longing for, a peachy tote bag, and 3 cans of peach Sunkist! YUM! (Would be ideal over ice cream for a peaches and cream float!) Once home, I caught up on birthday messages and peachy puns and got Danielle ready for her last night of VBS. Then Danl said he wanted to take me out for tacos! He couldn’t have done better than giving me a date night, authentic street tacos from Alcapuco, and cash to spend! (Perfect for the impending Prime Days!) The VBS Balloon Liftoff was the next item of the evening; followed by listening to the children enthusiastically sing their songs! Best music ever! Danielle was ecstatic to be onstage. Back home, it was time for more cake! This time it was 7-up pound cake with peach tea. I tried to stay up until midnight like I always purpose to do on my birthdays, so I don’t “miss” any of it, but alas. I remember seeing 11:46pm on the ceiling before drifting off into a sweets dream-filled slumber. 

 Becoming 35 got the best of me. 

Fruit of the Summer 2021!

So I’ve done this “Fruit of the Summer” thing for several summers now! I can’t even remember what initially inspired this, but I just keep my eyes “peeled” for whimsical ways to incorporate items of the year’s fruit into my life. 2021 is my 5th year of going fruity! 2017 I went wonkers for watermelon! 2018 lent itself to lemons. 2019 was simply strawberrific! 2020 was the perfect year to go bananas! So far for this year, I’ve scored a set of 4 “just peachy” plastic cups from Target, a peach-printed market tote from Dollar Tree, and a peach-tinted glass water cup with a straw from DG! And I have been dousing myself with Peach body spray from Bath ‘n Body Works! Ordering these adorable peach charms from Etsy to make myself a bobby pin is also part of the plan. 

 

At the suggestion of a friend, I made Peaches ‘n Cream homemade ice cream for the Last Day of School Picnic; not sure why I didn’t think of this on my own since I have peaches on my mind! Danielle and I picked peaches at our local orchard, which proved to be mostly a fail. The plucking was fun, but most of our spoil spoiled before ripening properly! Oh well. It was still an adventure! Somehow I’ve never read James and the Giant Peach, so that’s on my summer reading bucket list. Also, I want to find the fabric to sew a knit peach gingham dress! No luck so far, so please let me know if you see such. And last but not least, a cup of peach tea with a spot of honey and a splash of cream is a satisfying way to end the day! All in all, it’s shaping up to be a pretty peachy “Summer of the Peach!”

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!

Just We Three

Just we three, Daniel and Danielle and me. 

This was how life was 4 years at 6:28 p.m. and that's how it was today due to the social distancing necessary for now. Our life as we knew it took a drastic change for the better on March 20, 2016, with the addition of our little princess, Danielle Nicole! Fast forward 4 years, and due to Covid-19, all of our lives have taken another drastic change. For the better or for the worse, will be up to us in my opinion! This is history in the making, and I want to be able to look back and be proud of my actions and attitudes. It affects us all in some way big or small, from those losing family members to the four year olds with postponed birthday parties who won't be able to attend Sunday School the first Sunday they are four.

With childlike acceptance and consideration of others, Danielle was happy to tell her friends and family that her birthday party would be be later because, "The whole world doesn't want to get the "b"irus." Bless her heart!

We woke Danielle up early to open her four presents, mostly wrapped in green trimmings and trappings! (If you don't catch on by the end of this post that GREEN is her favorite color, please reread lol.) She was delighted with her green remote control monster truck that she promptly named "Thunder." The lime green flip flops, dark green sunglasses, green/blue bath bomb, grow-in-water dachshund, bug-catching kit, and Lisa Frank calendar also got rave reviews! I think Daddy was as eager to try out the monster truck as daughter was. Our dewy yard was soon covered in tracks, and Thunder was covered in dirt and grass clippings! 

As the day continued; happy video calls, messages, and GIFs poured in. 7 caterpillars were re-homed into a clear plastic cage with a built-in magnifier. Our living room was bedazzled with balloons taped randomly to the walls, streamers running from the fan to the four corners, and a happy birthday banner draped on the curtain rod. Funfetti cupcakes were baked, frosted with greenish frosting, and plastered with sprinkles. (A certain little chef got quite frosted also.) Presents from Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Wade, Jacob, and Neil were deposited on our front porch with no human contact. Feverish unwrapping ensued, the lava lamp was immediately plugged in, the craft kit splayed colorfully across the floor, and the new hot pink gingham dress was nonchalantly cast aside only to be lovingly and gratefully plucked up by Mommy. Fried deer meat was devoured, along with green beans and Cutie oranges. A 4 candle was lit, Happy Birthday was sung, and faces were stuffed with cake and cookies 'n cream ice cream. Chocolate milk was drunk, favorite stories (Red Fish, Blue Fish & Wiggle) were read, prayers were said, and all but one went to bed. 

Life goes on, and life is good; just we three - Daniel, and Danielle, and me.

Things I Love - by Those I Love

 I posted this yesterday and had so much fun reading the answers y’all gave me! So here they are! 
















































Also had a voice message saying, “Cupcakes, Hashtags, and Macaroons!” 😁

When September Ends...

(Disclaimer! I wrote the first two paragraphs of this post back in September! 

Hence the title and time-lapse.)

  September always feels like the other January to me... time for fresh starts, new beginnings, half-year assessments, etc. But when September ends, it feels like the countdown to Christmas begins! And for Danielle it truly has! I think she asks me every day, "How many days til Chris'sus?" (She is already doing this again now in 2020! Sigh. Siri and I are both tired of this question.) I hope the holidays live up to her expectations! She also goes out on the porch most every morning, checking to see if the cold has come, bless her little impatient heart. Anyway, September had me pondering on my "19 for 2019" list of aspirations for the year! And subsequently, my "18 for 2018" that never got blogged about! So just for records sake, I'm gonna list last year's list first and notate what happened and what didn't. Then on to 2019 where we still have some year left, thankfully.
   Last year was my first year doing the "18 for 2018" inspired by one of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin. It was fun even though I obviously didn't accomplish everything! But I love to make lists... and there's no penalty for not crossing off every item. I definitely did more things than had I not aspired at all!

18 for 2018

1. Grow roses again. This didn't happen in 2018 but see 2019!

2. Joy Spark entire house. Conquered this one except for a few kitchen cabinets and our bedroom.
3. Take Danielle to the zoo. This one is crossed out, but I can't remember doing it! I know Nana took her once...
4. Be a tourist in my own city. Too vague! Didn't happen. I'm learning that being more specific helps.
5. Get a Lifeproof phone case. Rhonda helped me snag one on Zulily! Didn't love it, it soon tore up, and I wouldn't ever buy one again!
6. Buy black shoes. Did this one double! Scored 2 pair from this shop recommended by my friend Jill. Love the acronym for their brand... B.A.I.T. But Another Innocent Tale... lol, you can't ever have too many shoes!
7. Create office/dressing room chandelier. This room just has an ugly single bulb fixture, so I created this elaborate yet simple spiral design in my mind using effervescent, glass Christmas ornaments. But that's as far as it got!
8. Catch up Danielle's baby book. I'm crossing this one off because I chose not to do it. Whatever I got recorded in it, will be good enough. It just wasn't my style. I am staying very faithful with daily entries in her little 5 year diary though.
9. Visit the Southern Living test kitchens. I still have the dream! But it needs wings.
10. Bathe the dogs monthly.  The results from having this as a priority were awesome!
11. Shoot a buck with points. I have the skull to prove it; it's a small, barely 5 point, but hey! It's bigger than my other buck that was only a cowhorn.
12. Try a food prep service. I LOVED Blue Apron, but sadly, I was the only one in our household with those sentiments.
13. Use my passport before it expires! We flew to Calgary for Isla's first birthday in June! 
14. Bake cinnamon rolls for the neighbors. I think I did this around Christmastime.
15. Get collars and dog tags for Diesel and Leroy. This would be nice so everyone would know which persnickety pet is which when they stay at the doggie hotel! But I guess I didn't shop hard enough to find the perfect getup, because our boys are still collarless.
16. Replace my favorite stove burner. Alas! I tried, but the new burner I purchased also refuses to rise to the challenge of cooking mostly on HIGH! 
17. Memorize Danielle's SSN. But as I type this, I realize that I have since forgotten it!! I'll have to do a refresher.
18. Monthly date nights with Danl. The criteria for what constitutes "date night" are pretty loose...nachos in bed counts!

12 out of 18! I'm happy with that!

Well, this post is long enough, and it's late enough, 

so 19 for 2019 will be saved for my next "write night!"

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?

Breakfast of Champs!

I know it’s almost lunchtime, but before I sat down with my breakfast,  I’ve tended the ill, made Ramen noodles, read snatches in my book from Dollar Tree, torn off countless pieces of tape for my tireless, craft-loving toddler, supplied a small spread of breakfast for aforementioned toddler to stare at, broomed up the floors, added items to our ever-growing grocery list, made the bed, and worked on my to-do list! And at last am sitting down enjoying the following breakfast which I felt inspired to blog about because I wish I would use my BlogTouch app that I am paying for every month, instead of posting statuses. Not that anyone cares what I eat for breakfast, but I just love to write about food whilst I’m eating it! 

Apple Tea actually from Harrods in London in my favorite London mug. #thanksjill

Toast with a thick layer of peanut butter.

2 brown eggs fried in bacon grease.

Several swings of homemade mango kombucha. #refreshing

And the highlight, a cup of pistachio salad with lots of toasted pecans! 

What broke your fast this Monday morning? I, for one, would love to know!