Get Outside!

I was very discouraged today.  I tried new shoes.  Actually I bought them at Goodwill a few months ago.  They are great shoes, but I didn't try them on.  The result are two huge blisters on my feet.  So... Going outside the rest of the day with the snow couldn't happen.  I may have to wear slippers to the store tomorrow.

I was so bummed by it.  Silly, I know, but my outside time has become vital to me. From my morning walks to later walks with my loved ones to playing with my youngest or taking my nephew to the park, I have fallen back in love with being outside!

When I'm walking or enjoying the fresh air, the health issues I have don't bother me much.  The aching muscles and joints don't hurt.  In the house I always feel like I'm freezing.  Outside, when I'm walking and moving, even if I'm cold, I'm not freezing. Yes, I am hypothyroid.  I am getting treatment, but it is a S-L-O-W process.

I have noticed that the outside time is amazing for Megan.  She tends to focus a little better in our homeschool when I let her go outside, even if just to walk our dog.  Sending her outside to play in the afternoons, even when it's cold, means she sleeps better.  For an ADHD insomniac, these are remedies I like that don't include medication.

Lately I've been spending a lot of time remembering who I used to be.  I was an outdoor girl as a child.  Being outside did not stop my reading obsession.  There was always a tree to read under or a fence line to walk (while reading). I remember the girl that loves adventure, on one Grandmother's farm or with the other going to the theater and out to eat. 

I'm remembering the young woman I used to be.  Before I was a Christian, before I became a stay at home wife and mother, I was a woman that traveled a little.  I feel like God is reminding me of who I was, because she isn't dead. 

As a new Christian, I buried my past.  The old me is gone.  I'm a new creation, right?  But, God created me.  The mistakes I made and the sin I chose and the shame and guilt, that should be gone.  Christ took that upon himself. For some reason, I let go of all the things that made me who I am because I felt that person didn't have much value.

The things I loved, I laid aside.  Being outside with my kids became them playing outside while I made dinner.  The fun travels were usually substituted by doctor's appointments and soccer games and friends... All for the children.  A couple times a year the hubby and I would go out for an evening.  

It wasn't until recently that the 'ole travel bug came back.  Mostly, I just felt cooped up.  I liked going for walks outside. It didn't feel as strenuous as working out inside.  It relaxes me.

I began considering the differences in how I grew up and how my youngest daughter is growing up. I realized she needs to be outside AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Yes, her ADHD would be helped, but I also believe spending hours outside is an education in itself. 

Snow and cold temps make it a bit discouraging at times.  My walking shoes aren't waterproof.  The blister-makers from Goodwill may keep the water out, but the pain isn't worth it to me. And it's the holiday season.  Extra funds for waterproof shoes will have to wait. 

Longing to be outside opens the door to more nature walks, more field trips, and more time to just get away.  It definitely opens the door to adventures. 

Get outside and have some adventures.

Purposeful Adventures

In June, San Francisco State University published a study that discussed how people that spend their money on experiences are happier than those that spend their money on material items.  Sadly, the study also showed that many choose the material items.

The results can be read here:  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/sfsu-cte032814.php

I thought about this months ago, as I began decluttering and downsizing our things.  I came across a quote that said, "Fill your life with experiences, not things.  At the end of your life you'll have stories to tell, not stuff to show."

A couple years ago my grandma passed away. I have a few of her things, but the pictures of her life and the book she wrote about growing up... Those are my treasures.  I thought about my life, and my children or future grandchildren going through my things. I would rather them find my journals and see pictures of my life than go through endless clothes or things.  

I decided to begin living more adventurously about the same time I found out about a couple of my health challenges.  Luckily, the adventures have mixed well with the plans to exercise more and get outside often.

We began with a local festival.  Then my husband took me hiking for our anniversary.  I began walking nearly every day, soaking up the beauty of autumn.  I've gone a couple places with our children, basically trying to gift them with some adventure. I have discovered the study is correct, and "doing stuff" is more fulfilling than "having stuff."  

My walks have turned into such a peaceful time for me. I often pray or just think.  I love being outside in the crisp mornings, the fall leaves crunching under my feet as I walk, the colors overwhelming me with their beauty. 

I long to do more, but due to finances and work schedules, it can be tough to arrange things.  My long-term goal would be to RV, to travel and see sights we haven't seen.  For now, I wait and take advantage of local (or somewhat local) attractions. 

Life is a gift.  For many years I have lived focused on home.  With a couple exceptions, we didn't travel very far.  That life, while necessary for several reasons at the time, showed me that what I thought I always wanted wasn't for me. Only Jesus can fulfill in me that hole that I tried to fill with other things for years.  When all my dreams had been stripped away and so much had been lost, this dream popped into my heart. 

Getting Out Of My Box

Since the diagnosis of Hypothyroidism and a cancer scare, I have been so restless.  I want to GO and do things.  I want to do things with my children and feel like my life is adventurous.

Minimalism definitely plays in, but it's not about just stuff.  I recently read a report that stated that people that spend money on experiences versus things are happier.  

I realized that living for what we can afford and accumulate isn't cherishing the gifts our lives are.  God gave us lives to love Him, to serve, to not be in our own box. 

I have a tough time finding adventure.  It's a bit expensive at times to be adventurous.  Places we want to see are farther than we can afford.  We don't get to do much, choosing to live vicariously through television shows or movies.

I want more, and I knew my health, both physical, spiritual, and mental needed more.  So, as often as possible, I began walking every morning.  I try to get in a couple walks per day.  My goal is the recommended 10,000 steps per day.  Most of the time I hit that and keep going. 

While walking I pray. I think in the quietest walking places I can find.  I take photos (like all those shared in this post).  Occasionally one of my daughters joins me on my walk, though they don't like my early rise time. 

It all began with the twelve mile hike two weeks ago on my anniversary.  A switch was flipped and I began to love walking outside again. 

I also like going places, doing things.  It's so delightful to travel, even to local areas, and explore.  My family and I are determined to do more adventures.  We have gone to just a few places, but our perspective has changed about living.  

Mine has changed a lot.  While the fear that I had cancer has faded, the determination to live a little more fully, with less stress and negativity, with more Jesus and outside and family... That hasn't changed.  

Journaling Your Faith Your Way

I remember being a young single mother. I wasn't a Christian yet.  I had never heard of Littleton, Colorado. But when the news came on and showed the shooting at Columbine High School, I hugged my little daughters a little longer.

Samples of Rachel Scott's Journal Pages

Years later, when I became a Christian, I was immensely touched by reading The Journals of Rachel Scott.  Rachel was a strong Christian girl that was the first victim at Columbine.  After being wounded, the killer asked her is she still believed in her God.  She responded, "You know I do."  He then told her, "Then go be with Him."  He shot her in the head. 

She was the first modern day martyr for Christ that I had ever heard of on American soil (along with Cassie Bernall, also a Christian martyr at Columbine). Rachel's journals were discovered soon after.  Her family published many of them as an example of a regular teenage girl that loves the Lord.

I have kept journals off and on my entire life.  I'm not very artistic, but I enjoy writing.  Rachel wrote her journal in the form of letters to God.  I LOVE that.  It's a 

prayer that continues throughout experiences and growth.  

I used to scrapbook.  It didn't take a huge amount of artistic talent to scrapbook.  I created book after book with pictures and memorabilia for my children documenting their lives. No stopped when I had my last daughter.  I tell myself I'll get back to it one day.

I love the G2 pens!

Recently Bible journaling has become popular.  I love seeing all the Pinterest pictures with beautiful artwork adorning Bibles.  However, I'm not very artistic.  

Poetry by Brian Johnson, performed live during Kari Jobe's Forever.

Also popular is the concept of a smash book, which is really just a messy scrapbook.  Again, I love the ideas. 

A portion of my journal from a couple months ago.

For me, my journal works.  I can include aspects of Bible journaling and smashbooks.  Mostly, I write letters to Jesus.  I write about my struggles, my prayers for others, what is happening in my world and in my heart.  I share song lyrics and poetry.  I'll copy letters from devotionals written as from God to me, like Sheri Rose Shepherd's His Princess. I'll occasionally include drawings, though I admit I'm not an artist. I'll include other memorabilia, such as notes from my husband or ticket stubs.  

Sheri Rose Shepherd's His Princess Letter.

This is very personal.  Some things are written when I am emotional.  They can be raw, between just me and my Lord.  Some things are confessions of sin or pouring out my hurts.  Just the catharsis of writing and sharing what is inside me with Jesus puts action to my faith.  

I'll include Bible study and sermon notes.  Why?  Because it is part of my life and my relationship with Him.  Will this become a legacy for others after I am gone?  It doesn't matter.  If I wrote, worried that one day someone would read my intimate prayers to my King, I would hesitate to share all of me.  I would never write all my sins and failings. I write for me, to grow closer to the Lord.  What He does with it when I am with Him in eternity is up to Him. 

Ticket Stub from Faith of Our Fathers

Doing this has drawn me closer to the Lord.  Writing out a part of Scripture and finding ways to expand on it; whether through journaling about it or drawing a picture of it or finding other verses, is an incredible way to meditate on God's Word!  I encourage everyone to find ways to make their faith tangible, to document how God is leading them.

My journals have expanded and grown over the years.  No longer is my journal just a letter written telling about my day.  I still do that occasionally.  It's fun to look back and see what I was dealing with.  Most of the time, my journal is about what is in me, what God is teaching me, and the encouragement I have found.  I will even include articles and parts of books.  There doesn't have to be rules.  It's about me and Jesus. 

My limited artistic talent with Lauren Daigle lyrics

Don't look at the Pinterest perfect Bible journaling or crazy cluttered smashbooks and think that you can't do that because you lack the artistic talent or the time.  Those things need to be looked at as inspiration only.  Maybe you are artistic, and those things suit you perfectly.  Awesome!  But if you are like me, go into creating a Bible journal by doing what is you.  If you love to write, write. If you don't feel artistic, buy some stickers and scrapbook stuff. If you are a photographer, put in some of your photos.  If you love being generous, put in copies of your tithe checks and thank God for providing.  If you love music, put in quotes and lyrics.  If you love the Word of God, put Scripture and Bible study notes.  If you are a prayer warrior, write some of those those prayers out.  If you love adventure, put in pictures of places God is taking you or has taken you.  Write about that short-term missions trip and what God taught you. Make the book yours.  

And when the book is full, begin another. Put your journal away. Keep it private if necessary. Pull it out in a few years and look at all the Lord has done. 

Making My Heritage Wall

I love Pictures!  Since I was a child, I have LOVED pictures.  My grandmother had a wall in her home where she had a small photo gallery of family photos.  I would look at that wall and think how those pictures made me feel like home.

My own picture obsession over the years has become legendary in my family.  I spent so much money the years my oldest girls were young buying and developing film so that I could take massive photos of my children.  It wasn't until the youngest was a year old that I received a digital camera.  That was a GREAT day!  Suddenly I could take all the pictures I wanted, and delete the blurry ones.

For years I wanted to put up a Heritage Wall.  I just couldn't do it properly with the horrible cement and plaster walls in our old place.  We've been in our new place for nearly a year now, and after all that time, I was so excited to make a wonderful Heritage Wall.  I made a nice wall of my daughters in my living room, but when it came to the Heritage Wall, I totally froze.

For my birthday, my beautiful daughter bought me a couple of collage frames.  MONTHS later, I was staring at those frames, kicking myself for not actually putting together my Heritage Wall.  The blank wall in the hallway mocked me.  Pinterest (which is sure to make you feel guilty if you look too much) was full of beautiful Heritage Walls.

I spent Saturday going through pictures and buying some extra frames.  Then, I sorted pictures more and bought more frames.  I thought I had a great start for Sunday.

After church on Sunday, I decided to get help.  I love designing, but hanging never goes the way I want.  My husband graciously volunteered to help.  We spent the next few hours, including another run to the store for a couple more frames, hanging pictures.

I HAVE MY HERITAGE WALL!!!

I love it.  It feels like home.  It reminded me a bit of my Grandmother's wall, but the pictures are (mostly) ones I've taken or had taken.  I have pictures of my grandparents, my parents, my sisters, my in-laws.  I have pictures of my girls all through their growing up years.  I have my beautiful oldest girl on her wedding day.  I have the picture of my husband and I taken on for our fifteenth anniversary.  It is a special wall of black frames and memories.

I may have created a monster with the husband.  He likes it so much he thinks we should do the other side of the hall (mua ha ha).

A Life in Pictures

I love pictures!  I am the person that others through the years made fun of.  Why?  Because I take so many pictures.  I don't mind.  I have rarely regretted taking too many pictures.  I have regretted the few times I didn't take pictures, missing that special moment.

Sprittibee has been posting an Instagram challenge monthly for those that love taking pictures.  I confess that I miss an occasional day.  But it has been fun.  I don't have to be a professional photographer to be creative and capture memories.

Sometimes just taking one picture leads me to another and another.  It's fun to look back and see the various photographs taken.  Often I think my days are routine and dull, but looking back, they are fun.

The Instagram challenge also allows me to be creative.  For simplicity, I have mostly used my phone and photo apps.  I have a nice Nikon, but the hassle of downloading pics unto my old desktop causes me to be lazy.  I save those shots for days I'm feeling REALLY creative.

I love recording things in my life.  My life is a gift from God.  Life is short.  It speeds by quickly.  One moment my children are small, the next they are grown.  This hit me like a punch to the gut when my oldest daughter got married last May. 

I record my life because, as a Christian, I want others to see the journey Christ has me on.  Everyone's journey is unique.  But how will the world know about Christ if they don't see Him lived out in the lives of others?  I want my children to be able to show their children about their crazy mom that taught about and lived for Jesus!

Record your lives.  The ups and downs leave a legacy that, if you wholeheartedly love and serve Jesus, is not about you... but is about Him and His Glory!

Make & Capture those Memories

Days go by quickly.  In the midst of busy Christmas seasons, we can be rushed and stressed.  Remember that Christ is the reason we celebrate.  And remember to take those photos.

Capture the moments that quickly go by.  It seems like only yesterday my grown daughters were little.  I have always taken many photos, even back when I had film and it took me months to afford to develop the photos!  I don't regret one photo.  They are more precious to me than riches. 

Last year was our last Christmas with my Grandma this side of heaven.  I miss her so much.  But as I looked back through all the pictures taken over the years, I see her beautiful face at all the family gatherings, and I am filled with gratitude for having had her in my life for so long.  

Take those photos of your loved ones.  Capture the love, not the things.  Capture the moments.  They will be precious later.

School Photos 2013

I am blessed.  My sister is a professional photographer.  I enjoy playing with photography and helping my sister out occasionally, but I know that my sister is an amazing talent.

She used my older daughters as guinea pigs while she was learning her craft.  She still uses my daughters occasionally if she is building a certain portfolio or working on a new technique.  Mostly, however, she takes great pictures. 

I get most of mine taken for free.  Then all I need to pay for is prints.  It's awesome!  I get professional, unique, amazing pictures for the cost of printing.

These pictures were taken in October.  We had a blast getting them done at a nature park with biking trails and cool pavilions.  The memories are special to me.

Homeschool Photo-a-Day Challenge Days 7 & 8

Day 7 - The challenge was #treat.  Since I didn't have anything like a yummy dessert, I treated myself to a long bath instead.

Day 8 - The challenge was #plan. I snapped a photo of Megan's first grade planner for Heart of Dakota for the day, with my added post-it that has my individual plans.

Homeschool Photo-a-Day Challenge Days 5 & 6

Day 5 - Before & After - I chose my homemade bread.

Day 6 - Orange - The only orange thing in my day was the awesome chili we had for dinner!

Homeschool Photo Challenge - Days 3 & 4

Days three and four of Sprittibee's Homeschool Photo-A-Day challenge was interesting.  Day 3 was orange.  Despite it being October, I don't have a lot of "orange" around.  All day I wondered what I could use for Orange that actually represented something from our day.  Then, as I was stirring the chili for dinner, the answer was right under my nose.

Day 3 - #orange

Day four was much easier for me.  We do a LOT of reading, so taking a picture of one of the kids reading, or something we are reading, is a cinch.  I could have taken a dozen photos.  Instead... the one of Megan reading her phonics reader to me was perfect.

Day 4 - #read

Join me as I go through the month of October, taking a photo a day, and recording our memories!  Oh... and of course I take more than one photo a day.  Most days I take many more than that!