Tiny Twig Goes Out on a Limb

First Day of Preschool

These boys love each other.  Noah had his first day of preschool last week--and he LOVED it.  He was really ready to spend some time away from the house, away from the family, gaining a little independence.  I was excited for him and not even a little bit sad, but I sure next year will be different story.  Kindergarten and being gone all day every day is a whole different ball game!

Cooper, on the other hand, missed his other half.  He sobbed and sobbed the most heartwrenching cries as we pulled away from the preschool.  He kept saying that he forgot to say goodbye and that he had "lost" Noah.  :(  Now, THAT...that broke my heart.  Cooper has never known a world without Noah.  He has had a built-in best friend from day one, and those boys know how to have fun. 

The sweetest exchange took place on the way to the school on the first day.

Noah:  "Cooper are you excited for me to go to school?"

Cooper: "No!"

**Noah looks confused and hurt.**

Me: "Cooper, are you not excited because you think you'll miss Noah?"

**Cooper tears up and shakes his head in agreement.**

Noah:  "It's okay buddy, I'll probably miss you a lot, too."

Like I said, break my heart.

Caring for those Without Family

Photo by Sarah Rice  /  Sarah Rice for msnbc.com

This article makes my heart so full, I could burst open.  Take a moment to click over and read it, if you can.  You see, I am beyond blessed to be married to a wonderful man and a part of a very giving family.  When the dark days after Asher was born proved too difficult to handle alone, we had help. 

Many people don't have that safety net.  They may wonder what would happen to them if a serious illness or injury befell them.  I can relate to some degree due to our years in Charlotte, NC.  When we first moved, we were a newly married and very young couple.  Not only that, but we were just a few months away from becoming parents for the very first time.  Our nearest family member was 600 miles away, and we did not know a soul when we first settled into life in Charlotte.

But, slowly, we developed friends that felt like family.  We never had a need that went unmet.  I am passionate about community care for people who may not have family nearby, so I was so glad to see the issue get attention in the national stage. 

Sometimes, when we have family nearby, we forget that there are others that have no family to speak of.  They may be widowed, or never married, or just far removed or estranged from their extended family.  I think that caring for those individuals is a burden that we need to bear, to take some of the weight off their shoulders. 

Are you involved in some way in caring for or supporting those who have no support?  I need to be looking into new ways now that we have relocated.  This article was such a great reminder to seek out new ways to care.

Mumford and Sons Sing Come Thou Fount

 

thanks, Michelle for sharing this.  also, the actual song starts at 1:00 if you don't want to wait through the chatter.

For you, this morning. 

Love hymns.  Something about the timeless truths being sung simply, purely.  Nothing like it.  I love knowing that what was true then is true now, and the feelings we have now echo through the ages.  It doesn't hurt that Mumford and Sons are amazingly awesome. 

Perfectionism and Grace for the Good Girl

pinned on my pinterest

I am a planner.  I like plans.  I like being intentional, and I like making good choices and decisions.  Blame it on my first born tendencies, I certainly did for a long while.  But, I think a lot of this fact is that I am afraid to fail.  I am afraid to make less than perfect decisions.  I don't want to just make good decisions, I want to make perfect decisions. 

I live in a world of affluent Dave Ramsey advocates and Master's educated influencers.  I live in a world of good Christian men and women who are active and prominent in our community.  I live in a world of sky high expectation, to say the least.

But, the one who expects the most of me is...me.  I am a good girl.  I like to make pretty and nice like a good girl.  I would hate to be thought less of because of a hypothetical big mistake (or bad choice) I may make.  That'd be my pride talking.  And also my lack of Grace for myself (and others, if we really want to be honest...). 

That is why adventure is good for me.  The little adventures in life leave room to fail.  Failing at a new craft or a small and kind of silly plan is palatable and good practice for the inevitable life failures. 

I ordered this book, Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman.  She is the awfully sweet little sis of my good friend the Nester.  But, I think Emily may as well be my twin--because her words echo loud in the walls of my heart.  I can't wait to let her words soak in (and I get to hear her speak at Relevant in October!).

By going out on a limb, taking small leaps, and figuring it out as I go--I make room in my heart for failure.  I prove to myself that the world keeps spinning, the no one notices, that there.is.still.love.  Go easy on your sweet self if you struggle like I do. Take a small leap today...it's the only way to learn. 

Your Sweetness: Loving during Your Best Time of Day

Who gets your sweetness?  Your ooey gooey, most loving and giving part of yourself?  Who gets the reap the benefits of the best you?  Who spends time with you during your best part of the day?

What is the best part of your day? 

And, who are the poor souls who have the endure the moments during your...not best...part of the day? 

What is the time of day you drag and struggle through?

These are all things that are good to know about ourselves.  You can maintain your schedule so that you love the best during your most "loving" times and work the hardest during your most "focused" times.

I know that I am chipper and in the mood to discuss life early in the morning.  My husband...is not.  He would prefer to go about his morning in a fog--until he wakes up on the drive into work.  Now, I could get my feelings hurt and resent him for not connecting with me...or, I could find someone else to give my love to in those moments.

Luckily, Cooper, that sweet and smushy boy above, is the most snuggly and sweet boy in the mornings.  I have found that it is the perfect time to give him some attention and love, because he is open and at his most loving time in the morning.  If I spend 10 or 15 minutes just focused on him, snuggling him, talking about what he wants to talk about, whatever...10 minutes and he is so nourished and ready to go for the day. 

His attitude is so much better, because he feels like he has gotten my sweetness.  The best of me for the best of him.  I find with my children that I need to match up our best times. 

Asher and I connect during his last feeding of the day, all hushed and quiet.  I admire his fuzzy hair, brushing my cheek against his tiny head. He nuzzles into me and looks deeply into my eyes.  The best of him and the best of me...our sweetness.

Noah needs some intensive talk time, and he prefers to get some physical touch in there, too.  He likes to lay in bed right before bedtime and talk about his thoughts and have his back scratched.  I think this is the one I struggle with the most, because the kids' bedtime and the end of the day is NOT my best time of the day.  I am tired and ready to transition into "adult" time. 

Can you match those people or tasks up with the times of day you feel at your best for that particular need?  I wonder if I could take some time with Noah to rest and talk during another time rather than bedtime.  He would get more of the best of me, and I would not struggle through it so much.

Take some time to figure out the people you need to love well...or the things you need to do well.  I know if I am intentional with my time, recognizing when I am at my best, I am more effective and life feels like less of a struggle.  I am not trying to shove a square peg in a round hole.