I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions. I usually have a vague sense of a goal or two that I would like to accomplish during the year, but this year is different. I’ve been living a bit haphazardly lately, letting schedules slide and allowing situations dictate my days.
Last week, I read a post about resolutions on Bloom that helped me clarify a theme for 2011. In the post, Danielle chose one word to define the upcoming year. Her word was gumption. As I mulled over all the different goals I have for this year, two words came to mind: disciplined and intentional.
Since I graduated from seminary and became a working from home staying at home mommy, I’ve lost a lot of the discipline that defined my life when I had four papers and three books to read each week. That lack of discipline has filtered into all sorts of areas of my life, and I’m ready to reclaim it. That explains why I chose disciplined as one of my theme words.
My reasons for choosing intentional are a bit different. Being a mother has forced me to question why I do the things I do. I want to raise a daughter who is thoughtful and mindful, which has forced me to become more thoughtful and mindful about how we do life in this household. I want to be intentional about the things we watch, the books we read, and the traditions we practice. I’m not interested in living haphazardly any longer, but I am interested in intentionally cultivating a sense of wonder and faith in my baby girl. That process starts with me.
Those words are my themes, and I’ve got lots of ways I’d like to see the words define this year. My list of goals runs from losing 25 pounds to paying off student loans to rising each morning with Dennis. I want to read the Bible using M’Cheyne’s Bible Reading Plan and start a bit of Bible-reading with Micah. I plan to post more frequently, run a 5K, and sign up for more writing projects. I also want to read more books {which should be easy since this year I only finished one} and live more generously. Being disciplined and intentional will help me accomplish all of these things.
I am resolved to be a disciplined and intentional woman this year.
What have you resolved?
Until next time, grace and peace.
I’m slightly addicted to Google Reader. I may or may not check it a little more frequently than I should. As in multiple times a day. I can’t help it. There’s so much good stuff out there in the blogosphere. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to organize all the blogs that I love to read, and today, I’m sharing my top 10 with you {in alphabetical order, of course}.
Baby Cheapskate is my absolute favorite place for scoping out the best diaper deals of the week. Angie does a great job of matching up all the coupons with the sales, and I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by using her blog. Diapers are expensive, you know.
I’m new to Bloom, so let me begin by saying that I fell in love immediately. Bloom is written by Anne & Emily, two moms who have paired up to create an inspiring space for mothers everywhere. I love the tutorials, the discussions, and the tips and tricks they post.
I came across Kelle Hampton’s Enjoying the Small Things haphazardly. Several months ago, I was reading another blog that mentioned Kelle’s story, and I tucked it away to read later. It took me a long time to get around to reading Kelle’s blog, but when I did, my jaw dropped, tears streamed down my face, and I immediately vowed to start living each moment of this precious life as fully as possible. If you’re new to Kelle’s blog, you’ll want to start by reading Nella’s story. Trust me. You need to read it. You must. I insist.
I met Kelly at a “Mommy Marketplace” at Spruce in Brentwood, Tennessee. She came to share her best money-saving tips and tricks with the mommies-to-be, and as soon as I returned home, I looked up her blog and added it to my reader. I love reading Faithful Provisions because Kelly’s faith motivates her to make the most of all of her family’s resources. Faithful Provisions challenges me to be a better steward of the resources that God has given us.
I love How About Orange. I go there to find design inspiration, DIY projects, and fun little freebies. Jessica’s a graphic designer who shares her favorite internet finds with her readers on a daily basis. I’ve never been disappointed to see what she has to offer.
I randomly stumbled across kevin & amanda last year when I was looking for some new handwriting fonts. When I found Amanda, I found one of the best sources of FREE fonts on the internet. Amanda frequently blogs about fun little DIY projects. She recently posted a tutorial on making a ruffled camera strap that I would be all over if I had a sewing machine. I also enjoy reading Amanda’s blog because she’s in North Alabama, which is just a hop over the state line from me. What can I say? I’m loyal to Southern bloggers :)
I’m new to oh my! handmade goodness. Completely new. I just started reading it last week. But when I found it, it became an instant favorite. oh my! is a blog dedicated to “independent children’s retailers and the hip parents that support them,” and it’s filled with all sorts of good stuff. I love reading the stories of other working-from-home-crafters, and I’ve found a treasure trove with oh my! handmade goodness. If you, like me, love all things handmade, stop on by and poke around a bit. You won’t be disappointed.
I’m only one of about 3 million people who enjoy reading Ree Drummond’s blog every day, but y’all, I just can’t help but love The Pioneer Woman. For one thing, we both married country boys. For another thing, we both love photography. And the clincher? She posts amazing recipes and photos every. single. day. It also doesn’t hurt that her running commentary about life on a cattle ranch keeps me laughing out loud, which is always a good thing. Who doesn’t like to laugh??
Southern Savers is another couponing/money-saving blog that I read every day. Like Angie at Baby Cheapskate, Jenny at Southern Savers has saved me oodles of money over the past year. She makes shopping for groceries at Kroger super simple, and I especially like the running list Walgreen’s deals that she posts every week. Southern Savers is my one-stop shop for making a grocery list, and it’s a must-read for anyone looking to save a little cash on their grocery bills.
And finally, Cyd over at The Sweetest Occasion continually offers up design inspiration for me. She features ridiculously beautiful and perfectly polished weddings, parties, and special events on her blog, and I could spend hours sifting through all of the lovely photos she posts. Love the tablescapes. Love the party ideas. Love it in general. You will too.
Well, there you have it. My favorite blogs. This list is continually evolving and shifting, and I’m sure I’ll find more fabulous must-reads soon, but for now, these are at the top of my list. What are your favorite blogs??
The coming of fall means more than pumpkins and cooler weather; it’s also the season of carnivals and fairs across the South. Memories of “The Fair” fill my childhood, and I was really excited to share some of those same memories with Micah last weekend at her very first trip to the Mississippi State Fair.
It’s always comforting to know that some things remain the same, and going to the fair was like visiting with an old friend. We ate the same taffy, looked at the same displays in the Trade Center, and even saw the same games on the Midway. I’m so glad that I get to share a part of my childhood with my own children, and I hope a trip to the fair is a tradition we won’t neglect.
We started in the Trade Center, which is always filled with the best of the best when it comes to crafts and canning. We checked out the jams and jellies that garnered first place in the state, then we meandered through the arts and crafts section, where this delicately crocheted blanket and pretty little button tree caught my eye.
By the time we made it outside, we were all hungry, so we headed to the Midway to search for some lunch. I knew what I wanted before we ever arrived at the fair, and it didn’t take long to find what I was looking for: chicken on a stick from Penn’s. Dennis’ mom ordered some fried pickles, and we found a shady spot to enjoy our meal.
After satisfying our appetites, we headed to the petting zoo so Micah could check out all the animals, but she wasn’t a fan. After a goat stuck its head out of the fence at her, she clung to her daddy and looked on from arms length. She wasn’t into the petting part of the petting zoo, but she’s a curious girl, and there was a lot to look at in that little tent.
As soon as we left the petting zoo, the carousel caught our eyes, and since Micah LOVED the carousel at Dollywood this summer, we snatched up a few tickets and Gran hopped on with her. We should have watched the carousel for one round before we threw her on a horse. The horse that she’s on looked crazy for a reason. That was seriously the fastest carousel I’ve ever seen, and Micah wanted off immediately, but there was no stopping that crazy ride yet. She gladly dismounted when the ride finally stopped, and I vowed to never do that again. From now on I will watch a ride before I put Micah on it. Lesson learned.
After the carousel adventure, we strolled through the livestock barns to check out the cattle show. In case you didn’t know, my husband is a country boy, and he grew up in those barns {showing sheep, not cattle}. My family, on the other hand, may have stepped into the barns on occasion, but it was not the main part of our fair experience. Our fair experience revolved around food and rides. Dennis’ fair experience revolved around animals. We are so. different.
And then, it was time to go home, but we had one last stop to make before leaving the fair. Dennis and I may have had very different childhood experiences at the fair, but there is one thing that we both share: Malone’s Taffy. The fair is not the fair without Malone’s taffy. It is, by far, the best thing about the fair. Prices are a little steeper than they used to be, but a box of the sticky sweetness is more than worth the $9 price tag. Yum. We’ll be savoring that taffy for a while. If you’re lucky, we might share a piece with you.
But only if you’re lucky :)
If you live near Jackson and you haven’t yet made it to the fair, it’s not too late. You have until Sunday night to get out there and enjoy all that the fair has to offer. After that, you’ll just have to wait until next year.
Until next time, grace and peace.
Yesterday, Micah and I traveled to the big city so I could shop for a new swimsuit. Let’s just say that after giving birth to a child, my old suits are a little {ahem} inappropriate. It was time for a new swimsuit.
I hadn’t exactly been looking forward to the task, but white water rafting and log flumes are looming in my future, and it was now or never. I chose now.
Because I had to return a pair of sandals to Target, I decided to start there, and after getting Micah settled into her stroller, I promptly selected about 207 items to try on my post-baby body. I made my way to the fitting room, where the attendant looked horrified at the mountain of clothes I had piled onto the stroller’s handles. I assured her that I would only take six items into the room at a time. She handed me my number tag, and I wheeled the stroller into the narrow walkway between the dressing rooms.
Which is where I discovered a few things.
First: the stroller wouldn’t fit through the stall door.
Second: if I somehow managed to wrangle the stroller through the door, I wouldn’t fit in the stall. Which would defeat the purpose of getting the stroller into a fitting room.
Third: the handicapped stall was occupied.
I decided to wait it out. When a little blonde girl about as big as my pinkie finger finally left the handicapped fitting room, I wheeled the stroller in and settled into the task of finding a flattering suit. Imagine my shock when the first tankini I tried on was a winner! I was even more pleased to discover I needed a smaller size.
I flipped through the pile of swimsuits I had hauled into the fitting room to find the smaller size {because I always take at least two sizes of the same item into a dressing room with me}, but I was out of luck. So, I pulled on one of the swimsuit coverups I had selected, left behind my clothes, and strolled out of the dressing room. I quickly retrieved the size I needed, made my way back to the fitting rooms, wheeled the stroller into the hallway, and opened the door of the handicapped stall.
And startled a half-dressed college girl.
Oops.
I quickly closed the door and asked tentatively, “Umm…are my clothes still in there?”
“I guess so,” she replied. “I’ll be out in a minute and switch to another room.”
“I’m so sorry!” I answered. “I didn’t realize you were in there.”
And then the awkward silence followed, during which I wondered, “What is it with these girls taking the handicapped stall??”
When she hurriedly exited the stall with an armload of bikinis, I avoided her eyes and scurried back inside the only room that would hold both me and the stroller. I shed the too-big suit and tried on the smaller size.
It fit! Yay for finding an appropriate swimsuit so quickly! But I had other items to try on, so I took off the suit and laid it on the bench.
Which is when I discovered the poor girl’s undergarments. That’s right. Undergarments. Plural. Bra and Panties.
As if I hadn’t already exchanged enough awkwardness with the girl, now I had to tell her that she left her underwear behind.
Who in the world tries on bikinis without their underwear?? The thought makes me shudder. Seriously. Who does that??
The crazier thing, when I knocked on the girl’s stall and told her she had left her underwear behind, she denied it!
“No, I didn’t,” she said. “I’m wearing my panties.”
Umm…no you’re not, I thought to myself. I know because they’re in a pile in my dressing room.
“Maybe I left my bra in there,” she said.
Yes, you did, I thought. And your panties!
“Well, you’ll probably want your stuff before you leave. Just wanted to let you know that it was in there,” I muttered.
I tried to finish up and get out of there before she did, but I was unsuccessful. When we met in the hallway, again, I stepped aside and let her grab her undergarments. Plural.
Funny thing. The panties that weren’t hers disappeared from the bench.
Now why would she go and take someone else’s underwear?
I’m just saying.
Don’t you wish you were me? Needless to say, when I got home, I promptly threw my new suit into the washing machine. Wouldn’t you?
Until next time, grace and peace.
I never know what to say when people ask me where I’m from. A part of me wants to answer, “I’m a Mississippi girl,” because the truth is that I’ve spent the vast majority of my life in the Magnolia State. But another part of me wants to answer, “Nashville,” because that’s where my parents live. It’s where I learned to drive. Where I went to high school. Where I spent a summer working. Where I was baptized {again}. Where I accepted a call to ministry. Where I spend holidays.
It’s the place I go when I go home.
So you can imagine how absolutely horrifying it is to see pictures of a submerged Music City in facebook pictures and on youtube. It breaks my heart to see the city that I love so much under water.
photo courtesy of Rachael Moore
It’s shocking to view pictures of the Opryland Hotel literally filled with water.
I never took Micah there.
Just a week and a half ago, we spent the weekend in Nashville visiting with the fam, and we spent a day at Opry Mills. Stacy {my sister} mentioned going to the Hotel so we could take a few pictures. But by the time we finished shopping, Micah was cranky, we were all tired, and we piled into the van and went home.
It’s something I regret now.
Because the Hotel’s gorgeous atrium is now a swamp.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Lee
And what fan of country music wouldn’t be dismayed to see this image from the Opry house?
Photo courtesy of The Grand Ole Opry
Billions of dollars worth of damage. Dozens of lives lost. Thousands of lives changed. An entire city devastated by the monumental amount of rain that deluged the city over the weekend.
Let’s not forget all the people who are going to need help recovering from this disaster. Let’s not ignore the devastation of a 1,000-year flood. Let’s not pretend that nothing happened.
Let’s remember.
And let’s do something about it.
Let’s tell Nashville’s story.
Let’s give our money.
Let’s give our time.
Let’s give our attention.
Let’s give our love.
Let’s give our prayers.
Clickable
Telling the Story
Nashvillest | Helping Nashville
Concord Grandview | Flood Relief Project
Middle Tennessee Red Cross
Samaritan’s Purse
Second Harvest Food Bank
Graceworks Ministries
Salvation Army | Nashville
Hands On Nashville
The Tennessean
Nashville Landmarks Flooded | The Tennessean
The Big Picture | The Boston Globe
Facts & Trends | LifeWay
We Are Nashville
Until next time, grace and peace.
