gonna be some changes made

It was a little over a year ago when I changed my blog from “The Yellow Butterfly” to “All These Things.” Also, I had honed in on what I wanted to write about. I admitted I was a writer. One of my goals for this year was to learn more about blogging and writing in general. I have done that to some extent, although there is so, so much more to learn. However, slowly I have read things here and there and listened to podcasts that were helpful.

The more I thought about my writing, and my blog, I felt that something needed to change. With the blog title of “All These Things” referring to seeking the kingdom of God, I felt it odd to write about some things I felt compelled to write about. I felt as if I had to put a twist on each thing to make it spiritual. It is true I do try to honor God with all that I do and write, but the title just felt too serious for “My Favorite Salad Dressing Recipe” or things like that.

And so, after much thinking and discussion with my husband, I decided to make a new blog. Next week, I will reveal it to you! That is where I will be doing the majority of my blogging. The title is simple: my name. I know it’s all in my head, but it feels like coming home. There I can explore my writing style and work to find my “voice.” There are no “rules” (as made up as they are) about what to write. If I want to write it, it works, because the blog is named after me.

I have a vision for “All These Things” that needs some more praying, musing, and planning. Until then, it will be quiet. When the time comes, I’ll be sure to write about it on my main blog.

Come back here on September 1^st and I’ll have a link to my new blog! I’m really excited to share it with you all, and so much more in the future!

Cathing Up & Checking In

Well, hello friends! How are you? It’s been a while, but it’s been good. And it’s good to be back too. I just wanted to take a post to check in a bit, catch you up a little, and share some housekeeping notes.

Even though I wasn’t posting, I was writing a lot. I was also reading a lot, and I read a little about writing too. I have a lot of thoughts to share with you, but I just want to warn (?), er, point out, that I’m toying with my writing. Some posts may seem familiarly contemplative; some might be funny (or rather, a stab at being funny). I feel I am growing as a writer and this is my space to try things out. Consider me a pre-teen writer trying to find my style… something might click, or something might be hideous. Allow me some patience and grace (and kind feedback too?), pretty please? Thanks.

Spring is finally here, thank God! There’s so much to share with you about what’s going on at this new homestead of ours, including a couple surprises! I guess I really can’t say more or I’ll be giving everything away! I’ll just have to keep you in suspense. But don’t worry, the posts will be coming faster than every six weeks. In fact, I hope you don’t get sick of hearing from me! I’ve got a lot coming!

thoughts on sharing my words

In the upcoming months, my posts will have a theme and connection to them. Before I begin though, I want to share these thoughts with you. A “disclaimer” if you will…

I’ve long felt afraid to share my writing - real writing, like a poem or story. Even what I share here is always a bit scary for me, but I console myself with the fact that very few people read it.

The thing with writing is that it’s a very private hobby. Musicians give concerts, artists have shows, writers… well, people read their words in private. And writing is done in private. Someone can write all their lives, and no one could know.

I know a guy who writes and records his own music. Every couple years, he comes out with a new album and gives us a copy. He’s not out to make money. (To be honest, he probably couldn’t if he tried.) I admire him for doing it. He enjoys it, and that’s why he does it. He has something to share, and he shares it.

When I think of all the writers that have influenced me, I am so grateful to them. What if they had chosen not to write, because they felt like they weren’t good at writing? What if they hadn’t shared because they didn’t think it was “good”?

I’m not saying I’m going to make a huge impact on the world - or even one person. What I am saying is, who am I to know? What if God will use me? What if He chooses to transform my unworthy words to help someone else? And I’m also saying, I enjoy writing and I have things to share. So good or bad - I’m sharing!

So much has been going on in my heart and my head this year. I’m trying to get it organized in words so I can share some things with you all here. As much as I don’t understand why, I have such a desire to share. I pray God is using me; I feel I am obeying Him. Thank you for accepting my blundering offerings!

My 100th Post - and a late announcement

I guess one hundred posts feels like a milestone. But ironically, it's kind of the beginning. As you probably noticed, I have a new title. (And a new, but not finished, look.) I meant to explain it before I did it, but this late explanation will have to do.

I do not have an eloquent explanation, as I had hoped to come up with by now. It comes from the verse that has been shaping my thoughts and life for many months now.

"but seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

And every time I try to explain more, the words seem jumbled. So when they come out right, I will write them on the "About this Blog" page. Stay tuned! 

Ready and Waiting... Part 2

A week later, and still waiting... I was feeling pretty discouraged last night and stressed about the timing. But God, in His graciousness, gave me a peace. And not just an unexplainable peace, but also some rationalization, which He knows I need. So I am feeling better, but I still have moments when I think, "I wish this would just happen already!" Then I try to think, "I trust You Lord. Help me to enjoy the time."

For, really, there's no rush. Coach is home a lot, so he helps with Sweet Girl if I need a break (which I do often!). He goes up and down the stairs putting the laundry in the washer or dryer and brings it back up again. He does the dishes. He rubs my feet at night. It's great to spend so much time with him!

And Sweet Girl... it was her birthday yesterday and we celebrated by having some friends over in the morning and going to the park (her favorite) in the evening. So besides trying to enjoy my time with them, here and now, I am trying to just keep going as if I wasn't waiting for something big to happen any moment.

I started another book, Little Women.  I read it in junior high, but I don't remember much of it at all. I didn't start a book for a couple days because I was "sure" I wouldn't have time to finish it. But, obviously, I've had more time than I thought and reading is so relaxing (and distracting!).

I started a year-long "research project". Basically I want to learn more about real food and traditional ways of preparing it. Next I want to plan ways to implement all I learn into our lives. The goal is at the end of the year to have a timeline of changes to slowly make in regards to what food I buy and how I prepare it. I have eleven goals (so far) of things I want to learn or plan during this time. I hope to have this as my sole focus for the short times I get to myself. We'll see how it goes. I was planning on starting a month or two after the baby's born, but since I had extra time on my hands, I went ahead and made my goals and I'll do what I can until then.

Mostly I will do my research online. To organize all the information I find, without writing a ton of notes, I downloaded the program Evernote. I heard about it awhile ago here, but since we were using Coach's work laptop, I didn't want to download it on there. Now we have a new computer (which I love!), so I did it. I think it will be very handy and I'm really excited.

That brings me to thoughts about this blog. I'm not sure what I'll want to do here after the dust settles with the baby. It might be a random, when-I-have-thoughts-blog again. After all, I'm sure I'll have much less time. But maybe I'll want to do something structured again, just not as much. Maybe I will want to share all I'm learning in my research project. I would like some opinion from my few readers (I knew there are a couple out there...). At least so I can give it some consideration. I do enjoy blogging, but it does take time and effort. I may not miss it so much once I'm busier... Just not sure what direction I'll go.

Please keep us in your prayers during this time! It's certainly a trial of patience and trust.

Thoughtful Thursday: Less Room

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I experienced a change that no one told me would happen and I didn't read about in the books. As my belly grew bigger with this new life in me, the room in my life for other people and things got smaller. Not only was my body growing this new life, but my heart was changing too - mostly unconsciously. Friends whom I cared about and wanted to keep up with (but who didn't exactly reciprocate) had to be cut out. Learning and any deep thinking was pushed to the side. My whole mind, heart and body was focused on this precious one inside.

This time around, I felt that some in the beginning, mostly from being so tired. It's not as big of a jump this time around, having been through it before. But I'm starting to feel that crowding again. That need to par down in order to not feel overwhelmed.

I haven't been writing lately because things have be rough from switching Sweet Girl to her new bed. And although I have things to share, ideas jotted down, I don't feel too compelled to write. I don't really miss it. It simply takes too much energy and brain power - things I'm having less of these days.

I was expecting to take a long pause in writing, especially after he's born, but I didn't expect it to be this soon. I intend to write once a week, if I have something to share. However, I might not. Overall, I'm feeling less room for creating, sharing. It's getting close to time to hibernate again. To stick to the basics, the needs, the essentials. And I may have to stay this way for some time yet.

Blogging is a luxury for me, an extra. Now, when the baby comes, and until I feel balanced again, blogging will be way, way on the back burner. Part of me wants to share all I'm trying to accomplish, things I'm learning, and other thoughts in my head, but most of me simply wants to rest. And rest I will. I'm not going to be completely absent, but you will see less of me.

Adding Structure to the Blog

I've been doing a lot of thinking (again) about this blog. What is it I really want to say? Share? Well, a lot actually. Not my whole life, oh no. But I do want to share what I'm learning and how I'm growing. And I'm learning and growing in a lot of different ways.

My posting has been sporadic, only happening when I have the time and something to write about. Mostly time has been the issue, but also lack of structure. I thrive within structure. (Ask my husband. When something is off our routine or what I expected, it takes me a bit to adjust.) And so with this blog, I have a list of ideas on paper (at least I'm doing that!), but no designated time to write them, so they don't get written!

So after some praying and thinking, my goal now is to have regular posts. Three a week and two others each month. At least; maybe more!

I'm really excited about these "topics" because they are focused yet broad enough that you may be surprised by what I write about, and I have room to be creative!

I just wrote about the different roles that I'm really focusing on right now in my life. In general, I am going to stick to writing about these roles. The topics are umbrellas for the different areas that fall under those roles. Okay, okay, what are they already!?!

WEEKLY:

Money Monday - This may sound strange, but it's related to being an economical homemaker. Things are tight for us right now, and I'm really motivated to learn about how to make, save, and wisely spend money. So, while I'm on this learning streak, I'm going to share my thoughts and lessons with you all. So, this topic may only be around for a while, but be sure it'll be replaced by whatever I decide to learn about next!

Thoughtful Thursday - This is where I share my thoughts about how I'm working to improve myself as a woman, wife and mother. 


Homemaking Saturday - You guessed it! It's about homemaking. It will include all my many home interests such as making home products myself, food, sewing, organizing, and on and on!

MONTHLY:

Review/Preview - You've seen this before - where I share how the previous month was, and what I have planned for the upcoming month.


Sharing the Faith with Kids - Once a month I hope to do a simple Sunday School lesson with the kids at our church. I'll share here what that will be!

My plan is to start next week. My best friend is coming tomorrow to spend the week with me while hubby is in Texas (lucky guy!) with the team. So I'll be enjoying her company. Check back next Monday!

Production vs. Consumption

I listened to a podcast recently of the author of Small Notebook chatting with her friend at Simple Mom. They talked about how both of them don't really read many blogs, since they upkeep their blogs so much. When you're producing, Rachel put it, then you don't really have time to consume.

I've been mulling that comment over in my head since then. Lately I've been feeling like a shallow, dry sponge. Unable to take anything in and unable to squeeze anything out. However, I think the truth is that I am a giant, full sponge... holding it all in and processing very slowly.

I've been consuming. A lot. Not just blogs, but books, music, ideas, Scripture... Sweet Girl's presence. And I've just been soaking it all in. Producing a little - a few journal entries and some blog posts. But the amount of production compared to consumption is small. And I feel weighted down in both good and bad ways. Good in that I'm excited about the things I'm learning and bad in that sometimes what I read on blogs makes me wishful that my life was different, when in actuality, I'm very content.

My life is full, chasing a one-year-old, taking care of a house, being a wife. It's full and can be busy, but it's not like I don't have time to think. It's just that the time I have to think is spread out in short intervals. I have to realize that it's going to take me longer to process anything of depth that I consume.

And producing takes time too, especially creative producing. Sometimes things just come, like this post, but other times they don't, like as of lately. A lot of things are simply stopped up in my brain, and that's okay.

I'm still going to consume. That's the mode I'm in; I have a lot I want to learn and a lot to prepare for in the future. After all, I'm raising a family and that's a serious job!

So if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm sorry. It means I'm busy learning and absorbing. Once I process things, you can be sure I'll share. Sharing might just mean a list of things I'm consuming, but that's sharing nonetheless!