I keep opening all these tabs on my computer with articles like How to Simplify Christmas Christmas Traditions Simplifying Christmas Traditions  What You Really Need this Christmas What You Don't Need this Christmas How to Simplify Your Kids' Christmas Clutter-Free Gifts for this Christmas Creating a Meaningful Christmas And in the process I'm cluttering up my computer screen, my mind, my feeling of...

Read More...

I just can't even. Tonight I told Josh, "It feels like I'm drowning." I don't know what it is. Tonight's post will just be a jumpled up mess. Oops, is that supposed to be jumbled? Overwhelmed. Sinking.I say, "My plate is full." Ha, it's overflowing.  Things are falling off my plate and making a big mess. Decluttering isn't just about material objects in...

Read More...

So, my last post was apparently a big hit.  But I write about more than infertility.  Infertility does not define me.  And even though the last two blog posts had the word "pee" in them, I promise that's not a usual topic.  Sidenote:  now, that's three blogs in a row containing the word "pee."  I have really got to quit that! One area...

Read More...

After a disastrous family trip to Kohl's this evening, I asked Josh if I could run into the Dollar Store real quick. "Sure, what for?"Silence. "Hello?" he tried again, while I tried to figure out how to respond. "I can't tell you," I said defensively.  "Christmas is coming." The truth was I didn't want to give him a false sense of hope.  Again....

Read More...

This post was written last week and sat waiting for me to add photos. I want to be in a Book Club, but it's pretty rare that I actually finish books.  When I am reading and actually do complete a book, I am quite proud of my accomplishment. Maybe I should be in a Movie Club instead.  Well, actually I don't watch movies...

Read More...

Things I Love Right Now pockets (sadly, 99% of what I wear doesn't have pockets.  However, I have a pair of pants that are thicker and, therefore, worn more during the colder months that has pockets.  Needless to say, I've been delighted to wear them in the recent days.) apple cider (I just had my first of the season.  Always a great fall...

Read More...

When you chew out your father for feeding your daughter dinner . . . you know you're not ok. I am struggling and stressing and messing up as I try to figure out arrangements for child care while I work from home. Fortunately, my dad is a very patient, gracious person, and when I apologized to him later he acknowledged that I'm just...

Read More...

Well, I was on a blogging roll for awhile there. Maybe it will return.  Sometime. For now, I continue working and wife-ing and mom-ing.  Lots of learning and adjusting Josh was off all last week for Fall Break.  He had a birthday.  We enjoyed free "hot donuts now" at Krispy Kreme "late" one night.  Because we could. We went to Indianapolis for a...

Read More...

mothering is hard. fathering is hard. life is hard. i'm just shaking my head at my not quite four year old daughter's behavior tonight... um, like a teenager's behavior. this is payback for how i treated my mom as a child.  right?  it must be. ugh. this day also included our washing machine quitting.  while full of laundry and water. and it was...

Read More...

We no longer have a guest room. Instead, this is now my office. In addition to needing to spend focused time working on Women's Ministry and my Mamas' Group (have I mentioned I'm on the leadership team for that?), as well as wanting to spend focused time on writing, I now have a part-time, work-from-home job. And I know in order to actually...

Read More...

Awhile ago I did these lists of "Things I Like Right Now".  I thought I'd post another. home decor "You're a Good, Good Father" re-thinking home decor peace baskets/containers re-arranging things from room to room crazy artwork rest space date night getting stuff out of our house Zillow pad thai watching football with Catherine small town Wakarusa, IN getting deals at yard sales...

Read More...

I watched a you tube video about painting a door that said the prep work was the most important step. Apparently my prep work includes watching you tube instructional videos and reading articles via Pinterest on how to paint a front door. Today's steps also included putting on my paint clothes and taking the "before" pictures. Not sure when I'll do the actual...

Read More...

Within just a couple of months I have gone from mocking desks to wanting my own. What?  Who mocks desks?? ...sheepishly raising hand... It was not that long ago that I said, "Who needs a desk?!?  Anything you'd do at a desk you can just do at a kitchen table."  I basically felt like desks were pointless. And now I'm actually contemplating turning...

Read More...

There were professional photographers taking fabulous pictures at Saturday's lovely co-ed bridal shower.  But who knows when/if I'll ever have those photos in my possession.  So, I'm sharing the few pictures that I took in the midst of the craziness of last minute details. My sister-in-law Jen's sister Charissa is getting married in Indy next month, and lots of her friends around here...

Read More...

I can't do two events in five days. Especially when I'm sick. Saturday's bridal shower was awesome.  I'm so grateful for so much help from others.  I can't even imagine getting through it without their help. Saturday night Catherine started getting sick. Now I have it. And my first Women's Ministry event is in two days. Of course I'm no where near ready....

Read More...

This evening I went to a funeral visitation. It wasn't something I was excited about.It wasn't something I really even wanted to do. But I know it's important.I know it matters. I remember losing the only Grandpa I ever knew. I remember losing my Grandma.I remember losing my Uncle. I remember losing my other Grandma.I remember losing Josh's Grandpa,Josh's Grandma,Josh's Uncle. I remember...

Read More...

Written earlier this week: A few weeks ago my status on facebook said something like, "Planning a bridal shower, Catherine's birthday party, my mom's birthday party, and two women's events.  I'm in heaven." It was heaven then, but as the events get closer, they always morph into something else. It's crunch time for the bridal shower now.  Three days away.  I'm excited about...

Read More...

I was giddy when I realized today's date in my calendar/agenda book was blank. I had thought about doing certain things today since I had the time and availability, but then I remembered I don't need to be the one to step up and come to the rescue. As my mom recently started saying, "It's not my monkey, and it's not my circus."...

Read More...

I promised myself after the last post that the next post I would write would be called, "Fighting Fear."  But instead I'm inspired to write something else. I just sat down and exhaled. Truly exhaled. For what felt like the first time today. And it's almost 1:30 in the afternoon. I am looking desperately for balance and not yet grasping it. If I...

Read More...

So, there are a ton of things that I struggle with.  But it really wasn't that long ago that I realized fear was not one of my struggles. So, of course that had to change. I don't know if it was due to pride or just a change in my season of life or what, but suddenly my being has become full of...

Read More...

Sometimes balance is hard. That's the season I'm in right now. Man, life is busy. And that from a person who really strives to say no to things. I'm really happy to be doing some things that I enjoy tremendously.  I'm now in charge of Women's Ministry at our church.  This still cracks me up.I'm also on the planning team for my weekly...

Read More...

FIRST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL Yes, Daddy took part of the day off to join us for this monumental occasion! Finding her name   "Why are they still taking my picture?..." Pre-school is fun! ...

Read More...

I could write paragraph after paragraph, page after page, post after post about all I'm doing wrong. Seriously.  I don't cook.  I don't clean.  I complain.  And I procrastinate. Some days my daughter practically drags me out of bed. I nag my husband. I don't exercise. I eat out too much. I don't budget. There are all sorts of failures in every possible...

Read More...

The last few days have been very different in my life. I'm installing more routine and more self discipline when it comes to my schedule. Getting up and ready early (early for me, at least). Being more present in my daughter's life, as opposed to my own tasks. Devotions at breakfast. Going to bed earlier. NOT napping (ugh). Less internet searching, pointless scrolling,...

Read More...

I wrote this post a few weeks ago, and then it just sat untouched for awhile.  Thought I'd share some raw truth with ya'll tonight. I used to be a professional. A professional what? It doesn't matter. A professional. The point is that I'm no longer professional in any sense of the word. I ran into my old boss randomly today. At first...

Read More...