Very Sleepy Girl: 2016

In the Midst

December 12, 2016

Boy, I feel like I am in the midst of the craziest, busiest few weeks of the year right now! My all important calendar/scheduler/life notebook is jam packed with things to do and events to remember. There are three people's schedules to keep track of, and it's overwhelming at times for me. Josh's choirs have had over a half dozen performances, with more...

On Rest and the Wrestle

December 04, 2016

Don't ya just hate it when your body thought it was nap time when it was actually supposed to be bed time? And after 2 oh-so-brief hours of sleep, it is WIDE AWAKE. So you spend the time resting. Or trying to rest. And you spend time praying and wrestling with God. But your brain keeps thinking. Of ideas and To Do lists....

TV

Why We Need the Gilmore Girls Revival

November 23, 2016

If your newsfeed is anything like mine, you are seeing Gilmore Girls mentioned about every 12 seconds. If you have no idea who the Gilmore Girls are, maybe this post isn't for you. But if you're the other 99% of my followers, read on. I'll admit: I was quite delayed in getting on the Gilmore Girls bandwagon. The couple times I tried watching...

In a funk

October 02, 2016

Ah... Sunday night For the last few weeks I have actually loved Sunday nights. Excited for the return of the routine. Catherine is loving pre-K. And I am loving having free time for a bit while she's there. So, why am I feeling such angst tonight? I don't know. Probably a number of things. This week is going to be full of long...

home

Unexpected Part 2

September 03, 2016

It was exactly one month ago today that we first saw the house we planned to buy and move into this fall. It was beautiful. In so many ways. Well cared for. In a great neighborhood. Right next to a school. Big, beautiful shade trees. A huge living space where I could see us gathering for small group, Bible studies, hosting Mom's Night...

home

Unexpected

August 18, 2016

So, I'm feeling rather giddy right now... Hubs and I just announced on social media our news that we are planning to sell our house! Yellow house with the red door It's a first for us, so everything is new and exciting and overwhelming. There have been a number of things that we have lived with or ignored or put on the back...

Easy DIY Iced Coffee

August 07, 2016

Wow, where did the last month go? Hubs has been gradually adjusting to his new job. Which means C-bug and I have been gradually adjusting back to our routine. She still has a few weeks before Pre-K starts. I've been gearing up for my Mama's Group to resume next month. Being on the leadership team means involvement year round, even though the group...

When You're Not Quite Ready for a Farewell Letter

July 07, 2016

Um, Summer? Yah, you over there, Summer Break. I know it feels like you just got here and all. But, um, I'm also very aware that you're scheduled to leave soon. REALLY soon! Two weeks, which will, no doubt, fly by! In fact, this is your shortest stay with our family. And it's leaving me kind of heartbroken. I want to hold tight...

Why You Should Watch Your Child Brush Her Teeth

June 30, 2016

"Mom, I want you to watch me dribble in my throat." It didn't take me long to realize she meant "gargle." She wanted me to watch her brush her teeth tonight. Again. Even though she can do it all by herself. I sighed selfishly. I didn't want to do it. But look at what I would have missed. Who knows how much...

For When I'm Searching For a Different Life

June 25, 2016

There are times I am tired of the monotony of life around here. Times I want to move to Waco. Or times I think I can't survive another midwest winter. But then out of no where, I see a field a cows. And it makes me love Northern Indiana. Maybe it has something to do with having just spent an impromptu afternoon/evening with...

How To Summer

June 24, 2016

We are summering well around here. Other than a broken grill. Womp, womp. Catherine took swimming lessons and did amazingly well! (no, riding the frog was NOT part of her swimming lessons.) She's completing her second round of Vacation Bible School at a local church. I love getting to enroll her in these summer programs! She also just started soccer. It's so fun...

rant

When You Get a Tiny Water Instead of Prius

June 22, 2016

I hate car shopping. There. I said it. With a 4 year old soaking up everything I say (Seriously! Last month I overheard her repeatedly tell another customer at a restaurant, "My mommy likes milkshakes, but they make her sick." because I had mentioned it to someone a few days prior), I try to avoid using the word "hate", and instead usually say,...

A Letter to my Scared Self

June 08, 2016

Dear Self, You can do this. You can do hard things. You were made to do great things. Don't run away from this. Just because it's new.Just because it's scary. Just because you think you can't do it. You have gifts. You have talents. You have knowledge. You have passions. All these things combine to prepare you. You are ready. Don't take the...

To the Working Mama

May 25, 2016

It is a battle that doesn't end. It is a battle with no winner. This tight-rope walk way up in the air. Precariously balancing mothering and working. I see the woman excusing herself from a work meeting to deal with a call from her kids’ school. And she wonders how she can pick up her sick child when she is in the middle...

Microwave Baked Oatmeal

May 21, 2016

This evening I had oatmeal for dinner. I was in pajamas by 8. And I saw two random cats in our backyard. TWO! They're coming for me... I'm destined to become a crazy cat lady!! But until that happens I thought I'd share a quickie recipe with ya'll. If you know me at all, you know that cooking is NOT my thing. NOT...

Dreams

May 11, 2016

This girl... This girl whom I love so immeasurably and who also challenges me so unbelievably... This girl and I were talking this morning after she made a lot of bad choices (because when she does something she commits to it with whole-hearted passion) about how she's growing up and learning more now that she's 4 1/2 (Hello, Half Birthday! Do we...

That One Time I Was Sick

May 10, 2016

A couple weeks ago I started noticing this annoying, persistent cough. I didn't mention much of it, but I just had a feeling it was more than "just a cough." I just knew. But who wants to talk about being sick? Who wants to hear about others being sick? Well, I am sick of being sick! Last week I was diagnosed with pneumonia....

On Cats and Voting

May 03, 2016

Cats and voting. What do they have in common??? Good question. A couple weeks ago I was attending a parade that turned out to be full of political candidates. They and their people were walking along both sides of the street greeting folks, shaking hands, passing out candy, flyers, water bottles, and photos. This man who appeared to be a bit socially awkward...

Surprised By God

April 22, 2016

People often go to church, thinking that's where they'll find God. But often times God shows up where and when we least expect it. At my weekly Moms Group we share "Selah moments" - taking the time to pause and reflect and see and share how God has shown up. I was so excited to share last week about this . . ....

Spring Break, 2016 Edition

April 15, 2016

I can't even tell you the number of times I have opened my laptop, opened up a new tab (in addition to the about 144 already open) to this blog, and tried to write. There are so many things that stop me. Fill in the blank with a number of excuses... I don't have enough time. I don't have enough to say. I...

The blog post I didn't plan to write

March 22, 2016

I've attempted multiple blog posts in the last few days. But things have just been off. The timing. Availability. Computer and photo issues. Inspiration. And this blog post I didn't plan to write. But sometimes the feelings are too great to keep inside. The thoughts and the pain have to come out. And, for now anyways, this is where they land. It's just...

God

Lessons Learned When My Husband Goes Out of Town

March 08, 2016

As a teacher, my husband doesn't do a TON of out of town travel for work, but in the last month or so, he's been gone twice for conferences. I shared the other day about what I did while he was gone for the first trip. Leading up to the second trip, I was completely stressed. I don't know why. Maybe because he'd...