An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace

Above is the title to a book that has just blown me away.  The book is written by Kristin Armstong (the former Mrs. Lance Armstrong).  I have been following Kristin for years on her Blog that she writes for Runners World on-line.  She is a woman of great faith and she has a way of writing that just speaks to me.  I wanted to share a really moving page from her book
"Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace".

The test will come.  These are the regular days we come before God in the morning, with our bed head hair, our pj's, our cup of coffee, our Bible and our fears.

Everyone wakes up without a clue on the morning of the day it comes.  Whether or not we rise to meet the challenge will be determined on how seriously we have taken our preparation and our training up to this point.

Fitness in all areas require diligence.  We can't put off exercising and wonder why we can no longer play with our children or simple activities, without becoming breathless and tired.

We can't replace books with TV and wonder why we feel so intellectually flat and inadequate when we are suddenly called to rise to an occasion or we are invited to a dinner party with interesting guests. 

We can't say we are too busy to nourish and cultivate our friendships and then wonder why we are alone in our time of need. 

We can't put our spouse's needs last and wonder why our marriages are failing.

We can't put our own needs consistently in last place and then marvel at our nervous breakdown.

We can't say that we will pursue a spiritual path when "things slow down" and then later wonder why a crisis leaves us utterly broken.

THINGS WE CARRY MUST BE MAINTAINED.

wow....aren't those words so true and powerful!  I hope to be the kind of woman who maintains all the areas of my life as best I can so when the day comes I know I am as prepared as I could be.

Sometimes we have to be reminded to give time and attention to the things that will carry us in hard times before those hard times hit. 

Kristin is an amazing author and she is so inspiring.  Her bog on Runners World is at http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/.

Today is absolutely BEEEUUUTIFUL!! The wind has died down. the humidity..low and the sun is shining.  It's one of those days I dream of laying in a hammock, with a book and a sonic sweet tea.  hmmm....BUT I will have to settle for a night at the ballfield watching my baby girl play softball.  I will take it.  I am enjoying this time of year so much with all of the kids sports.  The entire family usually makes the games and then we try and go eat afterwards...it's something I look forward to all week.  I will tell you one thing, I completely get how families eat out 4 nights a week.  We are not home but 2 nights a week and trying to figure out a way to eat at home and eat healthy is just as fun as it can be.  Maybe just 2 nights a week we can eat out...that's not too bad is it????

Big step...

Ok..the day is here. I have listed my first piece on ETSY today!

                                                                          image from freecodesource.com

I only have a few things ready to go but I wanted to go ahead and put something on the site.  I have a lot of things in the works.  Here are pics of 2 of the items I will have on by tonight. 

The piece below would be super cute in a little girls room or even in a hutch! 

 

I also have this Halloween one and I ended up displaying it on an iron plate holder in my kitchen. It sits on my counter and really just adds a fun whimsy flair to the Halloween decor. 

Having an Etsy store has always been one of those goals that seemed too far reaching.   My art and projects are ever evolving so I am trying to find my niche.  I am a work in progress but as the saying goes, I can't get anywhere unless I begin the journey. 

So cheers to beginnings!
You can find my shop at

jenniferwright77.etsy.com.

xxoo.

Artist Pages

For all of you creatives out there. I have to share something that I have found to be Amazeballs!! 
Over years and years of perusing wonderful blogs I have often found other brilliant artist and bloggers refer to "The Artist's Way,  A spiritual path to higher creativity" by Julia Cameron. 

 

Run...to get a copy...Run I tell you....  It has been life changing in the creative sense.  I have not even finished the book yet but let me tell you a little bit about one of the exercises that has really worked for me. 


She calls them the Artist Pages. 


She asks that you get a plain spiral notebook and write 3 pages. 3 pages of freestyle, anything goes material once a day.  Her idea is that when you begin your day this way, the mind clutter will begin to unfold and it will free your mind and allow you to focus on the things you should be focusing on.  We tend to let the noise of our lives cloud our creativity as well as our objectivity.


I have to admit 3 pages doesn't seem like a lot until you try to think of things to write everyday.  However, I am realizing that my mind is so much clearer when I'm done.  I think we all hold little things in our minds that stress us out and we don't even know it.  Whether it's jotting things down, random questions you need answers to, things you need to fix in the house or appointments you need to make for the kids.  Writing all of these things down really helps so much. 

I also do this with my prayer journals.  Writing all the concerns down in the morning really helps me focus my day on the right things. 


I just love to journal period.  Art Journaling is huge for me, but I'll save that for another post.  :)


Hope everyone has a great day!

Right now

A few of my favorite things right now.....

Having all of my art supplies and scrapbooking stuff out and not having to put them up for a house showing.  Knowing I can hop on over to my dining room table  art room and create any time I can squeeze in.

Just doing it...scared to do art and start and Etsy store but doing it anyway...scared to blog and wondering if anyone even cares but taking the time and doing it anyway...for me.  I've been thinking of those things for years.  I have notebooks and notebooks of ideas that have always been just that....thoughts.  I am at least setting the motion forward now.  Feels good.

Loving working out again. Getting through a really hard workout and that feeling of major accomplishment on my drive home.  It's just the best feeling.

Love the new series Heartland....my daughter tipped me off.  Love quality TV, hard to find these days

I am loving Pinterest but who isn't right?!?!  I am addicted.  I have at least 10 binders full of subjects and page dividers full of magazine pictures and articles that I have collected over the last 15 years.  That is my thing...tear out a page...slip in in a page protector and file it away, in it's appropriate category of course and have inspirtation at an arms link away anytime I want.  NOW  Pinterest has changed everything!!  A virtual like, love, I can wear that, I can make that, I want to visit there, I want my kitchen to look like this, I have to cook that right now...BOARD  right there on the puter....sigh. 
I heart this entire concept. 

www.pinterest.com

I am loving my new Flip camera. Yes I know it has been out forever but oh my heck..I had no idea.  I luuuuv being able to whip  that puppy out of my purse at any given moment and the kids LOVE it too.  wink wink.

I am loving, looking at my Uggs in the closet and knowing those babies are about to be back on my feet, the leaves falling, all of my shows season premeirs, crock pot soups, my new camera strap, cute socks that sit right above my boots, and that I have a new Anthro store opening up 10 minutes from my house.  Dangerous stuff right there. Oh and pumpkin spice lattes of course.  My new Beth Moore bible study on the book of John.  If you have never taken a Beth Moore study, you must. She is phenominal.

A day of rest

Today Sydney didn’t feel well so we had an unexpected day at home.  My Mom came and got Trevor for a few hours and Sydney truly lit up just to have some alone time with me.  She kept repeating that she loved me and then she would say “I love just being with you Mommy, by ourselves.” 

Truly precious and it really makes you realize that your kids need that individual attention.  I’ve read so many brilliant ideas to connect with your kids.  They all sound wonderful….ya know the one where each parent takes one child on a date once a month.  Also, once a month one family member gets to pick out something special to do.  I need to make an effort to actually DO all of these traditions that swarm in my head. 

Those moments are definitely what the kids remember and hold on to.  Somehow life tends to take over and all of a sudden year after year you haven't started any new traditions.  Boo hiss...... 

The kids are off of school tomorrow.  Errands, grocery shopping, maybe Halloween Costume shopping.   Halloweentown will be here before we know it. 

Have a blessed week everyone!

the lake

Sundays during summer are reserved for the lake and they have been for 3 years now. 

 I love it. 

 I am definitely someone who belongs in the water, near the water, staring at the water, smelling the water, playing in the water.  I feel at home near water like no where else. 

The kids love to spend these days with their Aunt, Uncle & cousin and of course Mimi & Papa 

There are no words to express how blessed I feel that we get to make these precious memories for them...for us. 

These sundays will forever be impressioned in my mind.

The way the sun hits our muddy lake and casts a multi-blue (Mexico) look to the lake,

the marina,

eating lunch at the marina,

 the smell of sunscreen,

some ice cold drinks with a twist of fresh limes, watermelon,

football, music blaring,

kids laughing. 

It's all priceless. 

 I feel so blessed that we get to do this every weekend.

Busy Summer Days

Shouldn't my title be lazy summer days? HA! Actually this is how I like it. Sydney began horse riding lessons last week and I am so proud for her! This girl put on her new pink cowboy boots and got up on that horse and took control...all 45 lbs. of her! She had a ball!

We have spent the days doing lessons, swimming, seeing friends or boating!

I have actually been organizing pictures and finished two scrapbook pages!! It is so hard to find the time to scrapbook but I love that I can get my creativity out and also record "us"!!

Syd is taking to scrapbooking also!! She has 3 that she has going all at the same time! I'm glad she got the creative bug from me!

Summer has been great so far and I am so enjoying being with the kids and having the free time to do whatever we want!

I had to post a picture from two summers ago at the Riviera Maya...what I wouldn't give to be there right now!!!

The Sports Craze Begins....

Trevor had his very first soccer practice this week and I thought to myself.....there will be no turning back now!! He loves to be active and to meet new friends!! He has the BIGGEST smile the entire time and I feel good knowing he's getting all of that energy out!!!! He is also going to be starting swimming in two weeks and baseball in two weeks as well!!! WOW!! I have looked forward to watching him in sports since the Dr. said "It's a Boy"!! Here we are....can't wait!

One big change in our house is that Sydney is taking a break from Cheerleading :(...Cheer has been a big part of our lives for the past two years. 4-6 hour weekly practices and weekends full of competition. I love the PS family and the entire organization. PS was a very positive experience and I'm so glad she excelled at it and enjoyed it. Syd wants to try some other things and I can't say that I blame her. She is so small and I will never have these years back....these are the sweet years and it might be selfish to say but I want her home with me and not at practices all week....there are many years ahead for that!! She is going to start horseback lessons and swimming in the next few weeks so I can't wait to see her experience something she's been begging to do since she could say "horse". All of these other extracurriculars aren't near as time consuming but she will have a blast all the same.

Summertime is here!!!

AHHHH!!! 4 more days of school for the kiddos!! Always bittersweet for me!! I do like a schedule and I always miss all of the school activities! I always find it challenging to find things for Trevor Sydney and Em to do all summer. Fighting has also become an issue as they get older....how do people deal with this...send me the ear plug brand asap!

I am excited for sleeping in and not having to rush out anywhere....ready for swimming, watermelon, movie nights, sunscreen, grilling out, boat, tubing, fishing, scrapbooking (I think I am up to Thanksgiving 2007), lots of friends over and just relaxing!!!

Todd and I had date night last night and went downtown for dinner!! We sat on the patio listened to live music and had the BEST time!!!!!! It was long overdue! We absolutely love downtown McKinney.....I go down there any chance I get!!!

Spring Break

Well it's going to be a "get-r-done" Spring Break for the Wright Clan...Todd took off 4 whole days to spend time with us..which is such a treat. While Todd takes the kids to do this and that I have been ridding out and organizing each room!! Oh how behind I have gotten! I must say it was very sad to clean out Sydney's room this time. We have or had two shelves in her hutch devoted to her "newborn" items such as sonogram pics, baby gifts, shoes, cups etc...I decided being that she is about to turn 7 that we should probably pack these things away...I didn't pack them ALL away though. She still has one shelf with some things I couldn't bare to put away until she makes me :)

After Church today I took Syd to Sweet and Sassy and she picked a sassy pink color for her nails. They put cute little flowers on her nails and she just loved it...they have already rubbed off however...hmmm I'll have to learn to do that flower painting myself! She also had a hair cut with their signature glitter! She loved it..and it was a fun afternoon for us..those are pretty rare these days. I can tell she craves those days where little Trevor isn't around and she gets Mom's full attention. We will have to work on that.

It's been a long time

Oh how I knew I would be that kind of blogger! The holidays came and went and now we are in March!! Today is Monday and we have spent a quiet day at home. I am trying to keep up with my studying while entertaining the kids. Trevor and Emilee have been playing outside A LOT!! Thank the Lord for this nice March weather! Sydney is about to get home from school..and then we are off for Cheerleading! I don't have anything exciting to Blog about today...i just wanted to Blog something..I will hopefully be back this week! Tomorrow is Dad's 59th birthday and we will be "partying" here! Got lots to do!

Thanksgiving

I have already been terrible at blogging!! Shocker!!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful one!! We spent the day cooking and headed over to Traci's about 2:00 for dinner. So many good things to eat...and we got so full. The Cowboy's won which was a bonus!! Afterward's we did our first ornament exchange!! I made ornament scrapbooks for the 3 that I drew...Trac, Syd and Dad. Mom and Dad gave us our annual swarofski snowflake which is just beautiful!!

Today we put the tree up and it is beautiful! The entire house looks like we are moving...there are so many Christmas boxes scattered everywhere! I will slowly tackle all of it this weekend. Syd is at Aidan's playing and Trevor is asleep so it's nice and quiet.

This month..has been busy and I have a few pics from Spirit Celebration which was Sydney's second competition. Green Stars took First Place AGAIN!!!! YEEAA!! Syd also won the Spirit Stick..aka Most Valuable Cheerleader at practice!! GO SYD!!
Trevor had his precious hair all cut off :(....it will grow again.

Trevor has been sick most of the month...Friday ended with a second trip to the Dr. A third round of anitbiotics and a ruptured ear drum...poor baby.

A day of play....

Being that Todd was gone all weekend...we decided to just spend Sunday playing around and taking Ali Edwards challenge to photograph the day...all the details no one but us will care about but still worth recording. After all, these are the things we will remember. Like Trevor and how he drinks 6 cups of milk a day (Dr. I don't know why he won't eat???)

And then there's the Macaroni and Cheese he eats almost every day...(I can't believe I am one of those moms)!!!

I've also succumb to driving him around EVERYDAY so he will take a nap...Todd says his naps cost us $100 a month...small price for sanity..I must say.

Isn't he sweet though!!

Syd and him played all day and he even shared his food with me...or at least I tried...

Night Night!!!!

First Blog

OK this is my new goal....blog our family life. I am so into scrapbooking and recording the everyday moments...however, unlike scrapbooking I hope to stay in the current year with blogging. YESTERDAY was HALLOWEEN!! We had a great time...Trevor and Sydney were Vampires!! We all went to Traci and John's to Trick or Treat with Emilee the Zebra! We ate pizza and hit the neighborhood at 6:00 sharp!! The kids had a blast! We then went by a friends house for a cocktail and Trevor fell asleep on my lap!! Worn out!

TODAY..Todd is at the Deer Lease for opening weekend....so...the kids and I attended Concordia's (a.k.a Trev's school's) Fall Festival. They loved the bouncy house and petting zoo! The lovely November heat won and we were out of there in an hour!!

My first Blog

Ok this is a test...of the blogger challenged..I may even go crazy and add a picture!!

Today we had Trevor and Emilee's Fall Festival. We only lasted an hour in the lovely 80 degree Texas heat!! They loved the bouncy house and petting zoo...all the usual festival fun!! The kids and I had a great day post Halloween. Todd is at the deer lease with my parents so we are faring alone here!! We watched movies, played ball and ate pizza for the third night in a row! Mom of the Year Award goes to........

Brand New to Blogging