My sister has had a glorious January. She welcomed her first grandchild AND her youngest daughter got engaged (in Paris!) She will be the very sweetest and loving grandma. She has always been a kid whisperer. She has another baby boy coming in April! God is so good!
I read a wonderful book this week. The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner. Now I have to read more of his work. I love the way his words flow. Amazing.
My other sister is coming today! I'll pick her up at the airport this morning, we'll do the rounds visiting and then we'll head up to Boulder for lunch. Yay! Lots of gabbing!
Next week I am flying up to Washington to see my mom and brothers (my youngest sis, the new granny, will pick me up at the airport!)
Oh, real quick: I was reading one of my Christmas gift books (it was on my wish list, so I DID pick it apparently) about homemaking. I won't mention the title because that might be mean, but it is a compilation of blog posts from I blog I haven't read. Anyway, I found it so simplistic and a tad preachy regarding cleaning and keeping a home. Well, it helped me to appreciate the way I have come a long way from my early-wife days of reading home keeping books and trying so hard to be an amazing cleaner and housekeeper (and really NEVER achieving this). I'm glad I feel more compelled to tend to my soul now. I'm developmentally (😃) over that "task-y" tendency. YAY! Do you remember those days of piles of laundry, messy kitchens, towels on the bathroom floor, and overwhelming messes? If you are still in the middle of all that, take heart. It doesn't last forever.
I guess I don't need to read the home making helpful books anymore. I guess I grew. 😍
22 comments:
so many nice things and family you are seeing! what a blessing! Yes, caring for the soul, that first... the F. B. book sounds interesting! I need to read the one I finally have on this author by Dale Brown... Have a wonderful rest of your week and safe travels!
Have fun with your sister and your family next week! Nice baby! :)
I'll pass along your advice on housecleaning to my dear daughter who is deeply ensconced in the "messy" period of life. We just try to keep things livable and she is doing a great job of decluttering and getting rid of excess kids' clothes and toys. But she doesn't stress over it not being perfect. I admire her for that!
Have a nice lunch in Boulder!
I think of me at that age. I am afraid I had a terrible to do list. Now I look back and shudder, and wish I hadn't spent so much time on the outside of me and spent more time on the inside. But it balances out.
I have shelves of books like the one you described. I haven't given them to my girls because I don't want them to be like I was then.
I like my house much better now. I like comfortable. You should write a book. With all of your lovely pictures. I love your new yarn store.
Someone came over and wanted to know why I didn't decorate. I thought to myself, I thought I had decorated. :)
Now I feel weird about it and I am trying to get back to my nice ole comfortable self. I think that picture is so sweet of your youngest sister and her new grandbaby. What a nice time of life. Have a lovely day with your sister.
There's so much more to life than housework...thank goodness!! I love a clean house but hate cleaning...LOL so I try to find that middle ground. Brand new babies with that sweet smell and softness...nothing better. Get lots of cuddling when you go home to visit. Blessings to you, xoxo, Susie
You crack me up, Karen! "I guess I grew" is a good way to see the "how to" book on keeping the perfect home. Home comes from the heart after all, doesn't it? I like things tidy, but well lived in.
Congrats on the new family members. How wonderful that you are all going to be getting together. Time flies so quickly. 21 Great Grands is AMAZING! Your mom is SO blessed, and so are you!
Pine cones are lovely; I love hunting and gathering them when out on a walk. Being engaged in Paris, the city of love, how beautiful. Oh I think everybody has those messy disorderly house days. Enjoy your trip with your family.
I was for a time obsessed with clearing and tidying but now have moved on to think a home is more homely when it looks messy and lived in, wet towels and dirty dishes are a reassuring sign that I am needed, the odd spring clean these days is a refreshing little indulgence rather than some thing that gets in the way of doing more important stuff, that's my view! ..have a wonderful time with your family.
I do appreciate your thoughts about those (long ago) "task-driven" days as young wives/mothers, and esp. as Christian ones. There was such a fervor to be the best you could be, and we chided ourselves for not being inclined to tasks that simply were NOT in our natural tool box. Like you, I'm so glad to have matured past those days, and not be whipped into action anymore, haha. It is good to attend to the soul, and even though I am still by nature a "do-er," I try to do things that nurture my soul, and don't stress me out. Good thoughts, Pom. The new baby is a sweetie pie.
The little baby boy looks adorable. Wow, that's a lot of grandkids....
Have a wonderful time visiting with your sister. It's been a while since I visited with my sisters.
My house also gets messy at time, especially when I'm too tired to tidy up. I'm not as strict with my house tidiness as I once was. After a while, it doesn't matter.
I absolutely love making jigsaw puzzles. It has become one of our post-Christmas traditions to wind down.
Take care and stay well.
Hugs, Julia
What fun you'll have being together with the various members of your family. I hope the weather isn't too awfully wet and dreary when you come to Washington.
The book by Frederick Buechner sounds interesting. If the words flow then it's probably easy to read. I'm reading an excellent book by John Eldredge called The Utter Relief of Holiness. I saw it while browsing at the library and took a chance on it. I'm so glad I did.
Take care, GM
Congratulations to your sister for the new baby and the one coming. It sounds like you will be having fun with your visiting and trip coming up. Good for you.
Hope you have a great week. xo Diana
You have the most beautiful babies in your family! You really do! I love the picture of your sister and the baby. I appreciate your thoughts on housekeeping. Looking back, how did we do it!! Because my mother did it, I felt like everything had to be done every day! Furniture dusted, bathrooms cleaned, floors mopped...Today I keep a tidy house, but I clean when something really needs cleaning! I'm happier too! Love your blog!!
Oh sweet grandbabies. Congratulations to your sister! Wow 21 greats...that's quite a legacy! Good for you for setting that advice aside and knowing how far you've come. Yippee for a trip to Washington for family time. Hope you have some sun filled days while you are here.
Congratulations on your expanding extended family! A wedding in the offing, too! Three cheers! And that yard is beautiful -- every single skein. Can't wait to see what you make from whatever you brought. Safe travels!
Lovely photographs you've shared.
Many congratulations on your expanding family ... just lovely.
Take care, my good wishes
All the best Jan
Oh those yarns colors area fabulous. Enjoy visiting with your sister. Congratulations on your growing family. : )
Oh a trip! That will be fun. We were supposed to leave today for a trip to Disneyland but we cancelled with all the construction going on. We will go in Sept instead. Have a great time! :) Kit
Lots of exciting family stuff! Congrats to your sister on her new grandbaby and the one to come! Have fun with all your family visiting. That book looks good. Went and read a bit on Amazon. Have a good week, Pom!
However you do it, your home is obviously well tended and loved, not neglected in any way that prevents it from being the warmest, most comfortable and hospitable place.
Congratulations on all the new grandbabies. Your Mom is certainly blessed with having 21. Looks like you will have some happy knitting with that new yarn. Nancy
There are some scrumptious colors of yarn in this post! Looks like life is good, and full, and blessed. Beautiful to read about. Enjoy your love month, dear friend. Come to think of it, they are all love months if you approach them that way!
Babies are such sweethearts. Making our lives so much better. I Love your words here and the photo shares. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a HPS to you!
I love to read so your book intrigued me. I will have to check it out. Thank you for sharing that too.
HUGS
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