Stretched

This morning, I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I'm an INTROVERT, in all caps. Growing up, I mostly fought it, despised it, cursed it, but once I became an adult, out of school, not forced to embrace people all the time, I learned to be okay with who I really was, embrace it even. As an adult, I decided when and with whom, I wanted to socialize. It's been lovely all these years, completely lovely, until now that is.

God has decided that I need to learn to embrace people more, so into the fire I've been thrown, noooooo. I've argued my case with Him, to no avail I should say, so in the fire I stay. The cause, I'm the mama of two teenage girls. All you mama's out there are going to recognize this dilemma I've unwittingly fallen into, it's called teens like socializing, and it's so uncomfortable for me, which gets us right back to why God has thrown me into the fire. I don't understand the why part, but He obviously didn't agree with me that I was just fine in my own little tiny corner of the universe???  I thought it was all kinds of awesome, He thinks differently, shoot.

So, here lately I've found myself, socializing at multiple proms, having too many sleepovers to count, hosting cookouts with no less than fifteen teens, have I lost my ever-lovin' mind?, chauffeuring around teens, mine and others, to various local events, many late nights with kids and their parents at local eateries celebrating this and that, really Lord, are you kidding me???? My daughters, mercy how I love y'all, but you're killing me!

All you regular, sociable folks out there won't get this at all, but for the rest of you, this is hard! So hard, in fact that I shut down completely from the toll it takes on me mentally, which may explain why I disappear from this blog at times. Sound crazy?  It feels crazy inside my head, and the struggle is real my friends, but for whatever reason, God wants me uncomfortable right now and if I could see the big picture like He can, I'm sure I'd totally get it, but right now, little ole me is treading water struggling to keep from drowning.

So back to the title, stretched, where are you right now? Is God giving you a makeover too, stretching and pulling you in all directions? It hurts doesn't it? Believe me honey, I know how it hurts. I have to remind myself daily how it's all for something good, and it will be revealed in His time, not mine, but doggone it's hard. If you're struggling with change today, I'm right there with you sista, you are not alone.
xo,
Amy {CEO Introverts Unite}

A Piano For The Living Room

I'm still not sure what happened, it's just a blur. All I remember is that we went to our local Habitat for Humanity store hunting for some old records for the girls new record player, and, we came home with this.........

I couldn't help myself, truly I swear I couldn't. It spoke to me, I'm not kidding, this piano spoke to my heart, in the boldest of whispers {it was 50% off!}, and the next thing I remember, my husband was loading this divine instrument onto our trailer. I feel that I should surely apologize to you all. All that talk around here of slow and intentional living, I threw caution to the wind! What else could I have done? It was speaking to me y'all!

I couldn't be happier, giddy actually. Isn't she the most beautiful thing you've ever laid eyes on? I wouldn't fault you a bit if you were having piano envy right now.  Even deer looks thrilled doesn't he? Our youngest daughter is smitten. She had already taught herself to play a few songs on our keyboard, and now she's raring to take lessons from a friend of ours in town. She's always been drawn to the piano, and now she can fly!

Even though it's sadly out of tune {it has to acclimate before tuning, who knew?}, her playing has brought life to this old house, the whole house comes alive, my heart comes alive. I feel that I'm finally home. Who knew that our little house was longing for music so? I sure didn't.
xo,
Amy


Linking At:  Cozy Little House   Cupcakes And Crinoline   Tatertots And Jello   Thoughts From Alice   Savvy Southern Style

A Game Changer

I have been realizing for a while, that I needed to freshen up my parenting skills. I'm not ashamed to say, that I've been running into a few walls lately. With two teenage girls, it became very clear that I was going to have to up my parenting game. The same techniques that had worked with our oldest child, were not working for our girls. I knew that something had to change and it had to change fast.

I found myself on the 'Focus On The Family' website and began listening to a podcast featuring Dr. Leman. I knew that his techniques would be a good fit for our family and would, if not totally solve our issues, would certainly go a long way in helping. 

By reading the title, you come away with the impression that your child is going to change in a few days, nope, it's you  that's going to change. In order for my child to respond to me differently, I have to parent differently. 

It's not easy, at all,  I'm telling you, it's hard to change bad habits, especially when you parent the way you do often times because that's how you were parented as a child. But let me tell you, it's the greatest feeling in the world to know that you can  change and can  do a better job being a parent to your children. Our children deserve the very best we can give them and sometimes that means doing the hard.

This book is awesome and is changing the way my husband and I parent our children. We've seen changes in our family just in the first two weeks of implementing Dr. Leman's advice. I highly recommend this book!

{these views are all mine and I do not receive any compensation for writing this post}

A Camping We Will Go

We spent this past weekend camping atop a breathtaking mountain. We enjoyed coffee in the morning and  in the afternoon, what a treat. Mornings were cold and afternoons were cool and breezy.

I cannot tell you how much I'm enjoying camping, I'm positively giddy every time we head out. I'm kicking myself for not realizing the value of camping way sooner. In a world that overloads our senses daily, blurs the importance of relationships, we must make unplugging a priority. 

We have two teen daughters that are not nearly as on board with the whole experience as I'd like, but I know without any doubts, that being unplugged,  and being reminded of the simple joys and pleasures is the best we can give our children. Being surrounded by nature, connecting with family, being aware of the real,  that's what it's all about. I only wish that we would have started camping years ago. 

I looked out the window of the camper Saturday evening, and saw my husband and Matthew huddled around the campfire talking and laughing, and I was overcome with joy and a sense of contentment. That's the beauty of camping, it's filled with so many little moments of restoration. Living in this fallen world takes so much from us, camping refills the soul.

Linking At:

Thoughts From Alice   My Pinterventures

When The Unthinkable Happens

All of our lives have their ups and downs. It's just the way it goes and we expect it to be that way. But sometimes, events happen that are way beyond what we've come to expect as normal. Events too huge to even comprehend. 

Last week, in our little community, a tragedy. Innocent lives were lost and innocent folks were injured. It never sits well when life shifts so violently and unexpectedly. It's just un-natural. It shook our whole community to it's core. Small town living has it's advantages and one of those is low crime rates, but even small towns aren't completely immune to violence. 

I began thinking of one of the times that our pastor had said that a life shaking event is not necessarily about the main players. Sometimes, it may have very little to do with them at all. A tragedy can be a catalyst, changing many people's paths. It does sound really cruel, but I believe it might just be a part of God's bigger plan. Something so massive, we couldn't possibly understand. A ripple effect.

I have always despised being in pictures. I grew up around women that spent their whole life saying, "oh honey, I hope you're not getting me in that picture". Maybe that colored my view a little, paired with the fact that I'm not the 'perfect weight' I wish I was, and that has kept me behind the camera way more than in front. Beyond ridiculous, I know.  

I couldn't help but notice that one of the folks that lost their life last week in our little town, had so many precious photos of her and her sweet daughters. Slam........... hit me hard, right in the face. Tragedies happen, life can end unexpectedly, and I have so few moments captured with my kids, so much time has passed and opportunities have been missed, all because of my ridiculousness.

So last week, my girls and I went for a couple of days to see 'Wicked' in Atlanta. Totally awesome by the way, but as we finished loading our luggage into the car at checkout, I went and sat in the car ready to go. The girls were behind the car doing what girls do best, photographing each other and the gorgeous scenery of the city. As I was sitting there, it hit me, what the heck am I doing sitting here in the car, duh, right? I jumped out, warp speed and got in the pictures. 

Life is short and we don't get re-dos. Life can end in a moment, do we like what we're leaving behind? What would our kids have at that moment that we were suddenly gone? 

So you may have guessed it, I'm changing my legacy one photo at a time.

Linking At:

Cozy Little House  A Stroll Thru Life  Home Remedies Rx  Just A Girl And Her Blog  Savvy Southern Style  Living Well Spending Less

Two Girls And A Dance {happy valentine's day y'all}

These two keep me on my toes. Our oldest daughter has been looking forward to a local homeschool Valentine's Dance for weeks now, and our younger daughter showed NO interest........ that is until the dance was two days  away y'all. Sooooooo, two Goodwill stores later, where she, no lie, tried on thirty dresses, and one discount store later where she tried on another five dresses.......... score! 

This took the whole  day and resulted in no less than two meltdowns from our youngest. By the last store even Matthew was pulling dresses off the rack, exclaiming "how 'bout this one?", yes, he was getting desperate. But, on the bright side, I now have a pretty good idea of the kind of girl he'll court one day, she'll be wearing heaps of pink, with tons of fluffy and sequins. Picture Rhianna at the Grammy's.

But alas, it was all worth it to see these two heading off to the dance together- I've heard that there will be a chocolate fountain, so I'm not completely convinced there's going to be all that much dancing. 

Living with these two is like living with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, always singing y'all- always. I am blessed.

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! May this post find you showered in love!