2008 December | chatting at the sky

sky chatting in 2008

December 31, 2008

Yesterday I talked about how I’m not going to be all sentimental and look back over 2008. But I’m alone on New Years Eve so what else am I supposed to do?! Here are a few highlights from Chatting at the Sky 2008. Click to enjoy.

Things Babysitters Wish We Knew
a four part series

Portrait of a Kitchen
our old house, sweet Sophie Marie

An Unlikely Voice
how my alcoholic Grandfather inspired courage in me

Senior Photos: Take Two
a glimpse into my love of photography

Chatting at the Sky
my purpose post

Here’s to another year of discovering the holy and the humorous in the midst of everyday life.

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what is tuesdays unwrapped?

December 30, 2008

Celebrating the small things does not come natural to me. Most of the time, I am in survival mode, thankful to make it to bedtime. That is why I so love this project. For these moments, in this place, I slow down. If only for a few minutes, we have permission to take the time to unwrap the small, secret gift of the everyday. I’ve set aside Tuesdays to share a moment that may have otherwise disappeared under the pile of daily tasks. Instead, stop. Notice. And be thankful.

What should I write in my post?

Anything that causes you to pause and celebrate the moment. Not what will be or what is to come, but what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected. Share a photo, a story, or anything that offers a glimpse into your own journey of discovering the gifts in the midst of the ordinary.

Can anyone join?

Ooooof course. Anytime. Anyone. You don’t even have to have a blog. Just unwrap that Tuesday gift right there in the comments. But if you do have a blog, link up in the Mister Linky by putting your name and then the permalink to your Unwrapped post. Then link back to Chatting at the Sky so your readers will be able to read/join as well, if they would like.

What is a permalink?

A permalink is the URL to a specific blog post. In other words, each blog post has an address and the permalink is the street number and the avenue. For example, my blog address is www.chattingatthesky.com. But the permalink to this post is chattingatthesky.com/2009/12/30/tuesdays-unwrapped-4/ To get the permalink, I simply clicked on the post title and it popped up in the address bar.

Why was my link deleted?

Probably because you linked to your blog rather than the permalink of your post. Sometimes people like to browse through your Tuesday Unwrapped posts from my site days or weeks after you’ve posted them. If you simply link to your blog front page, they will not be able to find your Unwrapped post. Unless you use the permalink, your link will be deleted out of courtesy to the reader.

I look forward to celebrating the messy, lovely and unexpected with you.

Filed Under Tuesdays Unwrapped

new

December 30, 2008

There is a week between Christmas and the new year for the following reason: to give us time to clear the house of all things Christmas and prepare for spring. Right? Am I the only one who is ready for warm weather by December 26th? I am practically pulling out the spring clothes. Except for the fact that I never put them away because I am just not that organized. What good is winter without Christmas?

So I do things like this. I put shells in a jar with the starfish that was living in my Christmas garland just yesterday. And I display it as a reminder of good things to come.
Each December I panic at least once, worried that I’m not savoring the season completely enough. I anticipate the after-Christmas-letdown. I think that is a left-over fear from childhood. Because as an adult, I love after-Christmas. I love taking down the decorations and clearing out the extra stuff. I love the fresh and the new that comes with January. I always forget how ready I am for the future by the time it arrives.
Generally at years end, I look back and reflect and pour over sentiment of what the past year has held. But this time I am ready for 2009 and what it will bring. I am looking forward with excitement and anticipation. I’m throwing open the blinds and letting the sunlight of a new day pour in around me. There are things on the horizon of this new year only beginning to dawn in my heart. I look forward to sharing them with you.