2008 December | chatting at the sky

clean house secrets revealed

December 16, 2008

The toy clutter is out of control. Like vines on brick, the Polly’s and the dollies and the little matchbox cars are taking over my world one room at a time. And it has stressed me out to no end.

Until now. I have found the secret to a clean house. Wanna know what it is?

Someone please tell me why I haven’t let this be okay before? It is genius, I tell you. And it is, quite simply, the best I can do. Gone are the days of putting toys where they belong. Just throw them in the middle and vacuum around them. I don’t know how long uptight Emily is going to allow this to continue, but for now I am going to enjoy my new-found freedom. Merry Christmas to me.

Filed Under a mess, a mother 63 Comments

come on-a my house

December 14, 2008

BooMama is having her annual Christmas Tour of Homes AND Julia at Hooked on Houses is having one, too. And as if that weren’t enough, sweet Kimba is hosting an open house and its all just so much fun! I really really want to play. Is it okay to go to three parties at once? I’m thinking yes.

I’ve already shown my mantle, but here is a peek at some other little corners of the house. If this is your first time here, I offer you a heartfelt welcome. If you are a regular reader, here is your chance to nose around my new old house a little bit more. Come on in!
I bought the white thing at a yard sale and attached it in true Nester fashion. (she is my fabulously talented big sister. Aren’t I lucky?) Then, I crammed it full of clippings from our yard. Cheaper than a wreath.

Our entryway.

A close up.

A closer up.

In case you missed it last week, here is a photo of the longest garland ever.

and here it is with fire.

I realized this year after 8 years of marriage, I have very few sentimental ornaments for our tree. Unless I can include how excited I was when I found these at Target’s after-Christmas sale.
I still remember how sweet it was to see the sign: 90% off. With a quick glance over my shoulder, this pig was mine. All mine. Ahhh….memories.

That’s me, distorted face and all,
wishing you a Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

Now go check out all the other homes on the tour at BooMama’s blog…
And when you’re done with that, you can link up at Julia’s as well.
And THEN, click over to Kimba’s just for kicks and look at HER beautiful home.
Have fun and thanks for visiting!

Filed Under a house-lover 154 Comments

stuck much?

December 11, 2008

Need some perspective on that next load of laundry or the dreaded trip to the grocery store? My bloggy friend Laura linked up late to Monday’s Everyday Unwrapped post. I’m so glad she did.

Because even though I have been so encouraged by reading all the everyday moments from all of you, I have still gotten stuck in the daily drudge a time or two this week.

Her post is one of the things that helped unstick me. Here is an excerpt:

A death in the family tears you off of your feet and out of the everyday, unwilling, stunned into silence, glancing over your shoulder at what should have been as you begin walking the rut of the mourner. Gather at Mom’s house, wash dishes, murmur reassurances of eternal life through Jesus that land on unwilling ears…If only we could be grocery shopping, solving math problems at the school table, putting in the next load of laundry.

I’m almost convinced that circumstances are generally neutral. It is our perspective that causes them to be either a blessing or a curse. Hop on over to Laura’s site and read her eloquent and vulnerable account of finding life in the midst of death.

Filed Under a friend 12 Comments

garland show and tell

December 10, 2008

One of the many benefits of having the Nester for a sister is getting first dibs on all her great ideas. The most wonderful Christmas garland ever is one of her best. She has been doing her mantle this way for years so I adopted some of her tricky garland ways several Christmases ago.

I guess it’s time to find a photo to put in that frame. Maybe that will be my New Years resolution.

This is our first Christmas in our new house. I’ve been looking forward to decking this mantle out with garland galore.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. Thanks, Nester for the great ideas!
Oh. And one more thing. I can’t publish this post without showing you the truth behind the beauty: the casualties of my garland after a fire.
This is only a portion of what fell out as The Man repeatedly jostled it every time he moved the screen to poke the fire. The nerve.
And while I’m confessing things, here is our fireplace flue. I think we could market this and sell it online. Genius.

Filed Under a house-lover, a sister 65 Comments

wrapping up

December 9, 2008

What fun this has been! I have loved LOVED loved reading all of your sweet moments and memories over the past two days. What a refreshing perspective you have offered me. I have to admit it was a bit nerve racking standing at the door of this post before I hit publish: its no fun to throw a party if no one shows up.

So thank you. For showing up. Mostly, thank you for recognizing the importance of noticing smallness with me. Thank you for celebrating finding life in the little things. You have been such an encouragement to me.

If you didn’t get a chance to link yet, please continue to do so! I love reading these and cannot get enough of these kinds of posts.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting photos of my Christmas garland, as the Nester is having a little party of her own. If you have your garland up, head on over to Nesting Place in the morning and link up!

Filed Under Uncategorized 9 Comments

everyday unwrapped

December 8, 2008

I received the following email last week from my new friend, Tina. She captures the spirit of unwrapping the gift of our everyday moments beautifully. I couldn’t wait to post her words with her gracious permission:

This week has been dragging. Too much at home time, not enough planned activities; too much monster mommy, not enough being present. But then I have moments like this: where I’m in my robe, armed with coffee, sitting at the kitchen table, teaching my children that Abraham was so obedient to God that he took his son up to a mountain to sacrifice him.

I get to explain to a three and four-year-old that in the end, Isaac lives and God provides. And we glue cotton balls onto rams that I printed off the computer and hang them on our Jesse tree. And I’ve worshiped. In my robe.

It’s time to 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 by linking up below. I look forward to the celebration!

(If you missed the introduction to this linky, check out last Monday’s post.

Filed Under a girl 56 Comments

let the celebration continue

December 5, 2008

Raise your paw if you feel like the Grinch’s dog yet? Poor little guy, all weighed down with a load he was never meant to carry. I’ll admit to feeling this way more than once lately, even as I’ve purposed to notice and celebrate the small moments in the midst of my everyday.

From the looks of the marvelous, heartfelt, honest comments you have all left this week, I am not the only one who has been thinking about the struggle between celebrating what is while anticipating what’s to come during this first week of December. I hope you have been treasuring up the small everyday moments in your heart to share with all of us next week!
There will be a Mister Linky set up on Monday for you to link up to a post you have done or a new post you are working on to share with us how you are unwrapping the gift of the everyday during this season of Advent. Feel free to grab this button to include on your post. I look forward to celebrating smallness with you, even as we prepare for bigger things to come.