2009 July | chatting at the sky

charlotte

July 31, 2009

she speaks book

It’s a beautiful morning in Charlotte! Actually, it’s overcast and sprinkling, but it’s beautiful to be at She Speaks. I wish you all could be here and we could stay up too late and chat it up about writing and blogging and photography. But since most of you won’t be here, I don’t want to be all talky-talky about a conference you can’t attend. So tell me: when it’s all said and done, what would you like to know about She Speaks? Anything? Let me know and I’ll be sure to fill you in.

Filed Under a girl 18 Comments

holding on

July 28, 2009

the girls

It’s coming. That day in August that has been looming heavy at the end of my summer is coming fast and furious and there is nothing these mommy arms can do to stop it. One of the girls is in a size 2 and a half shoe now. With laces. The other one has finally learned to ride a bike without her training wheels. When I dropped them off at a friends house yesterday, they could hardly wait for me to leave so they could get down to serious playing business. They’re five. Aren’t they supposed to be 13 before they do stuff like that? One month is all that’s left between having them home and having them in kindergarten. So I’ll hold on and unwrap the moments today, but it won’t change the fact that my girls are growing up.

Do you have a life stage you are longing to hold onto? Have you noticed something lately that typically gets buried beneath the busy and the task? Link up to a post explaining how you have found a gift in the midst of the messy, the lovely or the unexpected things of life and share them here with us. To find out more about Tuesdays Unwapped, or if you don’t know how to use a permalink to add your post, simply click here.

Filed Under Uncategorized 47 Comments

you

July 27, 2009

Well. When I asked on Friday where you are all reading from, I expected a short little “Atlanta, Georgia” or whatever. But so many of you took the time to write thoughtful, encouraging words – some of you who have never commented before. I did not expect that. And I want to say thank you.

my feet

I read each one, as always, and smiled all the way. What an unexpected gift. You couldn’t know this, but your words have come at a time when this girl could use a bit of inspired courage. I should have saved that gift for Tuesday, but I just couldn’t wait. Both me and my big self are grateful for you. Come back tomorrow and unwrap your Tuesday gift with us. As always, I look so forward to reading them.

Filed Under a girl 4 Comments

where in the world are you?

July 24, 2009

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I’d love to hear where some of you are reading from. But sometimes I forget that not everyone knows stuff about blogs. Maybe some of you fabulous people are new to reading blogs, or have come here for the first time. I want to take a minute to say welcome and I hope you will feel graciousness in this place.

Maybe you want to find some other fabulous blogs on a variety of topics but aren’t sure where to look. I’ve listed a portion of some of my favorite reads on the links page. You can get there by clicking ‘links’ at the top of this page.

If you would like to know more about Chatting at the Sky or the story behind the title, click on ‘about’ at the top of this page.

Every Tuesday we have a little party around here where we celebrate and unwrap the gifts we notice in the midst of our everyday; the messy, the lovely and the unexpected. I want to invite you to join us with your own Tuesdays Unwrapped post! The women who hang out here are authentic treasure seekers and I know you will be blessed by their wrting and hearts. Tuesday is my favorite day of the week.

Finally, the best part of this blog is the comments. Don’t forget to browse through them and discover the voices of all the fabulous women and the 2 men who regularly come here to chat at the sky.

Speaking of comments, will you take a quick minute to click on the comments and tell me where you live? No street address necessary. State will suffice. And may I take a moment to tell you from the heart how much I enjoy writing in this space. Thank you for making it worth it.

Tagged blog Filed Under blog business 233 Comments

still unwrapping

July 23, 2009

The girls are visiting their Nanny for a few days and, just as always, I have visions in my head of all that I will accomplish in their absence: finish up preparing for She Speaks, clean all the toilets, change the sheets, go to the store, finish the laundry, hang out with girlfriends, catch up on So You Think You Can Dance, read a book, de-clutter the closets, save the world.

They are only gone for three days. And? I still have one kid here with me. Even so, I always have high expectations for what’s gonna go down when my load is lightened a bit. What generally happens is I get half of my list done, lament the other half and spend the re-entry day on edge. (You know, re-entry…the day the kids come back.) play-doh

This time, though, in part due to my new-found love of the morning, I am actually able to finish some things. More than that, I have had the opportunity to stop and miss my girls. I wasn’t planning on doing that. It certainly wasn’t on the list. Still, there is a heavy sweetness to walking in their room without them in it. There are reminders of their life-stage strewn all about, what only days ago I would have called a mess. Perspective changes everything, doesn’t it?

As I sat down this morning to try to put into words the longing for my girls that I only notice when they are gone, I came across this post from Tuesday’s Unwrapped by my bloggy friend Karin. Her header alone is reason to visit. She practically and authentically gives voice to what is still tucked away in my heart. Thank you, Karin for putting the words out there for us. We are collectively nodding our heads.

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from messy to lovely

July 21, 2009

glitter

When you tell your kids they can do any craft they want, just know they will choose the glitter. I got smart the day I took this photo and sent them outside, but the day before that they did this same thing in the kitchen. We have glitter in our biscuits, on our pillows, in our teeth. Three days later, there is still a pile of blue and gold and silver sparkling on the patio. I went to rinse it off, but chose to unwrap it instead, a sweet reminder of enjoying the moment and being a kid.

I would love for you to share your stories, snapshots and simple moments of thankfulness. Link up below to the post you would like to share and link back here. Click here for more details about Tuesdays Unwrapped.

Filed Under Tuesdays Unwrapped 20 Comments

she deletes

July 18, 2009

I have to talk in front of people exactly two weeks from today. I look forward to being at She Speaks among other women who are passionate about some of the same things I am. Still, I have to talk. In front of people. And there is no delete button on my mouth, unfortunately.

I know several of you are planning to attend and I just can’t wait to meet you for real! Then there is always the reconnecting with new-old friends from conferences past, like Lisa B. at Simply His who has a great, honest post about all that went on inside her head during last year’s She Speaks, Maybe you click…Maybe you don’t.

In the midst of preparations, nerves and all the excitement, I’ve been encouraged by Lisa B.’s post as well as some other posts I’ve seen while browsing my bloggy block.

Another Lysa knows what it is to feel called and small at the same time.

This lovely soul is a writer, editor, encourager and wisdom giver-outer. Her gifting, talent and sweet spirit are a blessing to so many and she just may be the only one who doesn’t know it. I am a fan for life.

Finally, I’m thankful for Cindy who is willing to be honest and real about fear and doubt and all those things I feel but don’t like to talk about. She puts it out there, and then she gives perspective.

I hope you are able to take a minute and visit these girls. While you do that, I’m going to be thinking about that She Speaking I have to do and brainstorming ways to rig up a delete button to the side of my head.

Filed Under inspired 8 Comments