2009 August | chatting at the sky

more and microphones

August 31, 2009

More Conference

I was in Charlotte this weekend for the More conference I told you about last week. Or maybe it was two weeks ago. I can’t keep track, what with all these kids of mine going off to kindergarten.

emily and nester

My sister and I did one of the breakout sessions where we talked about how to turn the house you have right now into the house you’ve always wanted. I promise I’m not singing there. I know it looks like I am. I’m still kind of amazed that people let me have a microphone. But microphones and I have been getting to know each other better lately. Did you know if you write ‘microphone’ enough, it starts to feel like you maybe might have made the whole word up?

Seriously, the real reason people came to the conference was because of Lysa Terkeurst. Clearly.

Lysa TerKeurst

She is fantastic with the microphone. So fantastic, in fact, that she wears one of those special Secret Service microphones. See it all camouflaged up there by her cute face? It was skin colored and everything. If you ever have a chance to hear Lysa tell her story, microphone or no microphone, I highly recommend it. Really hard stuff + honesty + brokenness + Jesus = a powerful story of new life bursting forth from painful death. I just love that girl.

I look forward to getting back into the swing of things here at home. Especially on Tuesdays. I have missed unwrapping Tuesdays with you. Let’s start it again. Join me next week, September 8 with a grateful heart as you take time to notice the gifts in the midst of the ordinary. I can’t wait.

Filed Undera little bit crazy, a sister 21 Comments

adjustments

August 26, 2009

first day

Two days down, twelve years to go. And then it’s time for college. We are still adjusting to our new routine, new friends and other general newness. Our days have been full and mostly happy. So far, I’m the only one who has cried. Stay tuned.

Filed Undera mother 35 Comments

an appropriate reading

August 24, 2009

3851606205_fe96b065de

“Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands…When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower belssings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do. (based on Genesis 22:9-12, Ephesians 3:20 and Exodus 3:12)”

~Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

Filed Undera mother 35 Comments

big school days

August 22, 2009

girls

photo by Alexa’s Photography

I know these links are a bit indulgent of me, but the letting go days have begun. It’s time to send my oldest girls off to Big School, so there is little else on my mind this weekend. I may have to post about it some more next week, but I promise after that I’ll try to stop being the sappy sentimental mommy. Not gonna lie, it will be hard. But I will try. Here are a few links from lovely mama’s with various perspectives on their letting go transitions.

Knit Together @ Life In Grace

Can’t it Linger A Little Longer? @ Boy Crazy

14 Books to Help Ease Children Through Transitions @ Simple Mom

Back to School @ Shutter Sisters

First Day @ I Should Be Folding Laundry

Filed Undera mother, inspired 18 Comments

a beautiful life

August 21, 2009

beautiful life

Usually I’m the one who designs the rooms, places the furniture and feeds the babies around here. But sometimes, they do it. It is a beautiful life to have them here every day. To know where they are and what they are doing. To nearly step on tiny bear babies and miniature highchairs set up in the sunroom. We have four days left until Kindergarten starts. I think they are ready. I hope I am.

I’m linking up to day with Melissa’s A Beautiful Life Friday series, celebrating beautiful finds and moments from the week.

Filed Undera mother 22 Comments

nest much?

August 19, 2009

Thank you all for being so encouraging about this new adventure I’m on these days. I knew you would be, but there is always a bit of fear in the risk. I appreciate your support and I look forward to giving you more details in the days and weeks to come!

For now, I want to grab the attention of you local-ish peeps and let you all know about a fun opportunity at the end of this month. It is a women’s conference in Charlotte, NC on August 28-29 and the speaker will be one of my personal favorite girls, Lysa TerKeurst. Based on her new book, Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, the MORE conference will be an opportunity to dive deep into the ‘more’ of life and apply God’s truth to the everyday mess. That girl speaks my language.

While Lysa will be covering the Jesus time, others of us will be covering some practical breakout sessions on Saturday. That is where the nesting comes in.

nest

Yes, you heard that right. We’re talking house, people. If you missed our shenanigans at She Speaks, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to laugh-at-I mean-learn-with this giggly sister act. The Nester and I will be there to give detailed step-by-step instructions on how to mistreat your windows with real fabric and everything. And by The Nester and I, I mean The Nester. I will smile real big and point. Trust me, you don’t want to miss that.

nesting

Our session is called It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful. Are you surprised? We’ll also give you some creative ideas for wall hangings and simple, kid-friendly decor. I can help with that part. If you want confidence and beauty in your home but can’t afford a makeover, this session will give you the practical advice you need to creating a home that reflects your priorities and respects your budget.

Don’t you want to come and join the fun? For more information about the conference, visit Southbrook’s Women’s Conference site.

If you have specific questions, feel free to email them directly:

womensconference@southbrookchurch.com

Hope to see you there!

Filed Undera house-lover, a sister 29 Comments

i’ve been meaning to tell you…

August 18, 2009

Thanks for all of your wonderful, insightful, hilarious advice on the dogs. I will refer to that post as we revisit the idea in the near future. Or in the way out sometime later future. Either way, thanks.

As you know, I’ve taken a little break from Tuesdays Unwrapped. Not that I’ve stopped enjoying the little things, more that I have started enjoying them more. And as much as I love reading about yours, it takes up lots of time. And with kindergarten only one week away, I need all the time I can get. I look forward to starting the Unwrapped Linky up again in September.

But there’s something you don’t know. Something I’ve been working on for the last 8 months. Something that made She Speaks a nerve-wracking experience for a much bigger reason than simply speaking. I’ll give you a hint:

reading

I wrote a book proposal. In the wee hours and in the late nights; on the back of receipts and in a corner of Starbucks; in my sleep, in the shower and at the grocery store, I wrote and re-wrote and revised and cried and jumped up and down over a book proposal. A proposal for a book that has been in me for 10 years and is finally coming out in word-form. And then I sat in front of two publishers at She Speaks and pitched that book with all the confidence I could muster.

And I haven’t told you about it yet. I kinda sorta hinted about it back in December. I want to tell you about it fully now, because besides being pregnant with two babies at once, writing this proposal was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, as well as one of the most rewarding. And I just thought you should know.

I want to tell you more about it, but the sheer idea of all of you knowing what I’ve been up too is so overwhelming for this closet introvert that I just have to stop now. Whew! You guys are the best, a dog-loving, girl-supporting lot of best-ness.

Filed Undera writer, blog business 57 Comments