Happy Thursday everyone! And welcome to another Joy Dare! It’s been a great week. we are well into our homeschooling year and have hit a rather nice rhythm already!
So let’s jump into this week’s Joy Dare
Day 3- 3 Gifts yellow
My new JournalI started today
My unicron mug I am currently drinking our
sunflowers
Day 4- A gift cool, warm, sun soaked
Cool-a cool breeze
warm- a beautiful day
Sun-soaked- kids playing in the water and soccer
Day 5- 3 Gifts Autumn
Pumpkins spiced EVERYTHING!
colorful leaves
boots and sweaters
Day 6- 3 gifts growing
The kids
Our family relationships
a better understanding of who I was created to be
Day 7- 3 gifts given
a party for us ( a real blessing to us)
Appreciation (one of the greatest gifts ever)
words of encouragement
Day 8- A gift made, masked, marveled
Made- The gingham star and heart made by my mother-in-law
masked- A Chinese mask given to Hubby by his grandpa
marveled- rainbows
Day 9- 3 gifts framed
Some framed artwork Scripture purchased from a small shop
Family memories
A painting of Montana
I’m so glad you came by for the Joy Dare this week and I’m praying You all have a fabulous week full of gratitude and Joy!
And how about You what have you found joy in this week?
For more Joy Dare posts click here and for more Choosing Courage Posts click here.
To Check out The Joy Dare and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp click here.
I know I did! The need to breathe is is so often taken for granted. Yes just the physical act of breathing is something we take for granted, until it becomes difficult. But that is not the type of breathing I am talking about.
Sometimes we need to step outside of the chaos- the crazy! Today I was thinking about it as I stood making dinner. I was frustrated that the whole day was “lost”.
Then the dog needed to go outside. Rosie will beat you to death if you don’t take her out pronto. I was annoyed. See the vet thinks Rosie has Cushings disease. We take her out A LOT. I think at that point I had taken her out 6 or 7 times.
The magic of Outside
I do a lot of breathing outside.. (LOL that just kinda sounded funny- I hope I do a lot of breathing in general). Actually when I feel really stressed I take the morning and spend some time outside doing my morning devotions and work-especially in the summer.
When I stepped outside and I took that big breath , I realized that I had forgotten to breathe. You know that deep cleansing breath that kinda melts the stress away. I know that not everyone feels less stress when they are outside. Some people “breathe” when they are crocheting, reading a book or gardening.
For me it is being outside but it is also creating. But sometimes I just plain forget.
Step away- if only for a few minutes
Here’s the thing. It’s about perspective. Even in the midst of craziness and chaos we can stop and breathe-even if it is for a few minutes. Here are a few of my go to “minutes” to breathe.
Stop to look at the sunset, sunrise, and flowers.
Go for a walk
take 5 minutes to do something I love. (painting, reading, crafting of any sort)
looking at the scenery behind out house
Just sit outside feeling the breeze on my face.
looking at the clouds
And that’s just to name a few!
Don’t confuse this with distraction!
I am queen of this struggle. This is something I battle with and through everyday. Some days are definitely worse than others. But sometimes I buy the lie that “breathing” is done while on my phone or watching TV. I sit down for lunch and begin to scroll through facebook. And when such is over I feel even more tired than when I started.
There are lots of ways we can distract ourselves. we can even distract ourselves with work. I can convince myself that tasks A, B, and C are more important than my time with Jesus. Or I can convince myself that scrolling on my phone is relaxing before I fall asleep. I can also convince myself that I am taking time to breathe by Reading just one more chapter even though I have to get up at 530 am. (yes there are two of those in a 24 hour time frame- if you know the joke-you know the joke lol)
Perspective and Choices
Perspective and choices are what really give us the chance to truly breathe and to appreciate and take notice of all the beauty surrounding us. We can choose our perspective on life and make choices to enjoy that perspective. We can choose to see and to breathe deeply.
How about you? How do you choose to Breathe deeply and regain perspective in the middle of chaotic times? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments
To Check out my other posts in my 100 day writing project (Choosing Courage ) click here.
Hey all! Welcome to my week 3 update. I cannot believe we are at day 22 of the Choosing Courage 100 day writing Project. Tonights post is going to be super short. Mostly because I have a headache. This project is flying by.
Progress on Hello Fears
I am sad to say I haven’t made much progress in it. We can chalk it up t poor time management ands crazy busy schedule and tiredness- from said crazy busy schedule.
I am actually going to finish Chapter 3 before heading to bed tonight-
(Hello Fears is a book I am currently blogging through – new concept for me, This is not a review and I am not recommending this book by blogging through it- My review and any recommendations will come once I finish the book.
Family Update
Tonight was the older two kiddos first soccer game of the season. And I actually got to go watch it. Last year with al of the restrictions I had to rely on pics but I got first hand experience of watching them play!
Blogging Update
I am doing it. Three days a week are harder posts to write but I have settled into the new blogging schedule quite well. I had a whopping one day where I was ahead ! LOL. But I have a plan to get ahead by the end of the week…for night’s like tonight where I have a headache and wan to go to bed!
I also really don’t like posting at night time but that is the rhythm I now find myself in. (I used to blog at nap time- but since I am the only one who sometimes takes naps I guess that isn’t going to help me! ) That’s why being a couple of days ahead.
What I have learned by choosing courage
I am enjoying the process though with turning out so much content I am struggling to give each post the attention it needs. Which is a great realization, It gives me perspective for once the 100 days of this writing project is over. I need build in space to “sit on” aka think about a post before I post it. I can’r tell you the number of times I woke up a day or two later with a FABULOUS idea to add to the post. And before long I get into my day and forget all about it.
The second thing I have learned is that I NEED to do my writing in the morning. I am not quite sure what this looks like in our current lives. I just know it needs to happen because that is when my mind is the sharpest and when I have the most energy!
How about you have you joined me on this journey? are you Choosing Courage in some area or are you doing the 100 Day Project in a completely different way? If so let me know in the comments bellow.
If you are new here check out the other Choosing Courage posts here.
Welcome everyone to my Happy Homemaker post for this week. I hope you have all had a great Monday so far. Do you ever feel like the Homemaking side of life gets tougher at the beginning of the school year? It has been the same for me to matter our schooling situation and maybe it seems worse this year because I am still in recovery mode but goodness! Here’s to hoping the Homemaker game gets a little easier this week!
Breakfast time….what is on the plate this morning::::
I pretty much had coffee for breakfast this morning-maybe that is why I have felt like a slug all day
Looking around the house::::
It Looks like a Monday for sure. Tomorrow I need to kick it back into high gear.
On today’s to do list::::
Major House cleaning and organizing. I have some stuff I need to get rid of. Finish up my planner work for the month. YES I am running behind!.
Currently reading::::
Hello Fears
Get Out of Your Head
My Bible
S.H.A.P.E.
On the TV this week::::
nothing really
The weather outside is::::
Much cooler than it’s been I am already missing the summer temps
On the menu this week::::
Monday – Chef Salads with Sautéed Chicken
Tuesday – Soup (Not sure what type Yet)
Wednesday – Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy and Veg
Thursday – Taco Salad
Friday – Pizza and wings
Saturday – Leftovers
Sunday – Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::
Exercise then paint
New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::
no new recipe. I just don’t have time for that right now
One of my simple pleasures::::
Quiet mornings and evenings. Im so glad we kept the routine even after changing to homeschool. It has helped me to be able to have the silence my heart and mind need as an introvert.
Favorite photo from the camera::::
Looking Around the House::::
The whole House needs a good deep cleaning. I am planning on using my Spring cleaning Checklist and go room by room and just knock it out!
Praying for::::
♥♥ Lots of friends and family who either have COVID or knows someone who does. One person in particular is not doing so well but is making strides in the right direction ♥♥ Our Search Process ♥♥Friends and family who are struggling
Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment::::
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
Hey All. I have been busy today Preparing for this week for my art breaks. I have been horrible the last two weeks about taking the little art breaks as I have been prepping for and started school.
Every week I try to exercise on the treadmill Its been hard as I have been dealing with the low iron. One of the things I have done during this time has been to reward myself to art when I got off the treadmill. See with low iron I have a hard time getting my heart rate to lower so I found that doing something like art afterwards helps to calm my heart rate and keeps my mind focused and helps to avoid a panic attack.
Last week was a bad week for exercise and I didn’t have time to sit down and do anything. So I had a brainstorm on the way to church this morning! I was so excited. I came home and I got to work. Some times the key is preparing for these breaks ahead of time.
Here’s what I did…
So I masked off 6 cells and painted simple backgrounds. Then as I exercise each day this week I can just go into my craft room and finish off one cell. Even though I am not really having a struggle with my heart rate or panic attacks since my iron infusion, I am finding that reconnecting with painting is helping me just enjoy our current season a little more!
I have no idea what will be pained on these backgrounds or what line art will come out of it. But I am excited about this little project. And maybe if this works out well this will turn out to be a fun little Sunday project preparing for the week ahead! We shall soon see.
I hoping that next week I will have 5 or 6 fun mini paintings all ready for you!
Thanks for Joining me for day 20 of my Choosing Courage : My 100 Day writing Project. You can check out the other posts here.
