summer, simplified.

AND the winner is...
Michelle, Tara, Sarah, Julie, Suz, Andre, Kate, Holly, LKL!!!
Reading over your words blessed my soul this week. As you shared your heart, I wish I coulda handed you all a band right then. So please e-mail me your address at saraLroyer@gmail.com so I can send one your way :)


Last summer, we had a bucket list of what we wanted to do. We were finishing up a major house reno and didn't want to get life lost in all the projects. This year, our goal has been *simple and two-fold:
*Simple, as in simplified, not necessarily easy.

Be a blessing.

Let joy live loud in our souls.

Some things have fallen behind these days. Laundry piles on the couch, needing folded. Fabric mounds on my sewing machine, for mending or repurposing (or to be thrown away - gasp!) Baking is set on the back-burner as temps cross into the 100s. The stack of papers waiting to be filed turns skyscraper. (Not to mention all the dust and dirt and fingerprints and crumbs from all the comin' and goin' of 3 boys.) So, daily I read these words to refocus:

No empty-nest mama looks around and wishes 

she did one more load of laundry.

~ Ann Voskamp

Our days have been full and loud. The hose of visiting with friends and family is on full-blast. And, we are soaking it in! Someday I may learn how to keep on top of the laundry and the rest of life. But when given a choice, the laundry can wait. 

  

I'm thinking that when we look back on these days, we won't remember whether or not our laundry was put away. (Most likely, not put away :)
But the lady doing synchronized swimming in the lake - that is a memory we will never forget.

Jump in and enjoy it, friends!
Each new day offers another opportunity.
The sun rises and hands us a new beginning. 
May Love be priority. 
Peace become something we work for. 
And Joy, let it take over!

Let joy live loud in your soul. 

~ Ann Voskamp

stop the rush

Please pardon my writing block. I have sat down here several times, trying to wrap up and present to you a concise description about something... everything... And well, I've been at a loss. 
So, I snap pics. Here's a few thousand words.

Resurrection Rolls on Easter, because death could not hold Him down, for He is risen!

34 years times 365 days the Lord has made = such a gift!

"mommy and me" road-trip to Ohio with middle one for the auction of my grandparents' estate

This working 3 jobs, on top of the rest of the life of raising 3 boys has been a little bit crazy. We have seen God's sustaining hand. But, something's gotta give, and I'd rather it not be my sanity :) In a few weeks, I'll be done teaching preschool in the mornings, then we'll re-evaluate what is best for our family. Until then, it's back to the basics. 
Learning to sur-thrive. 
Reprogramming myself to ignore the mound of dishes staring me down as my not-so-little-guy falls asleep in my arms. {Wondering will this be the last time...?} To swap plans to make dinner for piecing together leftovers in order to be with the guys who have been at school all day. To sit and enjoy an afternoon with him regardless of everything on the list. To notice and marvel at what they have made rather than nod my head in the middle of lesson plans. To stop the rush. To listen to the One who delights in our presence and loves us enough to speak peace into our hearts. 

Listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

He speaks peace to His people, His faithful ones.

~ psalm 85.8 {NLT}

 above: a robot from the recycling bin.  below: "these guys are headed to new york," he says.

I'll be back, but I've got a boy turning nine. NINE! in 4 days. Years ago he taught me that my presence is far greater than anything I can do or buy or make. Oh, how easily I forget.

 Once she stopped rushing through life, 

she was amazed at how much more life she had time for. 

~ Rubin

simplify, part 1

About this new resolve to live simply... 
I’m still flushing out what this means for me.  ‘Cuz naturally, our life is complicated.  Some of this I have no control over.  Other things {like making our own dishwashing detergent} are a choice.  And when it stands in the way of having a quiet heart, it’s time to run to the store for some Cascade. But for me, the very thought of a trip to the store in this blizzard is enough to make my own.  
Simplifying is subjective, really.  

{Cue Scene 1: The day I quit Facebook.}  

This is a touchy subject, and it may have been better to just delete my account rather than to try to explain myself.  As soon as I hit post on my breaking-up-with-facebook status, there was both relief and fear.  Relief from finally doing it, the freedom of letting go.  Fear of losing the chance to keep in touch with “old” friends.  Fear of the risk of being misunderstood.  I still feel like it is worth the risk to take a step back.  Not sayin’ facebook is wrong or a waste of time.  Just sayin' I feel like it was taking away attention and energy and emotion from those around me, from the life before me. 

Teach us to make the most of our time,

so that we may grow in wisdom.

~ psalm 90.12

Happy Weekend-ing!

Yes, that is an orange we lit on fire.  It burned for hours!  Who knew?
Directions here.  

P.S. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent {new and improved!} coming up next!