Focus {Sweet Shot Tuesday}

I took this picture last month at the County Fair.

An antique {turquoise} truck, sporting a blue ribbon, demanded the attention of my Canon.

This is what I saw when I peered through the window.

Oh how I love this truck.

The chrome.

The long lean numerals.

The turquoise.

I would drive this truck if I could.

Smell of moth balls and all.

And dress like Donna Reed.



Look close.

Same window.

Different view.




What changed?

My focus.

That's all.

Focus on what is in front of me.

That which is real and tangible.

Or shift my focus to what is behind me.

Just beyond my reach.

Unchangeable.

My choice.

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I'm linking up here today:

Lisa Leonard Winner and Ramblings

Thanks to all of you fabulous ladies that entered my Giveaway this week! You made it a huge success and I am seriously grateful. A big thank you to Lisa as well for her generosity. I let the birthday boy pick a random number and the winner is...

Bean619

Congratulations! Please send me your email and I will get it to Lisa so you can start shopping!


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I'm losing my mind.

No I'm serious.

I cannot remember anything to save my life these days.

This is what it has come to folks.



The original Palm Pilot.

It's the only way.

I can't forget my hand.

So it works.

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I'm going through early menopause.

Ok, so not really I suppose but it sure as heck feels like it.

My hormones are goofy these days.

I have terrible night sweats and wake up with my shirt soaked.

Gross.

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I'm in love with Kate Gosselin's new hair cut.

And her hair isn't even real.

So I'm conflicted.

Would it then be called a weave cut instead?

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Speaking of haircuts.

I got one this week only to discover that it is uneven.

Totally lopsided.

One side has longer layers than the other.

Is there anything worse than haircut remorse??

It is driving me bonkers.

It's like walking around with a crooked picture on my head that I can't straighten.

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My house has been invaded by Silly Bands.

Yours?

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I found this jacket at a yard sale and loved it.

For some reason this jacket makes everyone around me more than willing to share with me how much they dislike it.

Why pray tell?

What did my little green and white striped jacket ever do to you?



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Note to self:

"Do not wear your hair pulled back completely off your face ever again. You have a receding hairline remember?"

As if needing to add 10 minutes to my getting ready ritual just to pluck out gray hair wasn't insult enough.

I believe in women this is called a widow's peak.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?

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It gets worse I'm afraid.

While camping a couple of weeks ago, my daughter was politely trying to get something off my face when she stood back and clasped her hands over her mouth in sheer horror.

The thing she was trying to get was attached.

It was about an inch and a half long.

Gray.

And coming out of my eyebrow!!!!

Are there any words for this really?

Can you hit the "Unsubscribe" button fast enough?

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On a lighter less disgusting note, I found Honeycrisp apples today!

Yay!

I wait every year for September to roll around just for these apples.

If you have never tasted a Honeycrisp apple I demand that you step away from the computer and hop in your car to the nearest grocery store now.

Honeycrisp will ruin it for all other apples in your life and make you forget all the other apples from your past.

Your fruit bowl will never be the same.

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Found this in my fridge this week.



Seriously?!

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We signed up for pen pals this summer.

My kids have loved this.

And we have learned a lot about snail mail just by sending these letters.

Not to mention it makes a great writing assignment.

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We had a skating party for Aidan last night.

Certain things in life remind us of our age.

Skating is one of them.

I did manage to stay vertical the whole time.

This time.

But I hurt like nobody's business today.

In places I didn't even know I could.

Tell me though, who can resist "Jam On It"?



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Metal Mouth

3 months ago.


Now.

How is it that in such a short span of time my little girl could look so different?

So grown.

So mature.

So lady like.

So no longer my little girl.

If it's the braces to heck with them.

I'm yankin them off in her sleep.
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Linking up here this week:








"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Saying Goodbye to 7...forever.

He is my baby boy.

And he occupies every square inch of my heart.

Today he turns 8.

Never to be 7 again.

In fact this will be the last time I will put "8" candles on a birthday cake for any of my children.

And that makes me sad.

Not sad enough to go and have another....no, not that sad.

But sad nonetheless.





Everything about Aidan is big.

His smile.

Those hazel eyes.

His enthusiasm for life.

His heart.



His laughter is infectious.

His wit exceptional.

His conversations priceless.

This week:

Me: "Aidan I need to you tune everything out of your mind right now except your Math okay?"

Aidan: "Everything?"

Me: "Everything!"

Aidan (wheels turning): "Well, can I tune it all back in when I'm done with my Math?"

He was dead serious.

Laughter erupted.

He didn't think it was that funny.



He is silly.

He is the laughter of our family.

He lives life wide open.

He inspires me.

He is pure joy.

He is mine.

For a little while anyway.


"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

A Lisa Leonard Giveaway!

Confession:

I am not fit to attend events such as Blissdom or any other type of event where the likes of Lisa Leonard will be attending.

How do I know this?

Because I can not even get a Direct Message on Twitter from these people without becoming absolutely giddy. Like I am in the 5th grade all over again getting picked in a game of dodge ball by the cool girls.

Pathetic I'm aware.

But true.

What does this say about me? I have no idea ...and at 34 I am not really in the mood to start trying to figure it out now.

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The lovely and incredibly sweet Lisa Leonard has agreed to let me give away $40 of her beautiful jewelry here on my blog!

If you do not know Lisa and her made uniquely just for you custom jewelry let me be the first to introduce you to your new obsession.

Right after you climb out from under that rock you have been under.

Your Christmas list will never be the same.

For the coffee lover in your life

Through my Lens has hit "must get my paws on" status.

I personally have this piece titled "Heartstrings"

Isn't it stunning?

My babies.

I never take it off.

Never.

There are so many fabulous things in her shop. Gifts for moms, sisters, friends...for the men in your life even.

Or you could just do what I would do and buy yourself one of these babies.

I'm selfish like that sometimes.

Lisa ships to the US and Canada.

You have 3 chances to enter this Giveaway. Please come back here and leave a SEPARATE comment for EACH of these things you do.

1. Visit Lisa's store then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item. If you already have one of Lisa's pieces feel free to share what you have and why you love it.

2. Tweet about this Giveaway by using this:
Win a $40 Gift Certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs via @TalysaM http://bit.ly/9PJnDt

3. Subject yourself to my mindless ramblings by subscribing to my blog up top. If you already do feel free to leave a comment saying so.

**This Giveaway will end Tuesday September 21st at 9pm Central Time.**



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

In the blur

My husband and son look so carefree in this picture.

And they were.

Outstretched arms and hands.

The wind on their face.

The smell of fried Oreo's and funnel cakes invading their noses.

Care.

Free.



But...

Sometimes in my life I feel like I am on these swings.

And I cannot get off.

Can't slow down.

I scream.

No one seems to hear.

Can't focus on what's around me.

It is all a blur.

Can't get my bearings long enough to reflect on what is behind me.

Remember where I have been.

Where I started.

How far I have come.

Or how I even got to this place.

No memory of the sites.

Smells.

Or sounds.

Worry and stress whisk me up and down.

Unexpectedly.

Catching me off guard.

Anxiety and fear whirl me round and round.

Till I am dizzy.

And weak.

What if's and failure taunt me.

Like two skillful composers.

They write the most beautiful melody.

Line for line.

I am captivated.

Sweaty hands tighten their grasp on the chains.

Fear tightens it's grip on my thoughts.

I am going to fall.

I can't do it all.

Can't be everything to everyone.

Can't be responsible for so many things.

So many people.

I am losing control.

I cannot hold on much longer.

Will you catch me Lord?

Can I really trust that You are there?

The music comes to and end.

The ride stops.

I get off.

Only to get back in line.

And get back on.

Once again.

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I want so badly to trust in what is holding me.

Even when I cannot see exactly how.

Loosen my grip.

Let the swings support my weight.

Stretch out my arms.

Breathe in.

Exhale out.

Hear the music.

Take in the smells.

Enjoy the ride.

Focus only on what I can.

What is right in front of me.

Giving no thought to what my eyes cannot see.

To what I cannot be certain of.

To how far above the Earth I'm spinning.

To all that comes and goes.

In the blur.

Who is watching.

What they think.

What awaits me around the corner.

Will the chains hold?

No thought to when I will go up.

Or when I will come down.

If my feet will ever make it back to the security of the ground.

Simply trusting.

That while the music plays.

While I twirl in the uncertainty.

I am held.




I'm linking up here today:

"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Paint is a Pain

I need help.

This kitchen is becoming a thorn in my side.

It haunts me.

Since painting our cabinets white I have not been able to decide on a wall color.

The reason?

My countertops.

They are weird.

A greenish/grayish color.

There are tiny specks of gold in them.

Yellow/Gold kitchen.

Been there.

Done that.

Which explains the "Bon Appetit" towel on my oven.

It has somehow managed to escape the Goodwill pile all this time.

Besides, they say yellow increases your appetite.

That is the last thing I need people.

I'm basically trying to decide between the color "Crabapple" (RL) that you see in my living room (and also on the rest of the kitchen...the wall you see is a chocolate accent wall)

And a gray/blue/green color like "Comfort Gray" that I have on the swatch above doorway.

I love the Crabapple. It is to me what Tobacco Road is to The Nester. It's one of those colors that changes all day long. Sometimes it's a mute brownish color. Sometimes I see a greenish tone in it. Other times I see some red in it. Definitely a warm color. I know it would match my backsplash almost to a tee but I wonder if that is boring?

See my turquoise tea kettle? It looks nice against the Crabapple. So of course I have visions of accenting with bright fun splashes of color if I use the Crabapple. But see that orange tea kettle there? (Don't ask why I have two...I may need a tea kettle intervention)

It would look smashing against that Comfort Gray wouldn't it?!?! And reds and yellows would as well.

See why I'm so stressed?!?!

This is where you come in.

1.Does the Comfort Gray clash with the countertops???

2.Does it clash with the Crabapple since it is a "colder" color???

3.Would the Crabapple give a boring look to my kitchen or add a seamless look as a whole to my house? (You can see my sitting room, foyer, and half bath all at once...think a circular colonial floorplan around the the staircase in the middle of house)

4.Is there a blue/green/gray color that is "warm" that I should try???

I welcome your answers, opinions, and suggestions.

I beg for them even.

If you have other colors that you think would work please do share.

More pictures of my kitchen and countertops before we painted cabinets here






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"