Let Joy Surround You

I have a new obsession... my mantle!! Being a Florida girl I only saw fireplaces and mantles in movies and HGTV. Seriously, every single home renovation on that station has beautiful mantles; even the ones in Texas and Cali. I thought those places were just as warm as Florida, but still all the homes have fireplaces? I even saw an episode where the home was in Sarasota, FL and low and behold a fireplace. It must be a credential that any home featured has to possess a fireplace. I have marveled at mantles dreaming of the day when I too get to decorate one. And, BAM it's here!! When we moved into our new home in the mid west the first thing I bought was for the mantle. Before any family photos got hung the mantle was perfect. I still have it decorated for summer and I am elated to change it for fall, and then winter, and then spring! As you can see my T.V. is hung above my fireplace so simplicity is a must when decorating or it will be too messy and cluttered. I love each piece I have on my summer mantle because each one has a deeper meaning behind it. As I sit back and watch T.V. or play with my toddler or nurse my newborn I am filled with joy gazing at those special memories.

On the left is the birdcage which was that special first purchase. I got it because I always wanted one, but just never bought it. This reminds me of my recent season of life. My husband and I always wanted to move, and decided to just go ahead and do it. To anyone else this birdcage is just a hip decor item. To me I am reminded that we did not cage ourselves in our comfort zone, but took a chance and are enjoying the outcome. The sunflower picture I took on a trip to India and it reminds me of being a youthful girl with big dreams. I still am that girl (just more gray) and I hope to encourage my girls to be brave and daring like that.

The two pieces on the right were gifts from very special people one close and the other far. These remind me of all the love, support, and encouragement I have in my life. Not everything in my home has meaning like that, but I believe the things you put in your home should evoke joy and passion. Why do we hang photos? Especially with Facebook and Instagram everyone has seen every photo you have ever taken so it's not to show off your family anymore. We hang photos and decor to remind us of something. When I am bickering with my husband and I look up at our wedding photo I am reminded of the promises we made to love and honor each other. Or when I leave for work (or use to leave for work) and see the photo of us taking our daughter to Disney for the first time I am reminded how hard we worked to save for that trip and how amazing it was to share a piece of our childhood with our own child so working today is totally worth it to provide that again.  Or maternity pictures remind me of God's faithfulness and the responsibility he has given me. (Not to mention how much weight I have lost!!) The things we fill our home with should remind us of things and inspire our future. So the next day off the hubby has we are pulling out our fall bin and decorating for my favorite season. Almost all my fall decor is from my wedding and packed with cherished memories! What is special in your home? What memories do you have when looking around your home? I would love to hear them. And if you don't have any then go out a buy something that makes you smile. Buy your own birdcage!


Love Your Today,

Lex

I'm BACK and tossing away the guilt

It's been a while since I have gotten behind the screen and blogged. Life gets crazy and just when you feel like you have a hold of things... WHAM! Something even crazier happens. I am glad to be back and just like the title said I am tossing away the guilt!

If you are like me (and I know at least some of you are) as a woman, wife, and mother we get overwhelmed by guilt. We dodn't live up to some expectation that we put on ourselves. Yes, you read me correct... that we put on ourselves! We are needed in so many capacities that it just gets to be more than any one person can fully live up to. Unless you are Wonder Woman than you can do anything in that awesome bodysuit! Even right now my 3 year old is repeating over and over "I need juice. I need juice. I need juice..." Mommy needs a friggin' minute to concentrate! Just kidding. Sort of. Now it has gotten louder, because obviously Mommy has lost her hearing. ***Juice Break*** So back to that guilt thing. To be perfectly honest I pile on the guilt over and over and over in one day. From the moment my eyes crack open I feel the guilt. Everything from not having meaningful time with God or playing enough with the little or having "meaningful time" with the husband. I feel the guilt oozing out of my skin! As I sit back I realize that it is normally all the things I am NOT doing that I feel guilty about; however, what about all the things I am doing? Praying for my husband before an interview. Building a castle with my daughter. Reading a fiction book before bed not anything on sleep training, breastfeeding, or how to... whatever. What about all the things you are doing to be a better wife? A better mother? A better woman? A better friend? Before my life gets busier and fuller with everything baby (Yes, I am only a week and a half-ish away from holding my second beautiful baby.) I am tossing off guilt and picking up grace for myself. Will you join me? Where in your life are you continually feeling guilty? Toss it away and allow grace to fill you deep inside. It's probably being nine months pregnant that has me thinking like this, but no matter what has spurred this on I am taking the time to have grace for myself and realize all the things I am DOING that is making me and my family better. Stop focusing on all the NOTs and fill up on grace with me!

Love Your Today,

Lex