Day 10

What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)

Wow - I missed a few days - I have been out of town for my nephew's 4th birthday. It was CRAZY fun - for a kids party!! He was so excited and I was so glad we could be there. That being said, I'm just picking up where I left off and letting a day go. Which is a great lead-in to what I being taught - letting go.

I'm an A-type, overachiever that feels like I have to do it all, all the time. I expect the best from myself and my family and have a hard time letting go if things don't go how I think they should. I am a planner and I want my plan to be THE plan (most of the time!!)

I found myself unemployed for virtually the first time in my adult life in April 2009 (NOT part of my plan!!) and since then, I've found myself doing a lot of letting go - job, finances, stress, health, worry, fear, children, family. And giving it to God. I can't control everything and I'm learning that I really don't want to. When I had to let go of one area (my job, being home full-time), it opened my eyes to really see what God's plan is for my life. And I'm able to let go of other things I've been trying to control.

Through it all, I keep hearing the whisper of "I am here. I am with you. Let. It. Go."

Kid Quote

Location: Dinner table

Teagan: Mom, will you be dead when I get bigger?

Zoe: TEAGAN!! That is SO rude. She'll be dead when you get older.

Day 8

Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!

My toe-nails are ALWAYS painted. Even in the dead of winter, they look good. Even if everything else is out of place and disheveld, I know that my toes look good!

And I always wear mascara and lip gloss - C.O. Bigelow Mentha-Shine is my favorite - just a hint of color.

Day 7

Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.

I'm struggling with this post - I always feel so encouraged by others and don't think of myself as being an "encourager". This past month, two close friends had new babies. They were already mothers, of one child each (boys!!), so they were already doing the mommy-job. I found and continue to find myself in a position to encourage these mom's as they are starting the adventure of being mothers to more than one child. So, my post is dedicated to Leslie and Shannon - both beautiful women, beautiful moms, and beautiful friends.

This last month, watching each of you move into your new role as a mom of 2, has been so much fun. I know that you are feeling tired, worn-out, stressed out and wondering why you signed up for this - but that is so short-lived. You will soon look back and wonder where the time went. But you are doing AMAZING work right now!!  Your heart grows bigger everyday as you experience each new thing baby does and what P and N are learning and doing! You are so beautiful, inside and out. You are beautiful with lack of sleep, messy hair, baby goobers, etc. You are beautiful in how you nurture your babies, teach your boys and love your husbands. You are beautiful in all that you do and will continue to do!

**Leslie - I'm dreading the day you move away. You have been so good for my soul this past year!! Thank you!!

**Shannon - thank you for letting me be totally honest, all the time! Thank you for making me laugh and sharing P with me and my family!!  I love you!!

Day 6

Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

I was curious on the actual meaning of jade:

jade - noun, verb, jad·ed, jad·ing.
–noun
1. a worn-out, broken-down, worthless, or vicious horse.
2. a disreputable or ill-tempered woman.  (MY personal favorite!!!)
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3. to make or become dull, worn-out, or weary, as from overwork or overuse.

Plain and simply - Yes. On top of all the other things I think about and worry about, how I "look" shouldn't be something I worry about but it is. And I sometimes get ill-tempered when I think about myself in the worldly sense of beauty.  I hate that I'm secretly comparing myself to others and I especially hate when I think I'm better, in some way. {I can't believe I just admitted that - but isn't that what part of this project is, to challenge yourself and make you think??} No wonder women are so hard on themselves and critical of others. Have you looked at a fashion magazine lately??? I get tired just looking at them and trying to keep up!!
And then I think about raising 3 daughters and how, as parents, you have to start early with promoting what true beauty is. I have to set the example; I have to love ME! All of me - the stretch-marked, not-so-flat tummy me, the "I've had 3 babies" body me. I want them to always feel self-confident and beautiful, that they are unique and God (and mom and dad) love them NO MATTER WHAT! I have my work cut out for me!!

Day 5

Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.

You make me giddy when you walk in the door. My day doesn't feel right until I talk to you in the morning (he goes to work at 3am). You make me laugh EVERY day. Your creativity inspires me. Your ability to fix things amazes me. Your work ethic is to be admired. You make me feel beautiful all the time. You have this uncanny ability to say just the right thing at just the right moment - at least most of the time!! Thank you for making me feel like I am doing the most important job in the world and appreciating all that goes on around here. Thank you for helping me be a better "me".

***This is what I go through trying to get a "nice" picture of my hubby.

No wonder Zoe is a ham is EVERY picture we take!!***

Day 4

Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.

Seriously? My favorite outfit?? I have NO idea what my favorite outfit is - something that makes me not feel look like a stay-at-home mom of 3. Something that makes me feel good about myself, confident and maybe, just a tiny bit, sexy.

I love jeans and love that I can dress them up or down. I wear them almost every day and love my custom made jeans, my $3 Seven for All Mankind (yes, I said $3!!) and my skinny jeans. I laughed when skinny jeans became fashionable again and never thought I'd be wearing them, but they are definately a must with my next favorite item.

I love my knee-high black boots and love to wear them several times a week. They look great with skinny jeans, skirts, leggings, etc. And they are so practical for my life - I can wear them all day, run after kids in them, walk through puddles at the store and not have wet feet. Practical yet sassy....

My favorite boots. LOVE them!!

My outfit yesterday - skinny jeans, long-sleeve t-shirt with gray sweater. And Black boots mentioned above!!

Day 3

Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?



Beautiful Danika with her girls

I first met Danika in college. She intimidated me and made me a bit nervous (she'll be surprised to read that!). She had been at Western since she was a freshman, and I was a transfer student, so I was a newbie. We were both starting the Human Services program as juniors and I knew NOBODY and she knew EVERYONE, or at least it seemed like she did! I remember thinking how confident, self-assured, outgoing, engaging, friendly cute, perky and athletic she was! ***Side note - Danika is a runner. Not a part-time, when I feel like it runner either. I had the bright idea to run with her one time - hahahaha! What a joke on me that was!! That ended our lets-run-together relationship.

I have fond memories of the first few years of friendship - Core, studying, hanging-out, partying - she told me her house was only a "few" blocks from downtown Bellingham, when we decided to walk home after a night out. It wasn't. And she kept wanting to sit down on the side-walk and rest. And it was cold. We worked together for a year, right out of college and it was great. I knew then that Danika was a forever-friend.

Life has taken many twists and turns and through it all, she continues to be an inspiration of beauty to me (read my Day 1 post). She has a great attitude about life, even when things haven't gone smoothly or how she planned them (she's a planner, like me!) She's a wonderful mother and teacher - she is patient and kind and oh-so creative. I remember when my neighbor met her recently (they are going to school together) and how awe-struck and inspired he was by her attitude about life. He saw her Beauty. I don't see Danika very often (we live 80 miles apart, have families, etc. etc.) but she means a lot to me and always makes me feel beautiful!

*Danika - thank you for sharing your Beauty with everyone you meet. Kira and Elke are so lucky to have you as their mom, showing them what true beauty is. Chad is lucky to have you as a partner and I'm lucky to have you has a friend. Love you!!

THE Project 31 LIST:

Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.
Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.
Day 16. Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life. Tell her what beauty means.
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Describe your personality.
Day 19. Write about your favorite comfort food (we are women- we ALL have comfort food!)
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single- your future husband.)
Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you.
Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me." (Pics are great!)
Day 30. Who is your role model as a woman?
Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!

Love it! Birthday present from my mom - she knows me so well!

Day 2

What makes you uniquely you?

• my family - without the influence of my parents and brother, I wouldn't be who I am. I learned conflict resolution, problem-solving, sharing, loving, fighting, laughing, unconditional love, acceptance...
• my custom designed tattoo - no else has one like it!
• my "fiery" personality - someone described me this way recently and the more I thought about it, the more I realized it fits.
• I consider myself friendly and outgoing. But I hate talking on the phone. I don't even like to call and order take-out. What is wrong with me?
• My best friend lives 2000 miles away and we "talk" every day. But never on the phone. Thank goodness for email, texting, etc. We've been friends since 7th grade and I don't know what I'd do without her.
• My children - no one else is Zoe, Teagan and Harper's mother. No one else carried them for 9+ months (they were ALL overdue). No one else birthed them. No one else worries as much as I do, wonders and prays as much as I do.
• My hubby - God got it right on! Nathan mellows me out, helps me to not take life or myself too seriously and loves me NO MATTER WHAT!
• God made me!

Day 1

Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?

You always think you have the answers to questions like this, but when you think about it, there is so much more to it. It's more than what you or other people see on the surface. I think it's more about what you don't see that defines beauty to me.

• peace
• joy
• God's never-ending grace and forgiveness
• laughter - not taking life too seriously and being able to laugh at yourself
• self-assurance, even when you feel scared and nervous
• feeling loved
• grace towards others
• feeling appreciated
• confidence, or at least acting like you have it! I'm always amazed when people tell me they think I'm self-confident - I NEVER feel very confident. I always second-guess myself, always feel like I'm forgetting something and worrying that I'm not doing enough.
• kindness - it goes along way and speaks SO LOUDLY to others. It speaks so much to your beauty and soul.
• patience - I need to work on this. I'm not always very patient and I don't think I'm setting a good example to the girls. You should see me in the school parking lot. Not good. Not good at all.
• unconditional love

These are just a few of the things I hope to teach Zoe, Teagan and Harper about what TRUE beauty is. I want them to grow up knowing they are beautiful, inside and out, no matter what.

Project 31

While reading my friend Gretchen's blog, she mentioned Project 31 shared by Mandy at She Breathes Deeply. What a great idea and a great way to look at beauty and how God created us all BEAUTIFUL! As a mom of 3 girls (heaven help me!), I want them to always know they are beautiful and unique, inside and out.

So, here goes - wish me luck!

Here is the list of upcoming topics!!
THE LIST:
Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.
Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.
Day 16. Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life. Tell her what beauty means.
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Describe your personality.
Day 19. Write about your favorite comfort food (we are women- we ALL have comfort food!)
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single- your future husband.)
Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you.
Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me." (Pics are great!)
Day 30. Who is your role model as a woman?
Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!

Double Rainbow

Wow - I finally fixed my problem with sending pictures to my blog from my phone!! So nice!

Don't you love this double rainbow? It was amazing!

For some reason, I keep having problems posting from my phone. I've really had problems with pictures posting and am trying to figure it out. Any suggestions?

New Year

For some strange reason, I thought a new year would bring new motivation and a fresh start on things. Hahahaha! What was I thinking??? Just doing the laundry, dishes and shuttling kids where they need to be is eating up all my time, it seems like!

We've had two friends have new babies in the last 12 days and that has been some needed excitement. We watched Little Nathan for 3 days while baby Griffin was born. Talk about a change of pace! He fits right into our chaos and is in love with "Mr. Nathan", so it was a fun time while he was here last week. Our friends Shannon and Ryan (Mr. P's parents) welcomed Baby Kendall on New Year's Eve!! She is a doll and we are sharing dinner with them tonight - we haven't had a chance to really visit and ohh and ahhh over Kendall yet!!

I rearranged Zoe's room/craft/sewing space in an attempt to feel inspired to create. All I really did was make a big mess for myself! I am going through my craft desk then will go through the closet again - all before my in-laws some to visit this weekend. Maybe I should get off the computer and get to work!

the end of 2010

Found this on Darah's blog and liked the questions it asked, reflecting on 2010!

1. what did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?


Had a child in first grade - wow! She is amazing to me, in so many ways.  


2. did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I couldn't tell you what they were, so obviously, I didn't keep them. For this next year, I plan on trying to relax more, enjoy being in the moment and being better about making time for myself, everyday.

3. did anyone close to you give birth?

Haha! My best friend, Darah had the cutest baby in March and my good friend, Shannon, had a beautiful baby girl on Dec. 31st! My sister-in-law had a cutie in Sept!


4. did anyone close to you die?

Not this year.


5. what countries did you visit?


haha. haha. I'm a mother of 3 small children. And I'm a stay at home mom. You do the math.

6. what would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?


a little more patience and peace of mind for what is, not what could be.
7. what date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?


I don't have the exact date, but Zoe's first day of first grade was a big day. I'm not a crier about stuff like that, but she just looked sad and excited and nervous at the same time! My baby is growing up!!!


8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?


Parenting 3 children while being home full-time. Wow - so much fun but it can be tough sometimes!


9. what was your biggest failure?


See above! Parenting really challenges every part of you. Just when you think you have something right, you realize you don't. Just when you are getting into a rhythm, something happens to change it.


10. did you suffer illness or injury?


Pretty healthy year other than sniffles here and there.


11. what was the best thing you bought?


My brand new down comforter. We've been wanting a new one for awhile and we happened upon a super sale at Macy's when the one we really wanted was 50% off! I've been sleeping all toasty warm at night!


12. whose behavior merited celebration?


The girls. They are growing up so fast and it's so much fun/stress to watch their little personalities come out.

Remember this - Just today, Zoe, confessed to being a part of the hair cutting incident! She said she cut Teagan's hair and lied about it. I'm impressed that she had the guts to FINALLY tell the truth.


13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

people who take advantage of other people; people who only think about themselves

14. where did most of your money go?


Mortgage, paying of loans/debts, raising 3 kids.


15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?

• Seeing Darah in April - not nearly long enough, but so much FUN to have all our kids together!
• Girls Get-Away weekend - so much fun spending time with great women in my family.

16. what song(s) will always remind you of 2010?


The new King's of Leon album, anything from Needtobreathe and the entire Consumed album but Jesus Culture.



17. compared to this time last year, are you


i. happier or sadder?: about the same, I guess.

ii. thinner or fatter?: thinner. still have more to go though!

iii. richer or poorer?: hahahaha! poorer, but it's all good.


18. what do you wish you’d done more of?


Playing. Relaxing. Enjoying the moment. Taking more pictures.


19. what do you wish you’d done less of?


Worrying. and dishes.


20. how did you spend Christmas?


With lots of family - so much fun!



22. did you fall in love in 2010?


More and more, every day! I'm a lucky girl.
23. what was your favorite TV program?


Parenthood, In the Middle, Raising Hope



24. do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?


I don't have the time, energy or will-power to hate anyone.



25. what was the best book you read?


I read several and now I can't think of titles!!


26. what was your greatest musical discovery?


NeedToBreathe



29. what did you want and get?


New black boots



30. what did you want and not get?


A new sewing machine


31. what was your favorite film of this year?


uhhhhhhh, I don't have a freakin clue!
32. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


I turned 33 and I spent time with my family - I think we had dinner - I don't honestly remember!

33. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?


Pretty satisfying for the most part.


34. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?


Laid back but current.

35. what kept you sane?


My husband - he is the perfect balance for me. All the time. And Darah.


36. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


ummmm. don't have a clue.



37. what political issue stirred you the most?


no comment.

38. who did you miss?


I miss Darah. Every Day. It sucks when the one person, other than my husband, that knows all the good and bad about me, and still loves me - lives so far away! I'm so thankful for email and texting because we 'talk' almost every day and she keeps me sane and encourages me and doesn't judge me for the mean or stupid things I say!! I just wish we sharing coffee and play dates more than once a year!

Someday, we WILL live in at least the same time zone!!


39. who was the best new person you met?

I actually met Leslie in 2009 but really got to know her this past year. I love her southern accent and how laid back and relaxed it is hanging out with her. I'll miss her when they move in May! Bummer!
40. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:


Let it go. Live with grace.
41. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:


I have no idea!!