Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Searching For My Big Dream

I am currently reading The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Although I am just in the first few chapters, it has me thinking. My biggest fear isn't that I will reach for my dream and fail, but that I will never find it in the first place. I know I have a "big dream" still hidden in my heart, but the daily stuff of life seems to have taken over.
When I was a little girl my parents made me feel like I could do anything in the world. Not just that there were opportunities out there, but that I was fully capable of achieving greatness. I went through a ballerina phase, thought acting looked fun, growing older I pondered becoming a doctor, maybe a lawyer, and for the longest time I wanted to be a teacher. My job as a mom lets me do all those things to some extent.
Perhaps my dream is not an occupation. When I was graduating high school I had visions of traveling the world. I did not, however, picture five kids in tow. We seem to get in one trip per year and barely travel across a few states let alone leaving the country. I love the arts. Could it be that my dream could be expressed on stage or on a canvas? I want to help people. Maybe my dream is a service or ministry in need. I sit and stare at the sky, as if my dream will come to me on a cloud.
Perhaps I am already living my dream. I am beyond blessed with five healthy children, a husband who loves me every single day, and a safe home for us to be in together. I guess I have come to the point where I say "how could I ask for more?" And yet, there is this tugging of the heart telling me there is so much more in store for me. I definitely have dreams of a bigger house, but even more so what life would be like in a beautifully organized home. I dream of having a personal chef, does that count?
How can it be that after 34 years I do not know this about myself. Well, I will continue to read, pray, and ponder. I am excited to dig in deeper, also a little nervous at the thought of stepping out of my safe little bubble. I don't want to wait until I have sent all five kids off to reach for their dreams to finally explore my own. The journey continues.

Are you actively pursuing your "big dream?" Do you know what it is but don't know how to take that first step? Or have you, like me, lost it along the way?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Mama's Back!

In case you didn't notice, I took a break from blogging.
When baby number five came along I could not find a minute of spare time and had to put my family first. One of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan, put it well when asked what it is like to go from three to four kids (he now has five) he replied "just imagine you're drowning and someone hands you a baby." That is pretty much how it felt for a bit, but we found our rhythm. I am now treading water just fine and ready to share our adventures.
My oldest son started middle school this year and my youngest recently turned one. We have a fourth  grader, first grader, and preschooler in the mix as well. This provides a wide range of chaos and fun at our house. I continue to work on getting organized, one of my biggest struggles. I have also realized I no longer have the "I just had a baby" excuse and have started to fit a daily workout into my routine.
It feels good to be back behind the keyboard. There have been many moments over the past year where I have found myself saying "I should blog about this," so here I am. I may have to revisit some of my favorites.
Whether you are finding your way back to my page or are a new visitor, I invite you to follow along as I document our ups and downs. There are sure to be some fun giveaways along the way (I know my readers love giveaways) so check back soon!



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Giveaways are open!

I am sorry that I have been MIA, but I have been spending my days at Happily Domestic participating in the amazing month long event for mamas and babies!

You won't want to miss out on the great giveaways
that are going on during our Oh Baby! Extravaganza.

There are some great prizes up for grabs, including:

More will be posted every day, so check back often!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Oh Baby! Extravaganza - Get Early Entries Now!



I am so blessed to be a part of the Oh Baby! Extravaganza event on Happily Domestic!
Four moms are working very hard on this
and will be posting a review & giveaway EVERY day during the month of March! 
You won't want to miss out on the fun,
we have some really great products to tell you about.

Want to grab the event button early 
to earn extra entries into EACH giveaway????

Here is how:
  • Put the Oh Baby! Extravaganza event button on the front page of your blog between now and March 10th, 2012 and receive 3 extra entries per event giveaway! Then go HERE to post a comment on the post at Happily Domestic telling us where you posted it!
  • Blog about the Oh Baby! Extravaganza event between now and March 10th, 2012 (please use the event button in your post) and receive 3 extra entries!!! Then go HERE and comment on the post at Happily Domestic with a link to the post!
Happily Domestic

More details on Beth's original post here:
http://happilydomestic.blogspot.com/2012/02/announcing-oh-baby-extravaganza-grab.html

I am really looking forward to this and hope you'll join us!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Organizing Baby's Closet w/ Free Printables!

With only 12 weeks to go I have started to organize the baby room 
and make room for a little brother in there. One of the main areas 
that needs work is the closet. Baby Lu has been spoiled with space
and is going to have to give up half of her closet.

I ran across these great printables at The Posh Little Baby Blog and can't wait to get them hung up!

They can also be used on all of the storage bins I have in the garage, so smart!

I have several projects to complete including his crib skirt, mobile,
and lots of painting...stay tuned!

Time to share...how do you keep your kids' closets organized?

Monday, January 23, 2012

Silent Auction - Tandem Stroller

Happily Domestic is hosting a silent auction for a Contours Optima Tandem Stroller ($319 value). All proceeds will go to K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations). K.I.D.S. is a wonderful organization that donates toys, outfits, books and more to children and families that are victims of poverty, severe illness, natural disasters, domestic abuse and families of deployed soldiers all over the country. For more information about the K.I.D.S. organization visit their website by clicking here.



The bid is currently at $140, which is an amazing deal for this stroller. The money goes to a great cause, so go check it out HERE!