The Bat That Lives in Our Play Room

There is a bat living on the ceiling of our play room. He's not much of an inconvenience as he's small, only about 2 inches long and maybe half an inch wide. Our bat has made his home there since around October, long past when the pumpkins were sent to the curb and the Christmas tree too. We're approaching February, and he is still there. A stoic, faceless visitor hanging on our ceiling.

Most days we hardly notice him. Though he is a transparent lime green he seems part of the space now. To be honest I'm impressed with his resilience; he has hung precariously by one wing since he was catapulted onto our ceiling. Let me elaborate on his humble beginning. 

 Our bat was a Target dollar bin impulse buy, purchased for my two toddlers to place on our front bay windows along with an array of other fall themed window clings: pumpkins and brooms and candy corn. My fun loving husband decided one weekend to teach our toddlers how to fling said decorations across the room, making them stick onto the windows. This game lasted through the weekend when the kids eventually decided the decor would also look pretty great on the ceiling. They were even more delighted when they found all the clings liked the ceiling view as well.

Fast forward to our lone bat. The other clings were quickly pulled down and thrown away after much use. The bat, hidden in a lonely corner, was in for one last hurrah courtesy of my almost 2 year old. Once discovered his fate was set, to the ceiling he would be banished.

So I, annoyed at this game that my beloved had taught my children, resolved to leave it there until he took it down. After all, it was his game that encouraged this result, right? So here we are at the end of January. There he sits, and it looks like there he will stay. That annoyance has faded to amusement. Now it's a fun memory every time that lime green catches my eye. Perched on the ceiling, our bat has been privy to lots of great memories and growth and tears and learning.

 I'd like to think that some of the little things that annoy me or grate on me now will eventually fade to that same amusement when I look back. Fondly will I recall silly dances and obsessions and sweet sticky hugs. For now, our friendly bat reminds me to let the little things go for they will all eventually end in their own time.

Turning 28

So I'm at that point.
It feels like the point of no return - I'm closer to 30 than 25 at this point! 28 years old is here. I know, I'm being dramatic. My late 20s has brought with it some pretty amazing things. Things like a loving husband, 2 beautiful kids, and a beach town I happen to call home.

Yesterday, I turned 28. It was a regular day at home - David off to work early, breakfast with the kids, playing in the yard & on bikes, lunch & then my favorite - nap time. The kids drew me beautiful birthday pictures, and I received messages, texts and calls from those I love and friends from every facet of life. My mom even surprised me with an edible arrangement delivered to our house!

When David came home from work we went out to a casual dinner at one of our FAVORITE places since college, Tijuana Flats. Nothing fancy, but it's cheap & kid-friendly which make it a winner for our family. I ate well all day so at dinner I treated myself to some of my favorites - chips & queso, a burrito, & cookie dough flautas for dessert. Over my calories for the day? Oh yes! Worth it? Definitely! If you haven't tried the flautas; they are heavenly. For $3 there's enough for at least 2 people to share this combination of melted cookie dough and chocolate syrup. Excuse me while I go get more right now! Alas, my birthday is over so it's back to my portion control I go! Getting healthy isn't always fun, but my body sure appreciates it!

On our way to Tijauana Flats, David told the kids we were going out to eat for mommy's birthday. Elise really took this to heart because when we arrived, she saw the decorative lights strung across the ceiling and exclaimed, "It's so beautiful! They decorated for your birthday!" She also thought all the other customers were our friends coming to celebrate with us. After we ordered and sat down at a table with proximity to the door, Ben proceeded to greet everyone that entered with a cheery, "Hello!" and wave. We were all starving and proceeded to eat just about everything on our plates. Elise dined exclusively on applesauce and chips and queso while Ben ate some of a burrito with his chips and queso.

Both kids were extremely well behaved, and I would venture to say a very successful dinner "out" with two toddlers in tow.

The night ended with some cartoons and snuggling. After the kids passed out I had David rub some Deep Blue on me for sore muscles (a workout happened too while the kids napped, woot!). My out of shape butt needed some relief!

 Deep Blue Rub is the cream version of the essential oil blend (made up of Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, German Chamomile, Helichrysum and Osmanthus). Its amazing hot/cold comforting sensation is great for athletes or anyone with tension from sitting in front of a computer all day. My massage therapist even uses it on clients! Anywho, this stuff is awesome, and I LOVE it.

 It was a quiet day, but it was mine and I loved it. Birthdays don't have to be big and extravagant to be great. I consider all the things I have to be thankful for and know that it really does get better with age.

A Healthy Margin - Leaving Room for God

Good morning!

Anyone else squeeze in every personal task ever during nap time? It's in this time I have to choose wisely: start a craft, workout, eat a leisurely lunch and catch up on Gilmore Girls (this one wins out a lot), catch up on emails and miscellaneous work.

I know that I let things go on a daily basis - deep cleaning, mundane every day tasks like folding laundry or putting dishes away. However, I know there are things I can't let go - making sure my children eat for instance, that one is kind of important. At TC3 this month we've been discussing leaving a healthy margin in our lives.

What exactly does that mean? In a nutshell, we need to leave space in our schedules, in our mind, in our money for God to work through us. I know I tend to over-schedule and overcommit myself to things which leaves little to no room for myself, let alone for God.

Part of finding my margin is reviving my every day devotions and prayers. I briefly mentioned #thefives which I randomly found while perusing online. This movement asks you - anyone who is interested- to wake up at 5am and spend an hour with God. That's it! No specific devotions or prayers, just spend time with Him. You check-in with an accountability group each morning (which has been a huge help for me) and then bleary-eyed, wake up with God. I've personally found this produces radically different days than if I just roll out of bed.

Are you leaving a healthy margin in your life your God?

For me, time and again, I come back to the parable of Martha and Mary found in Luke 10.
Verses 38 - 42 read:
³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Does that resonate with anyone else? During the holiday season were so wrapped up in the preparations that you missed the joy that was waiting for you?

As we finish up a school year and get through this busy season of snowbirds and sports and school functions, try to be a Mary with me. Let's listen to what Jesus has to say - forget the extras - and find that margin in our lives. 

Welcome!

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited to start blogging again after a 3 year break! Though I blogged religiously while pregnant, the demands of a full-time job and an infant took priority over sharing my musings.

Alas, two babies later and its taken me this long to attempt again! Oh, but those babies have been worth it! However, as part of my not-new-years-resolutions-just-goals, I've decided a blog would be just the thing to add back in!

So what are YOUR goals for 2016?

You already know blogging, or rather writing (just for pleasure!) is one of mine. I hope to record some of our families' fleeting journey through toddlerhood & all that entails.

Also on that list is getting in the BEST shape of my life through exercise and healthy eating. I'm lucky that my husband will be joining me on this journey, and I can't wait to do it with him! I will be following the 21 Day Fix exercise & eating program (after getting to Day 18/21 at Christmas when I broke and ate all the Christmas cookies). Not this time!! I also hope to add some running and yoga in there too - both of which give me serenity on days that I just can't.

I also LOVE essential oils & will be frequently posting about their ever-present use in our lives - blends, DIY items we're making, and fun uses for them. Seriously, these things have practically replaced medicine for us, and they're certainly our first line of defense. I will also be using doTERRA's health line of supplements and protein to further advance my health journey!

I am a proud member of MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) and #thefives (a prayer movement) so my spiritual journey and relationship with Christ will hopefully be ever present! These ladies have immensely helped my walk with Christ and really invested in me and my family. I can't imagine walking through motherhood with the amazing women I've met and continue to meet!












Lastly, I kind of have a crafting problem. My bedroom may overflow with my latest craft idea, activity, or cute gift I have decided to make for all my friends and family. My sewing machine houses an array of material just waiting to be used, my paintbrushes alert in tin cans drying in varying rooms, photos waiting to be cut, pasted, or laminated...the list goes on!

That's about it! All the major goals & things of importance in my life, laid out there.

So, if any of that sounds of interest, buckle up and join me for a healthy beach life!