A New View

I'm typing at you from a new corner of the Little Yellow House on the Hill.

One of my goals this year was to get the kids transitioned from doing school in my formal dining room to desks in their room.

I really wanted to move the computer out of that room too.

So this weekend I did it.

And the dining room looks like this.

That table has two more leaves, which makes me happy. There is nothing I like more than a crowded table of happy faces.

Speaking of the table...this one was given to us by our amazing neighbor and friend, Helen. It is handmade out of exceedingly hard and heavy wood (I think she said it was Walnut). The craftsmanship is amazing. I need to find some dining room chairs, but I can hodge-podge seating if (and when) I have friend over to break some bread.

As I was reorganizing I realized how much I take for granted in our home.

Although I call our house "the little yellow house on the hill", it is actually good sized (especially for a small family of four). There is more than enough space for our family. And yet, I found myself thinking that I didn't have a "place for this" or  "I need new shelving for that", when the truth is we have PLENTY of space here... I could get rid of some stuff and move other stuff around...making room for the things that needed to be put away.

So that is what I did.

I emptied out both of the linen closets up stairs and got rid of three bags worth of things we didn't use: receiving blankets and cloth diapers, just to name a few. I also gave away those sweet board games my children aren't using anymore. So long CandyLand.

I was able to empty three shelves in the linen closet, making room for school supplies and curriculum.

It felt good to have less and use more.

And it makes me feel every so grateful for this house...A home we have had the privilege to call "home" not once, but twice.

So very thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Change

Two weeks from today, summer vacation will be over.

School will start and my "slow and easy" days will be filled with busy-ness.

I'm looking forward to it.

And I'm not.

Yesterday was a beautiful day in my neighborhood as a cool-front came in and gave us a tease of the fall days to come.

I'm not rushing, I love summer with its high heat and pedicured toes. But I love fall too and it was nice to have a taste of the goodness to come. A reminder that seasons change...in nature, and in life.

I have several "seasonal" changes happening right now that are good, but it's still change. 

As I do with all changes, I fight between wanting to excitedly throw my hands in the air, roller coaster style, and burying my head in the sand wondering what I've done.

I fight fear and I revel in the newness. Although not usually at the same time.

Ambivalence may be the worst part of change and is often what gets me trouble.

I was out with a couple of girlfriends a couple weeks ago and we were talking about things in our lives. We aren't all dealing with the same thing, but how we cope is eerily similar...we often fight for what we want, and in the process forfeit what we desire.

I am praying that this year, in the growing-pains that come with new seasons, I can keep my sight on what I truly desire. Instead of allowing fear or inconvenience to sway me from the good that comes from change.

Its gonna be an awesome year...

The Flip

I have spent the last few afternoons weaving in and out of nostalgia.

Do you remember these?

Back in the day my brothers and I used to spend quite a bit of time with this machine, pretending to be news anchors reporting crazy news and making various childish noises.

I can vividly remember laying on the golden plush carpet of the formal living room, pushing the rewind button over and over, while listening and laughing with my brothers. Sometimes we laughed so hard I thought my head would split.

Oh, we thought we were the funniest things ever.

Apparently, its hereditary.

Last week The Girl received a Flip Video Camera for her birthday.

She has begged me for a video camera for over a year now.

You can imagine her excitement when her new pink colored camera arrived.

And I?

I am enjoying the laughter she and her brother make as they "make movies" using silly faces and crazy noises, then quickly huddle over the small screen to see what they've made. Laughing heart-fully.

They were making movies outside yesterday and running back into the house every 15 minutes or so to come show me how hysterical their cinematic masterpieces were unfolding...

Truth be told, they're about as funny as the audio tapes my brothers and I made... but the laughter... I wouldn't trade it for the world.