WEEK IN REVIEW

If you read my last post, you might think the computer hiatus of the last week was just me taking my own advice. Wish it were so, but it was nothing so noble as that. Last Monday started out like any other week...a little housework, a little grocery shopping, a little planning and list making. But you know what they say about our best laid plans. On Monday afternoon, one of my dearest of friends, Stacy, was re-admitted to the hospital, with complications from the c-section she had the week before. I won't go into the details because it is her story to tell, but it was a very long, grueling week for her. While she was in the hospital, I had the privilege of caring for her sweet little newborn boy. I enjoyed every moment of it and those to-do lists went out the window.

At the same time, the main bathroom was being completely gutted. Strange men in my house, sheetrock dust on every surface, no downstairs bathroom, and general mayhem completely threw me off balance. Trying to get four small boys (5, 2, 8 months, and the newborn) to nap while the house shakes with banging and sawing is no easy task, let me tell you!! I am looking forward to showing you the before and after pictures of our new master bathroom in just a few weeks, but first, I have to find an old claw foot tub to restore!
There are so many pictures I want to share and thoughts I want to commit to a post (like how we finally decided to homeschool Caedmon in the fall!!). I know I will get to them eventually. Right now I am just in the thick of my messy, happy, (sometimes) not-so-simple life!

SIMPLIFYING THE DESIRE TO SIMPLIFYI love to read about simple living. I could spend hours, DAYS even, on the computer, reading blogs about women all over the country who are simplifying their lives and their families lives in new ways all the time. I love to read their thoughts, look at their pictures, think about and get wrapped up in this internet world. I am inspired and encouraged by what I see and read. The wheels in my head start spinning as I plan new ways to implement the ideas I read about.
If I am honest, sometimes I am jealous of what I read on other's blogs...other people whose lives seem a little more "together" than mine. Women who appear to get more done than me, have more time than me, who knit and sew and take fabulous pictures. Women whose homes look so inviting and cozy. Women who are homeschooling a zillion children. Sometimes that can breed discontentment.

I week or so ago, I was on the computer, zoning out on a fabulous new blog I had just discovered, when one of my children came running around the corner, yelling my name. I didn't hear what he was saying. I was listening to HER, the fabulous new BFF I had just found on the internet with the awesome house and the great ideas. After a few minutes of incessant "mommy, mommy, MAMA!!", I snapped out of my internet-induced coma, to actually LOOK at my child. He had put my glasses on, and was standing there, desperately wanting my attention and approval and acknowledgment. And it hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I was, on the internet, reading about the simple life, the "good life", someone else's life...and I was letting sweet, funny moments of mine go by unnoticed.

We all need inspiration. Encouragement. Ideas. There are so many people in this world who are talented and creative and wise, and there is much to be learned. But sometimes, we...I... need to stop looking to make things better, best, and just enjoy how wonderful things already are. My little boy, with his twinkly, sunshiny eyes, is a delight! Too often I hurry him along, or hush him, or don't even hear him calling my name...I am too buried on my computer, reading about how to have simple, meaningful connections with my children! Oh, the irony!

It is time for me to be a more active participant in my own life...less escapism, more LOVING WHAT IS. Less noise that drowns out the happy chaos of a house full of boys. Less TV. Less computer. Less phone and fax and text messaging. Less connecting with people I have never met. More connecting with three little boys that beg for my company. More time for a husband that loves me. Sometimes, even learning and reading and thinking about simplifying needs to be, well, simplified.


*Image from celisa on flickr.com

AWESOME DIAPERSI have been using these diapers for a month or so now, but have waited to mention them, because I wanted to make sure that I really was satisfied with them before recommending them to others. With my eight month old, I use cloth diapers during the day, and these diapers at night or when not at home. I use these diapers with my two year old almost exclusively, with cloth training pants thrown in every once in awhile.

I was so happy to discover these diapers (and wipes, as well as shampoo, disposable bags, lotion and rash cream) at Target. I was especially pleased to see that not only are the diapers biodegradable, chlorine and dye free, and plastic free, but the packaging is also biodegradable and made from natural plant products. Not only will these diapers and wipes not be rotting in the landfill for umpteenth years, but they are much better for our babies as well. I think these are a great solution for those who want to make a more environmentally responsible choice, but aren't wiling to go for cloth. I like using cloth during the day, but they always leak at night, so I am happy to have an alternative for bedtime.

How do they compare to other disposable diapers? Price-wise, they are comparable. They are about the same price, and sometimes cheaper, than Pampers and Huggies. The wipes also, are about the same price. I love the wipes. They are so soft and stretchy. I mostly use homemade flannel wipes, which I LOVE, but these are nice to have on hand for the truly heinous diapers, as well as for in the diaper bag. The diapers don't have as much give to them as Pampers Cruisers, but I haven't had any problems with them. Most of the time, my children do not leak through these diapers, even when worn overnight. I have been completely satisfied.

If you want to try them, you can go here to order online. If you use the referral code "laurel", you will receive $5 off your first order, and I will receive $1 credit for referring you. However, if you are near a Target, you might want to go there, as they are about $2 cheaper a package.

WINNER!!
Thank you all so much for your comments. I had so much fun reading them and have found many new blogs to enjoy. Using a random number generator, #34, The Parenting Diaries, is our winner!! I will be contacting you soon.
Even if you didn't win, I really encourage you to check out this book at the library...then buy a used copy, because this book is a keeper (and a sharer!!).
Congratulations, Parenting Diaries!!

JOINING THE GIVE-AWAY"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few." -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I am joining the bloggety giveaway over at Shannon's Rocks in my Dryer. This time around, she wants the item given away to reflect something about the person's blog. I know I talk about a lot of different things here, and sometimes it isn't as cohesive as I would like it to be, but I do think that the topic that comes up the most is simple living. Being content. Paring down. Living a thoughtful and intentional life. Spending more time on relationships than stuff. I know that is what occupies a lot of my thoughts. How to live a joyful, simple life with my husband and children.

So, in that vein, I am giving away one of my all-time favorite books, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

If you haven't read this book, you simply must, that's all there is to it. It reads almost like poetry, it is so soothing. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was the wife of Charles Lindbergh, the first american pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean. She was the mother of six children. Her thoughts on life, mothering, and stillness are wonderful.

So, what do you have to do to win this fabulous book?
1. Leave me a comment below, between now and and 12 pm est on Friday, Feb. 1st. I will draw a winner (randomly) on Saturday morning.
2. You do not have to have a blog to participate. Just leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win.
3. In your comment, please tell me a simple pleasure of your day. Something you do on a regular basis, be it big or small, that makes your life more enjoyable and is restorative to you.
4. You do not have to be in the US to participate.



*Image from MIYAZAKI HIROSHI & N73 on flickr.com

FIRST ITEM ON "THE LIST"One of the items on my LIST is to run a 5K. I have always been interested in running a race. Runners seem so motivated. Well, Carpe Diem, that's what I say!! I am officially running my first race, with my good friend, Amanda, on March 29th! It is a 5K and I am really excited about it. I am going to follow this training schedule.

I have had several friends and family members who have been very negative and doubtful of my abilities to do this. I admit, at first it really hurt my feelings. But, I have decided to turn the negative comments into extra motivation. I am starting today and my registration is in the mail!!

I am really excited to train for and run this race because:
-It is something I would like to check off "my list"
-I like competition, a challenge, working toward a goal
-I have weight to lose
-It will be fun to do this with my friend
-It will be exciting to measure my progress

There are a few things I need to get.
-New tennis shoes
-New battery in my sports watch
-New sports bra
-A workout outfit or two (I have gotten rid of all my old ratty tee shirts and old soccer shorts)
-Some upbeat tunes for the Ipod

I would like your input on the last one. Do you have a particular song or playlist that you find really motivating for exercise? I would love some suggestions.
I am looking forward to turning my dreams into a reality. The first step is today, when I put my tennis shoes on and hit the pavement.


*This image from beckham2007 on flickr.com

BEFORE I DIE...With that new movie, the Bucket List, that is out now, I have been thinking about things that I would like to do before I die. Most of the things I want to do or try are not grand ideas...just small little things that I think I would enjoy.

I will never forget a phone call I had with my mother when I was in college. She called and told me about a list she had made when she was twenty. A list of things she wanted to accomplish before she died. That day, she told me she had just marked the last item off her list. She was 44. That is one of the things I have always admired about my mom. She doesn't just think and dream about the things she wants to do. She doesn't make excuses. She goes for it. She makes it happen. She did every single thing on her list. And then she made a new list. Since finishing up her first list she has taken a writing course. She plans to write her own book, Hiding in my Hammock. She took up photography. She loved it and has gone on to do photo shoots, has been written up in a local magazine, has won several contests and awards, and now is part owner in a gallery downtown where she sells and showcases her work. She has discovered and developed a whole new creative side of herself she didn't even know existed.

I want to be more that way. I am more easily defeated than my mother. I sometimes get bogged down in the DAILINESS of life. But there is much beauty in the dailiness. I don't want to diminish the importance of that. I want to always love my life where I am right now, and to make it as wonderful as it can possibly be. I really feel like I had huge growth in this area in 2007. Learning to really embrace the dailiness and make it beautiful. Cloth diapers, hanging laundry on the line, fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing clutter, etc. all really added a tangible quality to the quotidian events of my day.
At the same time, I want to have aspirations...dreams that rise above the daily demands of life. My "to do before I die" list is not very grand. As I think about it more, I am sure my list will grow. But here it is for starters. Will you share a few of yours with me?

-Finish my college degree: I want to switch from Business Management (I am lacking about 30 hours to graduate) to Culinary Arts, which is what I have really always wanted to do. Also, I want to take the rest of the Latin courses (I did the first one), even though it won't count towards my major. I really love Latin.

-Pick up piano again: I want to get back to a point where I can really enjoy playing.

-Learn to knit a sweater

-Read through the entire Bible

-Take a road trip. Explore the United States.

-Learn to make a really good cheesecake. And gravy. And a layer cake.

-Revisit Italy

-Run a 5K, then (if I like it), a 12K

*Image from Frank72 on flickr.com

FILL IN THE BLANKSTomorrow: I have to drop off and pick up Caed from school. Which, for whatever reason, fills me with dread.

Feeling: Tired. Two of three children were up multiple times last night.

Happy Because: My house is warm and my day feels promising

Today I: Hope to accomplish most of my to-do list, enjoy my children, and make something healthy and delicious for dinner

Laundry: Is manageable

Something I know: that my hubby is my very favorite person ever.

Currently Reading: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Wanting: to get back under my feather comforter...just a few more minutes...

Favorite Gadget: KitchenAid Mixer

Thankful That: I feel at peace about our schooling decision for Caedmon

Wondering Why: it is so darn hard to get up early?!

Want to fill in any of these blanks for yourself?


*Image from massdistraction on flickr.com

FOOD RAMBLINGSThese fresh, locally-laid eggs were a sweet find at the produce stand today. As were these carrots that were pulled from a field nearby just a few days ago. Isn't this pink colander adorable? My sweet mother gave it to me for Christmas and I just love it! I put my eggs in it and each time I open the fridge, I am happy all over again! Thanks, mom!

Oh, in other thrilling finds, I was in the Discount Food store earlier this week and found Burt's Bees lip gloss, which I love, for $1 a tube!! I had just purchased two tubes (for $8!!) a few weeks ago, only to have my two year old throw them in the dryer and turn it on (how does he know how to do that?!!). So, the lip gloss was all over my fabulous monogrammed Pottery Barn hotel linens, that I bought at TJ MAXX a few years ago. Anywaaaaay, in case you haven't heard, Burt's Bees was recently bought out by Clorox (do you think that is weird too?). So, I am pretty sure that bleach will be on the list of ingredients in the lipgloss soon:::sigh:::so I purchased 12 tubes of the stuff to stockpile. That should last me a good four or five months. Long enough to find a new natural lipgloss, I hope. Do you have any suggestions?

In other random things, what is up with this whole cloning-the-dairy cow thing? What, have they forgotten how to reproduce themselves or something? I am curious, how do you feel about eating cloned meat (or drinking milk from a cloned cow)? Personally, it freaks me out. But, I was already nervous about eating genetically-modified meat as it is now.

I am excited to begin preparing my square foot garden next week! First, I have to buy and build the frame, which I hope to get to next week. Then (Mom: stop reading here), I have to go over to my parents and load up the back of the mom-mobile with some prime garden topsoil from daddy's (now defunct) garden to fill in the frame with. I am going to mix it with my compost (see Hon, I told you all those banana peels and egg shells you toted across the yard for me, would come in handy!) and some other soil elements-that-I-can't-remember-the-name-of. By mid-February, it should all be ready for me to plant some different lettuces, spinach, carrots, onions, and possibly sugar snap peas. I think I will skip broccoli and cauliflower. We aren't big fans. I am really excited about the garden. If my lettuce is a success, I can officially eliminate grocery store shopping! Fresh lettuce is one thing I just don't want to give up, and the produce stand doesn't carry it (spoils too quickly).

SIMPLE ISN'T ALWAYS EASY...
I know I have been a little scarce lately. It seems that this simple life I am after is keeping me awfully busy::sigh::but that will always be the way of it, won't it? I think that when I stop equating simple=easy, I will be more at peace.
Sometimes, I fool myself into thinking that if I get rid of all the plastic in my house, and pare down my errands to the essential, and I never go to Wal.Mart, that my life will be a fairy tale. And then my children will never get sick, I will never be grouchy, I will never have a sink full of dirty dishes. And that mindset just sets me up for failure. No matter how much I pare down, there are always going to be days that (in my sinful heart) I just want to END.
My two year old has been giving me fits. He is very, very trying. But, in the same way, he is also loads of fun. I love that child with a passion I can't even verbalize. But gosh, I am glad he is in bed, asleep!!
But, even hard days have a silver lining. Thanks to a challenging day, my evening of deliciously dreary weather outside, a cozy fire inside, and a mug of hot chocolate have been even more enjoyable than usual. I have been getting my computer fix (perusing amazon and all my favorite blogs), after turning it off since Monday night. Oh, which by the way, went great. I learned some interesting things from that little challenge. I think this will require it's own paragraph...

...Ok. I found that turning off the computer made me much, much more productive between the hours of 530-730 AM. As for the rest of the day, not so much. You see, I am very productive in the wee hours of the morning. The house is quiet, I am rested, and the world is my oyster. I can get more work done in those two hours than I can get done during the whole rest of the day. Which is why it is so imperative that I get up early for my day to go smoothly. Usually, I work for about 45 minutes, than sit down with the computer to do my devotions, and then check emails and blogs. Thanks to my little one-day challenge, I now see that is not the best use of my time, and I will not be turning the computer on during that time anymore.

As for the rest of the day, it was sort of a wash. My efficiency generally takes a nose-dive after lunch. Once the children have been fed, and the youngest two are down for their naps, I am pretty much worthless. I get very little housework done. The rest of my day is usually spent piddling, playing with the boys, cooking dinner, and just trying to keep the house from being destroyed by small children. I didn't see a difference there by having the computer off. So, that little exercise showed me that I should maximize those early morning hours as much as possible, when I am most productive, and save my computer time for during the children's naps, and after they are in bed.

There are lots of other things I want to blog about...books I am reading/want to read, how my energy reduction challenge went, thoughts on home storage and house size, whether or not I am going to homeschool, getting ready for my square foot garden, and home renovations. But I will have to save those for another day. The fire is dying down, which means it is time for me to tiptoe upstairs to peek on sleeping babies. Adjust the covers, run my hands over each soft little head, say a prayer for them, one by one. Another day is done, and I have much to be thankful for.
Goodnight.


*Image from hey_rabbit on flickr.com