Slow Down

Thursday was quite the day for us. As many of you dear readers know, I'm a homeschooling Mama. I love it. I choose to be home bound most days of the week. However, Thursday I decided to be adventurous. I took all four girls to Sports Authority right around nap/rest time. I know, I'm a wild one. I like to live dangerous.

Caroline only wanted Anne at the store.

Soon after returning home from the aforementioned trip, our power went out. Kind of weird, since there didn't appear to be much wind. However, we live in southern Lancaster County, so it wasn't completely shocking. Last summer (or fall?) the same thing happened - there were random tree branches down on the power lines. I figured a similar thing happened.

Maggie looking for a poem for me to read to her.

Plans for Thursday dinner were leftovers. In the microwave. Which requires electricity. I called Trent at work. He says not to worry, the estimated time was 8 pm, and it's always on before that.

Trent gets home, still no electricity. I went for a run (remember that 2015 goal - run a 5k)... While running my phone battery dies (I think being out of the house in the afternoon plus having no electricity/wifi drained the battery really quickly). I get back from my run and Trent asks if I got his message... Um, No. My phone is dead. He had texted me to ask me to bring Burger King home for dinner. This resulted in a family trip to BK to eat INSIDE (seriously, you would have thought we were at a 5 star restaurant). The kids were awesome, and we all had so much fun!

For some reason I find this photo hilarious. Anne desperately wanted someone to come play outside with her.

We got home to a dark house, put the girls to bed, and then... What? What do you do when you have no phone, no wifi, no light. We read the Bible together with a headlamp for light and each caught up on a little reading. I had signs to paint but couldn't work on them. As I was praying two words came to my head. Slow. Down. I don't really consider myself a very busy person, mainly because I don't leave the house that often. However, as I sat in the dark thinking of all the things I "need" to do, I began to realize how hard it is for me to sit still. To just be still. To be in the presence of the Lord. I say that I want to do that, yet I don't make the time to do so.

Doodled this in the dark Thursday.

As I let those words roll around in my brain I thought of all the things I thought I should be doing {painting, dishes, cleaning, returning emails, replying to FB messages, checking my Etsy store, checking Instagram, thinking about the next day's school lesson, completing my homework for my Bible study, contemplating a discipline issue with a particular child, wondering if I was too hard on the kids today} and I made my brain just stop. Because how many times will I get a chance to really slow down like I was forced to do Thursday night.

Took some time to play a game Friday at school

Abbey really enjoyed her BK crown.

 I know that Sunday (or whatever day you take as your Sabbath) is supposed to be a day of rest. Yet for many of us Sundays are one of the hardest days of the week (hello - getting four girls and myself ready for church to leave by 8:40 am!?) and are far from restful (especially if you are involved in any form of ministry).

Enjoying our restful Sunday.

These two are the best of friends and playmates. (they are rushing inside to bandage up dolly who got a thorn scratch)

 This weekend I really focused myself on slowing down. On truly enjoying the every day, simple moments. Of letting go of what "needs" done, and allowing myself to cherish my sweethearts while they are still small(ish).

Watching toads emerge from hibernation

Toad watching

Here are some photos of us enjoying the moment

Anne flying her kite.

 A series of night time photos.

How do you slow down? What are some tricks you can share with me?

DIY - headband/barrette holder

Friends, I have daughters. You know, four of them... I don't know about your girls, but mine love accessories. And when we had baby girl number four - I figured we needed to do something about all these adorable headbands and clips that were EVERYWHERE! They needed a place to call home.

This is not an original idea. I originally saw the pin on Pinterest. (I can't find the original Pin that I used. I think it was somewhere on this site: Your Modern Family .)

I made this last summer and am just now blogging about it. I know, I'm sorry. But it's my life.

Supplies needed: (in no particular order)
1. A picture frame - any old thing will do
2. Paint (if you want to change the color of your frame)
3. Ribbon (to match your paint)
4. Staple remover
5. "C" hooks
6. Hot glue gun
7. Sand paper/ sanding block
8. Drill {optional}

Step 1: Get a frame. I wanted my area for holding hair bows and headbands to be extra large so I purchased one. I found this gold frame at our local Re-Useit shop for around $8. {{I felt a little guilty when I was paying because the cashier noted just how lovely the photo in the frame was... I threw it in the trash.}}

 Step 2: Remove the backing from your frame. I found my staple remover to be very helpful in this process, though a needle nose pliers would work just as well if not better.

 

Step 3: Paint your frame. I wanted this to be a kid-friendly activity. It takes MUCH longer for three little girls to paint a simple frame than it does for one adult. But they had a good time doing it.

Step 4: Distress your paint. {Optional} I loved having the gold show through the pink. I just used a little block sander, but any sandpaper will work. 

Step 5: Have an impromptu photo shoot with your frame.

 Step 6: Add your ribbon. I just took one piece of ribbon lengthwise as my measurement for the rest of the ribbon. I hot glued each end of the ribbon to the back/inside of the frame so the ends wouldn't show.

 Step 7: I wanted my C hooks about every inch, so that I could have approximately 12 hooks along the bottom. From previous experience with twisting C-hooks I knew it would be a lot easier if I pre-drilled the holes. So, I did that really quickly, just takes a minute. Then my adorable helper screwed in several of these hooks. It was easy enough that a tiny five-year-old could do it.

Step 8: Hang it up!

Beauties

She wasn't happy about this photo shoot.

 There you have it, friends. A relatively simple and fun headband/barrette/clip holder. As you can see - last summer was the summer of headbands for Miss Caroline. Her hair has grown quite a bit since these photos were taken so she wears little fountain ponytails now. When she wants to wear a headband I know right where to find them. I love having a space dedicated to her hair accessories. I hung it in Caroline's room so as I walk out the door I can easily slip one off the hook and put it on her as we are leaving the house.

**Most of the headbands pictured are from Screaming Owl  . They have really cute things at reasonable prices for children, but they take FOREVER to come in the mail. Just a word of warning - don't expect to get your purchase before 4-6 weeks.**

Happy First Day of Spring!

Little known fact: I was born in California. This is a screenshot of today's weather in the area which many of my family still reside.

This is the view outside my back door.

This is the first day of Spring.




Instead of planting flowers I am drinking hot chocolate.

Okay - the girls had hot chocolate - I had coffee...

Instead of enjoying the warm sun on my back I'm huddled in a pile of blankets reading with the girls.

Instead of romping through the woods we're writing letters.

Sure, it isn't what I had hoped to be doing on the first day of Spring, but it's still a good day. I think regardless of our physical locations, wherever we are there are going to be days where we need to CHOOSE to be joyful.

Plus, it's Friday: Redbox & wine night. Hubby called to let me know he got Dumb & Dumber to. What could be better?

And if you're really bummed about the weather, you can at least enjoy these adorable photographs of my sweet Caroline who is exactly 15 months old today. Future artist?

Intent on her job at Grandpa & Grandma's House

Which color do I want?

What is that crazy sister doing?

Working together

Look at that grip. Way to go fine motor skills!

My view as I rock Caroline to sleep at night. Love my sweet, cuddly snuggle bug.

 Happy first day of Spring!!

Today I will be Thankful

I have a new sign that I made at the beginning of 2015. Tonight (or this morning) I am working on the third copy of this sign.

To see this sign finished, you can find it in my Etsy store HERE.

The sign reads:
Today I will be thankful, for all the little socks and the grass-stained jeans, and the endless piles of laundry. For there will come a day when the laundry basket is empty, and these days will be profoundly missed.

Friends, if you look closely in the above photograph you will notice the top of a laundry basket. This was not a staged photograph. I recently bragged (oh how I hate to admit this) how my children are SO healthy. We are rarely sick. And you know that sweet little Proverb (Proverbs 16:18 to be exact) which says this "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.". Oh, you guessed it. This weekend we were sick. Sick, sick, SICK. First the husband, then the baby. Then the second oldest, then the third. Then me. Yes, me. Prideful, prideful me. Only one escaped, our oldest, dear Anne. Sweet, helpful Anne.

I digress. Here I am at 12:30 a.m. on my twelfth load of laundry for the day, painting a sign about laundry, and how these days will be profoundly missed. And I got to thinking - is this true? Is this really, actually true? Will I profoundly miss the days of cleaning vomit off my one-year-old? Or washing load after load of laundry that has been puked on? Or waking up in the night to change those sheets? 

And I prayed. I prayed for the sweet, dear Mama who will receive this sign. As she looks at it hanging in her laundry room as she washes load after load of clothes and sheets for her little ones, who won't always be little, I prayed that these words will be a reminder to her to keep pressing on. Because the Lord sees the good work she is doing. I don't. I don't even know her, but the Lord does.

And you know what? I think that maybe, just maybe, these days will be missed. I think of my own mom, who washed load after load of stinky soccer clothes for me. Often late at night because I would remember, "Oh mom, we have a home game tomorrow and my white jersey is dirty. Can you wash that for me? Thanks!" and I would hop into bed, knowing full well that my mom would have that jersey washed and dried and ready for me the next day. Because that's what moms do. 

I don't know about you, but that's the kind of mom I want to be. Maybe my kids won't remember anything about me doing their laundry, but they will know they always had clean clothes to wear (okay, maybe they won't always have matching socks - but that might be taking things just a little too far).

So friend, wherever you are tonight, I hope that you can be thankful for all those little mis-matched socks. Because these days will be profoundly missed. Don't believe me? Go ask your mom.

2015: The Year of Love

For the last number of years our family has decided to dedicate the year with a word and look to that word throughout the year. 2014 was the Year of Joy, and 2013 was the Year of Rejuvenation. Each of those years lived up to their names. This year after much discussion (the girls really enjoy discussions and being a part of grown-up decision making) we settled on the Year of Love. The girls wrote and colored a large poster with the words "2015 THE YEAR OF LOVE" which is proudly hanging in our school room.

Throughout this year we will be looking for ways to love each other as a family, more. And we will be looking for tangible ways to love our neighbors, our community and our church family. It has been awesome to be able to remind the girls of ways that we show love to sisters. Is it showing love to your sister when you say unkind words? Is it loving to take something from her? Is it loving to help with chores? We had really been working on the girls loving each other, in word and deed. This morning they wanted to know ways that they can show Mama that they love her.

Sometimes I forget that my children are as young as they are. Seven, five, four, and one. It's really not that old. I forget that they need to be taught ways to show love. Some ways that we came up with together to show love to Mama *that's me!* are: 1. hugging and kissing, 2. saying the words, "I love you". 3. Obeying the first time I ask (this might be my FAVORITE way they can show me love) 4. Helping with chores and doing extra things around the house with out me asking, 5. Being kind and loving to one another.

Like all people and all families, we are not perfect. Some days I am grumpy and I yell too much. Other days are smooth sailing and everyone is cheerful and kind and loving. I am continually trying to remind myself to allow myself (especially on the harder days) to intentionally find those joy-filled moments. Because they ARE there, even on the hard days. Often it's just me removing my emotions from the situation that can make the whole day better. Just because some days I don't get enough sleep doesn't give me the right to snap at the children for things that normally wouldn't upset me at all. So when I can, with the Lord's strength, let go of my feelings, our days tend to go better.

We have had a glorious two weeks off for Christmas and New Year's. It's back to school for the girls (and teacher) on Monday. I have loved the sleeping in, the ultra relaxing mornings, the lazy afternoons. It's perfect that this vacation has coincided with my self-appointed break from taking custom orders for my painting business. My creativity is returning and I'm feeling inspired again by words that the Lord has been bringing to me. I'm getting excited to gear up for a new year with Mama Hess Painting.

I do try to think of and list out some goals for the year then refer to it from time to time to see how I'm doing. So here it goes:

For myself:
Personal Goals -
1. complete another Bible Study at Change of Pace South
2. read through the Bible in a year
3. continue nightly prayer/devotions with Trent
4. drink less coffee (just kidding! I was just checking to see if you were paying attention)
5. run a 5k (not kidding.... now it's on here, I have to do it)
6. find LOVE all around me

Business Goals-
1. create beautiful paintings
2. inspire and encourage others through my work
3. create something NEW and not just what "everyone else is doing"

For Anne:
1. encourage healthy eating and exercise
2. continue piano lessons
3. figure out a good inhaler/ or something to help with her asthma so that #1 can be accomplished
4. teach her to be a strong young lady, not someone who will follow the crowd

For Abbey:
1. she wants to run a race this year
2. continue piano lessons
3. encourage kind and loving words
4. teach her to be strong, yet gentle and compassionate at the same time

For Maggie:
1. encourage her newly found love of mathematics
2. she would like to start reading this year
3. try to help her work through her anger when she is tired
4. help her to continue to be strong and loving

For Caroline:
1. help her learn to walk this year
2. and say a few words
3. love on her like crazy
4. try not to spoil her terribly

There you have it, folks. The hubs and I are heading out tonight for a fancy dinner with the crew from his office. I'm looking forward to a night full of adults (although I imagine I'll end up talking about my children for part of the time... Isn't that funny how that works?)

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. Cheers to 2015 and the great things the Lord has in store for us. I'm continually grateful for each new day as it unfolds before my eyes. I honestly believe that each day is a gift. We have a lot of choice in how the day turns out. As I told one of the girls who wasn't very interested in hiking with us one day this past fall, "You can choose to have a stinky attitude and have a stinky time, or you can choose to have a positive attitude and have a good time. But either way we are taking this hike, and I plan to enjoy it." She trailed behind for a moment or two, clearly considering her options. The next thing we knew she sprinted past us laughing. Isn't that the best? So often we have the choice. What do you choose for 2015?

We (the Hesses) choose Joy.

Steadfast

It has been months since I have taken the time to sit down and write out a blog post. But this was so good I had to make the time for it this morning.... I have Baby napping, and three big girls out in the beautiful, falling snow.

On Monday (today is Wednesday), November 24, 2014, Trent and I went to refinance our home mortgage. I know you are rolling your eyes right now thinking "Who really cares?" Under normal circumstances I would agree with you. It would be one of those mildly annoying Facebook status updates that I scroll right past. (Because really, do we need to know that you went to the gym this morning and burned 5 million calories, or that you are at the dentist getting a tooth filled, or that you are refinancing your home mortgage?) The answer, friends, is, "No."

Trent and I drove separate to the title company, he came straight from work, and I came after safely dropping our four girls off with my in-laws. After signing our next 30 years away, I wondered if Trent would care if I quick went across the street to ACMoore to get some paint supplies. (A trip to the craft store by myself?? This was too good to pass up.) He said fine, he called to order pizza which he planned to pick up and bring to his parents' house for dinner.

I'm sorry if I'm boring you to tears, because the good part is just around the corner.....

I took longer than I expected at the craft store. When I was just a few minutes down the road the traffic news on the radio talked about an accident at the intersection of Byerland Church Road and Rawlinsville Road. If you aren't local and have no idea what I mean, this intersection MUST be crossed to get to Trent's parents's house, and is less than a mile from the entrance of their development.

Instantly I had this deep, awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. Trent would have been ahead of me on the drive home and had to go through that intersection. I quickly switched off the radio and the silence enveloped me. Then I did something I don't think I have ever done before in such a way. I prayed Scripture. Verse after verse after verse came pouring out of my mouth. I don't know how long I prayed but this amazing feeling of "peace that passes understanding" came over me. And I knew in that moment that even IF something did happen to Trent, that the LORD is my Rock and my Salvation, my ever present help in trouble. And that even IF something happened that the Lord would see me through, He would never leave me, nor forsake me. And even IF something terrible happened that the Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases.

As I neared the intersection I kept anticipating lights, ambulances, and emergency vehicles. And there were no lights. There was nothing. No car off the road, no evidence that anything had happened there.

After talking with Trent he said there had been no accident when he went through several minutes before I did.

I don't know if the news radio had the wrong intersection, or if it was just a little fender bender, or what the case was, but I knew in that moment that could have been rattled with fear, that I felt peace. It was a beautiful moment.

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving, and I can truly say that the thing I am most thankful for is the steadfast love of the Lord. It never ceases. That doesn't mean that I will never go through hard times or lose loved ones, but the Lord will see me through each of those days. Thank you, Lord!

**Also, if you do not currently memorize Scripture I encourage you to do so. The girls memorize a verse every week, and they have helped me to memorize the verses right along with them.**

I'm Offended!

How many times do we hear those words? How many times do we say them? People, can we just STOP!

I think often when I hear those words, they come out sounding different from "I'm offended". They might sound like, "I disagree ..." or "I can't believe...." or "I heard that...."

Let me give you a more tangible example. Have you seen this video? It's a Job Interview for the World's Toughest Job.

It's a sweet video that was created before Mother's Day to thank moms for the hard work that they do. I'll add my personal disclaimer that many of the qualifications are exaggerated from my personal mommy-ing experience (such as - no sleep. My kids are *usually* good sleepers.) However, it's not necessary to nit pick the video to match your exact experience. The idea is that moms do a hard and often thankless job, and it can be quite tough.

After this video went crazy on my Facebook feed I finally decided to watch it. It was sweet and touching. Then I saw some comments from "non-moms". Comments such as "I'm sick of being told I'm not good enough because I'm not a mom". Comments like, "Oh please, no mom does all of those things".  Comments such as, "My job is stressful and pressing, too. Seriously? Toughest job in the world?"  And on and on.

No where in this video did it say you are not good enough if you are not a mom. That is the fear of the individual commenter. Granted, I would agree that probably most moms don't do everything in the video ALL the time - however, there are probably seasons in their mothering where they do those things.

Can you guys see what I see? People are SO selfish. If you are not a mom then this video isn't intended for you. It is a perfectly sweet video for moms. There is absolutely no reason to get offended over this video. I could understand how it may make you sad if you wanted  to be a mom and are not. But even then, those are the feelings of the individual, and doesn't mean the video is worthless just because you are not a mom.

I feel like every time I turn around people are posting videos or articles about a "cause" they are for or against. For example: breastfeeding in public. The few times that I am out during the time I  need to breastfeed, I use a nursing cover. My opinion is that there are times that it probably is not appropriate to sit in a group of people and nurse your baby. To me, it can feel awkward to have a serious conversation while hearing slurping noises coming out from under the nursing cover. But if it makes me uncomfortable it is my problem, not the mother who is nursing her baby.

The ONLY time I have ever seen a mother breastfeed her baby in public without a cover was at the mall in the play place. It was an Amish lady who just opened the front of her dress and started feeding her baby. I'll be honest to say I was surprised, but I didn't quick hide my kids eyes or act like the sky was falling. In fact, that seemed more appropriate than the aforementioned setting.

Plus, do people really care that much? Maybe I'm just sheltered and don't go into many public places, but I really don't even see why this is an issue.

All that to say, can we all just please stop being so selfish? The more I talk to friends and listen to friends the more often I see selfishness creeping into our lives. We may try to justify it, but lets be honest with ourselves and see it for what it is.

Another day, I'll speak more on selfishness, but in the meantime, let's take a hard look at ourselves and try to get that plank out of our own eye before picking the speck out of our neighbor's eye.