Just a BlinkProof Time Flies

My blog has gone quiet over the past several weeks. Below is a lettered list of where I’ve been during this time. After all, it is said, you  can’t really tell about a person until you walk a mile in their shoes!

a. Ballet flat

I walked to a funeral.

Peter’s Grandma Rose passed away peacefully at 92. She loved to play organ, read pulp novels, watch action films and smoke cigarettes. She had the most perfect manicure all the time. Her earring collection was sparkly and plentiful. I’ll miss you Gramma.

b. Athletic shoe

I walked down stairs to workout – nearly everyday.

P90X, baby. I am on week 3 of my quest for fitness. I have found muscles I’d forgotten about, so that’s good. The kids love watching us jump and around on our workout mats. It’s even inspired them to workout a time or two.

c. High heels

I walked to a black-tie political dinner event.

Open-toe, sling back, sequined pumps gave me just the right amount of “i’m not just a SAHM in slippers” vibe that I so desperately needed. (nothing wrong with the slipper vibe either).  It was nice to  sit next to my hubby and some good friends, during a meal that did not involve chicken nuggets.

d. Plaid canvas

I walked into a gorgeous horse barn for an outdoor wedding.

I was one of the most special, beautiful ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed. To get to the wedding, I drove 2 states away (for 9 hours) and left my 2 babies behind (for 5 days)! Ryan and Molly loved their first road trip and the captive audience (parents in the front seat).

e. Buckled loafer

I walked to a friend to deliver a meal.

My good friends just had their 4th child – total of 4 girls! I put together a meal for a grill-out. Potato salad, meat, bars – yum! I love warm Spring days especially when their is a new life to celebrate. They named her Clara. So sweet!

Do your shoes tell a story? Where have you been lately?

Love,

Jess

Heidi at Wonder Woman Wannabe (fellow bible huggin’, live lovin’, crafty blogger) had a Chocolate Blue giveaway (custom signs and stationary) and guess what?

I won! Nothin’ kicks a writing slump to the curb, like getting a custom sign in the mail! Whoot!

When Emily, from Chocolate Blue, asked what initial and kid’s name I wanted for my wall sign…I blushed.

I was kinda-sorta thinking about getting a sign with my blog name. How ’bout putting on a big J. Cause my first initial is J and so is Just a Blink’s.

I stammered on about how I had 4 kids so it would be hard to choose which one to get done. But, really I fooled no one about just plain wanting something for myself!

I knew seeing this handmade, Just a Blink sign would inspire me, every time I looked in its direction. My new wall sign makes me think about all the reasons I blog.

I love to:

• write
• be in this little slice of blogdom I call home
• forgive myself for misplacing commas half of the time, at best
• record and remember the moments that blink by
• dream of my future just for the sake of dreaming
• think beyond myself
• hear from my readers

Plus, Chocolate Blue threw in two super cute handmade notecards. Cupcakes!

Sweet!

You’ll be hearing from me tomorrow,

Jess

Proverbs 31: 17b

Her arms are strong for her tasks. 

Peter and I are both feeling that our arms are not strong enough for our tasks. Also, my muffin tops have now turned into a muffin loaf. I gave myself 6 months post twin delivery to “not care” about exercise and watching calories.

My 6 month marker has passed.

Enter, p90X. Yes, like the infomercial.

I bought a new workout outfit, athletics shoes, a pull-up bar, a heart rate watch and an exercise mat. So, far this workout regimen has consisted of shopping. I’m calling it an investment in my future. Like, if I don’t invest – I won’t have a future.

I passed my fit test over the weekend. It felt good find my ab muscles again, even if they’re off in Neverland.

Today is day 1.

Good grief, no, I’m not going to show you my before photo! Well, not yet anyway. In 90 days, I may post the before photo, if I have a super strong looking after photo, that is.

Here’s to a challenging 90 days!

Love,

Jess

Welcome Home Pete

Fatigue is just part of the game.

He and I greeted each other with a hug. We st00d in the kitchen, sleeping on each others shoulders, until one of our kids asks to be lifted up into the hug with us. We don’t really rest until 4 other little bodies are completely passed out in their beds.

Even then we’re on call.

Hunger is to be expected.

Dinnertime comes at the same time – everyday.  Try as I may, to get my menu plans in order, sometimes life just gets in the way. What’s for dinner when we are getting ready to leave town, the morning after our son’s birthday party? Pickles, fruit roll-ups and frosting. Awesome.

Good thing Peter is a master griller! He cooked up some meat and made a meal. A nice expression of his love for me – a night off from service.

Family time fills my heart up again.

Inside, I fed the babies their bottles in the living room. Outside, squeals of laughter bounced through the open screen door hitting every square inch of this house. (Yes, I’ll admit, sometimes the squeals of tears loom around the house too.)

I guess it is all the little things, that makes my house a home.

It’s all the little things that I need strength to get through.

It’s all the little things that help me grow into a woman of character.

A familiar breeze, a loving haven, a sad story and a life time of joyful memories that make my heart fill up, time and time again.

The good, the bad, the everyday.

I could carry on about my day -

My salon appointment mix-up after the kids were in bed or How we left the cover off the sand box before it rained (again) or About how the ring I bought was the wrong size and needed returning.

But alas, the evening eventually came to a close. Slumber took me into the next day. And God carried me through yet another day full of life.

Even when my days blend together with driving, wiping, fixing, loving, teaching, yelling and trying; I will cloth myself in strength and dignity.

Love,
Jess