Really it’s sort of a catch all word, be. I had a hard time narrowing my word choice down, seeing as it is nearing the end of the New Year season, I figured I’d best be getting on with things.

Be: kind, daring, selfless, funny, willing, faithful, connected, loving, present, growing, rested, creative, intentional, joyful…

I think that’ll be enough to get me started, no?

Who or what do you want to be this year?

Love,
Jess

View my last two Resolutions at the links below!

One Word 2011: Remember

One Word 2010: Enrich

Before setting my One Word Resolution for 2012 I want to reflect a little on 2011.

Here is my Top 10 Projects in 2011 list.

10. Snowboard getaway to Tahoe, CA – ‘it takes a village’ to leave all 4 kids behind for 6 days!

9. Homemade Valentine Truffles from my Mother-in-law, (truffle recipe)

8. “Lepre-can”, growing sprouts in a can, from Ryan.

7. Painted side table with vinyl bird accents. (for Shabby Mamas)

6. Princess Molly’s 4th birthday cake. Angel Food cake with powder sugar frosting.

5. Welcome Max, my nephew! I guess that is really more my sister-in-law Lisa’s project.

4. Painted side cupboard with buffet drawers and crystal knobs. Now in my dinning room!

3. Watermelon Hedgehog by Neat Pete…who else would have the patience? Nice.

2. Puppet show curtain with the kids’ former window valance and a tension rod.

1. Number One project of 2011…insert drum roll.

Facilitating Grandparent interviews with 4 Grandparents and 3 Great-Grandparents for Ryan’s homeschooling.

Wow, what a year! I’ve been truly blessed by 2011. Here’s to hoping 2012 brings as many projects or more!

Check out my Top 10 Projects of 2010 from last year!

Love,

Jessy

Open Road

I’ m not sure what to say about my life. I only know that it feels good to type. My life sprawls out on the screen in front of me like an open book. I read my own blog to see where I’ve been and where I’m going.

For 3 1/2 years I’ve come to WordPress writing my thoughts  in a box on the internet. I recite tidbits about crafts, deep thoughts about the afterlife, and everything in-between. I neither aspire to grow a Domestic Blog empire nor be America’s top Mommy. I write to just be me.

So, what do you get?  Just a blink of my life between breaths on this Earth. I write to give my thoughts wings, to give my dreams hope and to give my family memories. I write to put it simply, because I have to.  When I say I’m too tired to type; I’m too busy to think; My blog is too boring to read; My ideas aren’t original….I die a little inside.

So are you there blog? It’s me Jessy.

Ready to type, ready to remember, ready to dream…

Ry lost some teeth.

Ryan sporting a summer smile at the beach.

Molly found some patience, fractional mind you, but patience none the less.

Molly tending to her new cousin Max.

Claire found courage.

CJ "hanging" out on the neighbor's play set.

Leah lost her willingness to give up her “thumb” after nap-time.

Leah with her "taggie" on the diaper table in her nursery.

Peter found peace during his time as a canoe leader for a wilderness week Up North. He didn’t loose any of his paddlers.

Pete carrying water at his pre-trip camp site.

I lost my cool and then found it, then completely lost it again, then figured I didn’t need ‘my cool’ because frazzled is the new look for Fall.

Molly, Me, Leah, Ryan in front of the fire pit.

What’s in your lost and found box?

Love,

Jess

Opportunities for

Concentration to

Understand

Something

-Jess @ Just aBlink

I don’t often have time to think. Sounds dumb, but it’s true. Spending time in a good ‘think’ to remember where I’ve been and where I am going is a wonderful blessing.

Much of my attention while raising little ones is focused on the who, when and what aspects of my life.

Who is crying? Who is your new friend? Who is going to fuss up!?

When will you be home from work? When will we be able to buy a new couch? When is it bedtime?

What is for dinner? What is in your hair? What could possibly explain the profound silence in the playroom?

Attention for the deeper understanding of why and how comes only when I find time to concentrate and understand something about myself or God or the World.

Why do I care if my kids express sibling-friendships? Why do I value marriage? Why do I so easily see the faults of my kids when really they are reflections of my own inadequacies?

How can I instill a hope in things unseen to my little ones? How can I express more gratitude? How can I possibly carry on when my shoulders are too heavy to lift?

So even when time is short, my brain is on mac-n-cheese-xbox-dirty sock-sippy cup overload, and my calendar shows it is time to do it all over again tomorrow…

I focus.

Love,

Jess

Did I mention going to a “Corn Drive-Thru” last week? Not even kidding. We drove up to buy a 12 ears of corn thru the window of the mini-van. So, funny and yummy.

Pretty landscape on my drive

I had a chance to partake in the small town vibe recently. No kids, husband, and agenda. Just me, warm breeze, and my camera.

I drove a stretch of 2-lane roads which landed me in downtown on main street. Rough-patch boards lined several historical buildings hinting at their thriving past. Welcoming retail shops and services seemed to be growing strong here and there, in the summer’s heat. Store stoops boomed with conversations between passers-by.  Even I chatted-it-up with the owners of the new “vintage” store that opened  in town this summer. She knew and loved the style and work of the Shabby Mamas! High Five!

i love old doorknobs, don't you?

During sunset I strolled looking in window-fronts.  I happened upon a trendy/humble/cool/owner-operated/semi-local made ice cream shop, so I checked it out.[read: saw ice cream sign and ran across the main street to get in line so fast even the cows did a double take.]

I ordered the most delicious flavor. Mint julip flavoring, grasshopper cookies, and chocolate here and there with more minty ice-cream. I was so excited my mouth literally watered a little bit as I waited for the cone to be crafted.

My hand reached out to grab the completed ice cream cone. Then the sign above the cash drawer met my eyes. It said no credit cards. What?  Clearly, I miss read. Nope, there I stood with my hand out, not taking the cone mind you,  just standing there without checks or cash.

My previously-watering mouth hanging o-p-e-n and a heartbeat of now-what-have-I-done pounding in my mind.

And just like that, he waved his hand the cone was mine. “Aw, just come back around when you can,” he beamed as I fumbled to say thank you. He wasn’t a flirt, he wasn’t a lazy cheat. He was really just a trendy/humble/cool owner of a semi-local made ice cream shop with a good sense of customer service. Now that’s a business worth coming back to…with my husband and 4 kids. Yeah, that guy just made a lot of money down the line.

Cheers for small towns, vintage markets, ice cream cones, and people who rock!

-Jess

“How can you do it? You’re so brave!”

Brave, really? I think I’ll keep bravery to describe soldiers or missionaries. Although, tackling diaper changes needs bravery now and then.

I’d classify my characteristic as “willing”.

As far as, “How can I do it?”  My gut response is,

“With all the irresistible fleeting moments to treasure, how can I not?”

Snowflake catching

Card games

Building blocks

Cars & PJs

Books outside in the shade

Constant Shadow whether you like it or not

I am the last one to say that “staying home” full time is perfect.

My kids can be loud and messy. I can be crabby and less-than-brave.

But, all those irresistible moments with my little ones, stick to me like glue.

Love,

Jess

My kitchen window sill in the new house.

When the house is still,

Morning light greets my kitchen window sill.

It passes by the cupboard door,

Pressing a glare onto the floor.

Coffee brews with a whooshing-tink,

While I posture my thoughts at the sink.

When the house is alive,

I work hard  just to survive.

Endless clean socks to fold,

Four children ‘never-guilty’ to scold.

I protect, push and pray in each exchange,

Hoping for sad hearts to rearrange.

When the sun shifts with predictable ease,

Afternoon rays pour between the trees.

Shaded hours pass by in gusty whirls,

I dream and dance with my 1 boy and 3 girls.

As the sunset flees across the rooftop,

I kiss my husband – he makes my heart drop.

-jess

Leah and Claire at the beach.

I need to unpack my entire house but the lure of fun in the sun is too great. Here is our Summer Bucket list.

Last year, 2010, I focused on the word ENRICH. I sought ways to enrich my experiences as a mother, wife and artist.

I tackled my biggest fear, the sewing machine. I took time to give back to the community through MOPS. I stitched together important relationships in my family. It was a great year!

Onto, 2011!

My one word this year…Remember.

I want to remember the greatest love story ever told, God’s Word. I want to remember those in need. I want to remember what the past has taught me about my future. I want to remember snowy windburnt cheeks and gappy Kool-Aid stained smiles.

Happy New Year,

Jess