Here are some thoughts on being loving.

I call love many things. But, easy isn’t one of them.

Loving isn’t a demeanor or state of mind I naturally bend. I want to sleep-in later, shop more often, and exercise less patience. None-the-less, I want to receive love at every turn regardless of my contributions or lack thereof.

For me, love is a choice.

Love is welcome work that I consider a full-time job. The benefits are extremely rewarding, albeit, exhausting. Being the hands and feet of the Lord to my children is humbling. Training my kids (& myself) to love one another can be a challenge.

For me, love is a commandment.

Loving takes many forms throughout my day. A harsh word withheld, an extra pair of hands for a neighbor, verbal praise, a quick-to forgive spirit, a hug, meals, or a quick txt of encouragement.

For me, love is active.

May you find “loving” in your day and always,

Jessy

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…

Combine crisp leaves, chilly winds, and a few rays of sunshine.

Blend in four siblings. Stir well with dirt and air.

Throw in a football, 2 brooms, 15 pieces of broken chalk into days with empty hours.

Cover in jackets. Let cool outdoors until people start crying or the sun sets.

To serve, place Autumn Fun on a blanket, enjoy with a runny nose and side of muddy shoes.

Love,

Jess

Fresh Produce from friends and family. Between my brother-in-law, mother-in-law and my neighbor we ate like kings this summer. Homegrown kings. (my salsa recipe will be coming soon — save those tomatoes!)

School Supplies. I’ve been collecting odds and ends school/craft supplies for years. It all seems to make sense now that I’m homeschooling the kids.

What you are grateful for today?

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Jess

Establishing a new home and a new way to “do” school in the same year summer has been one of the biggest roller-coasters of my life. Pots and pans, Ps and Qs will all get sorted out one way or another; it is the constant personal character development for me and the kids that is so hard to do!

Here are a few snap-shots from our time homeschooling.

Great-Grandma Mary "GG" listens to Ryan's read aloud assignment.

My babies exploring the patio garden.

Post-library visit impact on the living room.

Unit Study bulletin board.

Molly doing "school" on the school room table.

Cheers for school supplies!

Jess

Claire and Leah swinging on the deck.

I hope you have a great weekend chilling and grilling!

I’ll be back next week with a great salsa recipe and pictures from our first couple weeks homeschooling.

Love,

Jess

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