Little Altars

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."  +Matthew 11:28

I love to create little altars around my house with my most treasured pieces of love. This particular one is on the ledge above my sink. I spend a crazy amount of time there during the day and as the incense lifts, my heart turns to the sacred. I am reminded to lay my burdens down...I was not meant to carry them on my own.

I painted that little PROVIDER card to remind myself that I have ALL THAT I NEED. And that my strength and peace and my future are held together in Him. And I am thankful for that...because I am weary like WHOA today.

It's 5:30 a.m. and I haven't gone to sleep yet from yesterday. In fact, I've been up exactly 24 hours! Magical!

Let's just say that editing an eBook is no joke. But it's done! Off to my editor for one last peek and then we will be getting it ready to be released on Friday. So many of you have already purchased it...thank you from the bottom of my heart!! You will be receiving an email with a download link late Thurs. night. I cannot wait to hear what you think of it.

If you haven't grabbed a copy yet...get it now before the price goes up to $37 on Friday! So much good stuff in there...as I re-read it again tonight, I keep finding little bits and pieces of life wisdom to carry with me.

Have an unburdened & restful day!

Fighting for Joy: 5 Ways to Find Peace

This is what it looks like when I launch a new blog, finish an eBook, and move all in the same week. It's strange that the magical mess makers are conveniently missing from the photo. They're like ninjas.

At the end of the day, Matt swoops in like a knight in shining armor and has the entire thing gleaming in 15 minutes.  Oh how I love him! I breathe a weary sigh of relief and retreat to a quiet spot for a few minutes. Until the little tribe finds me. They always find me. 

But the funny thing is...when I am in the midst of the tornado of daily life and high heels are flying and dogs are chewing the heads off the toy goats...it's so difficult for me to remember that my knight is on his way. I forget that I have someone who saves the day. Every day.

Because my eyes are on the current crisis. 

It's similar to me & Jesus. During the hard days, I sometimes forget I have a savior who is ready and waiting to hear my cries...catching every tear. And believe me, there are tears. From mama and children. So much more now that we have THREE little loves. Three times the happiness, three times the feelings!

A few days ago I read this in Psalms 55:6-8

Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away and stay in the desert...
I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

I can so relate to that. Wanting to fly away to a quiet place...to gather my thoughts. Because I'm desperate for peace.  

And when mama ain't peaceful...ain't nobody peaceful. Can I get a holla from my mama tribe?! You know what I'm talkin' about.

It's a war in my mind. I am fighting against discontentment, overwhelm, and fear. I know Jesus desires the BEST for me. But the enemy is busy busy busy whispering lies. Recently, the lies have been:

"You can't finish all you have set out to do."

"You aren't a good enough mother."

"See how messy your house is right now? You're a failure."

I feel those thoughts creeping in. But I know it's not Jesus. Because it's not TRUTH. What lies are you believing today? Pinpoint them. And fight.

Fight for JOY.

And when you find the truth, make a plan. Want some suggestions? Here are 5 ways to find peace in the midst of chaos.

Root down. 

Fill your mind with scripture (Psalms are my favorite right now). Jesus IS your joy. Don’t forget that you can DO all of these things I’m telling you to do…but if you don’t have a deep abiding knowledge of HIS everlasting joy…it will all fall short.

Read inspiring words. Blogs you love. When your spirit is strong and bolstered...when your roots are planted DEEP into contentment and gratitude, you are much more apt to handle the day with joy and ease. Preferably, this happens before the day begins. But at this season in my life, with kiddos in our bed who magically wake up when I leave...that isn't happening much. Squeeze it in whenever you can. Analyze your life for any joy-takers. News sites. Toxic people. Poisonous thoughts. And stop indulging.

Breathe deep.

Breathing is a huge stress reliever. I will often go all day without a deep cleansing breath. During meltdowns of the little girl variety, I will hold them and remind them to breathe and will have them do it with me by mimicking my own breathing. Because when you are flipping out...you sometimes need help getting back down off the ledge. 

Fill up.  

Take a bath. Create art. Photography. Watch your favorite TV show. There is no one perfect way to relax and refill your cup...everyone has their own unique way to re-focus and wind down. But the key is to MAKE TIME. Even just a 10 minute soak in a hot tub with your favorite oils will do wonders! Slap on some Spotify, throw in some Epsom salts…and light your candles. Insta-spa!

Plan escape.

Solitude in important. My favorite mini-escape lately includes a coffee in my hand while thrifting and spring rolls eaten in my van in the parking lot (where it's quiet!). If your kiddos are old enough for you to take a weekend away...do it! Even if you can’t get away…create a space in your home that you can retreat to. Even if it's your nightstand with candles, books, and chocolate. Lay on your bed and ESCAPE. Or a closet with a pillow. You can make any space perfect in that moment.

Dance more. 

I'm a big fan of the mid-afternoon dance party. You cannot remain stressed to the max when you are moving your body! Whether it be hooping or dancing on the coffee table to Let It Go (any other Frozen fans in the house?!)...you will release the tension in your muscles. It's a good thing.  Music is a powerful mood enhancer! Turn it up! The louder the better. Make a soundtrack for your life! Bonus: Dancing also initiates laughter. Laughter is essential. Don't go a day without it.

Be intentional about fighting for your joy today. Do things that fill you up and bolster your spirit...talk nice to yourself and allow yourself to rest. All while nourishing and caring for those around you.

how do you fight for joy?
Share in the comments...
Let's encourage each other with ideas!
 

Farmy Farm Farm + Jesus

keeping chickens

I have an ABSURD amount of books from the library in my home right now.  So many trips to the library. So much learning. Loving Ashley English.

come to me llama

Yes. This is an actual saved search on my Craigslist app. I cannot even tell you how happy that makes me.

llama love copy

Because...seriously. Who wouldn't want to look at this face every day? I may or may not be stalking the #llama hashtag on Instagram. (photo credit.flickr.swaimbu)

cheese grinder

After reading Made From Scratch, we took notes from author Jenna Woginrich and headed to the antique store yesterday to search for a few kitchen items that we needed. Her take is that you should first search for older, well-made pieces before dashing off to Target to buy it's plastic, soon-to-break counterpart. I do this at thrift stores, but it was a lot more fun at the antique store :)

nottarget

We found a cheese grater to replace our broken one. And a meat tenderizer, a ladle, a spatula, and...drumroll....a Le Creuset lavender pitcher! Eeeeep! :) Everything was really reasonably priced. We will be making many return trips to Front Range Mercantile! Matt had to DRAG me out of there :)

handcrank

Oh, and I can't forget my $16 hand crank burr coffee grinder. I would love one of these someday. But this is going to be great for now!

Screen Shot 2013-03-29 at 10.20.32 PM

Screen Shot 2013-03-29 at 10.20.14 PM

I'm a little bit in love with this new online magazine...From Scratch. Pretty pictures. Great articles. Instant gratification! It's free and online only...so go check it out!

Screen Shot 2013-03-29 at 10.19.26 PM

Homesteady goodness.

backwoodshome

Speaking of magazines...I ordered up some back issues of Backwoods Home on eBay. OH the joy! Total homesteading/survivalist geekery.

fb

I asked for your advice on Facebook and you delivered! 68 responses to my garden help pleas! :) As of this very moment, I still only have tomato starts and I'm picking up some alpine strawberry re-plants today. The majority of you seem to like Baker Creek Seeds...so I think I might order up the rest of my seeds from there. I cannot WAIT for the warmer weather to stay so I can get out to the farm and put my hands in some dirt! Next on my gardening list is to watch Back To Eden, which several of you  recommended.

jesus calling

My mind continues to be in constant motion. Thoughts of feeding goats, kissing llamas, decorating a new house, and waking up to mountain views all compete for attention with three girls and nursing and cooking and cleaning and packing up our current house. Oh, and throw in working for my parents and excitedly welcoming 10 different guests into our home in April. Woooooo! Life is FULL right now. BUT SO GOOD.

A few days ago in my Jesus Calling book, I was reminded of this big truth (love the words in bold):

Be still in My Presence, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention.  Nothing is as important as spending time with Me.  While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind. If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you.

Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you.  Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you.  Though I delight in blessing My children, I am deeply grieved when My blessings become idols in their hearts.  Anything can be an idol of it distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry.  As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest fight of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory!!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.  ~Romans 12:2

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ~Revelation 2:4

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ~Colossians 1:27

It's so very easy to allow the farm and my busy-ness to become "idols" in my heart. So easy. If I pick up my chicken books and my Backwoods Home Magazine the first thing in the morning before I pick up my Bible...I know that something is out of balance. This week I will be working on RETURNING TO MY FIRST LOVE. Asking for His guidance throughout this process. Walking alongside my Creator, my Father, my Friend.

Have an amazing Easter weekend my friends!