the brink.

It’s 217PM - a Tuesday. Day27?! (give or take) of some sort of illness. All 4 of the children in my care, aged 5 and under, have, miraculously, fallen asleep…at the same time…without an ounce of effort on my part. I’m, honestly, not sure I believe it but yet…I really really can…because isn’t that how it always goes…when you’re on the brink. On the edge of losing your mind. Exhausted from the illness - yours and theirs. That’s usually when you throw your shoulder into a door jam or hit your head getting into the car or trip over the dog or spill something, rip something, lose something, forget something…

A perfectly synched up nap ONLY comes when you’re on the brink!

I’ve decided to take another little - maybe not so little? - social media hiatus. When I’m feeling under the weather or just down in the dumps…Instagram provides relief but also, the worst kind of distraction. I’ve found that with certain things, that I like to do too much…it’s an all-in or all-out type deal for me - much like alcohol - I have a hard time finding middle ground with Instagram and so it’s just easier to quit it entirely…for now:). BUT when the mood strikes, I think I’ll continue sharing here:).

Okay, I just deleted a few paragraphs but to sum it up…I just want to find that balance. The balance I’m talking about here is the one where I speak openly and honestly about my struggles but somehow keep it light enough that I don’t pull you down into the depths with me;). It’s hardddd and I’m tireddddd but it’s gonna be okayyyyy and this will passsss and I can do betterrrrr:).

And now some photos of life lately:).

It’s freezing but you can’t deny how beautiful it is.

Jacob installed a little ventless/gas stove and it’s been keeping us cozy:).

Date Day with Jacob to finish up Christmas Shopping.

Found a new favorite thrifting spot - it has some great stuff (they knew it was worth it, tho) and it had a coffee bar! - snagged this Northface jacket for $30!

I just recently made a New Years Resolution to read the Bible in 2023 or at least some sort of daily devotion/Bible-inspired…inspiration…daily. And then this showed up in the mail, from a friend:).

The current state of our playroom - which reminds me that we still haven’t fully moved all of our things out of my in-laws basement and at least a 1/4 of our belongings are still in storage:/.

Recent Listen:) The Boom Clap Podcast

“…so much of what we’re experiencing right now is just living outside of the way we were created to live.” - Rita

“I think that often it’s easy to focus on the bad things in the world, the bad things that we experience and think: I don’t deserve that. But if we flip our thinking, remembering that really, the good is what we should be focusing on and the good is what we’re undeserving of but we only have the good because we have a loving God. That totally changes our perspective and allows us to reside more in the strengths - that, like Cecily said - does not come from us but the strength that we, ultimately, have because of our lord.” - Rita

“…bitterness is often a result of deep sounding and it carries the sting of unfulfilled hopes. Bitterness is an emotional problem that often rejects reasoning…” - Psalm 73