A Break For Lent.

post by Casey.

Happy Monday!:)

Sooooo it’s been a whole 14days since I’ve been on Instagram…where I do the majority of my sharing…it honestly feels like it’s been SO much longer than that! It’s also been relatively easy staying off this time around. I’ve taken ‘breaks’ before…I think I made it a month at one point? But it’s always been difficult for me to stay away from that app. Probably because I’m a chronic-over-sharer:). I really do enjoy sharing most everything - the good, bad and ugly! But I’m sure there was a bit of an addiction to the scroll as well.

Buttttt this time around I’m not at all interested in coming back. Remember like 2yrs ago when I was considering leaving all together and I even got like a Gabb Phone and none of that ended up working out?!!! - I’m exhausted just thinking about that rollercoaster;). Well, maybe that was just one more step in the direction of leaving for good. Maybe I wasn’t quite ready yet, at that point? Ah, who freaking knows and how ridiculous it feels to even care about an app but I’ve really curated my space there and found a lot of things and people and inspiration that I do like. It ain’t all bad but this break has me thinking:).

Instagram was always my biggest time suck and I’ve certainly filled it with other things  - not all great - but I’ve been able to leave brain space for writing and thinking and reading:).

We even started an I’m Bored List for the kids! Anyone who says “I’m Bored!” - which I think they do out of sheer habit now and not actual boredom:| - has to pick something to do off the I’m Bored List!!

I really need to start one of these lists for myself as well. For instance…today I’m not highly motivated but I coulddddd be doing something but I can’t think of anything that hasssss to be done - and we all know there’s plenty that could be getting done!;) So I could really use a list of small projects or tasks that I could reference when I feel stumped!:)

Okay…so, overall, maybe it hasssss been just a littleeeeee boring around here lately;). 

I’ve had a couple people ask if we’ve been up to anything at/in our Chokecherry home…nope, not really. I do have a lot of inspiration saved and could potentially fill a whole blog post just on that:).

I did just get my alpaca book in the mail: Alpaca Keeping by Harry Fields. So getting a little alpaca sanctuary set-up is on the Spring To Do List. As well as enclosing the front porch, pouring a slab for an eventual garage, planting more trees…a lot of outdoor projects, obviously:).

Books read, so far, in 2023. Starting Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah today:)

Saw this group of the prettiest blue books at St. Vinnies recently and would love them for my someday-built-in-shelves:). Buy now…figure out if they’re worth actually reading later;).

Someone will be 9mo this week! She’s still nursing and cosleeping - minus the sleeping part;). No teeth yet and she’s full on crawling (which I don’t feel like any of my kids actually did?! They mostly just drug themselves around until they got up and walking;). We’ve given her some little bits of cut up food (maybe twice;) but she’s mostly just playing with it. She’s a little ham and we love her very much:).

I recently found a new recipe for our laundry detergent that I think will, hopefully, save us a bit of money. I currently purchase Young Livings laundry soup and make a mixture with that (and do love) but this new one would be all dry (and still nontoxic) ingredients but cheaper! My only hesitation in switching is that these liquid containers wouldn’t work and I’d have to purchase a new container:/. You can find the recipe here:).

Lent and this Instagram break have coincided with quite a few larger life events - like my upcoming 40th birthday and Jacob and I being remarried in our church at the end of the month:). I ended up thrifting the dress I’ll wear for our little ceremony for $6.50 and then of course, fell in love with these very expensive shoes that I will not be purchasing…such is life;):).

The bunnies got to chill in the house while we cleaned bunny cages and got them set-up outside! These warmer temps have us really looking forward to Spring!

I recently thrifted these little clocks - it was the typography for me:). I actually…finally…started a tote with some of those thrifted finds that I felt were special enough to hang-on to for a someday/dream airstream shop?! Who knows:). Maybe this another one of those first steps:).

Mae doing Mae things;). Naked cupcake cooking!

Proof Of Mom/Life.

My new found love of highlighting continues;):).

You’re Not Enough (and that’s okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey

Stumbled upon this adorable graphic the other day and thought it would be cute for the kids! I sent out an email to get a higher quality copy for the Easter Basket:). You can find it here:).

And now that I got your toes a little wet with that adorable but religious graphic;)…here’s your official Heads-Up that below are just a few things (COVID) I’ve listened to (POLITICAL) or are interesting me (RELIGIOUS) recently. Take it or leave it;).

And on that note…have a wonderful week!

“…I really wonder if all of us haven’t just been functioning off of cortisol and adrenaline and fight or flight for the last 3yrs and now that the fog or that weight is lifting a little bit…we’re all just freaking exhausted. Because look around you, doesn’t it seem like the real life people (I’m not talking about the media), everybody's tired. The restaurant workers are tired, healthcare workers are tired, moms are exhausted, dads are tired, kids are tired. Maybe we’re exhausted because we just walked through 3yrs of collective trauma and gaslighting and now we’re catching our breath a little bit and so we’re just exhausted. Compound that with the fact that we live in a culture - largely for those that live in western civilization - with literally no off switch…”

You can find this episode here:).

Jacob sends me a lot of videos that don’t end up getting watched;) but this was worth the 13min.

You can watch/listen here.

If you’re not already aware…there’s a pretty important election coming up on April4. I try to focus more on the ‘controllables’ - my family, our home - but I’m gonna share about this local election, in hopes that you’ll get out and vote and that the outcome will be in our favor:).

And for those of you in our township, Jacob will be working this election (his 3rd!:), so come vote and say Hi!

Article above linked here.

Article above linked here.

You can find this episode here.

“…she says: it’s a human right. Abortions a human right.

Of course…not surprised to hear them say that this is their position. But I’ve yet to hear them explain that. What do you mean it’s a human right? How do you know it’s a human right? Where does this human right come from? Where does it originate? Where do rights come from in general? 

The founders of our country believed that human rights are rooted in the supernatural, in God. They come from the creator. We have our human, our natural rights by virtue, the fact that we are human beings. We are endowed with them by the creator. Is that what you believe? So then are you then claiming that we have a natural God given right to kill our children? So God creates the baby but then also gives us the moral right to kill those babies that he creates? Is that the argument you want to make? And if the right doesn’t come from God…where does it come from? How do you know it exists? 

The only other option is that the rights come from the government. That’s where all rights come from and it’s just something the government comes up with, basically, arbitrarily. The rights are rooted in the whims of the government. The problem then is that if the government says: okay we’re taking that right away, then you have nothing to appeal to beyond the government…you have nothing beyond or above the government to appeal to. So it doesn’t make any sense to say: no, that’s a right you can’t take it away.

Well, the government decides what a right is…so if the government decides it’s not a right anymore, then it’s not.”

my cup overflows.

Post By Casey.

I didn’t read even 1 page of that book…but I do travel with a diffuser now;).

It’s 1121PM. Evan is stretched out horizontally across the bed…starting with her head on my belly like a pillow;):). 

This feels very reminiscent of the newborn days…”when the darkness comes”…as my sister Mal and I call it - the dread you feel as night falls and you know it’s unlikely to bring rest and you just…kinda lay there (very possibly crying quietly😬🫠), wishing for dawn to break - I would always just tell myself that if I could make it till 4AM…4AM was a reasonable time to crawl out of bed and start coffee:). 

But here we are almost 9months in and still…no sleep.

(1244AM…less than 4 more hours🙂🙏🏻)

After months - j/k…it’s absolutely been years at this point - of sleeping in much less than 4hr chunks…my face is taking the brunt of my exhaustion…well, that and my attitude. I do so so…okay…until I can’t be okay with it anymore. Tonight is one of those nights. 

Writing helps:).

My apologies for seemingly never feeling like writing when I’m in a positive and inspired mood…but I will say…though they sometimes begin from a ‘negative’ place…I hope you know I always find my way to a hopeful one:).

Since I’ve been on on an Instagram break for Lent, you might not have known that I attended my Great Uncles funeral in Iowa over the last few days. Myself, Evan (8months) and Mae (2-1/2years) rode with my parents all the way to Iowa (where the girls and I set up shop in a hotel…to not sleep for 48hrs;). It was honestly…wonderful. 

Is it not the goal in life, to live 92 full, cognizant years, surrounded by the family you built? 

I’m linking his obituary HERE if you happen to be wading through sleepless nights for any reason and care to read about the very full life of a pretty great man:).

Someone said to my mom recently: look at the legacy you’ve created!

May the years of sleepless nights be the hardest thing I ever face. 

They’ll surely be worth the legacy I hope we’re creating.

RIP Uncle Duane🙏🏻❤️.

I meant to grab photos with and of the family but this is the only one I got…in the driveway when I was dropping them off after we got back home;)

Drinking From The Saucer - John Paul Moore

Outer Order, Inner Calm.

I think I shared something recently about not being able to have it all - my version of ‘all’ - at least not at the same time? 

I’ve often had conversations with one of my sisters about wanting all the little babies…while I’m ‘young’, with money, out in the garden, homeschooling and traveling, living in a ‘done’ house, sleeping 8hrs a night, doing yoga + running, reading every day, Jacob working part-time, me having a little business, a minimalist lifestyle, making my own bread, canning my own food, styling my hair, planting lavender, growing an orchard, feeding the alpaca/donkeys/chickens/pony/ETC;),…oh, I’m also debt-free, know how to play guitar, and driving a very nice suburban;).

Stupid-long point - if any;) - is that I don’t think any of that is completely out of my grasp. I might, possibly, believe we can have it all…to some degree…if we’re willing to see it from all angles. That I want order + calm but it might not show up when and how I’d like it to:).

Getting my driveway walk in before 10AM:).

Alternate Post Title: Perspective;).

Alternate Post Title: She Still Doesn’t Realize God’s Got This;)

The same cousin who sent me the outer order, inner calm phrase is the one I mentioned feeling like meditation and prayer felt similar to me. Maybe we do have it all - maybe it’s all the same?! - at the same time. Maybe, sometimes, we just don’t see/realize it?

Did I just say that?:|

In different seasons, the things we ‘want’ may just look a little different (replace all We and Ours with ME;). 

Two years ago, moving my body looked like a summer of running and a 5k race! Last year moving my body looked like evening walks with the whole family down the trails Jacob had created around our property. In this season, it’s walking the driveway, back and forth, with 6 kids trailing behind:). In another 30yrs I hope it’s water aerobics at the Florida Campground Jacob and I are spending the winter at between traveling to see our kids in their various locations:).

- speaking of chaos…this mindless-ish chatter is making me dizzy but cheers to you if you’re still following;).

Maybe today I didn’t get down on my knees and pray but I sent one up on the drive in for school pick-up. Maybe I didn’t workout but I chased down the dog for the glove he took off Maes hand. Maybe I didn’t find the joy in the mundane tasks of dishes and laundry and bills - maybe I didn’t do them at all - but I listed some things online and filled a bag for Goodwill. 

Maybe it’s grace I need…I bet I’ve already been receiving it but I’m being too big of a butthead to acknowledge it. Maybe it’s all alright.

Yesterday it was all hard. Overwhelming. Seemingly, impossible to see through all the perceived chaos, to the calm that I envision. I couldn’t bring myself to do the dishes even one more time. I was frustrated that it took so long to get the kids ready to go outside just to take a deep breath! I was mad at the mess, the chicken shit on the front porch, the dust the hair…the undone-ness of this home that I’d only prayed to have 3yrs ago.

This isn’t me announcing that I’m never going to feel sorry for myself again;|. 

*NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT;)*

Maybe I make it hard for myself - in fact, I know I do:| - and I get stuck wanting my ‘wants’ to look a certain way and to show up at a certain time…but as the seasons have changed and wizzed by and I look back…it seems I’ve always had and gotten what I wanted…and then some.

Today is a good day and I’d like to believe this day, days like this…they are me. The real me. The one I want to be. The one I’m trying to become. 

“On days like this, He just wants you to trust Him. He just wants you to know everything will happen when it is supposed to. And not only in regard to physical things, but all the more valuably, the rich and absolutely necessary spiritual growth your soul so desperately craves. On days like this, Trust Him. Let Him give you wellness for your soul. Find peace while you are growing for even here, He’s in control.”

- Morgan Harper Nichols

 

Randoms.

I was going to open with:

Life has been so busy!!!

But truly…it hasn’t. Mae’s been busy. So.dang.busy. Like, she never stops. “NEVVVVERRRR!” - that’s actually what she yells anytime we tell her not to do what she’s doing:|.

I just had to clean up a mess of applesauce she made. 

Get her unstuck from Evans walker. 

My ass just got wet from sitting on the toilet seat after she…peed? played in?…the toilet. 

She managed to open and drink half a bubbler. 

She bit into and swallowed/choked (only slightly but choking is my absolute worst nightmare) on a squishy ball - I was still shaking a half hour later:(. 

She’s naked all the time - potty training 101;). 

She doesn’t want her bottom buckled in her car seat and fights you to get it done. 

She wants my water. My food. My snack. My bed. My boobs;).

So yeah…life has been pretty chill, otherwise;).

^Pause to acknowledge every dinosaur, on every one of the 117 pages of the book Zeke is leafing through;).

“Casey, LOOK!” x 117.^

Sooooo, what I was saying…haven’t been busy, not currently too busy but about to get somewhat busy-ish;).

We’re kicking it off with my dads birthday at the end of the week, as well as the kids’ rescheduled Christmas Concert! After that…dentist appointments, Homer is starting piano lessons!!:), a few more basketball games, Happy Hoops (basketball for Rocky:), a school dance, panacake breakfast, Jacob and I will be taking an NFP class, a Free Throw Contest for Homer, and ending the month with Luke’s 15th birthday (omg…I’m having a hard time with that…how?). 

And THEN no birthdays in February, for our immediate clan…the calm before the 4 birthdays we’ll be celebrating in March - including my 40th!!!:).

Phew.

There you have it.

Now…gotta go get Mae and Zeke away from the humidifier that they’re currently…licking:|.

Chokecherry all lite up at night:)

I actually requested my mom get me a subscription for a food magazine this year - after having a house renovation one the last few years. As much as I love all that inspiration - see below:), I’m trying to scale back a bit on my ‘wants’ here. Don’t get me wrong…I’m still coming up with a To Do/Wish List daily…I just don’t need any help in this department!

House and Garden

I didn’t do a great job of showing off the shelving with the plants in that bathroom BUT the shelving with the plants in that bathroom!!!!

I snapped a quick photo of our bathroom - below - to show you how I could potentially make that plant shelf a reality. That rectangle isn’t actually a window - there’s no hole beyond that. My dad just put that plywood there so that we could get the drywalling done. SO me moving that window down would only be slightly annoying;).

Down and bigger - my bad;).

Light and Dwell

And then I’d add a little curtain - because, eventually, there will be a deck outside that window:).

Found via Pinterest

Pinterest Rabbit Hole + Me = an hour of unsupervised children.

Okay…I just gotta break this down a bit cause I love so much about all 4 of these:

Top Left That’s kinda, exactly, what I’d like to see for our stair railing - black with a nice mix of traditional + modern. Add a gallery wall all the way up and we’re golden:).

Top Right This is just…adorable…perfection!!! Right this minute, the front porch is a top priority for me in the Spring. Close it up a bit (to keep those chickens out and to create more of an entry before walking straight into the living-room) anddddd I love that Dutch Door. Obviously.

Bottom Left Not sure how easy it is to see but those are blue cabinets and they’re so cute! If I were forced to make a decision today on cabinets…they'd be painted! I do think to keep things light and airy in our kitchen, I’d go with white counters but I just love this look!

Bottom Right We’ve already got a plant shelf…why not a shelf around the tub;). This is just so pretty. There will be plants and there will be art in my our bathroom.

This little hammmmm. I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU!

Also. On month 2+ of her 4mo sleep regression. Help. Help me. My face. My patience. It’s fine;). 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

via Instagram

This is her current closet. This is, honest to goodness, my dream for my closet. It is so silly that I’m struggling to downsize. Like…why?! What needs to be undone in my brain to let go of all.the.things?

I really want this and I’m going to make it happen.

Dinner:).

Live Your Truth and Other Lies

Finished my first book of 2023 (I did start it in 2022 but I’m counting it:). This was for a book club I’m a part of with The Boom Clap Community!

We’ve got an issue with the Play Room…buttttt we’ve got a plan. Before and Afters coming…eventually:).

Happy Wednesday, friends:).

Baby Fashion and a Fake New Year.

I couldn’t help myself…I grabbed these little outfits for the girls right before the New Year - just under the wire cause you knowww one of my Resolutions is to stick to a veryyyyy strict budget this year…isn’t it always:). But $7.99/each! Heck of a deal for this much adorableness! 

TJMaxx

Mal claimed Mae’s looked like an old couch…Mae said “my gah-ma has this!” Ha! And I’m still trying to work out what Evans style is…this isn’t it…but it was still very very cute:). - it was the pants with the feet for me! Gosh does that make life easier!

Do you make New Years Resolutions? 

I do make a few resolutions and those resolutions have definitely been simplified/refined over the years. After a lot of…failure and overwhelm…a girl learns to scale back:).

I ran across an interesting take on the New Year…or what some refer to as The Fake New Year…and it made some sense to me. The New Year, for a lot of people, just happens to land during the coldest/darkest time of the year. A time/season when we might be more naturally inclined to hunker down, rest, be still, reflect…we’re told to make lofty GOALS. Start fresh! Begin anew! Work-out;)!

*Did you see that the Christmas section is now the big ol’ work-out section at your local Target?…and is anyones gym NOT offering a low sign-up fee for you on January1? 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with setting intentions any time of the year but is it possible January might be a less than ideal time…leading to that, aforementioned: FAILURE AND OVERWHELM?! 

The information I read suggested that Spring makes more sense as a New Year. 

“Spring is the time of renewal; most animals birth then, flowers and crops bloom or get planted for the season, the sun re-emerges, animals come out of hibernation, etc.”

Up until 1752 we recognized a 13month calendar, with the New Year beginning in March…

Interesting Info. can be found HERE.

Okay, okayyyyy. It’s just INTERESTING. I realize this is NOT what you signed up for when I eased into this with tales of cheap, yet adorable, baby fashion;). BUT this is what happens when I find myself in a bit of a rabbit hole + some absent-minded staring out of the window from my bed with a sleeping baby on my chest for 1-1/2hrs:).

Do with it what you will;):).

Borderline-Too-Many-Caps brought to you by Coffee-After-1PM:| ;).

So this could be a long-winded way of me trying to let myself off the hook with the resolution-failing-situation…OR…orrrrrr…or just maybe it makes a bit of sense. And mayyyybe I’ve been a bit too hard on myself.

I love the feeling behind the New Year. It’s emotional to look back on the past year and how much has changed…or maybe hasn’t changed. How fast or slow it all went. What I’ll miss about it, what I’m happy to be leaving behind, and what I’m looking forward to. I usually always go into the New Year with a renewed sense of hope…but that is often fleeting. 

After learning a bit about the history/origin of the New Year, I found myself feeling like I really aligned with the idea of rest during these dark/colder months and renewal when the season changes to growth/warmth:).

perfect timing, Code:)

Happy {Fake} New Year, friends:).