Life and Creativity and Balance and Gratitude

 

We got to see the most beautiful rainbow this week!  A gift of promise and hope...

When it all comes down to it, I think every thing in life is about finding balance.  It seems I am constantly straining between too much and too little. I often waver between the days where I am exhausted and overwhelmed by a hopelessly loaded to-do list and days where I am bored out of my mind with nothing to do.  (The latter days I am usually ignoring the to-do list, because I have burned myself out of EVERYTHING...I have adapted my coping skills to include a few go-to's for those days, as well.)

Overall, I think I am getting better at finding the middle ground.  And balance is peaceful.  I have a lot less meltdowns when I'm in balance, and the meltdowns I do have don't tend to be maliciously redirected at the people I love.  (You notice I said "tend."  If there is one thing I can say about my little blog, it is that I have never feigned a false sense of perfection.)

See that bulk in the tree on the left?  My majestic bald eagles.  💕

The last two weeks have been good to me.  Probably, because I have insisted they do.  I practice what I preach, my friends, and self-care was an ESSENTIAL.

I have taken the time to spend time with the eagles...and the boy half of my family.  Nature makes me happy.  It fills my soul, even when it requires bundling up.  (I still haven't given up on moving to Florida some day, but...). I have been blessed by the beauty around us, right here in the land-locked heart of the US.  Sometimes I have to hunt for the beauty.  Other times, I just have to remind myself to stop, notice and appreciate it.  It is so good for my heart when I do.

When my friend expressed concern over the bread she had made, I promised her my family would make her feel like the "queen of the kitchen" by eating it all in 5 minutes if she brought us a loaf.  I was kidding, but she played on the joke and brought us a loaf.  I may have exaggerated a bit...but it was honestly gone in 20 min.  !!

My friends have been good to me, too.  Little surprise gifts here and there (like the loaf of WONDERFUL home-made bread), reaching out and checking in.  I have intentionally surrounded myself by some seriously quality people.  They are a God-given safety-net of protection in my life.

And speaking of love...apparently I was spending a little TOO much of my attention on crafts today.  Jesse had to barge right in and sit, rather inconveniently, on my lap for a bit.

I have allowed myself a good amount of time for expressing my maker/creator drive.  (We officially got Starry Night framed...I will share when we have it hung.). I just started in on a large lot of donated material from my insanely creative sister-in-law and am making a legit purse...so cool!  Of course, I wouldn't be Kristen if I just stayed with that.  I have also started a dress project for my precious little senior.  

And speaking of...

I FINALLY got her senior pictures selected and printed.  💕

I hired my friend, Merry to take Eden's pictures in October.  So...yeah.  I'm a little behind.  But - to my credit - there were seriously too many to choose from.  And also...I'm busy.  

Now, I can officially check that off my to-do list, and checking things off is pretty therapeutic, too.  (I may or may not have written tasks on my list AFTER I completed them, just so I could check them off.  I KNOW I'm not the only one.). It's my version of "happy little trees," I guess.

Because I am definitely not an artist in the "Bob Ross" sense, but I sure do LOVE to create.  

And speaking of...

Have I told you about the little "bonsai" kit I got for Christmas????  Our little trees are growing strong.  I can't guarantee we won't mess it up, but...

Speaking of...

We have started over with the incubation process.  Our first batch did not work out and I will spare you the precious little video of the moving baby chick in the egg.

We aren't sure what when wrong with the first set, but we have some theories.  Xander went above and beyond for me and bought a trusty incubator.  We are hopeful for our new little group of "babes."  I need another being or two to take care of, don't you think?

Ah well...it brings me joy, and I do so love my chickens.  Not a bad science project, either.  You are welcome, kids!  (They have no idea how lucky they are!  I am hopeful one day...)

Well, wait...this one does.  He is an ever-present encourager, speaking his little words of praise out over the criticisms of the naysayers.

I don't neglect that I'm fortunate.  I don't exactly have a life of ease.  We all face our own hardships, some heavier than others.  But I find that in all things, God works for my good, and it is my goal to pass on all that good that I can...because a lot of life is also a conundrum, and that includes the truth that I have more in life (joy, blessing, wealth) when I am sharing what I have with others.

I hope you have the BEST week, full of gratitudes and grace!

Kristen

It may not be the ocean, but we got to experience a beach with gulls.  I'm calling it good enough!