Mother Love

motherhood + home + family

MISCELLANEOUS

October 11, 2013

It’s been a great week for us here in the Finger Lakes. And while fall is definitely in the air, the days are still very pleasant and I’ve been soaking up the warmth and sunshine while I can! The hubs and I both pulled out our moccasin shoes (ok, more like slippers really) the other night, and it does feel fun to wear those cool weather things again. Bring on the scarves, boots, and sweaters! I’ve brought up my winter clothes from the basement and getting my sweaters and boots cleaned up and ready to wear. I’m honestly pretty excited for the first snowfall and actually having a real winter for the first time in my life. And when it’s cold outside, love will keep me warm on the inside. *grin*

– It’s pumpkin time again, and like everyone else, I’m obsessed with using it anyway that I possibly can. I have a few cans of it in the pantry and a few bags of home roasted and pureed pumpkin in the freezer. One of my favorite ways to use pumpkin is to mix it with yogurt and use as a topping for pancakes…sprinkle with some cinnamon and sliced almonds and you’ve got breakfast (or lunch or dinner, if you’re like me and could eat pancakes at every single meal). Years ago I had a really yummy pumpkin soup at a restaurant that would be fun to try to recreate, but I don’t feel brave enough to tackle that this year…maybe next!

– I am pretty pleased with myself that I actually completed a little DIY project this week…! I’m really not the crafty, project-y, do-it-yourself kind of person…I’ve learned long ago that I can buy something with the greatest intentions to redo or repurpose it, but it usually just sits in a closet somewhere until I get tired of it and throw it out or sell it. I’ve been wanting a desk/table for our entryway for a while now, but I’m not willing to spend money on something new right now. I found a desk at a local yard sale a month or so ago, and while I wasn’t super in love with it (and was actually not going to get it, just because I knew it would take some work to get it to what I was looking for), the lady said she would give it to me for one dollar…how could I refuse such an offer? So I took it, and it’s been sitting in the garage until today when I finally moved it to it’s new home in the entry. I gave it a few coats of paint, the hubs fixed the one leg that was shorter, and it turned out beautifully.

– I’m not the type that gets really homesick when I’m on a trip or even when I move away, but this week I’ve really been missing my old friends and family in the south. There is just something about those friends who’ve literally known you forever. I love making new friends and I’ve got some super-awesome ones here in the north that I would never trade, but somehow I think there is a spot in my soul that only the oldie goldie gal pals can touch. Cheers to friends both old and new!

– My sister-in-law has a beautiful blog and wrote a really great post last week on marriage. Read it.

– And another good one from my brother-in-law! (We’re a writer family, we are)

– If you’re a women and you didn’t watch this video via my Facebook feed, watch it! So so so good. So so so true.

– This article really challenged me this week….wow, conviction!

– I’m still obsessed with The Digital Age band and this song has now topped the favorites chart. Play it, and play it loud.

Cheers to a great weekend, ya’ll!

A LADY

October 10, 2013

We’re told as little girls to be a little lady, or to sit like a lady, or act like a lady. And that’s a good thing…a very good thing. Our daughters should be taught what it means to be a lady, but I think that perhaps the idea of a lady is a little abstract in today’s world. What does that mean exactly? How is one a lady? Is a lady one who cleans her home and cooks her meals wearing high heels and a pretty dress and bright red lipstick, or one who never speaks louder than a whisper (Ever After, anyone?), or one who is always perfectly manicured and makeup-ed, never gets her hands dirty, or sips tea with her pinky in the air? One who wears only pink and lace and pearls? Is a lady only a certain personality type, or is it the way you dress, or the way you talk?

Can you be social and outgoing and still be a lady? Or must you sit quietly in the corner of the room, just observing and smiling demurely at the conversations and party going on around you…?

What is the quintessential lady? (I’ve always wanted to use that word…!)

I don’t think I have the answer to that question completely formulated yet…but I mull over it at times. I can often feel like a failure at being a lady. I laugh loudly and obnoxiously at times, I talk way too fast, I trip over my own feet, I spill things a lot, I’m in general a kind of hurried person (hence the reason I spill things…), and I’m not really the pearls and pink kind of girl.

But somehow I don’t think these things are really what constitutes a lady.

Maybe being a lady is more about understanding who we are as women…understanding what it is that we are created for. We are created to bring beauty, life, rest, and grace to this world. We are created to show who God is in a distinct female way.

I think if I focus on that aspect of being a lady, than all the other characteristics and qualities will just kind of fall into place. If I realize that the life of God within me as a woman is gentle and kind and modest and beautiful, then I feel empowered to live that out. If I value His life, then I will value mine, and as such, my life and characteristics will reflect that value.

It’s totally good to value yourself.

You don’t have to wear pink nail polish or lace dresses or speak quietly or always have the perfect manners…we’re all created differently and part of being a lady is just being exactly who you are. But I think that no matter our personalities or personal style or quirky characteristics, we can choose to be a lady. We can choose to value our place as women and to walk out of this value every day.

You are beautiful and kind and gracious, because that is who He is within you.

What about you: what are your thoughts on being a lady? Are there certain qualities and characteristics that you think a lady must have?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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HI THERE!

I’m Alicia + follower of Jesus + wife to my incredibly wonderful husband + mama to my girls, Ayla, Aveline, Fleurie and Adella. I love motherhood + family + finding joy in the little things. Thanks for stopping by!

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