going through the motions

The winter doldrums. The doldrums are that place in the ocean where the wind suddenly is gone...sails collapse, and you are going nowhere fast (unless you have a good motor!).  I am there.  I feel like I have gotten to that point in the winter where I am just going through the motions and have somehow lost the spirit of living joyfully in each moment and each day.  I make myself do the laundry, go to the gym and swim my mile, run the errands. But it just feels like going through the motions. I need to be inspired.

Throughout the day, I find myself saying little prayers, like this morning: "Lord, I don't want to get in this cold pool, but I'm going to do it anyway."  Because I know it's good for me (body and spirit). Because there is somehow a joy in sticking with disciplines like exercise. I probably need to look at what my disciplines are right now and add a few more that bring joy. Light a candle. Warm my hands on a hot cup of cocoa or cider. Spend time in scripture. Do a little knitting and not feel guilty for the time that passes with those needles in my hands.

The words to the Matthew West song "The Motions" have been in my head all day.  I share it with you, so that it might bring us all out of our doldrums and into more JOY in our lives:

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
(abridged)

how to spend an icy day off

...in a blanket tent, of course!  I used to make these with my brother all the time when we were kids...we had an Indian print bedspread and some other things that used to get made into a tent with the back of the couch or a clothesline or whatever.  So when the kiddos and I were trying to figure out how to spend an unexpected day off from school (for the big girl) and an icy morning where we weren't going to go anywhere...out came the dropcloths and old sheets, and a card table and some chairs, for tent-making. Great for play, great for a picnic lunch, great for a quiet day in.

create:: a little birdie told me...

Just a little somethin'...my big girl came home from Daisy scouts this week with a bird's nest she had made (see below), and she insisted it needed a birdie to live there.  The timing was perfect as I was craving some happy sewing.  An idea in my head, a hand drawn pattern, fabric selections by the girl, and a little sewing, and here she is! I am loving her, yet alterations already in mind for the next version...a bigger wider tail, a modified shape to the beak.  But daughter is pleased, and so am I.  Happy creating!

my new favorite craft book

Loving Scandinavian Stitches, by Kajsa Wikman! This was a post-Christmas treat to myself, and I am oh-so-very delighted to have it! It was totally an impulse buy,  and one with such delightful results. After this post, I am headed right up to my craft area and may not emerge for quite some time (luckily there are leftovers for dinner!).  Kajsa  lives in Finland, and I love her unique color palate and her simple, creative designs. It makes me want to dig through my fabric stash for all the reds, and apple greens, and icy blues... I love that not only are her projects cute and very do-able, they also immediately give me a ton of new ideas of my own.  Have I mentioned that I love this book? Much crafting to follow...

wishing for a winter wonderland

Dear Mother Nature, I would like to register a complaint.  The repeated application of only 1" of snow to my front yard this winter is only serving to frustrate me and the kids. Its kind of pretty, but honestly, you can still see the brown grass poking through.   The kids want to play in it, and to have a snow day.  They don't understand that playing in one inch of snow is really the same as playing in very cold mud.   They don't get why school goes on anyway. (I don't understand why school lets out early when it hasn't even started snowing, but that's another issue...) I just want a day or two where there is nothing to do but hole up at home, snuggle under afghans, make soup and hot cocoa, and read, watch movies, play games, and knit.  One inch is not enough snow to justify this behavior. Could we please have one nice storm of 4-8 inches? No need to go crazy here, last winter's record snows were exciting, but really, just a few more inches would do.  Thanks for your consideration, sincerely, Katie.

create:: little miss marisol mouse

 

While procrastinating on some of my post-Christmas clean-up, I found this adorable knitted mouse pattern.  And was pleasantly surprised that it was such a quick (3 hours, maybe?) knit, and that it came out so well.  In fact, when she was done, she told me I had to knit her a scarf!  So cute.  Thanks to Rachel Borello for the free pattern.  She has adorable things over at yarnigans.etsy.com. 

My dear hubby asked (in the way that husbands do): "What is she for?"  And my reply: "For me!" Just for fun. A little friend.  A bit of joy.  Glad to welcome little Miss Marisol Mouse to our family.

 She's been hanging out at the gingerbread house a lot lately. It is just her size.  No nibbles missing yet, but I'm keeping my eye on her!

I wonder if she needs a few friends?

create:: a mess

So I wandered up to my craft area this afternoon, hoping for inspiration to strike, as I am ready to begin some new-year crafting.  And inspiration struck...not in fabric, or yarn, but in paper! I enjoy scrapbooking but only usually get it done while I am on vacation in NC every summer.  And last summer I did about 2/3 of my albums for both kids from our trip to Disney World last January.  I figure, it would be nice to get them done within a year of that trip...which gives me about 2 more weeks or so. Time to get cracking! 

Today's progress: one measly page, and a giant mess on my work table.  Photos and papers strewn everywhere. It can only get better from here.   Not willing to subject you to pictures of the mess. Maybe later!