American Honey

Lady Antebellum has a great song out called "American Honey" that talks about growing up nice and slow in the country. Lately I have realized I am not actually the city girl I once thought I was... in fact I am quite the opposite. I love hiking, camping, picnics, lemonade, hearing the wind through leafy trees, and the idea of having clotheslines and a treefort in a backyard with no end.

As I raise my kids, I also picture what they will look back on someday, once they are grown up and have moved on to wherever life takes them. What will they remember? Will it be sitting down to practice their ABC's, or will it be running through the sand and water at the beach? I sure hope we end up playing and singing and running around so much that they hardly remember the moments we have spent disciplining them, "teaching" them, and cleaning.

There is a constant pressure in my head, and whether its peer pressure or just my own personal agenda, the fact is that its there. The idea that my kids need to be geniuses, or pro athletes, or amazing entertainers... the pressure of turning my kids into phenoms.

The truth is that none of that matters. My kids will be whoever they turn out to be regardless of whether or not they are reading at the age of three. I could fill out our chore chart all I want, but it is more important to allow Ian to be a kid. He will have to grow up soon enough.

I want my kids to grow up nice and slow, and only feel the pressure to be themselves and find their true potential in whatever they enjoy. Call me old fashioned, but I just want my kids to be kids. :)

Joy...

...in forgetting to take pictures, not caring that I am covered in salt water and sand, throwing nutrition guidelines out the window on a hot, sunny day, and having a four year old who LOVES his "homework" books.

That's really all. :)

Updates.

- We just moved into my parents house for the summer. We now live in a "downstairs" bigger than the house we used to own! Loving the storage space, kitchenette, and most of all... having a bed that stays put and doesn't have to be tipped against the wall every morning!

- As qualified as I am, I didn't get either job I applied for. You have to be pretty amazing to beat me in the race for a RECEPTIONIST position, so kudos to the person who got it!

- My church just started a morning fellowship group for young women, and I have really been enjoying getting to know the girls. I already have some amazing friends outside our church, but it has also been great to develop friends within our church family!

- I've been on a no milk and "almost-no" cheese diet for two weeks now. I feel amazing! Still eating yogurt, and occasional ice cream with a Calcium excuse. (You know, just like "I should have a glass of wine... its good for my, uh... heart.")

- Giant whiteboard calendar + dry erase reward chart = extreme family organization, yay!

- After going back and forth constantly over whether to sell the cafe or not, we are still indecisive. And to be honest, I am tired of debating and trying to figure out our family's future! There are some things we really need to take care of and get figured out, and it is taking so long to get there. More than anything, I want to do what God intends for our life. I want to be able to live life simply focusing on where God is working around me, and not so much on my own life.

- Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band are my new favorites. Yes, I love country. Ever since that fateful day in my freshman dorm room when I turned the tv to CMT. But you'd be surprised to know, my other faves are Evanesence and System of a Down. What can I say, I need some variety in my life. :)

Well, I guess that's it. I would have flowered over it and made it look pretty, but I thought bullet points seemed to work better. :)

Luke 9:23

Should I at all be surprised that on the day I choose to dwell on a verse about denying my life to follow Christ, I get the long-awaited rejection email from the company who interviewed me for a job?

And you (assuming someone happens to be reading my blog) would be surprised to know I am fully content with this news.

In fact, I expected it. After all, at every moment in my life I chose to give full control to God, He completely took care of me.

I don't really know where to go with this blog post.

But I think I want to urge my readers to read Luke 9. I'm not going to write it here, because I want you to open a bible.... or at least www.biblegateway.com

Throw whatever fears, worries, or expectations out the window, because to follow Christ means to let go of yourself!