The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{thrive goals} Thriving in 2015: A Review


When I chose thrive as my one little word for 2015, I said one thing, but meant another.  In that post, I wrote: “For me, thriving means living at my very best.  It’s about saying that I’m all in to this vocation I’ve chosen.  It’s not about striving for perfection, but an invitation to embrace every part of my full and messy life.”  But if we’re being honest, what I really meant was, “I want my life to reflect exactly how I picture it in my head.”

All year long, I’ve been reaching, working, striving toward that goal – and falling on my face time and time again.  I just couldn’t understand why my life wasn’t becoming the well-oiled machine I was trying to force it to be!
My kids still bickered and tattled.
I still struggled to get dinner on the table most nights.
I haven’t lost the baby weight.
We still haven’t moved into that dream forever house.
My kids still wake up way too early each morning.
Laundry is still regularly in piles on my bed.
I still often feel frazzled and overwhelmed and lacking in patience. 

What in the world was I thinking with a word like thrive?  We’re nowhere close!

But.

But then I looked again.  

I scrolled through the silly, grainy pictures on my phone.  I flipped through some of our school projects.  I read back through my Around Here archives.  I laughed to myself as I recalled funny moments and conversations.  I got choked up watching my children comfort their baby brother.  

No matter what the annoying perfectionist in my head says, we are thriving.  I am thriving.

It turns out, choosing the word thrive in 2015 was God’s sweet gift to me.  As He always does, He tenderly invited me to discover the freedom in letting go and maybe for the first time ever, I’m ready.  I’m loosening my grip of control, my unrealistic expectations of how life should look, and nervously offering it all to Him.  


This life of mine is messy and loud and oh so hard at times – but isn’t that the sign of a life well spent?  This is what thriving looks like.

{around here} Week 50/52: Week of 12.14.15



A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week.  At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.

Around here, I have been:


finishing my Christmas shopping and starting on the wrapping.  I’m trying to use up five old rolls of paper, but it feels like I’m only making a dent!  


taking care of sick kids and a husband.  We somehow caught some sort of virus and like every big family, we’ve been passing it down the line.  So far I’ve been spared, but feeling out of sorts today…Mama doesn’t have time to be sick!


listening to the second season of Serial.  Very interesting so far.


breaking out all of my very old scrapbook supplies.  They have been taking up space high in a closet for years, I guess waiting for just the right moment?  I pushed aside that nonsense and let my kids enjoy all of the papers and random stickers.  They crafted for hours!  Their enthusiasm has inspired me to be creative with paper again too.  Lots to think and plan for 2016.


laughing at sweet J.  After “working out” by running around the basement, he said, “My heart’s dizzy from all that runnin’ around!”


reading The Hardest Peace and Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting.

decorating (slowly) and enjoying the kids’ sense of wonder.  They decorated the tree entirely by themselves on Sunday and I laugh every time I look at it.  There’s nothing at the bottom (blame the destructive toddler), heavy throughout the middle and sparse at the top.  Even our tree topper is off kilter!  Someday I’ll have a tree to decorate just as I like, but for now I’m soaking up my children’s joy and our crazy, imperfect tree.

{five favorites} Vol.06: Flannel Pajamas, Recipe Videos & Reading Before Bed

{1}

Pima Cotton Flannel Pajamas from L.L.Bean
I received these pajamas (in a similar print) as a bridesmaid gift last year and they have quickly become my favorite winter pajamas.  So warm and comfortable!  These would be a great gift idea for a nursing mother.
(P.S. Don’t forget to get 4% back by shopping through Ebates!)

 {2}
The Surprising Benefits of Reading Before Bed
“A 2009 study from researchers at University of Sussex showed that six minutes of reading reduces stress by 68% (more relaxing than either music or a cup of tea), thus clearing the mind and readying the body for sleep.”

 {3}

If you’re on Facebook at all, I’m sure you’ve seen a bunch of these Tasty recipe videos going around.  They are quick, informative and everything looks delicious!  This one about Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake would be an easy (and sweet!) choice for Christmas morning.
{4}
Looping: Task Management for the (Recovering) Type A Mom
“Looping is my antidote to steamrolling over everybody in my zeal to check everything off my list. That’s something I really struggle with. The concept is simply this: instead of assigning tasks to certain days of the week, list tasks and then tackle them in order, regardless of what day it is.”

 {5}

The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever by Katrina’s Kitchen
I made these cookies with the kids last weekend and they are delicious!  Easy recipe and no chilling required.

 —————————————-

 I’d love to hear about five of your favorite things too!  Need some ideas?  Here are a few to get you started:
+ Tell us about five of your favorite family recipes.
+ Share five of your favorite blog posts from 2015.
+ What are five things on your Christmas wishlist?

I’ll be taking the next two weeks off for Christmas, but will be back with more #5Faves in January.  See you on January 6!

{book report} My Latest Reads // December

It’s been awhile since we’ve talked books!  Here are a handful of my latest reads:


ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE // We read this huge historical novel for our Inspired Readers Book Club and I’m so glad we did.  While I found the story haunting and sad (what WWII story isn’t?), there’s a reason why it’s a Pulitzer Prize winner: the writing is amazing.


JOHN PAUL THE GREAT: REMEMBERING A SPIRITUAL FATHER // I have a special love for JPII and was anxious to read another perspective on his life.  I appreciated the balanced commentary of both his strengths and weaknesses, as well as the author’s personal reflections.  Lots to think and ponder.  I underlined quite a bit.


SECOND STREET STATION // I had high hopes for this Victorian mystery, but finished feeling disappointed.  The protagonist is a strong, no-nonsense young woman who dreams of becoming a detective and gets an opportunity to solve a crime.  The book felt a bit “girl power!” to me, which is fine, but I had more of an issue with the unnecessary sex scenes.  The author is a television writer and that’s exactly what the book felt like to me: a TV show or movie.  I’d pass on this one.  (I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review, but obviously all opinions are mine.)


THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER // We are big fans of Dave Ramsey around here, but I had never actually read his book!  I listened to it on Audible last month and I definitely recommend it if you need the boost to continue working toward a debt-free life.  We’re more inspired than ever!


THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS // I just finished this page-turner last weekend.  From the cover: “Doctors took her cells without asking.  Those cells never died.  They launched a medical revolution and a multimillion-dollar industry.  More than twenty years later, her children found out.  Their lives would never be the same.”  One part memoir and one part science book, I found this book so thought-provoking on many different levels.  

My current rotation: THE HARDEST PEACE, BEYOND THE BIRDS AND THE BEES and COME, LORD JESUS.

What are the best books you read this year?  I’m making my list for 2016 and am always looking for recommendations!

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