February Project Life!

What's that you say?

It is almost May?

But, it's not, yet.  :)

You may know that my husband had hip surgery Feb 24.  And has been on crutches or the ice machine since.  And I've been doing most of the cooking, cleaning, caretaking, etc since then.

***insert my high school swim coach's daily mantra/quote here:

"Excuses lessen the pain of failure, but never lead to success."

So I'll just say, I AM doing stuff.  Scrapbooking, cleaning (kinda), laundry (lotsa), and caretaking.  I just haven't blogged about it.  I apologize.  I know you've all been holding your breath out there in the interwebs.

So, here are my Project Life pages for February!!

I started getting the Studio Calico PL kit.  It is fun!  And probably WAY too much stuff.  I'm starting to hoard.  A little.

Week 9 began with surgery.  It went well, but recovery has been rough.  If you pray, maybe you could lift up my husband for his endurance in this recovery.  It is hard for both of us.

But I am so, SO grateful for today.  The sun is shining, I have some time to myself, and I am making cards and blogging and scrapbooking a little this morning.  I am healthy.  My family has shelter, water, clothing, and love.

What more could a girl ask for?

Haha.  A lot more, I guess.  Starts with L.  Ends with "ouis Vuitton" Ha.

But it wouldn't truly make me happy!

Only a little...


Totally grateful for what I have today,
Stacey

Whoopsie!

Hello Titus Park fans,

It looks like my personal email may have been forwarded to you all with the Summer Swim Lesson Flyer.  Aaaandddd you received this link to my blog accidentally!

Well, here is the actual flyer:

For those of you who have no idea what Titus Park is, try checking out their website HERE.

Before I was a mom/cook/chauffeur/maid I was a Recreation Director, and a swim coach.  I taught swimming lessons from the ripe age of 15, coached age group swimming, coached high school swim teams (even one season of water polo!), and ended up rewriting the swim program for the Soledad-Mission Recreation District.  

Fast forward to today, and I just wrapped up a week of training new swimming instructors for Titus Park.  I wrote the program, levels, and philosophies.  Unless, of course, you don't like them.  Then I had nothing to do with it at all.

Hope to see you on the pool deck this summer,

Stacey

Growing through trials

I've been trying to slow it down this year.

Attempting to BALANCE my life out a bit.

Savoring the delicious little moments that occur when I'm rushing from one thing to the next.  Actually having the sweet little conversations with my kids that don't happen when I'm yelling and threatening and cranky and irritable and, and, and...

Well I just finished a book that I have been reading slowly, steadily, and with lots of thoughtful intention.  

I had my staff photographer take this picture:

And this one:

And also this one that has my whole face in it.  Almost.

I wanted to pose a question.  It is really a statement from the book that I, in moments of clarity and bitter-ness-less, completely agree with:

"I have grown much more through my trials than I have through my successes"

- James Bryan Smith

Do you agree?  

Do you look back and recognize the hardships/tragedies/loneliness/etc... were also times of personal growth?  

Please do not take this as a diminishment of your struggles.  Rather, a 20/20 hindsight that may reveal a silver lining? A strength you never knew you had? A closeness to God out of pure necessity?  A receiving of help or love that you might not have allowed before?

 The Good and Beautiful God

by: James Bryan Smith

In particular, I have grown to believe that my marriage difficulties can be beneficial to myself and others.  I have grown closer, more dependent upon, and have developed a greater understanding of who God is through my worst, WORST, times.  Additionally, being the emotionally transparent individual I am, I *think* that my discussion of these worst times with other women has helped in some way.  Helped them believe they are not alone, helped me to build trust and friendships, and helped my own marriage grow to be a little more 'normal" (whatever the heck that means).  

As I read through my notes I have taken from this book, I really want to share some.  Let me know what you think!  Do you disagree?  Do they cause you to pause and think?  Are you angry?  Encouraged?  Doubtful?  Faith-induced?  Thinking I'm cray-zay?  Let me know!

• "Jesus reveals a God who does not demand but who gives; who does not oppress but who raises up; who does not wound but heals; who does not condemn but forgives." (p.84, Brennan Manning)

• "This is what God wants most of all.  He wants to serve us, to see us feast and rejoice in his goodness. One day we will serve others, but only as a response to God's love, not motivated by guilt." (p.107, Smith)

• "A marvelous and mighty paradox: the death they thought to inflict on Him as dishonor and disgrace has become the glorious monument of death's defeat.  Though they tried to kill Him in shame, the cross stands for all eternity as a symbol of the glory of God." (p.138, Smith)

• "You were meant to house the fullness of God" (p.162, John of Kronstadt)

That amazing list is why I slowly absorbed this book. Yet my slowness made space to not be completely overwhelmed by the depth of content; and why I am forever changed.  

Lots of love,

Stacey

Right now

Right now.

Right now I am reading a book called "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" by Carol Rifka Brunt

while waiting

Waiting for my Silhouette die cutting machine to make the most beautifuly lacy papel picado Save-the-date cards for my BFF's wedding.

Waiting and thinking.

Right now I am waiting and thinking.

I do a lot of this.  Well, not really a lot of waiting.  But a lot of thinking.

Some things I am thinking about right now:

1. How I have a lot of aquaintences.  But not a best friend.  I like to think and talk deeply about real things, so I'm probably too much to handle.
2. I really like my UGG boots.  So warm.
3. Blaine's first day of recovery from yesterday's hip surgery has been stellar.
4. I hope I'm not jinxing him for tomorrow.
5. I am really grateful for my project on gratefulness.  It helps me focus on the good, rather than my SUPER negative focus all all things bad.
6. My gel nail polish is so cool.  It really does last for so long.  
7. I'd like to get back to my book now.

Just thought the internet wouldn't be able to rest without knowing what my brain was processing just now.

Right now.

Muah,

Stacey

Project Life: weeks 1-5

EEEVVVVEERRRrrryybody's doing it.  At least it seemed like everybody but me in the scrapbooking world was doing Project Life scrapbooking.  It is a simple system of getting your life documented: doesn't involve any scissors or glue.  Just slide your pictures into these 4x6 or 3x4 inch pockets.  Slide the cards into the other spaces and voila! - scrapbook!

It is a system created by Becky Higgins.  I mentioned in my New Year's resolution post  (HERE) that I was going to start with the new year... AND I DID!!  

The book is a binder (super easy for putting pages in and out of).  Above is my title page.  I am using the Midnight Edition of the Project Life card sets.  It is black/grey/white with pops of yellow, so it is very neutral. 

Aaaannnd it just so happens to match our little Christmas card photo shoot by the Uber-talented Patty Schmidt Photography.  So I used those pics for the cover: perfection!

Week one was so full of photos that I used a small insert page in order to include all the shots I wanted. I mean, we WENT TO THE ROSE BOWL! (Go Stanford!)

I'm not sure if the rest of 2014 will quite measure up to the first week: NYE at the Harmons', Rose Bowl, followed by three nights of scrapbooking at Cousin Patty's house!

Probably not.

Additionally, I'm attempting to document 1,000 blessings (Inspired by the book 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp).  You'll start seeing my lists show up here in Week 2...

A little note on how this whole scrapbooking "Live in the NOW"...

1. It is made possible by the advent of the iPhone.  Probably 95% of these pics are taken by the camera I have with me: the one on my phone.
2. It is made possible by the Canon Selphy printer (I have the CP900).  They have an app that allows you to wirelessly print from your phone.  SO. EASY.  The quality isn't stellar with the phone picture + home printing, but it is DONE.  And I am all about getting it done.

So there you have it: Project Life.  I really enjoy traditional scrapbooking - it is "my thing" for sure.  But I was getting weighed down with an entire scrapbook page for me to tell these daily moment stories.  I like that they are here, documented, saved, cherished - REAL LIFE moments.  And when I have a longer story to share, an event, or something that I really want to stand out, then I can take the time to be artsy and wordy and take up as much space as I want.

And now that I already have documented January 2014: it feels so so good.

Maybe this would be an easier, less stressful way for you to document your family's story?  Many people do it monthly, or with no time restraint at all.  What do you do?

One thing I will encourage is to print those pictures.  Get them in your hands.  If you have time, jot a note on the back.

I bet you love coming across photos of yourself, your parents, and other loved ones that help you know more about your/their life.  I do!

Let me know if this helps or hinders you today!

Hoping it helps,
Stacey

Gratefulness, a project about true love

So the bible says "Rejoice in the LORD always.  I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all." (Philippians 4:4-5)

Even today?

Even when I'm feeling cranky, complainy, and totally off my rocker?

Yes.  I suppose so.

I have been keeping a little notepad by my bed.  Remember by goals for BALANCE and GRATEFULNESS??  So, rather than mindlessly scrolling through Facebook or Instagram (more than I already do), I've spent the last few minutes before bed writing down things I'm grateful for from the day.

Here are my notes from the past week:

Feb 5, 2014 (#91-98)

• time with Clark at Target
• "Stacey, you're creative. Can you help me?" -spoken by two friends I ran into at Michaels.
• an invitation to a Pizza Factory lunch with Minda & Elliott
• The kids' excellent quiet time reading, each with a STACK of books.
• Piano lessons: jane beginning playing with two hands!
• Haley babysitting so I could...
• ...relax at yoga!
• staying up late crafting and planning and plotting.

Feb 6, 2014 (#99-115)

• Lisa
• Rain
• Coffee
• Tea
• Boots
• Umbrellas
• Garages
• Legos
• Dentist
• Floss
• Clean Sheets
• Cuddles
• Patience
• Craftiness
• Warmth
• Planning
• Teaching

Feb 8, 2014 (#116-117)

• Jane's super excited smile and talk throughout the getting ready for the father/daughter dance, leaving, coming home, and getting ready for bed. It was SOOO sweet. Im proud of Blaine for being there for her and for participating.  She loved it!
• Clark & I having our own little stay-at-home mother/son date.  He chose to watch the "Airshows from Above" movie (my dad's airshow & helicopter team DVD).  It was so cute, his "Awesome!" this and "Awesome!" that throughout.  We were both thrilled to see Grandpa Jim on video.  I am so grateful to have this to remember him through.

Feb 10, 2014 (#118-131)

• being alive
• the Olympics
• being inspired by so many Olympic stories
• being inspired by the "because of mom" commercials
• being DONE with the MOPS make-a-meal project 
• moms showing appreciation for the meals
• Marisol requesting my help for save-the-dates
• Clark's silliness
• Jane wanting to cuddle
• Patty/Alli/Cory #bookclub
• Having medicine to put on my giant chin cyst
• Enough $ in the bank
• Diane, Argie, Lisa & Kandice cleaning up during/after MOPS today
• being blessed to watch those servant-leaders in action.

At first, I was wondering how in the world I would be able to list 1,000 gifts in 2014???  It turns out, I could probably list 1,000 gifts every single day.  I am receiving them... but am I really noticing them?  This listing practice is helping.  

Although I am still terribly ungrateful, I'm opening up my eyes.

Join me?

gratefully,

Stacey

Studmuffins

 My house is cold.

Outside is cold.

So I am dreaming of Bass Lake...

... and that time when we were all chillin' on the dock...

... and started doing sweet jumps into the lake...

... and photographing ourselves...

... just having fun...

... and being silly...

... or even a little timid...


This is one thing I love about my family.  We (usually) don't take ourselves too seriously.  We are moms, we are dads, we have serious jobs, we have lots of responsibilities, and ....

we are STUDMUFFINS.


Enjoy doing something silly today,
Stacey