stacie's sacred space

a real perspective

these are the people that make today so happy.

i couldn't stop smiling when i read these sweet cards from my three big kids!

there perspective is real.

 

 

 

yes, i like a lot of food.

yes, my job is to be a mom.

yes, i must jump rope more than i thought i did.

yes, i help them when they need help.

yes, i'm good at cleaning even though i didn't think so.

yes, one of my favorite hobbies is getting exercise.

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sometimes i don't know the impact i make on this world so it's good to have today to be reminded.

i am the momma i am because i have a great moms who teach me lessons all the time.

i also have amazing friends who role model love only a momma can give to her children to help me on some of the best days and some of the hardest days too!

what i'm noodling on these days

• how to redecorate my red wall (a.k.a. the heart of my home)
• this meditation i found last week on my calendar

(god in the moment from ann voskamp's one thousand gifts)

whatever the pace, time will keep it and there's no

outrunning it, only speeding it up and if you pound the

feet harder, the minutes pound faster too. and i race

for more and i snag on time and i leak empty and the

longer i keep running, the longer the gash, and i drain

bleed away.

hurry always empties a soul, and it has mine.

 

• reading a book on my iphone - yes, i bought my very first ibook from itunes. it's 829 pages, and i'm on page 154!

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that's where my heart and mind are these days.

it's may today.

in just a little over a month it will be summer and my babies will be back in the nest more.

can i get a woohoo from any other crazed mommas reading here?

woohoo!!!!

insta chi-town trip

chicago, i have missed you so much.

i didn't even realize it till i came back to see you!

i just figured out that i haven't been there since i ran the half marathon there in september 2003 with dad.

i think we're gonna be heading that way more often soon though since someone very special to us might call that big city home.

okay so lots of you who come here to read follow me on instagram too (and if you don't follow me there but want to i'm "dsjbowers").

it was different than the beach vaca we usually take in the spring.

these kids were troopers and enjoyed the change of scenery too!

one day we walked at least three miles for one of our outings.

we hit some touristy stuff instead of boutiques this time.

we swam more than we explored.

it's different with four kids in tow.

it was fun!

man, oh man, is it nice to leave our four walls.

i think we're fixin to do this more often even if it is just to stay in our tent one weekend a month throughout the nicer seasons.

a dream

it was a busy day of mommin' around mostly in our own backyard.

we might have even had our little swimming pool out there!

the first day of spring was hot.

today i shared one of my dreams with someone i don't know very well.

i got excited telling it!

i told her about my dream house ... three rooms and two bathrooms all on one floor.

now that i was able to describe it with passion, i think i need to draw it out.

i call it downsizing, but i don't think it's that small really.

then later dave started talking about what he'd want if we won the lottery.

we have some pretty different visions.

so then i wondered would gobs of money make us grow apart.

i'll keep just what i have.

it's a good life we have right here in my more than three room house!

trees

 

i've got a thing for trees.

i sometimes wish i was one.

they bloom and grow and change and let go.

they stay still and they wave around.

they deepen their roots.

they are grounded.

i love to watch them change with the seasons.

i cannot wait for them to get their beautiful blooms of spring!!

i'm gonna make our family tree with the help of this kit very very soon.

does anyone have a favorite quote about trees or families that i could write at the roots?

do share.

green

yay, it's march!

i'm ready for green, another birthday, brackets to fill out and lots of basketball on tv, spring cleaning, and whatever this brand new month brings.

i love a fresh start, a clean slate, another chance.

i made a promise to dave and these guys last night ... i hope to will be more patient and kind this month.

 

sunshine = happy

the morning started off a little slow, or uhhh, full of crankies in the house.

i was all up in my head going through all that needed to be done.

the kids were bickering.

ink was smearing on the thank you cards janie was writing.

i was looking at cluttered counters and small messes everywhere!

everything was driving me crazy!!

the sun was shining outside.

that right there helps me figure out how to get happy.

blue sky, bright sun, ahhhhhh.

i got to take a walk in the woods with my bestie.

a bunch of my pent up energy was burnt off right then.

then i got to go out on a date with my camera and kara!

and i got cuddle time with each of my favorites.

when forgiveness and fostering an environment for reconciliation are top of mind, opportunities to live it out appear magically.

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here's my new friend, graduating senior, future babysitter, kara.

 

 

dreaming

 

i'm dreaming of a vacation to the ocean.

with my five favorite people.

as soon as possible.

to take morning walks.

to feel the warmth of the sun.

to make drip sand castles.

to run into the ocean and go out as far as joey wants to go.

to take pictures.

to look at that spot where i see heaven and earth colliding.

sometimes i have to dream it up in my mind just to get through another ordinary day.

maybe i need to listen to a gift from the sea by anne morrow again.

that book is awesome!!

it helps me to slow down, breathe a little deeper, connect with my soul, and remember who i really am in this fast paced culture we live in.

one word

i picked my word of the year for twenty12.

yep, it's a practice i started a couple years ago.

this blog world inspired me!

the combination of 2010's word: pray and 20eleven's word: peace, helped me to stamp these words in phillipians 4: 6-7 on my heart

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don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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i am learning life is a practice.

i will be practicing love, self care, patience, photography, exercise that makes me sweat, remembering to breathe, faith, yoga, laughter, eating healthy, gratitude, vulnerability, and living fully into the moments that make up my life.

it might even be okay to make some mistakes in this practice.

(the recovering perfectionist in me told me that :))

here is one of the families that let me practice my photography on them while i was in california last weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thank you, kristin for the opportunity to snap the beauty and joy you guys exuded on the beach last friday afternoon!

11 best things about 20eleven

 

it's the countdown to twenty12!

 

first i have to reflect on 20eleven.

there were a lot of good things.

here are the best!

11. baking cakes ... more than i've baked in my whole life, i made this year.

10. publishing my first youtube video, "summertime." thank you so much, justin for helping me to create that imovie.

9. finding peace through prayer. having the focus on that word for this year was a great reminder during those times i was breathless and overwhelmed.

8. eating less carbs is good for me. i lost and found pounds learning this lesson. sigh.

7. taking the artist's way class ... creativity is exercise for my soul and deepens my spiritual life.

6. jogging, walking, and working out is good for my body, mind, and heart.

5. joining the greeting ministry. finding ways to serve brings us so much joy!

4. buying rain boots ... man, oh man, did we ever get soaked this year! it was a fun year to play soccer in the spring and the fall with all this rain, and it didn't just come during soccer seasons. we had plenty of rain through the winter, spring, summer, and fall. i think we set records here. rain boots help me look at dreary days differently. they are awesome for splashing in big puddles!!

3. getting a fortune cookie with the fortune, "the one who laughs lasts." (and actually remembering to laugh!)

2. signing up to be discipliship room mom for joey and janie. i was begged, and i said yes. it's good for me.

1. listening to and learning from people who cross my path on this earthly journey ... their stories, beauty, love, generosity, and thoughtfulness inspire me. i'm a better person because of all of you!!

 

 

 and one more: joey making his first communion ... grace is awesome!!!

okay, now i need to get back to our new year's eve homework.

we are having a heck of a christmas break!

it's awesome here at 391.