http://www.tothinkistocreate.com Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:02:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 [1] Every day since we lost Mabel [2] (two months ago today) I have woken up and thought about what needed to change in my life.  This gut urge to make things different, every single thing, is a force I cannot ignore.  It feels as though everything must be different, even down to the placement of my bed in my room -- or I feel too much like the "old me" and get itchy and twitchy and begin to wonder what all this was for... So each morning, I think about change. As a mom to special needs children, change is usually the last thing I am looking for, but here I am stalking "different" like a cat.  Right now there is a literal and spiritual upheaval going on, and everyone in the house knows it.  These change-phobic kids seem to sense the same urge as I do, and are trying their best to go with this mama's flow right now. Our morning routines, having found no safe haven from my moratorium on "what once was", have entirely changed as well.  As a homeschooling family we have no need to rush out the door (thank goodness), but we find ourselves enjoying each other in the mornings more than ever.  We linger in the sun streaming in from the window, we snuggle in bed together just a bit longer, we play first and work later.  It's new, and it's effective.  We lay on the porch and talk to bugs and laugh at each other.  It inspires love and peace instead of the old stress and anxiety that mornings used to bring. For so many years I spent my mornings waking up already exhausted, kids already fighting, house already a mess and my heart already wishing for escape.  I couldn't wait for the moment that school began so the kids would be gone and oh finally a break.  This is so common and normal and so understandable.  We get busy, we run late, we miss alarms, we can't find clothes, we have tantrums, we fall down.  We fall so many times.  But making a change in the mornings has been my first step to falling less.  Our changes aren't a list of tips or a how-to on making the family happy, but more of a change of perspectives.  Re-framing what seems so important, and asking myself if it really is. Each moment of my morning, of my all day long, feels like an opportunity.  A chance to mold these sweet little mounds of clay with their questions and attitudes and never-full bellies, into people who's souls will change the world one day. People who will dream big, and when the storms come in they will lasso those storms and ride them without letting the storms get in their heads to make them doubt.  They will search out and see the miracles in those storms.  They will know that storms were meant to make them dream bigger than ever, and they will live endurance and they will embrace change and they will know how a good morning starts. It starts with waking up. *** This article about making mornings easier is part of the Kraft Bagel-fuls "Break up with your Breakfast Routine" sweepstakes.  Visit BlissfullyDomestic.com [3] for all the fabulous details. I am being compensated for sharing my family’s story, not to promote a particular product.  Watch the video below (subscribers click thru for video) to see what other moms are doing to break up with their breakfast {it's so cute, seriously}. BlissTV- Morning Routines [4] from Blissful Media Group [5] on Vimeo [6]. [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4348840741/ [2] http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/02/a-star-hung-on-my-soul-sky/ [3] http://bit.ly/bvjQUO [4] http://vimeo.com/9927848 [5] http://vimeo.com/user3151903 [6] http://vimeo.com http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/03/08/waking-up/ [1] I have things to say about rest. The need for it... being made for it... being commanded to do it... I'll be sharing more on this next week.  Will you take time to rest this weekend?  Will you take a whole day to rest? [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4409644948/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/03/05/rest-in-love/ I read her story, a special needs mom, and it so resonated.  I knew the struggles of her heart, because they are my struggles too.  Even though our kids have different issues, the mom result is mostly the same.  Not giving up, persevering, constant priority checks. I emailed her, to just say "I know."  To say hi officially, to introduce myself, to tell her I loved her work and her words. We bonded over emails, understanding and family.  It's how so many friendships start out these days.  {Aren't we all so blessed?} Soon she asked if she could send me a special necklace.  I told her my story, about Mabel Love [1], and she prayed for me. A few days later this piece of beauty arrived in my mailbox: If you look closely, it says "love".  It's my new Mabel necklace, a sweet reminder that I wear constantly.  Touching it when I want to feel close, holding on to it when I pray.  My own special reminder of what we've lost. I'm talking about Lisa Leonard [2], the designer and artist who makes all those stunning sterling silver necklaces you may have seen here and there around the web.  She is my new friend, and she inspires me daily.  With not only her magnificent work, but her soul touching blog [3].  She shares stories of her family, touches on special needs issues, posts beautiful photography and little snippets of whimsy. It's a daily read for me. Lisa wants to reach out to you, to get to know you too.  You can follow her on Twitter [4] to see what she's up to each day. Lisa also wants to give one of you with one or two things from her shop -- isn't she generous?  I can't wait to add to my collection of Lisa Leonard designs, myself.  Maybe you'd like the banner necklace [5] that I have, maybe you'd like a string of charms with each of your babies' names like this one [6].  I bought this leather cuff [7] for a special someone, and I wouldn't mind one for myself.  It's unisex and simple and depending on what you have stamped on it -- powerful and inspirational. Take a look at Lisa's shop [8], what do you like?  If you leave a comment below telling me your fav item from Lisa's work, you'll be entered to win a $75 gift certificate to get your own handmade pretties. {Like I said, SO generous!} I always love to give you extra chances to win, so after you leave the required comment, here are other ways to enter {leave a separate comment for each entry}: Follow Lisa on Twitter - @lisaleonard [9] Tweet/RT about this giveaway - can be done maximum of once per day.  Include @Tothink {me} and link to this giveaway in the tweet Facebook or Blog about the giveaway Email friends about the giveaway (bcc me on the email arianne [at] tothinkistocreate [dot] com) Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS Anything else?  Any other way you'd like credit for spreading the word about the giveaway, leave a comment telling me about your creative prowess and I'll include it in the entries. I'd really like to get the word out about Lisa and her amazing work, she's blessed so many and deserves a little {lot} of love.  Even if you're not interested in winning because you already have one of her pretties, will you consider blessing her by spreading the word?  Please leave me a comment to let me know you did so I can come visit you. Contest ends next Tuesday March 9th at Noon EST, winner will be announced here and linked to as well (if applicable). Thanks and be blessed! [10] [1] http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/01/18/knit-in-her-mothers-womb/ [2] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/ [3] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/ [4] http://twitter.com/lisaleonard [5] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/custom-necklaces/banner-necklace.html [6] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/custom-necklaces/jumble-of-charms-necklace.html [7] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/men-s-jewelry/leather-cuff.html [8] http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/ [9] http://twitter.com/lisaleonard [10] http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/89864451-e5c5-4907-b29b-a7819a908de5/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/03/02/meet-my-new-friend-and-a-giveaway/ [1] "The secret of achievement is not to let what you are doing get to you before you get to it." - T.F. Tenney [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4090609132/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/03/01/steadfast/ We sit and watch as Olympians from all countries sweat, compete and give their all.  As I contemplate these amazing athletes I always think of the mamas.  Those ladies waiting in the wings, biting their lip and holding their breath while their precious child gives their all. I think of Joannie Rochette [1], the Canadian figure skater who went on to give an amazing performance just two days after finding out her mother had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  I imagine the tears shed as dreams are pushed back another 4 years (or permanently) when things fall short, the moms having nothing but a hug and a shoulder to offer...not to mention the tears I've shed over the amazing P & G commercials throughout the Olympic Games. As the 2010 Winter Games come to an incredible conclusion, I wanted to introduce to you an exciting project I've been working on, as well as tell you about this incredible chance for you to nominate a mother to cheer on Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.  What an amazing experience that would be! First, take a look at the inaugural BlissTV episode highlighting the P&G Thank you Mom Campaign and Contest [2], and some of the amazing moms we feel are living the core values of the US Olympic Movement: Excellence, Respect and Friendship.  {You may see some friendly faces!  Love you mom!} Next, nominate a mom [3] you know living those core values of the US Olympic Movement -- the winning nomination and mom will receive a 4-day, 3 night all-expense paid trip to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London to cheer on Team USA.  It's very easy to enter, so click over and good luck!! {Comments are closed -- please nominate a mom you know who would be blessed by this!} [4] [1] http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2010/02/24/joannie-rochette-perseveres-inspires/ [2] http://www.thankyoumom.com/thanks-mom.jsp [3] http://bit.ly/PGTeamUSAMom [4] http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/5e734ae9-c3c3-4286-8ef9-b586569b26c3/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/27/thank-you-mom/ [1] I search the Bible for...focus.  The actual word.  Do you know how many times the word focus shows up in the bible? Zero. {at least in my ESV translation} How strange.  And unhelpful.  I need to know how to focus, where to focus.  Why to focus... I break out my trusty and well worn thesaurus. A Apparently what I really mean is what I really need is A A center, focal point, center of attention, hub, pivot, nucleus, heart, emphasis, accent, priority, attention, concentration. theme, concern, subject matter, topic, issue, thesis, point, thread; substance, essence, gist, matter. point of convergence. A cornerstone. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." -- Psalm 118:22 A A A What is your cornerstone today?  Around what, do all things pivot? Is it schedule or money or mood swings?  Is it acceptance or recognition? Perhaps the "what" should have been "who" all along. With whom does your heart lie?  With whom does your focus reside? A A [2] [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4388680613/ [2] http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/16bfae51-3526-42ff-9022-d8e7adf8cc28/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/26/the-point/ [1] I sit and ponder life metaphors and God's metaphors and am humbled and awed yet again. We think we stumble, as if accidental, upon these great ways of describing ourselves, these things in nature that mirror our humanity... Look at the mama bear, how she loves on her young and protects, so passionate is she! Just as we mums keep our babes close and protect them with all we have inside us, so does the bear. As a thinker and a dreamer I think in metaphors and analogies, almost incessantly.  I am acutely aware of them happening around me, to me. I will feel overwhelmed and immediately think of ocean waves crashing towards me, returning to pull me under, without relief, without stopping.  I feel better having thought of the analogy, I feel God knows me more, and I Him -- having placed my finger on a way to describe my sense of panic.  The panic lessens. And in my better moments I then lean into Him and remember He holds oceans in His hand, and yes, I will be ok. But recently I had this epiphany...that analogies of life are not an "after the fact" collection of beauty and understanding. That is, they were created to be an analogy in the first place. Perhaps even, it is their true purpose.  To show us God in these things, for us to feel Him near. I struggle to put into words what I'm trying to describe (maybe I need an analogy?) but think on this for a moment: Was hunger, the sensation, the physical feeling, the longing and angst and pressure to seek out a morsel of sustenance...was it designed in and of itself so we would have analogy for how we are to be ravenous for Jesus?  This primal sensation not simply a way we describe our longing, but is, in fact, there so we even know to long? Was the process of sowing a seed, into the pitch of under ground, where it grows until bursting forth with life, where the fruit is then harvested...was it created specifically so we could have step by step loving and understanding of the process of our own seed growing in our own pitch, the womb where growth happens, until our own soft and cooing and crying fruit bursts forth? Imagine for a moment that knowing humanity, the struggles we'd have, the life we'd live -- God created and left for us here on earth the miracle of the seed growing in soil, the sensation of hunger, the instinct of the mama bear for us to relate.  To still feel His presence.  To hear Him speaking! Before we were even created, He knew us.  He knew our soul-needs.  The first grizzly bear was here long before artists and writers used its habits to give floaty language to their feelings.  The seed, older still, existed and grew and quietly planted roots long before I was here cultivating my own soil, praying for rain, hoping for fruit.  Yet these things were created for me, for you.  For all of us. *** I pray that you can read these words and not simply think "of course!  nothing is accidental!", but truly be impacted by the width and breath and power of God's love for you. [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4385553134/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/24/created-to-be/ [1] It was just before Thanksgiving last year, a day like any other day.  I was probably craving lemonade and grilled cheese with mustard, one of my main pregnancy cravings.  I was probably getting sick all day throughout the day, as it was another one of my pregnant "staples" with Mabel in my belly. I opened an email and literally felt the breath escape me for a moment.  Was I reading what I thought I was reading? "Congratulations, you've been chosen as a Frigidaire [2] Test Drive Mom on the Super Influencer team." I sat there stunned, and read further... "You will be receiving a new Frigidaire refrigerator, dishwasher, range and washer and dryer to review." Yes, I was chosen as a Frigidaire Mom.  Amazing.  HUGE blessing! I was to get all 5 appliances.  To keep.  For no cost but to agree to write about my experiences with them.  Lil' ol' me! I had to keep the secret until the end of January. But then January happened [3]. And life changed forever. As soon as I remotely got my bearings, I remembered those emails, that contract.  The plans for this blessing.  And I didn't know what to do. How could I go back to any semblance of "normal" blogging, writing about my family, my story of my life, which sometimes included bloggy things and sometimes included products? I was too sad to imagine that I would ever be interested in any of this ever again. I didn't know what to do, and I'll be honest -- I almost called off the whole thing. I thought perhaps some other mom was meant to have this blessing, this amazing opportunity. But I am here today, with a kitchen full of shiny new stainless steel, having decided that this was too big of an opportunity, too big of a blessing to just pass up. Also my friends all threatened to beat me up if I said no. {Just kidding.} {Actually no, they really did.} Will you stay with me as I write about these gifts? I hope it's not obnoxious to write about these as gifts, but y'all THEY ARE.  Yes I am earning them, I will be writing every week about their silver deliciousness and delivering at least one video along the way.  But I do consider this all a GIFT of epic proportions because of how badly our family needed these additions to our home, with the added benefit of being able to talk about the Save the Children [4] charity that is so timely now as they rush aid to Haiti. We have never had nice appliances, ever.  But more than that our appliances have never been efficient enough to be a good use of time or energy (financial) resources.  Our old fridge was one we bought 10 years ago (oh my lands, I'm old) and was more of an air conditioner for the house than a fridge due to it giving off cold rather than keeping it inside itself.  I've never had a dishwasher that actually worked (and I went many many years in a tiny bungalow in California with no dishwasher to speak of).  The range?  Oh sweet mercy I can't wait to tell you about the perfect burners and their perfect jobs (they each have jobs, did you know fancee ranges had burners with jobs??).  The washer and dryer arrive in May, and I am counting down the days to our blissful meeting, because friends -- I have 3 boys and a very manly man.  I find mud daily, even when no one's left the house.  At least I hope it's mud... This is an adventure, it's a part of my story, and I hope you'll come along for the ride with me. Even though I thought I'd be writing about how much efficient appliances can help a mom of 4 children, how amazingly needed these appliances would be for a house of all boys and a newborn, I am still looking forward to sharing my story with you.  I am still a mom of 4 children even though one is in heaven, and I still have all those boys just waiting to eat hot food from the stove, to find themselves dirty just by getting the mail, and to use the ice dispenser for the 178th time today. Right now I'm finding heart and heartache in the simplest of things, even in a refrigerator reflection on silver colored steel. *** Want to know more?  Frigidaire is doing the Test Drive program with mom bloggers (and don't we just love them for it too?) with the goal of spreading the word about how these appliances save moms time.  They've also taken things to the next step, and partnered with actress Jennifer Garner for the Spin & Win [5] campaign, where every time you click the wheel and spin, Frigidaire donates $1 to Save the Children [6] and you're entered in to win a washer and dryer (and other fab prizes). It's SO EASY and it helps starving children, won't you take time for a wee little click [7]?  Warning: you may be mesmerized by Jennifer's hair and/or the lovely blue appliances.  Justsayin. Thank you all for your support, let me know if you have any questions about any of this, the program or the goodies themselves and I'll do my best to answer! Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator, Range, Washer/Dryer set, and a Dishwasher to facilitate my review. [8] [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/percivale25/4381539154/ [2] http://www.frigidaire.com/ [3] http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/01/09/mabel/ [4] http://www.savethechildren.org/ [5] http://bit.ly/buEC0l [6] http://www.savethechildren.org/ [7] http://bit.ly/buEC0l [8] http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/61d52b39-0cc5-45b7-b53e-c9029c9c53fc/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/23/test-drive-my-story/ I ask him to close his eyes. "Just listen to my voice." I tell him to imagine giant chains around him, criss-crossing his body, tightened against his wrists and ankles.  These shackles are rusty and dirty, cutting to the bone. They pull and they ache, but they've always been there.  He doesn't know there is life without these chains.  A life of free. I point out the key sitting right next to him.  It's been there all along, waiting.  I tell him to pick up the key and open the locks and drop the chains from his bowed back and groaning body.  Wet with blood, sweat and tears, it's a slippery and bumbling process, but eventually the chains fall. He is free, but he doesn't move.  He is afraid.  He is still in darkness, the tunnel ahead black with a thickness that presses down on him and he cries out. "Where do I go?" I tell him God knows the way, He is the light, just follow Him.  I don't mean a tiny light under a bushel, no pocket Jesus, but the Light that holds oceans in His palm, this Light knows his name and wants to lead him Home. Husband reaches out and takes Savior-Hand, and begins to walk.  He is afraid, but He trusts.  He starts to feel that thick darkness press in again.  It's choking, if you let it. I remind him that God knows the end of the tunnel. How far it is, and how to get there.  An end which holds rewards beyond our comprehension.  I whisper that he could be just two steps away from the end and not realize it. How many wanderers, looking for shelter, have died in the cold dark wilderness not realizing how close they were to being saved? He's walking, pace at a time. I tell him to look at his hands.  He's still holding the chains.  The heavy, dirty, rusted chains.  He hasn't let go. "Drop your chains." He drops them, at first it hurts, these chains are the only constant he knows.  But leaving them behind and stepping forward feels good. Freedom feels good.  Repentance feels good. Being washed clean, so so good. *** [1] [1] http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/4a0f961e-464a-481f-a0f2-eb02c8e0f575/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/19/on-freedom/ We were sharing pieces of our love story.  The reasons we fell in love with this love, how we kept up that love.  How we tended to its needs and the places we went wrong. We were talking about writing, and our love of it.  The craft itself. And we were giddy about it. *** {Note: I was giddy and the other gals may or may not have been giddy but they seemed like it to me so I'm going with it.} Like a combination of teenagers in puppy sloppy love, and seasoned couples looking knowingly at their long time sweetheart, we talked about our love of writing.  We were the speakers for the Writer's Craft workshop at the Blissdom [1] conference, and we had a room full of women who wanted to hear what we had to say.  We were there to share some of the tools in our writer's toolbox, the resources, tricks, and process of our trade. [2] **Photo by Secret Agent Mama [3] I sat with Megan [4] and Deb [5] and Amber [6] and we started by talking deep dish about why we love what we do, what inspires us to do it and what precisely we do to get word on screen. We gave a writing prompt.  "What did you leave at home?"  No editing, just getitout writing was the first step. {Feel free to answer that question in your own creative writing session right now.  Craft the question to fit your circumstance.  You never know what will come out of it...} As we watched each woman put ink to page, we glanced excitedly at each other.  We watched writers being writers and it was heart pumping awesome.  We saw some flow through page after page effortlessly, while others ached over each word.  Tears and smiles and furrowed brows abounded.  It was magical. We talked about tone and flow and cadence.  Lovely words to describe how a piece of writing "sounds".  How you can lead with the eye, how you can insert breaths and pauses, or speed the reader up until you crash them into a wall that you knew was coming when the reader did not. We had the women edit their work based on this idea.  More grins and more tears. We talked more about language usage and grammar rules we do or don't follow, about knowing the basics and then throwing them out the window (for blogging, that is), and about structure of the work.  There was more editing, and more happy. We shared specifics on sites we love, books we adore and gathered all that for the attendees (or anyone who wants them), here at Amber's blog [7]. We encouraged the women to become readers themselves, that every good writer is reading work better than her own.  Blogs, literature, poetry, anything.  We talked about watching out for jealousy of better writing than your own -- to let it mentor and inspire rather than stunt creative work. In short, we taught about seeing writing as a craft that is to be practiced and worked on and nurtured and to fall in love with. It was my most favorite workshop/session at a conference ever {if I do say so myself}. Were you there? I'd love to hear your thoughts on our workshop.  Did you post your writing piece from the class?  Please link it in the comments below. If you weren't there, don't you wish you were?  I do too.  Please feel free to make use of the Toolbox at Amber's place [8]. {I would love to start workshops like this on a local level, or see others do it in their hometowns.  Wouldn't that be amazing?} [1] http://blissdomconference.com/ [2] http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/4344603428/in/pool-1315282@N24/ [3] http://secretagentmama.com/ [4] http://www.velveteenmind.com/ [5] http://www.debontherocks.com/ [6] http://therunamuck.com/ [7] http://therunamuck.com/toolbox/ [8] http://therunamuck.com/toolbox/ http://www.tothinkistocreate.com/2010/02/16/crafty-love/