Dear Blog:

I've missed you.  Let's get back together.

Love, Sarah

Moments of Mommyness

My Mister is on a much needed break.  He has been in nonstop school for the last year and now finally is in the midst of an almost 4-week break.  

And what does he want to do with that break?

Well, we've been spending a lot of time at the park.  We've been eating dinner as a family.  He and I have been staying up late catching up on movies and favorite TV shows (Psych, anyone?  Grimm?  Once Upon a Time?  Survivor?...).  We've been hanging out with friends.  We've been talking a lot.  We have maybe been laughing a little.  I haven't been cleaning the house as much as I used to.  He's been doing the dishes!  =)

It's been exhausting!  The good kind of exhausting, of course.  

Oh, and we've also been looking for a new house.  Yeah.  Remember when I mentioned the sudden rush of things to be taken care of?  When the Mister finishes his PA classes at the end of summer, he will be ready to start his rotations: the last step of his education before he has to take a big scary test and enter the real world as an official PA.  

We had anticipated that he would be assigned to do those rotations in a city that is about half an hour from here...the city we do our shopping and stuff in.  You would think that I would have learned by now that when I make plans something always changes them!  He was assigned instead to a city that is about an hour and 15 minutes north of here...much further away.  For convenience (and money) sake, we have decided to move up there.  It's just easier.

Here's the kicker...he starts his rotations on August 27.  Baby boy (W) is due on August 19.  Mister's finals are August 13 -17.  It's a little crazy.  

But, no worries.  Arrangements have been made to induce labor and we are hoping to move in July.  All is well, and we are excited for a change of scene, but expect a little craziness now and then.  (Do you like how I say that like that would be something new?)

Anyway, I digress.  I was talking about how nice it has been to have him home.  It makes me think how nice it would be to have this set up all of the time.  Of course, that's not how life works.  We have to be responsible.

Have you ever seen Into the Woods?  It is one of my all time favorite musicals.  It is full of so many little life lessons and it is super fun to sing along with.  

Here's a song from it that has been on my mind: 

Now, please don't assume that I'm trying to say I would like a "prince for...whatever." Really using this song is a reach for the point I'm making, but it was a good excuse to listen to a good song.  =)  

Still, If our lives were only made up of beautiful and extraordinary moments, would we appreciate them as much?  Do we give the not so beautiful moments of life enough credit?  

Life really is made up of little moments.  Sometimes they can seem so boring and ordinary and we forget to see how beautiful they are.  I have to remind myself to step back and look at the moments of my life.  The things that make up me...the things that make me happy, or even sad for that matter...the things that make me feel and try to appreciate them for the gifts that they are.  

So, I'm starting my Moments series.  

And in honor of Mother's Day (which I know I'm late for), here is a moment of mommyness from my life.

L is 2 years old and lives up to that in every way possible.  She is a feisty little fireball with a beautifully sweet personality.  She is a joy.

This is our tradition.  I am cooking dinner and cleaning up the house.

She comes in and assumes this position:

Then she says, "Again, Mommy!" and I say, "Ready...Set...Go!"

And she goes! 

From the living room a few seconds later, I hear "Again, Mommy!"

"Ready...Set...Go!"

And she's back. 

and ready to go again. 

"Ready...Set...Go!!"

This could go on for hours.

A heart to heart and the disappearance of my toes

Hi.

I've missed you.

I am sorry for my long absence and I feel like I owe you a bit of an explanation.

Have you ever hit a wall?  I don't mean like a little tap with your hand or a small kick with your foot.  I mean a full on slam into a wall at running speed.

And, I'm talking figuratively here.

I hit a wall.  A rather big one.  I should have seen it coming.  But I didn't.

With my husband in school, 2 young girls, 2 Church callings, a job, and a home to keep, I have a very full plate.  On top of that, life sometimes just gets hard and sometimes the trials it brings are almost unbearable.

I hit that wall and had to take some time to recover and regroup.

Here's another analogy.  My mom and I used to hike a lot in the mountains behind her house.  It was good exercise and a good stress reliever and good Mommy/Daughter time.  I loved those hikes and I miss them terribly.

The highest point we could hike to we affectionately called "Heart Attack Hill."  That was a doozy of a hike, but well worth it.  Once we reached the top we could sit and see for miles and miles and miles in simple peace and quiet.  I have only made it up there a handful of times, but it is still one of my favorite places in the whole world.

But, I digress.  To get to the top of Heart Attack, you have to hike up a few smaller hills, each one getting gradually steeper and a little more challenging.  There is one point in particular that sits in my memory as a really, really, really, really hard climb.  The slope is so steep, you feel that if you lean backwards just slightly you'll go tumbling down the hill.  And, to make it worse, because it is so steep it is deceptive.  There is a point where you look ahead and see what looks like the top.  But when you get to that point, you find it is just a small ledge and you still have a few more feet to go.

Oh, and by the way, this point in the path is only about 40 feet long.

So, in my memory, I can see my mom and I struggling up this hill, practically crawling.  We were both in fairly good shape at the time, but still we had to stop every 5 minutes or so to rest and encourage each other to keep climbing.  We would sit until we could breathe normally again and then we would get up and move on until, finally, hand in hand, we reached the top.  It was exhilarating and exhausting.

That's where I am now.  I feel like I am starting to catch my breath.  I'm recovering, I'm regrouping, and I'm now getting back up and starting my hike back up.

I want to get back into blogging.  I have missed it so, and I get a lot of stress relief from the projects that I create.

Here's the thing, though.  I won't allow this blog to stress me out.  I have enough stress in my life.  This is my release.

I will post my crafts when I have them.  I won't post every day.  I will finally start working on the projects ideas I have been collecting for a couple of years now, which hopefully means I will be featuring some awesome bloggers and their tutorials.  I'm not going to worry so much about coming up with my own ideas.  =)  And, I'm not going to allow myself to feel guilty when I miss the holiday-specific crafts.  I'll get to them next year, or the year after that.

I may sometimes just post about my bad day, because, truth be told, I'm still very much in the midst of some pretty tough trials and I have bad days.  However, I am an optimist and I will always try to see the bright side and the Lord's hand in my life.  That's why I write.

I named this blog Creating Sarah because I want to use it to not only motivate myself to create crafts, but also create myself into the person I always hoped to be.  Hopefully, there will be more of that going on.

So, stick with me if you want to.  If you get bored of me, I won't be hurt if you leave.

I love that so many people that I don't know are following my little blog.  I want to make friends.  Please feel free to reach out to me, write to me, comment.  I'll reach back.

Ok.  I think that is enough babbling for now.

But I do have one more thing to share with you.

It has become apparent recently, that soon I will no longer be able to see my toes!  This may explain some of my stress as well.

This little issue is due to be resolved on August 19, 2012.

Slow Down!

Goodness sake!  The holidays are upon us.

I always plan on being more organized this year...More on top of things...ahead of the game.

I love to decorate.  I love holiday projects.  I love making presents and giving presents.  I love everything about the holidays.  I love the busy time...the barely managed chaos, especially when it all comes together and balances out and everyone is happy because of the work I've done.

This year is no different.  But, I have found these past couple of weeks that I am having a hard time coping with the stress of it all.  And, I have found that I am worrying myself too much about things that aren't as important as other things.

Things like my blog.

Not that I don't love my blog, because I really, really do.  And, I really love my group of followers and friends who have been so kind with comments and friendship.

But, with taking care of my home and kids, work, church responsibilities, and my husband about to dive in head first to finals, it has just become too overwhelming to keep up with all of my posting.

I've been doing projects and planning posts, but I have had a hard time finding quality time for my computer.

The time will come back.  I'm sure it will.  And, I will pop in here and there.  I've got a few guest posts set up and some awesome blogs.  I've got things to tell you about.  All those projects and ideas and fun things waiting for their time to shine!

Guys, I have even been given some blog awards (which I am so thrilled about)!  I have to give my speeches for those and pass them on!

I was planning on taking some time off for the holidays anyway.  It's just become necessary a little sooner than expected.

So, Happy Holidays.  Enjoy them!  Have fun with your families.  Find time to give and love and feel loved.  I'll see you soon!

Have I lost weight?

Excuse me for a moment while I interrupt the start of this post.  I have to take a moment to thank you all for your votes and support during American Crafter.  I didn't make it through to round 3, but I had a really, really fun time and perhaps at some point I will give it another go. So, thanks for voting, thanks for sticking around and following me, thanks for being you...awesome, awesome you!

Do you remember me telling you a few months ago that I am a Jungle Girl?

I haven't talked much about it because I don't quite know how to define it.  I am the does-that-really-happen-to-real-people person.   If something strange is going to happen to a person in the room, I'm that person.  

But I don't always know how to tell you without sounding like a whiner or something.  But, you know, sometimes weird things happen.  Sometimes injuries happen in really funny ways.  Sometimes my crafts don't turn out at all right because I'm a Jungle Girl.  Sometimes I just have to share these moments so that I can laugh at them while you laugh at them and I feel better and not quite so embarrassed. 

Here's a good example:

Were you expecting a picture?  Yeah, sorry.  I didn't take a picture.  Read on and you'll understand why.

A couple of days ago, I had to drive to town for a Primary meeting.  I decided, since it takes about half an hour to drive to town, that I would save gas and do my grocery shopping after the meeting.  I was wearing a skirt.

And, honestly, I kind of felt pretty sophisticated and cool doing my grocery shopping in heels and a skirt.  

I got it all done and headed out to my car.  It was windy outside so I didn't think much about it when I felt my long skirt hitting my ankles.  I did notice, however, when I felt some movement at my hips and looked down when I felt that movement move to my thighs.

I looked down just in time to see my happy, confidence-building, sophisticated feeling skirt land at my feet.

Yeah.

My skirt, with no provocation whatsoever, fell off!

My first thought was, Holy Crap!  My skirt just fell off!  My second thought, as I pulled it back up, was, Is anyone looking?  No one was around me in the parking lot at that moment.  Phew.  And my third thought was, I'm glad I remembered to put my slip on.  I'll never forget it again.

Then all I could do was laugh.  Seriously...how does something like that happen!

As I drove home, I got to thinking.  I think I've been taking myself too seriously lately.  Maybe I just needed a jar to remind me that even when you are wearing a skirt life is meant to be enjoyed.  

Even if I have this great craft blog, it doesn't mean my projects have to be perfect all the time.  I'm going to be honest with you, guys.  Most of the projects I start on don't turn out the way I picture them.  And, I have actually put off posting several projects because they didn't turn out like I expected them to.  I'm going to stop doing that.  

I'm here to have fun.  I'm here to do what I enjoy and to share what I enjoy.  I'm also here to work on being a better mom and wife.  That means sometimes I won't be here.  So, if I disappear for a week or 2 sometimes, don't worry, I'm just off enjoying life.  

September means Fall, right?

Who cares if it was almost 80 degrees today.

I felt a small breeze run its fingers over my bare arms and bare feet as I watered my beloved pumpkin and sunflower and I swear I felt a slight chill and crispness in that breeze.  

Fall is knocking at the door.

I admit I am sad to say goodbye to summer.  I love the warmth.  

I don't like being cold.

Fall has its good sides, though.  

Things like less humidity, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, colorful leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, L's birthday, warm blankets to cuddle up under...

just to name a few.  =)

And, one of the best things?

Hot Caramel Apple Cider with whipped cream melting in.

I couldn't wait any longer.  Tonight, I cranked up the air conditioning, turned up the ceiling fan, and cuddled up under my blanket with a mug of apple cider.  

Nice to see you, Fall.

Creating Sarah

As I was leaving church today, I encountered three young kids playing.  They were playing in the grass, but had found themselves in a situation where they either needed to cross the parking lot or go back the way they had come in order to reach the large grassy area they had started out in. 

Obviously, cutting across the parking lot was the quickest way, so the two oldest took off running.  The youngest, however, was mortified when this happened. 

He looked at me and screamed:  "They're running in the street!  They're going to DIE!!!!!" (kudos to his mom for teaching him the dangers of crossing the street)

"Meh," I said, "I'm watching them.  They're ok.  You can go ahead too." 

He grinned at me and took off running, no longer worried that he would meet his untimely end. 


When I was a kid, I used to wonder when the magic moment was that I would transform from kid to adult--girl to woman.  I never did figure it out, but it appears that the moment has come and gone without me noticing!  Here I am, sitting in my 30s with a husband, 2 kids, responsibilities, my own furniture, and even adult cereal. 

I even have kids looking to me for permission crossing the street/parking lot.  I am even qualified to hold a hand should the occasion call for it!  Apparently, I have successfully made the transition, and for that I am glad.

But, I had a lot of plans for adulthood.  I used to really look forward to the time when I could be a woman--a mom.  I had ideas about what my house would look like, what I would make for my kids, how I would teach them, how I would show my husband I love him, how I would finally stop being shy and reserved and afraid to reach out to people, all kinds of things!  You know, how I would be Sarah: A Really Great Person.

So, that's why I'm here.  I've decided that it is time to stop waiting for someone to tell me to go ahead and start being me.  It is time to do it.  Time to try the ideas that have been piling up in my head for years. 

I'm here to keep track of my adventures.  I'm here to discover myself and be comfortable with myself.  I'm here to make friends.  And, I'm here to have fun.  Let's go!