Things are winding down ...and winding up. Fall being my favorite time of year is so full of both the vibrancy of life and getting back to routines after vacation,as well as the winding down of the uptempo of summer and getting ready for winter. Just last night i had the girls in the neighborhood over because even though we see a lot of each other in the playground with the kids all summer..things kind of slow down in fall and winter and we just don't see each other as much. It's the time of year when we tend to turn inwards rather than outwards. We nest..or at least I do, lighting a fire and candles brewing coffee or tea and maybe doing more craft stuff where you sit inside and focus as opposed to going bonkers outside...the going bonkers part is mostly me...partially the kids...but then again we are "the circus". My youngest has been learning a series of steps in Pre-school in regards to dealing with situations and I think it is brilliant and reflects on what fall is as well. The steps are "stop, think and tell" and fall is absolutely a time or Harvest where we should STOP and take a look at things THINK about the fruits of our labors in regards to all kinds of stuff. And then TELL ....be happy about the things we have! Or if we see that some things could use improving, find someone to share that with and think of what you can do to work on it for a positive change. Be present, be thoughtful and be grateful.
There seems to be such a fixation with beauty and wealth, and yet what so many strive for is so flat.
It lacks depth and richness and makes for a poor and lack luster image of beauty. Eve as the crown of creation, the crescendo of all that God pronounces good is so much more than a girl in her late teens to early twenties. She is the image bearer of God as is Adam, but in a completely unique way. Eve is the young innocent girl delighting in adventure and beauty, thirsting for relationship and love in a way that is precious and feminine and a direct picture of how God is relationship and longs for love and romance with His beloved. But so often that young phase of life seems to be what people see as the pinacle of feminine beauty, longing as little girls to be teens and clinging in desperation never to look a day older than 29, oh the glory and beauty not to mention the joy lost! The next phase of a woman's life is so immensely underrated! Eve as warrior and mother, the strength we develop as women knowing who we truly are is something glorious. Motherhood can mean mothering children, or maybe your business or job. But Eve is the bringer of life in a way that reflects the heart of God for humanity. Mother is a strong word, an underrated word. Motherhood, wether giving birth to babies or projects and ideas is not an easy thing. It's messy, it's painful, it's full of joy and wonder. Seeing someone or something grow and develop, to nurture it to the point of independence will pull you through every emotion there is....and it WILL change you, regardless of wether the stage of your life is a messy livingroom with finger paint all over the couch or a messy board room. Eve maturing into the giver and nurturer of life is a force to be reckoned with. She will fight for those who are hers and woe those that get in the way of a mother lion defending her cubs! She is gentle yet fierce in a wild beauty that is all her own. And...we forget it, downplay the role as a mother to a phase that will soon pass. Or as I myself reflected the other day looking at myself in the mirror, examining stretch marks and a tummy pouch going "hmm if I just smooth my skin with my hands here it's flat.." but why? They are my marks of beauty, of pain and joy born. I am a warrior princess and these "battle scars" are proof that I am so much more today than i was before. It's the story of my life so far and I wouldn't be without it. Why would i want to look like i was 18 again? Like I was still that girl who was beautiful yes, but insecure about my beauty, about speaking up for myself and my capabilities. No, I love who I was but I love the person I am becoming more and more every day. And so I will take pride in the marks of my journey, stretch marks now and crows feet to come. /Jess Picture found on http://www.etsy.com/listing/47646127/spring-photograph-magnolia-tree-flower Oh the many fun things i want to do for easter! That's sort of always the way it goes, there are so many projects that make me ooo and aahhh and i want to do them all! wether it be Easter ,Christmas or Thanksgiving. So getting into the eggs and colorful feathers along with daffodils and all the springy springtime goodness i do really want to just stop and make sure there is proper focus on the real reason we celebrate Easter. One of those things that i really love is the resurection eggs, When we lived in Nashville i picked up a carton at Lifeway (I'm fairly sure that's where I got them) but i'm sure you could make your own if you only get creative. Basically it's walking through the story of Jesus life around the crucifixion and the true meaning of Easter..it's a beautiful and interactive way to teach your kids the story. Along with all of that though I have to say one of my absolute favorite things about easter and where in my opinion the focus and weight of the message should be I looooove celebrating new life and the return of life! The cherry blossoms are in bloom throughout the city of Stockholm now along with snowdrops and bluebells poking up and welcoming the return of the sun..it....is...looooovely!!! so yes decorating of the house will be done!! and much rejoicing will be had (yeay!!!) so I pintrest like a mad woman...as always and I really loved the ideas and the style that I saw from Centsationalgirl.com a great diy blog, in particular the Blues and Branches: A spring Tablescape. Really pretty and I think I might put more of a purple twist on it because hey I'm a purple kinda girl http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/04/blues-and-branches-a-spring-tablescape/
This has been one crazy week! but in both bad and good ways so i'm gonna focus on the good stuff lol. It's been so much fun to celebrate lil' girls fourth birthday! every day i look at her and just marvel at the little woman in front of me...kids got flare and spunk just saying. Something that i really think is so important to the heart of any woman is feeling celebrated and enjoyed, i mean i know i want it and i can bet you do as well so it's my job to help her know she is!! wednesday i picked her up early from pre-school and took her on a mommy daughter date, just the two of us went to Starbucks then to see the new Tinkerbell movie at the cinema with popcorn and giggles..lots of ooohs and aaahhhs were had. And so many times during our "date" she turned to me and said "mommy it's just us girls! no boys just girls!". It's a special time...when it's just us girls in any period in life...the company of women is a powerful thing and so precious...not like i don't like hanging with dudes as well but there's just something special about a all girl day especially cross generations. She is precious in so many ways...my little rockstar who loves her My little ponies (who we by the way had come alive during the night and try to make her a birthday cake) wants to be princess Anna or maybe Queen Elsa and loves to snuggle with her stuffed toy Zombie...(i blame that one on my sister who got it for her o.O ) Her favorite song right now is Let it go from Frozen so i decided to give her a sort of time capsule to remember what life is like right now by recording it and posting it on youtube (link below)...Love you Ellie Mae! <3 Mommy Mothering in all it's glory at least for me tends to not so much be that tranquil feeling I get when I sneak into my little angels rooms after they've fallen asleep to make sure they're snoozing soundly.
Most of the time it's pretty loud, intense, crazy fun, just plain crazy and sometimes chaotic. Today is one of those days where I'm not booked in the studio and i'm just sort of soaking in the knowledge that the kids are having fun in school (especially with all the new fallen snow) and I am free to enjoy cleaning and laundry....ok wait a second....before I get into that I need a bit of a creative time out. So I'm heading to Starbucks with my sister and writing some music....THEEEN I'll clean , do dishes and laundry. Yepp I need to chill and that's not a bad thing, taking in the silence so that i can recharge and come back kickin' it! Time to mentally strategize, what is my plan of action gonna be when the kids insist on Mcdonalds for dinner? Because I know they will. Sometimes we feel so guilty about heading out on our own, taking down time and not being "productive" but who say's we always have to be productive? we're human beings not human doings. So once more Sugarfree Hazelnut Latte with extra whipped cream you are all mine!! moahaha!! and then I'll be up for the challenge of being super mom! or at least Pretty Good Mom...I'll need to get a spandex suit and a logo with that on it.... So today I was thinking...I do that from time to time.
I'm sure I'm not the only person that worries a bit right before payday when there is something more substantial you need to buy and you go "ugh, hope the thingy that reads my debit card goes "approved!" and not "not accepted" at least those are the litteral swedish translations. I mean the agony of that little machine not approving of me would be...well a less then awesome feeling...which makes me wonder, what if we strive soooo hard to be approved ( and i don't necessarily mean by inanimate objects) that we forget that we already have approval from the one place that really matters? If I thought that I had to wait till my life was perfect until I let God in, I'd be waiting forever. But if I stop for a second and reflect over the fact that even though I am not perfect right now God has covered all and I mean ALL of my sins and in Him I am a new creation, with a new heart a heart that is GOOD then whose approval do I really need? Take that tiny machine!! Oh thank goodness it approved my visa ...now for coffee! Life is messy..and so is my kitchen.
A new week starts and with it I am keenly aware of the fact that i need to organise pretty much every drawer, cupboard and room of my house...yeah that's gonna take a while....I need coffee. I don't know about you but personally i'm not the bestest of the best in regards to keeping my house and life perfectly pristine, sparkly and clutter free. I've always envied those who have the ability to spontaneously have people over displaying a shiny sink and empty laundry hamper...I am however convinced that laundry in my house is engaged in a conspiracy of overflowing garments and an attempt to take over the world...starting with my house. I'm well aware that that miiiight be slightly over dramatic but you get the point. Life is messy.. It doesn't necessarily have to be much out of the ordinary to get there either since our schedules are naturally full whatever stage in life we're in. Get kids ready for school, work, pick kids up and at some point there stay one step ahead of the mess that otherwise threatens to engulf the household. So much routine... But...I really do think it's so important to not get tooooo caught up in the rhythm of boring day to day...I'm trying to take a stand, things still need to get done obviously but the whole mindfulness thing, stopping for just a teeny moment a few times a day to reflect and give God a smile and a wink when we see something beautiful or extraordinary gives life so much more depth. And yeah it's easy to think of it all as "just" life...but life IS spectacular! There are so many details around us that if we choose to look at them as a crescendo in a symphony orchestrated by the Lord for His beloved...wow. Think of it as a challenge... Tomorrow morning when you wake up, make a point of stopping a few times during the day. Look around you and think of creation, the environment around you. What is God telling you through it? Are you in a romantic comedy (because He does write us little love notes in more ways than one) or does it feel more like a action movie? (kids, flying objects and death defying stunts )..Make a point of stepping into your role in the adventure and be present in it instead of just letting the current sweep you along for the ride. -Jessie |
About MeHi! just a little bit about me!
My name is Jessie Frances and i'm a Lifestyle Consultant and Voice Over artist. I started Calling Eve because i saw the need for a womens movement that brings women of all ages together into a community devoted to health, Body, Mind and Spirit. My family is my heart and my walk with God is my life. We grow everyday in one way or another my journey has led me through overcoming obesity and dealing with the auto immune disease Crohns, as well as my sons battle with leukemia ...life isn*t always easy..but i choose joy and i choose health. Archives
September 2015
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