Ordinary Days: Encouraging Words Link-Up With Giveaway

Ordinary Days: Encouraging Words Link-Up With Giveaway

Check out Ordinary Sarah's Encouraging Words. While you're there - cruise around her nifty blog about kids and family and all sorts of great stuff!

Encouraging Words for the Week

Laughter is an instant vacation. - Milton Berle
Let's laugh as much as we can this week sillies!

Turned My Frown Upside-Down

I woke up grumpy today and unsure of how I wanted my Saturday to go. I laid around most of the morning, sinking into the entirely depressing book I'm reading at the moment. Needless to say, that did not help my mood or make me optimistic about the day in any way. It is a beautiful, breezy day here in southern Indiana and I eventually talked myself out of wasting most of it.

Here's what I did to boost my mood:

1) Turned off all of the TVs in the house - no disheartening news shows, no completely annoying Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, no movie I've seen a hundred times and really don't need to watch again.

2) Opened the curtains and let more light in the house.

3) Put my iPod on my "Mellow" (but groovy) playlist and cranked it.

4) Laughed and chatted to the kids in the kitchen while I made lunch and cupcakes for tomorrow's birthday party.

5) Started a project I've been meaning to start all week - painting a fancy-framed chalkboard on a small wall in our kitchen. (Still in progress, will post pics when done)

After forcing myself to change the direction of my day, I have turned my mood around entirely and am looking forward to a wonderful evening. What have you done for yourself lately to boost your mood?

Drawing vs. Writing

I have always been good at drawing. And I like to draw, for the most part, I guess. I mostly enjoy drawing people. I challenge myself to really capture their true self in a drawing. And a lot of times I feel like I succeed.


My drawing of my too cute kiddos,
Jude and Gabby



I feel very accomplished and proud most of the time when I finish a drawing. It's the process of completing and sometimes even starting that I struggle with. I push myself to want to work on drawings or paintings. I have argued with myself for many years. Should I pursue art further? Should I have studied more specialized art in college? Why am I even asking myself these questions when the talent is there? 

Feelings In Dreams

I had the weirdest dream last night. (I say that almost every time I have a dream I remember.) Anyway, the dream took place at our old house, our first house. It was a turn-of-the-century, two-story house with lots of woodwork and skeleton keys. It had a creaky basement door that I swear opened and shut by itself one day when I was home alone.

In the dream I was sitting in the living room, minding my own business, when a family member burst through the door and demanded that we either let this person - she had by the arm, whom I didn't know - stay with us or she was going to move in with us with her kid that day. We just HAD to let her live with us NOW she demanded.

Random Thought Number 4

A little thing I've learned over the years and especially since I've had kids - Don't get in a hurry. About anything. Being in a big hurry isn't good for anyone. Rushing kids around makes them grumpy and you irritated. Making snap decisions about buying things often gets you into trouble later. Feeling anxiety about getting things done just makes for a tense, worrisome day. Plan ahead as much as possible and take a deep breath. And remind yourself: it'll be okay.

Knitting and Clearing my Head

The majority of my job as wife, mother and keeper of the house is in my head. Which is okay with me because I love to be in my head. I have to think about the grocery list, events on the calendar, what needs to be done next around the house, how to keep the kids entertained, clever ways to distract the kids from fighting, the list goes on and on. I am good at my job and thoroughly enjoy my job, but I always have a lot on my mind. I like to keep my thoughts as organized as possible, although I struggle with this at times. To keep my head clear I have taken up knitting, and it has changed my life.