The Giving Tree

 There are so many good things about this picture for me.  I think we found "The Giving Tree" tree!  We sat under this tree and had a picnic on Saturday.  We listened to "new world jazz fusion" music sung in Arabic.  We people watched (we were at Comfest for you locals).  We biked 7 miles to get there and parked our bikes in the free bike "valet" parking.  The stage was solar powered.  Ray had fun dancing around the tree and jumping off the roots.

If you haven't read it in a while you should go get "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein from your local library.

Rummaging

Friday morning, the kids and I didn't have anything on the agenda so, I decided to go for a walk in an neighborhood that was having a lot of garage sales.  Saturday morning, one of Mike's students had a rummage sale at the high school where he teaches.  All the proceeds from the sale benefited The Red Cross - Haitian Relief.

Here is part of our loot.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.  Wayside School is Falling Down.  Captain Underpants Extra Crunchy Book of Fun.  Captain Underpants 5.  The Chocolate Touch.  The Witches.  Abuela.  Babar Learns to Cook.  Arthurs First Sleepover.

Mike also a boom box, mustaches and a Guess Who? game for his classroom.

Sam scored the game Trouble and two computer games.

Ray got a beanie baby elephant which he hasn't put down!

200! (Then, Now, Future)

This is my 200th blog post. For some reason it seems monumental to me and I have been stewing over what to write about but when it comes down to it, it is just another post. That being said, I decided to take the time to reflect on why I am writing a blog and where I want it to go.

I started writing a blog in December of '08 for two reasons. One, I have always wanted to keep a journal but am too lazy to write things down even when I buy fancy little notebooks and put them on my nightstand. For me, typing is much more realistic. While my blog posts may not be as introspective as a written journal, it is a start. Reason number two for keeping a blog is to keep up with family. I only live about 2 1/2 hours from where I grew up but sometimes it's hard to keep up with everyone in my extended family. It is fun that a lot of my family members keep blogs (in particular my brother and sister in law who live across a very large pond). Being tuned in to their day to day activities isn't an exchange for time together in person but it helps fill in the gaps.

My blog started out with a name like, "Sarah's thoughts" or something but I quickly realized that I wanted a cooler catchier name. I chose, "It's Quiet Now. What Do You Say?" because I write my blog in the few quiet moments of my day usually while the kids are sleeping. It's also a line from one the boys favorite books to read: Sandra Boynton's "Moo, Baa, La La La".

To be honest, sometimes I get a thrill out of getting a new follower or lots of comments. If you are a "love languages" person, I'll let you know that I am a words of encouragement person. However, I never dreamed that the simple idea to make blankets for Haiti would result in such an amazing response. I have been contacted by people all over the World and Lord only knows how many crafty newsletters have linked to my blog and the project. But, that isn't my doing, that is Gods provision for the people of Haiti. The project has encouraged me so much and reminded me that God can use me (or anyone for that matter) to do something bigger than myself (even from a blog!).

So, where is this blog going? I'm not exactly sure. I still want to (and need to get back to) writing about our day to day comings and goings, my crafty endeavours, Sam and Ray's quirks, sharing recipes I've tried, my goals, etc. but I think I may continue to draw attention to charity sewing projects and "hosting" various projects. Would anyone even be interested in that?

Now, don't even get me started on the number of amazing blogs that are out there to read and all the things you can learn - that is a whole new post. If you are interested in seeing the types of blogs I like to read please see my side bar.

Happy Blogging!

My Nightstand

Just for fun, here's a glimpse in to my life by showing you whats on my nightstand right now:

1.  Phone.

2.  Two bottles of massage oil (lavender and orange sandlewood).

3.  Candle.

4.  Alarm Clock  - my first/only ever alarm clock from about 4th grade.

5.  Beeswax chapstick (generic of Burts Bees that sucks!).

6.  Guilt pleasure read: Three to Get Deadly.

7.  Carmex mint chapstick (If you see this at any store please please let me know!).

8.  Roll of medical tape for my broken toe.

9.  DVD remote to play Gilmore Girls.

10.  Family Circle Magazine.

11.  Julie and Julia book (Has anyone read this?  I can't get in to it.)

12.  More-with-Less cookbook (a good one to check out from the library).

13.  The Art of Simple Food book (another good one to check out from the library).

14.  A lamp.

So, do a post of what's on your nightstand and put a link to it in my comments :)  No cleaning up - just take the picture or write it all down!  Who knows, there may be prizes involved...

Brotherhood

You Know You're Getting Older When...

... all you want for breakfast is hot tea and biscuits with honey.  I've been craving biscuits with honey for a week!  And, Lady Grey is one of my new favorite teas.  If you haven't already had it give it a try; I like the hint of citrus flavor it has.

This morning was one of those mornings when I didn't want to get out of bed.  The biscuits and tea came to my rescue and got me moving!  Now if only I had some blackberry jam...

Fear of Blank Canvases - Broken

If you missed my blog, Fear of Blank Canvases, you may want to read it first.

One of my wonderful birthday gifts from last week was a set of acrylic paints and 3 canvases from the boys.

Last night, after midnight, Mike and I had a creation session. He painted with music and I with brushes. Here it is (very vulnerable here) my first ever on canvas creation. It was inspired by Lauryn Hill's song, "Conquering Lion" (click the link to listen) and I gave the painting the same name. Simply stated, this painting symbolizes Jesus' ability to break through all the crap that we deal with and set us free (including fear of "blank canvases").


"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Romans 8:37 - Bible

Fear of Blank Canvases

I was on a quest tonight to clean our bedroom, really clean it. I stumbled upon this paper in my nightstand that I wrote about a year ago (it's not dated but I remember writing ferociously one night in between feedings with Ray). This is from my pre blog days. Warning: it is a little deep, a little dark at times (think Sarah's postpartum days...), a lot random, very unedited, very circular thinking. I think I've grown a little in this area of my life over the past year but yes, sadly, I am still afraid of blank canvases.

"Freedom of speech, freedom to express ones self in any way they please - it seems like an easy enough concept but it is rather difficult for me lately. I wouldn't consider the actual speaking part difficult more the idea of creative expression. I feel the urge to be creative; to move my hands, my mouth , my entire body in such a way that unleashes the creative fury that is bubbling way under the surface of my soul. It isn't even the act of being creative, plenty of creative ideas pop in to my head it is the unleashing that is difficult - something holds me back. Feeling free and freedom are two completely different things. I have freedom to do whatever I please but I don't feel that freedom or live it out. If I really felt free I would dance and sing and laugh and paint and draw and write and just be and I wouldn't have to be great at any of them. I would just be free in doing them - I think I have a little bit of a "hippy" spirit in me. Lately, I am on a kick of trying to recycle and reuse scrap paper and donate things we don't use but maybe other people could. Maybe I just feel guilty about the mass amount of diapers we throw out on a daily basis and how they sit somewhere never really decomposing. I have been feeling more excited about being a "light shade of green" and trying out Giant Eagle instead of Kroger than I have about Jesus. I feel like we all have causes we stand for or things we get on "kicks" about. We buy the product, wear the tshirts, talk it up, join groups about the new "it" thing on Facebook - What if we acted like the "it" thing were Jesus? I bet that would change the diaper heap we live in. If we took all this creative energy and balled it up and tossed it up to Jesus, He would really use it. But, it's the turning to Jesus part that seems rather difficult for me lately. In the background of my life - behind the crying baby, the Wonderpets theme song, the noises of life - I hear Jesus and I know my desire to be freely creative is from Him and it's a beautiful form of worship. The silly drawings or singing in the car or spinning in circles with Sam until we get too dizzy or the words that pop in my head that don't get written down -they are all little gifts from Jesus who is so desperately seeking me. So, the question is - How do I find freedom to creatively pursue him? It seems more clear now that it is not a lack of freedom in my creativity it's a lack of Jesus in my creativity that's holding me back. After all, Jesus brings a sweet balance between captivity and freedom. He'll hold me just close enough to feel safe but give me enough freedom to use the gifts and ideas he has put in me."

I'm glad I stumbled upon this. In conclusion I would say, Freely create what the Creator has created you to create. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure that includes, food, tote bags, music, gardens, babies, cakes, cheese, cross stitches, stories, dances, jokes, Papa-ism's, thesis papers, games, geo-caching tokens, compost bins, seed bombs...

Today I...

Today I

Today I woke up earlier than I would have liked and gave the baby, who really isn't much of a baby anymore, a bottle.

Today I convinced the "baby" to cuddle on the couch with me so I could catch a few more minutes of precious sleep.

Today I woke the big boy, who really is still a little boy, up from sleeping sideways in the crack between his mattress and bed in hopes of having a nap time later.

Today I was a magician and made waffles go, "POP!" out of the toaster.

Today I was a alligator wrestler and made little boys look presentable at the doctor's office.

Today I was an acrobat and single handedly crawled under the car (Ray was in the other hand) to rescue a hot wheels car that was dropped in the parking lot of the doctors office.

Today I was a police officer and averted a major crisis by checking in at the front desk downstairs and then left for a minute so that Sam could ride the "Elegator".

Today I was proud and held a brave two (and a half) year old on my lap while he had his ears checked.

Today I was loving and held a screaming one year old on my lap while he had his ears checked.

Today I was lazy and took advantage of drive thru's at the pharmacy, bank, and Wendy's.

Today I was resourceful (I remembered seeing a coupon to get a dollar off gas with a new prescription so I went inside to pick up prescriptions so I could track down said coupon).

Today I was a world famous entertainer while we waited in line.

Today I was a gardener and pulled a few handfuls of weeds while we played outside.

Today I saved the world by hanging up cloth diapers to dry.

Today I was a drum major and lead a musical parade.

Today I kissed two boys goodnight.

Today I made it to nap time.

Today I needed to make a list of all the things I have done rather than all the things I need to do...

Today I am a Mommy.