Madame Rubies

• Reading all day
• A new Barbara Kingsolver book to enjoy
• Going to a party tonight
• Walking to the park yesterday in the nice weather
• Watching Disney shows with Haydn
• Chocolate cupcakes

Have a great weekend!

Heather

Gift #2 in my 1000 Gifts series is Choice. 

Recently, I made the decision to give up my job and come home again.  Plenty of people would say I am crazy.  That job paid well.  I had just gotten a raise.  I had health insurance for me and my children. There was a ton of possibilty for moving up in the company. I loved my coworkers like family (still do).  But, the longer I was there, the harder it got.  My spirit was with my family.  I started having daily panic attacks at work.  My motivation to do my job well wavered and began to disappear altogether for days on end.

There were other issues, but this is enough information for my purpose in this blog. Suffice it to say, I made the choice to come home again.

Being home now is very different from what it was like to be at home for the first 6 years of Haydn’s life.  I have a ton more motivation.  The housework isn’t fun by any means, but it doesn’t feel like such slave labor either.  I feel freedom in my days.  My patience is a bit better.  I care a bit more.

What changed?

Before, I was at home for many reasons.  To begin with, I couldn’t find a job that paid enough to cover childcare while I worked. I have no degree.  I also felt a huge burden of guilt. I felt like I was SUPPOSED to be at home, whether I wanted to be or not.  That meant my days seemed like traps, bars locking me into this life.  This time, I am home because I want to be.  Because I CHOOSE to be.

Funny how the same situation can feel like a prison one moment and freedom the next, based solely on perspective.

God gave humans choice. There is a great scene in the movie Dogma where Barleby (fallen angel) rants about how God gave humans choice and we completely waste it, while angels are forced to do His bidding.  I think we forget that choice is a gift to us from our Creator.  It isn’t a right.  He GAVE it to us. Everyday comes with choices.  Little gifts to get us through each moment. 

This morning, I chose to wear a shirt that I know flatters my figure.  I chose to have Sonic for breakfast.  I chose to show up at the church and volunteer in our secretary’s place so she can go see her daughter graduate from college.  Some things I do everyday don’t feel like choices.  But they are.  Haydn has to be at school by 7:30.  I CHOOSE to get him there on time.  Laundry needs to be done.  I choose to do it.  I could choose not to do these things.  Life isn’t pretty if I choose not to keep my promises, but those promises are golden when they are kept because they are kept by choice.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself, I can choose to have a good day.  I can choose to be in a better mood.  I can choose not to let things bother me. These aren’t easy choices, but they are mine.

Thank You, Abba, for choices.

Heather

I neglected the Nattie Challenge Blog while I was working.  Sad.  I apologize.  I let too many things slip by when I was at Cokesbury.  I missed so many of them.  Well, the newest theme is now posted.  Please join us in the Thinking of Nat Challenge. The basic gist of the challenge is to read a book that reminds you of Nat, sometime between now and the end of June.  Heck, read a bunch of books that remind you of Nat.  And, please, give a book away in her name.  Any book to anyone.  In order to show it is in Nat’s name, I scribble “In memory of Natalie” inside and then write her web address (www.nattierosewrites.com). 

The book I have chosen is I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.  This book is a gift to me from my lovely Pattie, who was also a dear friend of Nat.  We both remember her mentioning this book, though we aren’t sure if she ever read it or just wanted to read it.  Either way, it brings her to mind for us. 

As for giving a book away.  I gave my friend, Rwth, a copy of Evensong that I just finished.  It was a beautiful book.  I have a few more books to give this coming month.

Join us?

I am posting this, not just to inform you of the challenge, but also as a part of my 1000 Gifts theme.  Running this blog in Nat’s honor is a gift to me.  It has allowed me to see ways Natalie is still touching others with her life.  It gives me an excuse, as well, to constantly be thinking of Natalie.  It is a form of mourning and also a form of celebrating.  I don’t think the Christian culture, in general, does a very good job of handling the emotions that come after such a loss.  We don’t know how to mourn.  We are told not to mourn as those with no hope, but that doesn’t mean we don’t mourn at all… just that we mourn differently.

So, Gift #1 is being allowed to mourn Natalie in my own way.  It is a blessing. 

Heather

Stephanie blogged on Choice, recently.  This was a part of her Thousand Gifts series. I had also been planning a blog on choice (though she said it so well, what can I add), and I am taken with the 1000 Gifts idea.  I believe she got it from another blog she reads.  That blog is called Holy Experience. It reminded me of a few years ago when I did a series based on the Annie Lennox song “1000 Beautiful Things.” Continue Reading »

I asked hubby for a few summer dresses.  I have been craving them.  He actually went shopping with me, and we got one from Walmart, last night.  It is black with red and white flowers.  So, today, I am fiddling around looking at dresses online while the boys run off some energy in the backyard. Continue Reading »

Academy Sports has some really awesome shoes.  I never would have looked at shoes there.  My friend, Cat, showed up at church with these awesome Crocs flip-flops and she found them at Academy.  So I am browsing their selection online. Continue Reading »

Actually, just this one contest.  Amazon hosted a Harry Potter writing contest.  Entries had to be under 100 words.  The topic I chose was something along the lines of what I learned from Harry Potter and how the books relate to real life.  Here is my ballad of Harry Potter… Continue Reading »

Seriosuly.  I just got $25 for signing up.  No strings attached.

Sign up.  Get money.

Heather

I am having an Aloette party tonight. Hosting it earned free stuff for my friend, Emily.  And I was in a domestic mood.  Well, I had forgotten we are having a room in our house painted this weekend.  Being as we live in such a small house, the stuff from said room is all over the house while my girls paint.  So, Emily was sweet enough to lend me her apartment for this party. Continue Reading »

• Sunshine and a breeze
• Mountain Dew
• All day in the church library
• Text messaging
• Good books to read
• A fab new episode of Grey’s Anatomy
• Scripture
• A teen girl with a big smile on her face
• Giggling with girlfriends
• King sized beds
• It’s friday!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Heather

It is time for the Thursday Thirteen.  I am planning to get back in the habit of doing this weekly.  I enjoy it, and I enjoy reading other lists, as well. Continue Reading »

I don’t tend to blog about election stuff very often.  However, I would love to direct you to my friend’s blog.  Lane talks about Rev Jeremiah Wright’s latest controversial speeches, and I enjoyed the entry.

Click Here

Heather

1. I have discovered Twitter. Well, I suppose I rediscovered it.  Someone invited me back in Sept and I used it sporadically but didn’t get into it.  Now, most of the WaH ladies Twitter, so I am back.  Go check it out if you are so inclined. I believe Sara referred to it as “micro-blogging.”  I think that fits it well. Continue Reading »

Actually, before I could compose a blog entry on mission work, my husband read me his final evaluation for his Mission Journal.  He took a missions class in seminary, this semester.  I enjoyed this piece so much that I asked him if I could borrow it for my blog.  So, we have a guest blogger here at Madame Rubies.  Welcome to my husband, Corey.  Here is something he wrote about a mission project he has been doing… Continue Reading »

Friday Felicities are happies, simple joys, etc…  This Meme is from the mind and heart of Nattie. Continue Reading »