Holland's Reverie

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

just want to be me

Lately I have found myself to be sinking into a bit of an upsetting manor.

One where I compare and compare and always seem to come out on the losing end. I pick out flaws and seeming failures, and can too easily base my feelings and outcomes on my perception of others.

My photography is not where I want it to be, my blog is not as big as I would like, so and so cooks so much better than me, I'm not doing homeschooling as efficiently as this gal is, we need to be doing this like this family and so on and so forth. An unending cycle that must be broken.

Last night, I sat myself down- it was time to have a serious chat with me. "Comparison is the thief of joy," I've heard said over and over, and how true it is. As soon as I start comparing myself to others, I can feel the pride for what I have accomplished and the happiness for my little life, start slipping away.

No more, I say! This is who I am, and it's exactly who and where I need to be at this moment in time. It's not about getting somewhere or being something. It's about enjoying this moment that I'm in. Life is far too fleeting to waste another minute on comparing myself to anybody else.

"be who you were created to be and you will set the world on fire."- St. Catherine of Sienna

Images captured by my beautiful Aussie girl:)

Monday, November 10, 2014

falling forward

With November screaming by, I thought I would take some time to write down a handful of activities I'm hoping to do as a family, some tasks I would like to complete, and a few things I'm wishing for.

I think it's important to put down one's hopes in words or lists, to have something concrete to hold yourself to. A lovely reminder.

I'm hoping to get in a quick camping trip before it turns too brisk.

I long to have more campfires and evenings spent traipsing around the farm exploring.

I would like to make some sort of blogging schedule so I'm not hunkered down in front of the computer, staring blankly with no ideas and no draft post to speak of.

There is some minor house re-decorating that I would oh so love to achieve. Mine and Kaleb's room is begging for a little makeover as well as the dining room. I'm dreaming of these -oh, how they make my heart sing.

We hope to create the kids, a large covered cement pad out in the field, so they will finally have a place to ride bikes and scooters and frolic and romp all the live long winter, and it will make my life sooooo sweet.

I'm lusting after these boots and this hat.

I would like to find my love for cooking again. I've always been quite fickle with it, and usually only enjoy it when trying a new recipe. Hopefully with fall weather settling in, it will encourage me to seek out fresh ideas and will restore some culinary excitement. Of course owning one of these would help:)

And, I would like to get back in the gym. Somehow I've let it slip in the midst of all our business and I miss it.

What about you, anything you hope to get done in the upcoming weeks? Anything you're dreaming of or wishing for?

Friday, November 7, 2014

our favorite reads for the wee babes

Some of my dearest little moments of being a mommy have crept in on me quietly, while snuggled up with my wee ones,reading away. Even as tiny wee babes, I would hold them close in my arms, rocking back and forth, as I read our favorites over and over.

The words having been permanently etched on my heart. I no longer need to see the pages. We flip thru, and for a brief moment everyone is quiet and still. All the craziness from the day settles and silently falls away.

Even though my little tykes are growing and their interests and capabilities are evolving, we're still drawn back to our rustic bookshelf piled high with well worn and best loved reads.

As my wild ones have been ill this week, we have taken to these little classics. Piled on the floor, a mass of scrawny legs and chubby tummies and snotty noses and coughs, with silly rhymes and beautiful illustrations our amusement.

I thought I would compile a small list of some of my favorites, for any of you just entering motherhood, for those who hope to some day, or anyone really. If any of you have favorites for your wee ones, or some from your childhood you would like to add to the list, leave it in the comments and I will include them!