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Brave, Courage, Family, Gifts, Laughter, Parenting, Pause

Live This Day

May should come with a daily mascara alert.  Also, a personal soul cheerleader reminding you that you can do all the exhausting tasks this month throws on us.

I’m overwhelmed.  Which accurately describes every mother at the end of the school year.  But this year feels different having a senior. Because it is different.  It’s so different.  And dumb. I wish Senior year could have moved as slowly as his Fourth-Grade year – that one was a dousy.

My Momma-Heart is raw.  My brain keeps cheering me on that I can do all the hard things, while my heart is singing Meatloaf lyrics and informing me that it won’t do that.  It doesn’t feel like it can take one more last.  Not when there are so many things that I still need to tell him and teach him.  My friend gave the advice to have all the conversations and say all the things – so that keeps me up at night.  Only my darling isn’t too receptive when I pad my bare feet across the house to have a heart to heart, hoping he is awake as well.  Nor does he care about learning how to perform the heimlich maneuver on himself or the most efficient way to load a dishwasher.

I don’t want to brag, but I handle being overwhelmed like a champ.  In the case you need some advice on this so the rest of your May can be smooth, let me offer some tips that I find helpful:

  • I simply quit living.  I stop being proactive on my schedule and quit looking at my calendar in hopes it will stop time. It’s odd that this doesn’t work and only adds to the frustration of being overwhelmed with tardiness and lack of preparation.  But, keep trying it.
  • I mentally hit the snooze button on the household work and checklists that normally keep our life running smooth.
  • I don’t grocery shop until the natives start hollering that we are out of milk and “everything”.
  • I curl up in bed when possible, and stare at a lot of walls and even more piles of towels that are begging to be folded.  Towels are so needy sometimes. Fold yourself.

The biggest lie is that this will stop the inevitable from happening.  Time marches on, whether we are present for the moments or not.  The world doesn’t stop turning just because we are stuck in reliving our memories.  I’ve learned we miss a lot of sweet moments if we are staring into space thinking they aren’t happening.

CS Lewis tells us, “What you see depends on where you are standing”.  This is never more true than when your baby is about to leave the nest.  I stand behind him and see my handsome boy standing in a pile of beautiful baby feathers he has shed throughout the years.  He stands at the edge of our nest and sees his future laid out wide in front of him. It is sweet to watch him stretch his wings in preparation to fly, but the sweet is wrapped in a somber blanket of not wanting it to be over.

You may not have a senior, you might just be dealing with the other side of our current crazy – end of the school year crap.  Banquets, Recitals, Award assemblies, class parties, school parties, standardized testing…bless.  You just thought you turned in all the paperwork in September.  There is a whole ‘nother pile of summer camp signups for everything your child ever considered doing.  Then the darlings decide to take a growth spurt the last month of school and you’d better go buy them all the new clothes since their shorts are closer to the “booty short” description than “prep length”.  It’s enough to overwhelm June Cleaver, no wonder we get stuck in sensory overload.

While I can’t take out the calories of our emotional eating, I can offer this…

Pause Momma.  Say no to all the unimportant tasks that aren’t relevant to this short season.  Create margin for breathing so you can have the energy and strength to be present for living.  Live this day.

The towels might end up learning how to fold themselves.  After all….we did figure out how to put a man on the moon. I’m just sayin’….

May 11, 2018 by
Family, Gifts, Lessons, Parenting

Parenting through the pecking

“Raising children is like being pecked to death by chickens.”

That quote has hung in a family member’s home for years, probably still does.  I whispered it often during the early years of raising boys, sometimes still do.  In my most exhausting moments of Motherhood, that quote has served my children well.  The assurance that other mothers also felt this exasperated on the journey was protection for my daring little chickens and their scissor sharp beaks.

The chickens have grown. I miss those dang chicks and their itty bitty pecking, it was really kinda cute looking from this angle.  Especially since we’ve learned that raising teenagers is like riding a rollercoaster with a blindfold on.  Some days it’s steady and smooth as you track up the hill on the Judge Roy Scream, only to be pushed off the top and realize the track gave way to the old Texas Giant with its wooden, rough ways – jerky enough to break your bra (a tragic true story).

There are moments of complete pride, realizing how far they have come in their maturity.  There are also moments of desperately begging God for more time to train the monsters.

Recently, while I was cooking with Mason, McCray strolled through the kitchen and dipped his finger in the sopapilla cheesecake filling. Big brother yelled, “Don’t do that! It has eggs in it and you’ll get melanoma!”   Hearing this, my face scrunched up and I just stared at him, wondering how he made it to through 12.7 years of school.

I held some hope that McCray, the freshman, would correct him. Instead he rolled his eyes and said, “It’s malaria you moron.”  Which explains his grade in Health class.  Bless you teacher. We should have sent a better Christmas gift.  Would a sopapilla cheese cake suffice?

I should remind everyone here that I’ve never claimed to be a good teacher.  Also, Sopapilla cheesecake has precisely zero eggs in the ingredients.  I informed them the sickness they were looking for was Salmonella. To which they both shrugged and said, “Same.”   It’s a wonder we fail at HQ trivia every day at 8 p.m.

Our oldest is a Senior, he graduates in exactly too soon of days.  A fact I have grieved and dreaded for the entirety of his eighteen years.  I can’t imagine not seeing him for longer than a week, or walking to his room for a goodnight hug.  I don’t know how I will pack him up and drive his belongings down to Austin, only to get in my car and DRIVE AWAY FROM HIM.

My baby.  My first born.  My boy who fills so much of our house with his unique character and audacious personality.  Tears are flowing as I type this.

And yet, the same precious, growing child that I am crying tears over can drive me absolutely crazy.  I’ve been told that God has a way of helping us weepy parents let go, by allowing them to act like know-it-all-fools in the last months they are in our home.  This is true. The same child that can make me gush over his adorable ways, makes my head explode and my heart ache while watching him learn life lessons and navigate tough choices, sometimes making the wrong ones.

God is so gracious.  How does He do this from heaven?!  As Bob Goff shares, “I think a Father’s job, when it’s done best, is to get down on both knees, lean over his children’s lives, and whisper, “Where do you want to go?”

I have returned to that visual a lot this past year.  Where do you want to go my son?  These boys have been watered with love and light, and a pile of prayers.  For the eldest, this has been the year of mom stepping back and allowing him to steer more.  I haven’t done this perfectly, as every-person-in-this-house accuses me of being a back-seat driver, but we can unpack that another time.

I’m trying.  I’m learning.  I’m clinging to the fact that while childhood is only a chapter in their life, we remain parents forever.  Once a parent, always a parent.

Which is my rebellious way of choosing joy in this season.

Choosing stubborn gladness throughout the journey of my heart being pecked to death by this thing called parenting.

 

 

March 26, 2018 by
Fashion, Gifts, Textured Threads

Textured Threads GIVEAWAY!

One thing has been certain this winter, getting compliments on this bag and clutch. The conversations sparked by the beauties have ranged from finding out how many left-handed grandkids one lady had…to being prayed over by a precious gal, who I seriously suspected might have been Tammy Faye Baker visiting from heaven.  Her lashes were incredible, and so separated.

I got this from my friend, Alison, at Elevate at the Findery  (Click on her store name to visit all the gorgeous goodies she has!).  I seriously love it.  It is obviously NOT a real axis…(for you peta peeps), it feels more like velvet fur.  I carry the whole bag everyday, with the clutch inside.  If I’m running in the store, I just grab the clutch and leave the bag that carries the rest of my life and all my books.

Few things make me happier than giving a gift. It’s a serious thing here.  I have a closet set aside for gifts that have yet to be wrapped or given.  Me, the same gal who sat in a PTO Fall Festival meeting ten years ago and snuffed a snort when another mom mentioned her gift closet.  Huh?  My gift closet was located at Target, and I usually swung by on the way to the birthday party we were running late to.

So, I’ve grown.

I’d also love for this blog space to grow in subscribers and friends.  Which calls for a GIVEAWAY!

Details and such…

  • Subscribe to the blog -> Lower right on the home page.  Your right, not mine. 
  • Share this post or another on the blog.
  • Like our facebook here -> Textured Soul Facebook Page  
  • Be entered a SECOND time by tagging 3 friends on the original post ->
  • Drawing will be held on February 1st!

Just in case you need to see the bag again…

Let’s be twinkies!

January 25, 2018 by
Books, Favorite Things, Gifts, Laughter, Lessons

A few of my Favorite Things….2017

I’m no Oprah…but I do have a few favorite things this year.  I wish this post was going to end with the surprise that every single one of you, and your cousin, would be getting all items mentioned.  Spoiler alert – No free candles.  However, I would love to share some favs. For shopping and perusing purposes, click on the title of each item to be directed to the link of the item mentioned!  (This is not a sponsored post.)

First and foremost – what I’m most excited about really highlights my shallowness and vanity.  I hope you guys can accept that, we can get deep later.  I can’t even wait to tell you about it….drumroll please.

Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer

I know what you are thinking….Revlon?  I wish I could credit whatever podcast I heard about this on…because that girl deserves ALL the credit.  This blow dryer has changed by mornings and made my hair look like angels brushed it.  I’ve always wanted to be the girl who round brushed her hair, but accepted that I was the uncoordinated girl whose arms get tired and whiney when it comes to blow drying my hair.  Thank you Relvon, for hearing my cries and giving me volume.  Quickly.

Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story

A friend of mine recently invited me to do this bible study with her, as she was leading a class at her church.  Three weeks after they started, I accepted the invitation.  Classic move.  Catching up on the study was easy, I didn’t want to put this down.  I’ve read the bible my entire life, done countless bible studies and devotionals, yet have never completely understood it. I’ve loved Angie Smith’s simple way of walking us through all the stories and tying them together so well!  It’s so good, and the videos for the end of each week can be found on Youtube…or call Kyla. I’m certain she would be happy to drive to you and show you how to find them.

I’m already feeling the urge to goal plan for the new year!   I’m old school, and need paper to write on.  So, choosing a new planner is a big deal for me.  Here are my favorites…

Erin Condern Lifeplanner 

My ol’ faithful….I’m on year 6 with this girl and like the vertical layout.  Mainly because I started using these before they gave an option and I’m not prone to change. Hence, the use of paper instead of my phone.

Cultivate What Matters Powersheets – An intentional goal planner.

I’m so excited about utilizing this in 2018.  I’ll most likely be ready to run for President with a few months of goal planning under my belt.  Watch out world. #goalcrushingtime

Anchored Press Devotional Planner

A Christian planner that keeps you focused on God as you organize your day.  Because my bosses in my real job tease me about having a paper planner (they are uber impressive at technology), I’ve had to draw the line at 3 written planners for 2018.  However, after I am President, I plan to add another.  Because I’ll have proven the power of PAPER!  Maybe my slogan will be “Go vintage, use paper! And pretty pens!”

Murad Oil Control Mattifier

My skin is not terribly oily, but by afternoon I had a shine on my t-zone. Not the dewy shine of youth – but the oily shine of dirty-tired (new word, you moms know).  I add a tiny bit of this, after my moisturizer in the morning and it does the trick.

Portfolio Collection Travel Tin Candles

I love candles, candlelight, and lovely smells….who doesn’t?  These little babies make it easy to travel with candles, so your hotel room can be cozy as well!  This brand comes in all sizes and scents, but I’m obsessed with the Portfolio Collection Travel Tin Candles, my favorite scents are linked below.  They make great little gifts or stocking stuffers!  Local friends, you can grab these at The Findery!

Pink Peony (Love!), Lavender Chaparral, Luxe Linen, Santa Barbara, Primrose Beach

Illuminidol Candles

Seriously, these make me laugh so hard and make the most fun gifts.  You can choose from a wide variety of their fun candles or design your own for an extra fee!  A great gift for the darling narcissist in your life. Or for the friends that enjoy a good giggle!  Just look how natural and happy Dolly looks in our entryway!  Gangs all here!  (Elvis not shown.)

 

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Lengthening Washable Mascara

Let me introduce myself, my name is Brooke and I am a mascara snob.  Actually, I am an eyelash snob.  I love big, long lashes.  I’m from Texas, the longer the lashes…the closer to heaven.  Or something like that.  I’ve had eyelash extensions, but they are so heavy – I felt like a butterfly just landed on my eyelid.  I’ve used stupid expensive mascara and have loved several.  The other day I was running through Walgreens and grabbed this little guy.  I’ve loved it every bit as much as the costly ones.  The wand is awesome and separating while lengthening.

Book Darts   

I will never read without these little babies again.  Ever.  Don’t even try to make me.  I’ll take them on a deserted island with my book, chapstick, and lotion.  (I’m counting on food being airdropped in for survival.) Book Darts are tiny little book marks that aren’t bulky, they are so thin and inconspicuous.  I always feel a deep need to underline and highlight special messages in books – an act that used book stores don’t appreciate.  They are so picky.  So, book darts to the rescue.

Pup Socks 

Or your cat. Or your favorite HUMAN!  Stop it.  I almost didn’t share this good news with you friends, because it might ruin a few gifts.  But, I’m a giver…so, you’re welcome.  What I can’t share are the ones I ordered for my friends and family members.  Stay tuned friends, my social media sites will be BLOWING UP with photos after Christmas.  Honey, Bunny, Ryder, Remy, Auzzie, Valentine, and Emma will be famous to more people than just their loving Momma.

Giddy Up, Eunice: (Because Women Need Each Other)

Loves, if you’re looking to get me a gift, please bring me Sophie Hudson.  If that is too weird, then fine…just read her books so we can chat.  This is her most recent book, and how I came to know her.  I laughed and cried and cheered all through it.  I’ve always been a supporter of women, fully believing that we don’t shine brighter by blowing out the candle of another.  What if we could instead reach out, up, and back to invest in all generations of our sisters.  We are all just walking each other home.  Some ahead of us, some behind us.  Let’s just all get there.

Muk Luks Slippers


I wish these house slippers came in wedges.  Life complete. Until then, I’ll collect every color/print of them in effort to trick people that I am wearing shoes. Comfort is so important to me, it should be its own love language.  Don’t know your size?  Head to Target and try them on!

Maui Babe Lotion

Don’t let the “after browning” part of the label fool you.  My “browning” comes from a bottle (shared below), this is my daily lotion.  It feels like conditioner for your skin, and it’s not sticky like some lotions can be.

Fake Bake Flawless Tanning System

Get your hands ready to clutch some pearls sister.  I am a 39 year old gal who spent her early years in a tanning bed. And loved it.  I even owned one.  The search to find something as relaxing as laying in that tanning bed, my skin warming while the fan blew on my burning skin…was unsuccessful. However, I did find a solution for a tan that doesn’t give you cancer like the UV rays do. (Please, I don’t want to hear about all the toxins being absorbed through the skin. Go elsewhere Fun&Beauty Police, just let me have my tan.)

Chatbooks…the modern app version of scrapbooking

I know, I know…you are all tired of me preaching about Chatbooks.  I simply have a fierce love for photos and memories, Chatbooks tie them both together.  Download the app and upload your photos from your phone, Instagram, and Facebook.

Bridgewater Candles

Light a candle, feed a child. For each container candle purchased Bridgewater donates funds to feed a child for one day!  These are made in America and sold in boutiques around the country as well, so buy local and support your store owners!  (Waco peeps, Salvage Sisters carry them.)  My favorite scent is Sweet Grace, the air freshener is amazing as well!

Fox Print

Fox Print is a great app for these fun vintage polaroid prints and magnets – all downloaded from pictures on your phone. Our laundry room fridge is filled with the sweetest faces.

 

And there you have it my friends.  By now, I’m sure you have learned that I get excited about the smallest of things.  If we can’t love the small things, how would we ever know how to appreciate the large things?

November 21, 2017 by
Family, Friendship, Gifts, Laughter

The Sanctuary of Twisted Words and Tied Tongues

The other day I got a phone call from the guy doing glass work on our shower remodel, informing me he was headed out to the house.  I wasn’t going to be there, so I began to tell him that we had also decided to re-do the mirrors in the bathroom and asked if he could take a look and give me a quote of cutting them down.  We were chatting about the kind of driftwood frame I was planning to build around the mirrors – the construction and heaviness of it, etc. I told him that I would have to send him a pic of what I had in mind to create, because basically I was just gonna “free ball” it.  There was a pause on the other end of the phone and the sound of an uncomfortable snicker.  It took me a full minute to realize that I had combined two thoughts: eye ball it and free hand it.  Instead, he now probably wonders about my anatomy and is certain of my lack of underwear.

It’s in these moments especially, silence is golden.

The inspiration for our “free-balling” mirror. Found on Pinterest.

I think this could be genetic, as I believe most people have their act more intact than myself or my sisters. We are always calling each other, mentally dying at the foot we just put in our mouth.   A few years ago, the baby sister worked at a bank back home, which entailed sometimes answering phone calls.  One day she picked up the ring and professionally said, “First State Bank, how can I help it?”  Realizing her mistake, she corrected it to, “First State Bank, how can I help YOU help it?”  Still determined to fix this she said, “First State Bank, how can I…..Oh, this is Kelsey.”  On the other end of the line, the President of the bank, calling from the main branch sighed and said, “Let me talk to Shelly.”

Silence is golden, so are phone skills.

She can’t be blamed really. Being the youngest sister, we set her up for failure of speech, as everyone else in the family spoke for her.  I’ve just learned to stop doing this a year ago, and fully plan on having some relapses. Big sister habits are hard to break. When she was in kindergarten, a parent of her little friend called the house to schedule a play date and asked for “Mrs. Mouse, Kelsey’s mom”.  After some confusion, they determined that they did call the right house, but had the wrong name.  We later figured out that Kelsey had told the friends at school her name was Kelsey Mouse.  A clear misunderstanding, as we had only been inserting her name into the Mickey Mouse song for 5 years: “K-E-L…S-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E, Kelsey Mouse….Kelsey Mouse…”

Bless her confused, silent self.

A while back we hosted our beloved friends, Amy and Kyle’s wedding reception on our back patio.  The baby sister was staying with us at the time and was a huge help in assisting the decorators and caterer.  After the reception got started, she did what she was best at and snuck away to her bedroom, hiding from all the people, because sometimes life is just too peopley. It was a beautiful evening, Amy and her party planner did a perfect job at turning the back porch into a gorgeous place to celebrate one of our favorite families blending and growing.

As the night came to a close, the few who were left here all congregated in the kitchen, eating leftovers and recalling the events of the day. Baby sister emerged from her room and one of the guys said, “Hey Kelsey!  Were you back there napping?”  Sweet sister shyly smiled, gave an awkward laugh and said, “Sometime.”  Singular. Neither party knew exactly what to do except awkwardly stare at each other.  The best part of watching the interaction was Kelsey’s full commitment to her reply.  She knew she had given a random, weird answer, but instead of correcting herself with a “silly me”, she just smiled and stared back until he walked away confused.

Michelle, our dear friend was also in the kitchen that night. Her family had recently moved away – a devastating loss to our hearts and neighborhood.  Amy and I both missed her terribly.  Michelle is the life of a back-porch party, always thinking up fun games like our yearly talent show, telling the kids campfire ghost stories, making us laugh as she acts out her most recent hilarious tales.  Michelle has big blue eyes that seem to get bigger when telling a story, she talks with her whole body, and when she tells a story you feel like you were literally there.  It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Michelle, Amy, and I – Photo by Aurora Henry

Once they got settled into their new home, Michelle set out on some job interviews, one being at a private school.  She felt pretty good about how the interview was going as she sat in a lone chair, across from the entire Board, answering all their questions like a professional champ. Nearing the end of the interview, one of the Board members asked if her family went to church, and if so, where they attended.  Michelle wholeheartedly nodded and replied that they did indeed.  When he repeated the question asking where her family attended, she thought fast and replied, “Lady of the Lord.”  Still nodding, eyes huge, she was fully committed to her answer and church – all in.

Michelle does not fabricate stories, just churches.  In her defense, they had just moved to a new city with new churches with weird names.  In that weird, new city, not one church was named “Lady of the Lord”, however there were two Catholic churches that they planned to visit, one had the word “Lady” and one had “Lord” in it.  Sometimes we have to create our own spaces.

When Amy and I heard this story, we howled. We laughed until we cried at the visual of our precious and hilarious friend sitting in a chair, facing an entire board of a private school, eyes wide, head nodding, stoically telling them with assurance that she attends a church in her head.

Ah, but the Lady of the Lord church does exist, as it is now the name of our back-porch sanctuaries.  Appropriately titled and truly one of the most peaceful churches that I’ve ever attended.  We are ladies of the Lord, He comforts us through the friendship of each other, speaks to us through sounds of nature, and shows us love by the gift of a safe place.

God in us, among us, and for us.

Even when our tongues are tied, our words are tangled, and our lives are sometimes twisted.  He knows our hearts are for Him, and I imagine even has to sometimes shake His head and simply chuckle.

 

*Featured photo by Asher Creek Photography.

November 6, 2017 by