sparkle for sparkle's sake

Barely a month into the fall routine, and I'm already in a rut.

Style-wise, that is!

Maybe it's the almost-shift to fall clothes (the weather's been cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon) - or maybe it's because my husband's been away for days at a time.... I'm just feeling so BLAH in clothes.

The trouble for me is, if I feel blah on the outside, I generally feel blah on the inside too.  Or maybe it goes the other way around?

Either way, today I decided to change that!

I put on a t-shirt and jeans (come on moms, it's just what we wear!).  I thought I'd "spice" it up with a t-shirt material cardigan of sorts.

I look sad, and not just because my mirror is so dirty!

It just wasn't doin' it for me.

Inspired by a friend who wore a similar necklace in a casual way, I popped on some *sparkle* that I've had for a year and have barely worn.

look at the radiance, notice the happiness!

Much better!

It's all in good fun, friends.  Of course JOY comes from the Spirit of God within! :)


What's YOUR favourite way to add sparkle to your day?

call it what you will

We started a great discussion yesterday, and I've responded to some of the comments on yesterday's post in the comment section.  Today is part II - written at the same time as yesterday's post (but I didn't want to break any records for the World's Longest Blog Post!).

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I know a person who always seems to see the bright side of things.  Who always seems happy to see you - and everyone else, who loves kids - even the annoying ones - and loves to bring fun into any and every situation.  People sometimes think this person is goofy or oblivious or a pie-in-the-sky Pollyanna.  I have thought it must be exhausting to feel compelled to be so positive and optimistic.  People - Christians - I know have openly mocked this happy-go-lucky attitude and I have rolled my eyes (to my shame) at this person's unending enthusiasm.

Are some people naturally like this?

could be.

I am not naturally positive and optimistic - does that mean I'm destined to a life of negativism, of being a life-sucker rather than a life giver?

maybe not....

In chapter 11 of Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project, in discussing keeping a contented heart, she comes around to idea of choosing to "give positive reviews."  By her definition this means to be more enthusiastic and to become one of the "joyous ones."  She quickly realizes how very difficult it is to abandon a lifestyle of  enjoying the "delicious satisfaction" of criticizing.  She readily identifies how being critical made her "feel more sophisticated and intelligent" and how studies have shown that "people who are critical are often perceived as more discerning."[p. 268]  As she seeks to keep her resolution to "Give positive reviews," she attempts an intensive approach - no negative comments for one week. 

Could you do that?  I'm not sure I could (certainly not without the Lord's help!)....

Here's what she learned:

"Once I started trying to give positive reviews, though, I began to understand how much happiness I took from the joyous ones in my life - and how much effort it must take for them to be consistently good-tempered and positive. It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light. We non-joyous types suck energy and cheer from the joyous ones; we rely on them to buoy us with their good spirit and to cushion our agitation and anxiety.  At the same time, because of a dark element in human nature, we're sometimes provoked to try to shake the enthusiastic, cheery folk out of their fog of illusion....instead of shielding their joy, we blast it." [p.270]

And I thought of the person I know who is consistently good-tempered, who is one of the joyous ones.  And it occurred to me that this person might not "naturally" be like that.  Perhaps a lifetime of choosing to be positive and enthusiastic has led to the seemingly effortless fun and delight that defines them.  As I continued reading, I was convicted by the realization that it takes a great deal of humility to lay aside the desire and impulse to use "sarcasm, ironic asides and cynical comments" to make myself appear smart and discerning. "A willingness to be pleased," Rubin says, "requires modesty and even innocence - easy to deride as mawkish and sentimental."

Having "ready laughter" is something that I've valued in others and have desired to bless others with.  For me this often means delighting with someone in the "obvious" joke, rather than just smiling out of courtesy.  To be there for those around me, laying aside my personal preferences in humour or entertainment styles.

I've never preferred the word "happy."  Something in me has always considered it unspiritual.  JOY - yes that is good and godly, but it isn't something that is necessarily reflected on the outside.  It's a deep sense of peace and satisfaction that comes from the security of a relationship with the Lord - but doesn't mean you'll be happy.  Happy is fluffy.  Happy is circumstantial.  Happy is for morning people.  Happy isn't necessary for Christians....

found it here
notice the vacancy sign??

I'm thankful for this book because through Rubin's writing, the Lord gave me peace with this little word.  Happy is ok.  Happy is not a feeling in and of itself, it's an external view of my heart.  (Be joyful in hope... Rom 12:12)  For me, happy is the outward display of being joyful.  Happy will draw people in instead of pushing them away.  Happy will reflect the character of a loving God as it reflects that deep sense of joy that comes from a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Happy will enable me to speak joy into the lives of my family, friends and community.  And maybe I'll never achieve the kind of happiness displayed by "the person I know" but I am sure that every time I lay down my pride to show more of what God can do in a person like me, I will make Him happy (pleased, joy-filled, delighted, glad - call it what you will) too.

May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;

may they be happy and joyful.

Psalm 68:3

theme

the first Sunday of Advent.

I've never done it before, but I have decided that I will have a theme for our family and home this Advent/Christmas season.  When I saw this wall hanging on our trip, it spoke to me...

Thinking about a time of year that can have a tendency to be more rushed than reflective and harried than peaceful, these words caused me to pause and wonder what my home would be like if these words represented how we would be doing the holiday season.

Comfort - not comfortable, for that's something entirely different - but to choose activities and traditions that bring rest and peace to our hearts...not just something to fill up every night from now until December 24th.

Joy - not an obsession with being merry, the ho-ho-ho of it all - but things that reflect real, lasting joy and the peace that comes only from above.  Choosing to do things with meaning, building into a sense of contributing the God's Kingdom work.

And of course, I was drawn instantly to the "&" because it looks very much like and treble clef and that represents the power music has (at least in my life) to stir up feelings of comfort and joy, peace, hope and love all in a few notes!

So my mission for the next 28 days is to ponder, wait and celebrate, to consider the Gift of my Saviour in terms of comfort and joy and to be a source of both of these in my home and to the people around me.

 May your unfailing love be my comfort... 

 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, 

   for your law is my delight.

psalm 119:76-77

what makes you happy?

You know you take life a little too seriously when you examine and seek to define what makes someone happy.....

I mentioned in my last post that I spent last weekend at a women's retreat and shared what I learned and how the Spirit is speaking to my heart.  What I didn't tell you was that I had a terrible sleep for that one night at FBC.  I was placed in a cabin with some lovely ladies and thought it would be pretty cool to get to know people that I didn't know very well, and even though I'm always a little "stiff" in those types of situations, it was cool!

Then the lights went out.

And people started to fall asleep.

And heavy breathing turned to deep, resonating snoring.

Now, I know people snore and while I did contemplate how sore my throat would be if I snored like that all night, I don't blame someone for something they can't control.... but I couldn't get to sleep!  I had a book that I tried to focus on (so glad I brought my little flashlight!) and even had my ipod, but the sounds were still there.  As the hours ticked by, I was becoming worried and (I'm ashamed to say) cranky!

The next morning one of my cabin mates commented on the late-night symphony and how she had to focus really hard to keep from giggling out loud.  giggling?

There I was getting cranky across the room and she was laughing about it!

Everyone is different of course, but I wonder about how I could train myself to be more like that!  The person that when their baby blows a raspberry of mushed peas all over the place, they burst out laughing at the peas on their face....or when your school-aged child draws a remarkably unflattering picture of you, a giggle escapes instead of a worried frown that this is how the child sees me?....

It's not like I never laugh, though the laughter has been a little more rare in the last months.   Who could help but laugh when your son says of the top you're wearing, "it looks like a tablecloth and that's a comment." (pretty sure he meant 'compliment')  I just wonder what it would take to release some of the burdens of the world and just enjoy what God has given, how He's blessed my life.

   But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; 

let them ever sing and shout for joy, 

because You make a covering over them and defend them; 

let those also who love Your name be joyful in You 

and be in high spirits.

psalm 5:11 (amplified)

Which type of person are you?  The kind who finds the funny in everything, or the kind who -like me- needs to be careful not to take life to seriously?

I'm pretty sure the Lord gave me Cassidy, our third-born to give me a daily reminder of His joy.  (Which happens to be her middle name.)  She has a smile that can light up any room, a cheerful disposition and an eye for fun!  Give her some strawberries with nutella and fresh flowers and you get a beautiful reward.

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart"

proverbs 15:30

things of beauty

The day is wet and grey.
.....
Gavin is away for the weekend and the kids and I are hunkered down enjoying the cozy feeling of snuggling under an afghan with a hot cup of creamy coffee....oh yeah, that's just me - A, E & C are huddled around the computer! Regardless, I've had a lovely morning with a stack of magazines that I was given but hadn't had a chance to savour. I love glossy pictures of pretty things! And I love it when the editors add in thoughts and quotes that give me pause as I reflect on the beautiful images.
.....
Like this one attributed to Elsie de Wolfe:

"Be pretty if you can,

be witty if you must, but

be gracious if it kills you."

........

But when I came across this quote from John Keats, I suddenly

no longer saw the picture behind the words.

......

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

.....

This simple phrase stopped me in my tracks (mental tracks, since I was still sitting on my couch). I have a strong desire - no, really I call it a vision or mission statement - to create a home for my family that is beautiful. Not because of the things that fill it (though I have a fondness of pretty things -have you seen my shower curtain?), but because of the feelings that I hope they can associate with being Home.

.....

Sights, smells, things to touch all the senses.

~freshly baked sticky buns on swim lesson night

~soft, warm blankets on the ends of our beds for cold nights

~flowers - even if they're fake - to brighten up a room

~bbq burgers enjoyed al fresco on bright yellow macrame placemats

~stories and prayers at bedtime

~digging in the black mud to make the colourful flowers bloom and grow

.....

Today, however, I'm reminded of two scriptures that have been favorites of mine for years:

.....

"Those who look to Him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame."

Psalm 34:5

.....

"The King is enthralled by your beauty;

honor Him, for He is your Lord."

Psalm 45:11

.....

I long to reflect His beauty to my family and look for ways to create and encourage the growth of His loveliness in each of them.

.....

May the Word of the Lord inspire us toward His grace and goodness.

smile!

Don't most kids go through this phase where when you ask them to pose for a picture and say, "smile!" this is the face they make?  I love it!  It almost seems like they so desperately want to show you how very happy they are, and that the only way to do it is smile for all they're worth!

I like to think I'm a fairly joyful person...most days.  I have no expectation that my life should be easy, smooth or even "happy."  But I do believe God's Word when I'm told that joy is possible for me.  

but, on a day like today when I have unanswered questions and problems I'm not sure how to solve, I have to ask.....How?

Trust.

Take a look at Isaiah 55!

If I choose to believe that only He can satisfy. (v 1-2)  If I choose to believe that He hears me and always keeps His promises. (v 3-4)  He  has made me splendid! (v 5)  He will let me find Himself and He will  show me mercy. (v 6-7)  He knows my situation and myself better than I do and always sees the big picture. (v 8-9)  He has given me purpose and will help me reach His goals for my life! (10-11)  He will bring me joy and peace! (v 12) 

I'm smiling harder already!