When You've Got No Words

Happy new year, friends.

Its been so very quiet here, and so very quiet within me.  I know I wrote a few times in November, basically not at all in December, and I think its tied to several things.  The first is that finishing up your first semester as a professor and also needing to get 2 dozen custom leather purses out the door while preparing for Christmas and being 8 months pregnant is, well, a lot.  I think that might make anyone lose their capacity for creative words for a time.

But there's more.

See, this move to the Great North, its been hard.  I suppose someone who was into euphemizing would say that its been an "adjustment" and that it still was "adjusting".  But I'm low on words and so I'll just say that its hard, and its still hard.  RG seems to be fairing best of all, but blissful ignorance is the inalienable of the still-diapered set.  (And let's not talk about the whole "still diapered" thing, because we tried to potty train this week and now we're not and I don't want to talk about how its okay that its that way.  It is.  That is all.)

I could tell you reasons that its been hard.  I could fill this blog up day after day of the top 50 things I'm missing about SC in this moment.  I could strive and reach and really push myself to find things we like about living here.  But my pillow partner and I just spent hours doing that exact thing, and it doesn't leave me with any answers or feelings of relief, and so if you don't mind, I'll just skip that part.

The main problem is that right now, in the midst of this situation we are in, with the circumstances that we have, I'm having trouble finding not just my words, but my joy.  That peace that Jesus promised that reaches in and fills us up when it doesn't make any sense.  That's eluding me in this moment.  And so when there isn't peace to give me a solid foundation and there's not joy bubbling up to share, I don't really have words to go on this page.  

Now, I'd love to leave you something packaged and pretty, something that points at least to hope if to nothing else, but I'm not sure what that hope looks like.  I know its found in Christ, for He's the only one who knows best.  I know that He has promised that peace, that joy, that wisdom and so I know it'll come.  I know these are mostly feelings and even possibly fueled by pregnancy hormones (although that might mean that Handsome is pregnant too...), and I know that feelings are to be felt but not trusted.  I know these things.  But I don't know what shape my hope is coming in yet.

Truthfully, this is a bit of a bummer of a post.  And I'll likely drop by here in a day or two and throw an adorable picture of my toddler up on the front page, or a list of recipes I'm desperately trying to get made & frozen before baby #2 makes his/her appearance.  Because I know from past experience that letting a bummer post like this just sit on the "cover" is un-motivating.  But here's where I am, and here's where we are, and this is the reason for my radio silence.  

<3 M.

When You're Not Writing for 31 Days

"Do what Shannan does."

Shannan wears old man pajamas in public.
She's such a boss.

This is my new motto.  I'm putting it on one of those rubber bracelets, because that's when you know a thing is really a thing.  And doing what Shannan does, well, it's a thing.  Now you know. (psst... Shannan, you should know this is a thing now, too, else its just seems stalker-y...)

Shannan eats salsa.  Check.

Shannan tapes things to walls.  Check.

Shannan says to buy only second-hand clothing as a challenge. Check-ish.

Shannan says to believe her when she says that Taco Bell is delicious.  Check check check!

So when Shannan said that she's not writing for 31 days straight like all the rest of the bloggysphere, but is instead intentionally following along with other people's journeys and commenting and interacting and encouraging, well, do I have to say it?

Check.

So I went to the Nester's site (I'd also like a matching bracelet that says "Nester made me do it" in case you're thinking of a Christmas present), and I looked through the handy categories, and picked a few.  Shannan picked 6.  You'd think I'd do the same, but I went a little wild.  I have trouble not including anyone, ok?  I love this idea, though, because while I'm not in a place where writing for 31 days in a row on the same subject, digging deep and doing soul work, would be a good idea, I can appreciate what others are doing!  So here's my list!

• Vignette Me
• Taking the Small Business Plunge
• Adopting Intentionally
• Adoption and Foster Care
• Content to Rent
• Document Your Days with Joy
• Giving Handmade
• Simple Self-Sufficiency

Its funny to me to look at this list and realize what called to me.  Some because I need to know what they know, and I need to know now.  Others, because of a general interest, in the "someday" category.  Only one whose writer I've read before.  I'm excited to "meet" these new people, and find out what they know!  Now if you'll excuse me, (6 days) x (8 blogs) = a lot! to catch up on!

<3 M.

Being Like Me

As I'm figuring out how to be myself again, and how to change my personality, I find I've been drawn to a couple of blogs.  Here, meet them!

Lindsay

Nicole

Shannan

When I first realized that reading their blogs relaxed me, I thought, "I should be more like them!"  But no.  That's not the answer.  Trying to make myself like someone else is a fine idea [hear me out here] if that person is done figuring things out.  Here's a hint: no one is done figuring themselves out.  Lindsay?  I haven't asked her, but I know that she's still figuring out this whole "mama" thing.  Nicole, too.  Heck, I'll bet my gal Shan would admit to still figuring out how to be a parent, and she's got some not-so-littles.  

Those sweet gals, they're also still figuring out how to be wives, how to be friends, how to keep the dirty dishes out of their sinks.  Same as you (and I!), they're still trying to find that elusive rhythm to their days.  And I realized, that's what I was drawn to.  The stories they tell, their days, they seem to have a sweet, relaxed cadence that draws me in.  That type-A personality of mine makes me want to track these ladies down, find out exactly what they do and why, and then replicate it in my life.  I'm telling you, its a sickness.  

I've learned, though, that even if I did all of those weird, sick, semi-stalker-ish things, I wouldn't have what I'm looking for.  Their rhythm, the cadence of their days, it wouldn't fit me right.  It'd feel choppy, a little off-pitch, and a half-beat behind.  I need my own.  I need to find the beat that lets my heart settle down, that lets peace seep into the corners of our home and set all of our days to music.  

In Search Of :: a Web Developer

So...

I did not make this.
She did.
I'd like to, though.

A while back, AKA - when RG was born, someone told me they were praying for God to give me the desires of my heart.  In my sleep deprivation (which is not currently happening, since my little bundle of joy has slept through the night the past 4 nights in a row! Take that, jinx!), I was grateful, but realized I had no idea what the desire of my heart was.

So I got to thinking.

And wondering.

And finally, desiring.

I've got big dreams, now.  Desires of my heart.  And part of that dream is to be a stay-at-home mom.  I'm loving, LOVING mommyhood.  However, since my dream does not include my handsome husband working 4 jobs, I'm still likely going to need to generate some income.  Since I'm dreaming here, I've decided that I'd like to generate that income doing stuff that I love.  Ergo, I've been thinking about reopening an online shop.  However, I plan to go big or go home, and so I've decided its time for a blog makeover, as well as a logo and things like this.  Something that says (mostly to me, but also to the world at large) that I mean business up in here.

But I don't know how to do that.  Its not my gift.  Sewing zippers into the sides of a dress 45 minutes before a wedding so it can function as nursing-friendly attire, I can do.  Planning out and executing web design, not so much.

So...

Who's got some names for me?  People I could email, or who designed your webpage, perhaps.  Tell me about any successful experiences you've had, either in the comments, or email me at agreatandmanythings(at)gmail.com.  Alternatively, tell me who's logo/design you like, and why.  Inquiring minds need to know!

<3 M.

Let's Make It Easy

Sometimes, life is sort of difficult.  Sometimes it's just plain hard.  Sometimes it's confusing.  I know personally, I'm constantly trying to figure out if I'm the kind of person who has a clean fridge face, or the kind who covers it with photos.  Right now, the photos are winner.  Other things are more pressing, like storage problems that are actually stuff problems, and deciding whether to be hospitable if it means cleaning my house, and what to do when cold weather hits.  Maybe you have these problems.  Maybe you don't.  In case you do, let me make things easier for you with a few helpful things I've found.

1. Terry-lined Wool Socks.  These things make my life.  It's amazing how much warmer your body feels when your feet are warm!  And trust me, these things will give you warm feet.  Make sure you get the kind that are lined, though (like the ones in the link), because that's like the difference between Swiss Miss and Real Hot Chocolate.  Both will warm you up, but you'll be so much happier with the later!

2.  Dropbox.  This is my storage/have the right papers when I need them solution.  Now, I'm not a technical person, so bear with my ridiculously over-simplified explanation here, but this is what Dropbox is - a magical folder, out in space.  You can access it from anywhere with internet, and you save stuff in it.  Photos?  Automatically uploads and saves them, if you want it to (super fast, too).  Documents you need both at work and at home?  Not a problem.  Video you want to share with your brother but not the world (youtube)?  Upload it to Dropbox, share it with the brosef, and boom!  You're both laughing at the dramatic lemur, 2000+ miles apart.

You can even use it on your smart phone.  Oh, and it's free.  Which is awesome.  You can pay for a ton of extra space, but you don't have to.  So check it out.  I just got my Madre hooked up, and now we can share pictures of the kiddos in our family, so we don't have to steal low-quality ones off of facebook anymore.

A Great & Many (Different) Things

NOTE:  Today is the last day to enter The Coin Laundry giveaway!  Don't miss out!  To go to the giveaway page, CLICK HERE!

**************************************************************

Okay, so in case you haven't noticed, things are new around here...  And if you haven't noticed, and you've been here before, you might want to (a) check your pulse or (b) drink more coffee ;)  This is the site previously known as Thee FireWife (sort of like Prince), and is now A Great and Many Things.  I had been feeling in a bit of a funk lately and after much searching, I figured out what (at least part of) my problem was - I'd outgrown TFW.  

I mean, honestly, I hardly wrote about being the wife of a firefighter.  Yes, it factored into things (like how I missed my guy or the way 9/11 affected me), but it wasn't really the theme of things.  It is much more random around here, mostly because I refuse to be tied down.  It has become apparent to me in the past couple of months that I have an authority issue.  I don't like it when I am fenced in, and it felt like TFW was a sort of self-constructed fence.  So I broke out of said figurative fence, literally.  

A few of the many, many things I've written about.
Not one is a fire...

You Should Know

There's a whole lot of crazy going on up in here.  I'm trying to be all tech-savvy, which is not my nature, and therefore, I apologize in advance for any terrible awful no good things that happen on here today.  Also, in case I somehow ruin everything about this blog and make it disappear, it's been nice knowing you.  Always remember that this happened:

Love (for what may be the last time),

TFW

Some Purpose

I'm a faker, as in, I sometimes prefer to fake things.  Prepare for this oral presentation?  Nah, I'd rather fake it.  How many weeks is a cow pregnant for?  58.  Is it true?  I have no idea.  I made that number up.  Cooking some sauce?  Throw in a little of this and a little of that, I'm sure that's right.  Read a pattern?  Maybe the first time, but then I just make stuff up.  

Sometimes, people ask me real questions, and I answer, quickly and confidently.  And I have no idea if I just lied or not.  Because I'm faking it.  I often like to just try and do something myself, and if I encounter trouble,  then I'll look up how others have done it.

All that to say, I kinda just started this blog thing, and made it up as I went along.  Remember Cake Week 2012??  I totally just made that up.  I mean, it was awesome, but it was also just something I did.  As is much of this blog. 

So now I've been thinking, to what purpose?  Why am I blogging?  Is it enough to blog simply because I'm alone in my house the majority of my hours and my dog doesn't talk back?  I've been feeling a little introspective, which generally goes hand-in-hand with me being out of sorts, and so I've been absent for a bit.  I would like to keep blogging, I've met friends and learned tons and all that jazz.  But when schedules start weighing on me and life picks up (and continues to pick up, as it's sure to do), I realize the need to prioritize.  However, when you're doing something with no stated purpose, it's hard to figure out where it goes on the priority list.

New Friends

Hey y'all, watch this!

I made a new friend.  She's actually a not-so-new friend anymore, as its been a month or more.  But still, in the realm of friendships, its still just a baby.  Her name is Kerrie, and she's awesome.  I almost don't want to tell you about her, because then you'll want to be her friend and I'll have to fight you share her...

But I know that sharing is good, and so I wanted to tell you (1) That Kerrie is awesome, (2) That her and her (as she puts it) hot hot hottie hot husband Wade are going to India on a missions trip and (3) Because she gave me the awesome opportunity to help sponsor her trip (you can have that awesome opportunity, too!) she let me post on her b-log today.  If you've been around here for any amount of time, its not a whole lot of info that you don't already know.  BUT, she did do some really super cool stuff with a picture I sent her, and I'm uber impressed.

So check it out!

I love new friends,

TFW

Speed Dating: Blog Style

***** NOTE: I am guest-posting over at Nicole's blog today, in addition to this post here.*****

***** Because I'm generous like that. *****

Now, I haven't dated anyone in over a decade (WHA?!) and even then, it was a pass-notes-in-the-hall, have-your-friend-ask-his-friend-if-he-said-he-liked-you sort of romance.  But I think that, if I were a dating person today, I might try speed dating.  Its waaay low pressure, you get to meet a ton of people (I love meeting people) and I think there's food involved.

Speed Dating

So when I saw that This Little Momma was hosting a Speed Dating {Blog Style} Link-Up, I thought I'd give it a go.  So here's my "go".  Please don't ding me!

Mail Time! #IRLOMashup

So I've got some mail to share with you.

Mail Time!

First up, let's talk about the #IRLOMashup (in-real-life-online).  There's teams, you see, and I'm on a team.  But not just any team, Team Awesome.  That's just how we roll around here.  And I got this card in the mail, along with some instructions.

Tico<3Tina are some friends of mine, and they make these cards that have a blank canvas on them, so that you can write your own message.  For example:

or

I'm pretty sure I need a whole slew of these so that I can properly "your mom" all the people in my life.  You can read more about them here.  My job, once receiving these cards, is to take a picture of myself with the card...

Write up a little something something (more on that later) and then send of off to the next person on my team (also more on that later).  So consider this my submission photo.  Handsome was going to take it, but he's snoring right now.  When I mentioned that "later" when he is willing to take a picture, it would be dark, he said that "That says something about you.  Tells people you like to party."  He's sleep-lying again.

Anyhow, Team Awesome is still looking for people to be on our team, and if you're interested, let me know quickly!  There are prizes and all sorts of great stuff for winning teams!  If you're interested in applying, please be willing to (1) Write a "your mom" on the card, and (2) Take a jumping picture with the card.  Team Awesome has high standards, what can I say?  More information here.

A Few Things You Should Know

Hello darlings.  I hope May is treating you well.  You know, all 8 hours of it.  May can be tricky.  You think she's summer but she's still spring, it seems like shorts should be appropriate but jeans are suggested... Let me tell you, the water is still cold, so don't go jumping head-first unless you're hoping for a shock.

We'll call this little piece of information Data Point Zero.  Wanted to let you lovelies know that I'm currently giving away a purse on Malisa's blog.  She said she'd be okay with you hopping over there and checking it out.  Just sayin', its free, and its cute!  Check it out!

You know you want this.

I have a few things to tell you.  Numero Uno, I feel like I should tell you that I don't speak Spanish.  Not really.  I can say "Come here" quite clearly.  I can mumble my way through "Where is the bathroom" and "How much does it cost", and I've had no opportunity to use those two phrases strung together.  I can count up to about 30-ish, but then I slip into French.  I point at pictures at Mexican restaurants, and usually just go with "Chimichanga".  Trust me, you can't go wrong with a chimichanga - hold the beans, extra queso.

Now that we've got that out of the way, another item on my list of "things you should now know" is that we're now accepting sponsors for TFW.  Its pretty exciting, and could be intimidating if not for the fantabulous Passion Fruit Ads, who hooked this sister up.  Let me tell you, Passion Fruit Ads is the place to go for adding advertising to your blog.  

Spots are currently open, if you're interested in advertising your small business, etsy shop, or blog.  The information is available at this special page.  Check it out if you're interested, I do sponsored ads and free friend swaps!

Check it out here!

A Little Love

I've added my blog to Blog Lovin'.  Just, you know, to share the love.  Follow if you want to!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The real deal,
TFW

Names and Titles

Want to know what I love?  I would love for you to share with me, what you love.  And since I'm assuming you're a little bit like me (but not too much, don't worry), I'm going to assume that you want to know what else I love.

I love when handsome calls me something that's not my real name.  Even if it's "Mrs. Motor Oil" like I got yesterday when I showed up at the fire station.  Those guys, they thought it was hilarious that I had slicked my hair down while changing my oil.  Sometimes it's sweet, and that's normal to like.  And sometimes it's a joke or a wisecrack, and maybe you're not supposed to like being called things like that.

But I do.  It lifts my heart.  Makes me happy to be so... known.  

I guess people who don't know you could call you something other than what your name is, but that's hardly ever heart-lifting.  

My grandmas, they call me MeMe (although one spells it MiMi).  It's a grandma name, which is fitting in a backwards sort of sense.  I've been called that by them, ever since I was a baby.  Something about running towards the couch yelling, I don't remember much of it.  But I love when they call me that, too.  

Being called "Thee FireWife", well, I think that's sort of weird.  But it seems that everyone who knows anything keeps telling me that branding yourself is key.  "Key" to what?  I'm not sure.  I still don't know what I'm doing on here, other than connecting with you peeps.  

ASIDE:  Oh no.  Peeps.  Now I've done it.  My mind is on a candy craving again.  23 days until Good Friday.  Is that when Lent is over? Gosh, I'm not good at this!

Spring Cleaning

I cleaned my house yesterday.  Like, really cleaned it.  I'm not going to say that I really really cleaned it, because there was no baseboard scrubbing involved.  There was sweeping, dusting, spraying and washing, though!

In fact, my home smells like Lavender, Vanilla, and Comfort.
Pretty impressive, to even smell like comfort

I even cleaned up my sewing room.  At least, a little bit.  Okay, I vacuumed.  Part of the room.  The door.

I think I must have caught the bug, because today I started right into cleaning up this space here.  Obviously, if you're looking at this, things are moved around some.  So I'll give you a little overview of how things have changed, so we're not all confused around here!

Let's go down the left side, then the right.  On the left (<----) we've got the "talk to me" button, which is a picture of my face & Handsome's.  That's where you can send a message that isn't public like a comment.  Then we've got two little buttons, in case you want to hook up with me on Pinterest or Twitter.  I pin a lot, and tweet seldom, just so you know what you're getting into.  And finally, there's a whole mess of labels.  That's going to be cleaned up, but for now, if you want a blog with a specific label, just click on the label and see the list!

Now on the right (--->), if you want to get blog posts by email, there's a spot to enter your email address.  It won't get stolen or released to telemarketers, unless money gets really tight.  If you want to search for something, either on this blog or blogs I link to, that's also right over there, near the top.  Then we've got a load of cuteness itself in the form of my etsy store link, then blog archives and Google Friend Connect (that I hear doesn't work anymore, so that may change in the future, as well).  Finally, top viewed posts rounds out the right side.

And that list of a bajillion blogs that I love and visit?  Don't worry, it's not gone, its down at the bottom (\|/) of the page!  That way, if you want to see more than 5, you can click on "see more" for all of them, and have a full view without a page that is waaaay too long.

And that's where we stand.  One or two things may change.  But my deep seated affection for you will not.  Thanks for dropping by, and thanks for your comments that make me smile and feel connected!  It's been a little over a solid year that I've been sharing my adventures with you, and I've truly enjoyed it.  I've also not learned the proper way to spell truly (I do the true-ly every time!).

Enjoying a good thing,

TFW

Formatting Shmormatting

Well, I've gotten to this place.  I wish I knew how to take screen shots, so I could show you all the million different templates I tried out before settling here.

And I still don't love this.

But I like it better.

I think I've gotten to the place in a hunt where people decide to say "Forget this!" and build themselves a house instead of trying to buy one.  Or in my case, a website.  But I'm not ready to go there yet, to the place where I pay for the privilege of doing this sharing thing.

I'm sorry, it has nothing to do with you.  Its me.

Changing

I'm not in love with this new design.

So its okay if you're not, too.

But my picture wasn't showing up correctly on my computer, and I thought to myself, "Self, what if that's happening on other people's computers?  Then it just looks dumb, not awesome.  You might have to move away from the picture background."

So I'm trying out new ones.  I'm looking eventually for something with polka dots, I believe.

Any suggestions?

Transitioning out the ying yang,

TFW

My Muse

I was speaking with Handsome on Friday, and I told him that I was dissatisfied with this blog-business here, this whole thing.

I might have been in a bit of a mood.

Then Handsome hauls off and tells me that its probably because I used to write because I wanted to, and now [he thinks] I write just to get hits and visits and followers. 

This is what happens with a zoom lens and not enough space.
Its also Handsome talking to me, while trying to block my shot of the lake.
Because he's darling like that.

So I stopped talking to him.

And then I rolled the idea around in my mind, and I thought on it, and waited a bit for any of the truth in his statement to stand up and make itself known.  I didn’t find exactly what he said, but I did find that I was forcing the issue, some.  Writing even when I didn’t feel like it, just to get a post up.  He was at least partially right: I used to write because I wanted to.

Silly, I know, that in these short 6 months since February (which is when I think I really started writing in full force) that I could get to this point, whatever “this point” is.  But I wasn’t writing just because I wanted to, and I wasn’t writing what I wanted and what I meant to be writing.

So I stopped writing. 

I didn’t even worry about it at all.  I still photographed things and thought to myself, “Maybe I’ll write about this some day,” but that’s as far as I got.  It was nice, the break.  The reprieve.  I mean, it only lasted about 4 days, but it was 4 days that I needed.  I think I’m back, although I may just take some breaks here and there.  I don’t exactly have a plan, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do, save for one thing.

In the immortal words of my husband (can you say that about someone while they’re still alive?),

I do what I want.

And so I will.

Now, this may mean that what I write has even less bearing on your life than my normal, everyday drivel, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take.  I’ve got to; else I’ll end up writing to please others, and not sharing any of my own self. 

Sharing nothing that’s not me,

TFW