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AUGUST 2017: CURRENTLY

Posted by Carolyn on August 10, 2017 Leave a Comment

reading Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio.

listening to lots of different things.

eating away from home too much.

planning a night out.

thinking there might be karaoke and dancing.

getting caught up on Blaugust Vlaugust August.

trying to motivate myself to sew.

watching the girls pretend that it’s snowing.

cleaning the house.

feeling discouraged that it instantly gets messy again.

wanting to just give up.

sweating.

wishing for rain.

choking in all the smoke from the fires.

wanting to see the eclipse.

worrying that it won’t work out.

weighing all the different ways we could get to the path of totality.

hoping our world leaders keep their shit together and don’t blow us all up.

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Posted in: currently | Tagged: blaugust, blaugust vlaugust august, currently

Mom Monday

Posted by Carolyn on August 8, 2017 Leave a Comment

Megan has a thing on her vlog that she calls Mom Monday.  Usually it’s with her sister, Hannah, and they talk about motherhood and other random stuff and they do a challenge, but today it was with me!  So…. if you want to watch me be super weird and awkward, watch away!

Let me clarify something here.  My least favorite time of day is the evening, and that just happens to be when Jesse’s home.  In fact, I hate it even more that the worst time of day  is the main time that Jesse gets to spend with the kids.  It bums me out that he misses their sweet mornings and silly afternoons.  At least there are weekends!

Also, Megan just posted her pregnancy and birth story for her newly turned one-year-old, so you should go watch those other videos if you’re into that sort of thing.  I can’t read or hear a birth story without crying (and I’m not a crier).  Good stuff on her channel.

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Posted in: parented. | Tagged: blaugust vlaugust august, mom monday

A Day in the Life – August 2, 2017

Posted by Carolyn on August 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

6:38 – I want to remember this filtered morning light.  The girls wake us up everyday and we haven’t used alarm clocks in a couple years.  It doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but it really is much better to wake up to them coming into the room, than it is to be awoken by annoying beeps.

6:52 – I want to remember this summer of canning.  I’ve canned some things before, but this summer I’ve really found my stride.  I’ve realized that I can do a small batch in a couple hours and that’s much more pleasant than the all day canning marathons I’ve done in the past.  I’ve also realized that I’m sure we’ll enjoy eating the things I’ve canned all year long – like this blueberry jam that makes yogurt taste like pie.

6:58 – I want to remember how Harriet always wakes up and says “I’m ungry!”  And we need to get her breakfast and milk as quickly as possible.  She loves her milk so much.

8:57 – I want to remember how outgoing and friendly and caring the girls are these days.  They are both very smitten with the Sunday school director at our church.  They are always happy to sit with her, help her out, or just walk around and chat with her.

9:22 – I want to remember how, after I dropped the girls off at camp, I can do whatever I feel is most important.  On Monday, that was definitely time alone at a coffee shop.  On Tuesday, it was definitely time with friends at a coffee shop.  Today it was at home cleaning up, listening to music and crossing things off lists.  Like these three load of laundry that needed to be done.

9:37 – I want to remember how nice everything looks when it’s all clean and tidy (mostly, at least).  I also want to remember how it’s actually quite easy to tidy up and it’s always worth it.  Also, that’s it’s so much easier to tidy up when the kids are at camp.

9:50 – I want to remember how good it feels to be moving my body and focusing my mind.

10:59 – I want to remember the many ways to keep in touch with people.  Right now, my favorite way is an app called Marco Polo that is basically video texting.  It’s the main way Megan and I communicate, especially about Blaugust Vlaugust Bvlaugust August.  I also want to remember how funny Megan is and how much I love her vlogs and how glad and excited I am to be doing this fun project with her (her channel is here, her Day In the Life here, her video of her singing “Manhattan” which is still my go-to for when I’m writing on the blog is here).

11:36 – I want to remember how I always try to get myself in some of these Day in the Life photos, even if that means I’m doing a self timer shot of me switching the laundry over…

11

11:53 – … or a photo of my reflection in the door on my way to pick up the girls.

11:58 – I want to remember how much I love Vacation Bible Camp at our church.  It is such a sweet group of kids, and such a lovely experience for my girls.  All the staff members and volunteers do such a wonderful job making it a fun week for the kids.

12:35 – I want to remember these hot days at the pool with my dad and Deena.  Today we even got lunch in the deal!  Harriet perked right up when she got her strawberry milkshake, don’t worry.

http://andthenthey.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/VID_128720518_111303_057.mp4

1:40 – I want to remember how much this girl loves the water.  She’s gotten so good at swimming, and even spent today learning how to dive.  She loves it as much as I do.  Harriet is also a little water bug and is getting really good, too.  She loves floating around with her face in the water, checking things out.  She still wears her floaty, but I don’t think she’ll need it that much longer.

2:51 – I want to remember how my dad will spend so much time playing with the girls.  He’s the kind of Papa who isn’t content to just sit around and watch his grandchildren.  He’s right there with them, being goofy, teaching them how to dive, playing games (you can see them over my shoulder).

5:10 – I want to remember this amazing trick for cutting onions.  Open a bottle of Thieves next to the cutting board, and there are no more tears.  I have no idea how this works, but it does.

6:32 – I want to remember the long days and long shadows of summertime.

6:34 – I want to remember how, after watching an episode of The Great British Bake Off with Alma, we decided we should probably go get VooDoo after dinner.  Alma go the M&M one.  Harriet got the pink one with marshmallows on it.  I got a lemon filled one.  Jesse just ate the leftovers.

7:03 – I want to remember our bedtime stories, all piled into our big bed.  We take turns reading, and Alma is always by the reader, while Harriet is always by the cudd

ler.  Then we take the girls to their room, give them hugs and kisses, turn on their diffuser,  and say goodnight.

8:04 – I want to remember that when it’s 105 degrees outside, it’s better to watch shows in bed, rather than in our hot sunroom.  Tonight it was John Oliver.  After the show, I finished my book and fell asleep.  The end.

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Posted in: day in the life, learned. | Tagged: blaugust vlaugust august, day in the life, summer

My Favorite Essential Oil – Frankincense

Posted by Carolyn on August 2, 2017 3 Comments

How do you choose a favorite out of all the favorites? I mean, there are the oils that help elevate my mood, the oils that I turn to for support throughout the month, the oils that support my skin, my hair, my family.  But there’s one oil that can do pretty much all those things, so I’d say it’s my favorite and it’s Frankincense.

I love how scents can totally take you back to a memory.  When I first smelled Frankincense, it instantly reminded me of growing up at my church and smelling the incense on the Sundays when they would use the thurible (I just learned that this is the word for the incense burner that’s swung around on the chain) during the processional.

It also reminded me of all the old churches and cathedrals in Europe, where the centuries of burned incense have built up on the walls and pews and floors, connecting each pilgrim and visitor with its history.  Every time I smell Frankincense, I remember Notre Dame in Paris, St. Paul’s in London, Aya Sofya in Istanbul, Santa Croce in Florence and I’m right back in those places, feeling the immense feelings of humanity and history and faith.

Frankincense can be used to help me feel grounded and peaceful.  I use it every morning and I have been trying to say an affirmation as I smell it and apply it.  The affirmation changes, as I’m trying to find the right one that fits.  Here’s one that I found in the Book of Common Prayer that is meant for Evening Prayer, but works any time of day, really – “Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”  I love that visual – that our prayers and intentions are lifted like the smoke rising from the thurible.

Frankincense is also amazing for other reasons.  First of all, it is so great for supporting the skin, especially aging and dry skin.  It has been used in medication for thousands of years – in fact it was mentioned in the oldest known medical records, the Ebers Papyrus from ancient Egypt.  It also supports our body’s natural response to inflammation and is an incredible support to our immune systems.  Just google it to find out more than I can say here.  It’s amazing.

So, Frankincense supports my skin, my body, and my mind.  What’s not to love?

 

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Posted in: gave thanks. | Tagged: blaugust vlaugust august, essential oils, oils

Blaugust Vlaugust August!!!

Posted by Carolyn on August 1, 2017 1 Comment

A couple years ago my friend, Megan, did a whole month of vlogs on her youtube channel for August and it was called Vlaugust, obviously. It actually inspired me to begin one of my most successfully creative times in my life.

This idea was born for a few reasons.  The first one being that I want to get back to that place where I was always creating and always taking the time to sit down and write and always using my time with intention and focus.  The second one being that I’m excited to do some more collaborative projects and I love working with Megan (we did a Christmas giveaway a couple years ago).  The third reason is that Megan has been talking about her next music video for over a year, and I’m going to use this project to force her to release it.

So, for the month of August, I will be posting a new blog, and Megan will be posting a new vlog, every weekday.  We have some fun things planned including our daughters’ birthdays, crafty projects, the moon totally blocking the sun, road trips, and so much more!

I’m excited to get back into the creative groove and start making things again.   Aren’t y’all just so excited about this!?!  Anyone?  Hello….?

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Posted in: gave thanks. | Tagged: blaugust vlaugust august
If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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