Friday, May 24, 2013

When life gives you lemons...

This past week, two different friends brought me bags of lemons. The kids begged to make lemonade, so we did!
After making a few pitchers of lemonade, lemonade slushies and tazo passion tea lemonade, I had a huge bowl of lemon peels and didn't want to just toss them. Good thing I have pinterest :) After finding a recipe that looked good, I made a huge batch of lemon sugar scrub and put it in jelly jars with cute fabric and made some labels.
I love creating and this was so easy! I'd you want a jar of lemon sugar scrub, let me know, I'd love to share :)

Sunday, May 19, 2013

My epiphanies...

I'm just like every other woman.
I want my life to be picture perfect.
I am "type A." I'm a procrastinator. (Those 2 characteristics don't always go well together.)
My life is a "little" crazy.
My life is NOT picture perfect.
I hate doing laundry.
We are clothes hogs.
I have a lot of laundry to do.
Sometimes, if things can't be "just right", I'd rather not do them at all.
I am a child of God.
God doesn't care if my life is picture perfect.
God made me just the way I am.
My friends love me for who I am, craziness and all.
Life is best shared with those you love.

So, with all that said...
I guess one of my pitfalls with blogging, is that I want it perfect. I want my pictures edited, I carefully think about what I'm writing in my posts and worry more about what others think, than the importance of documenting our life for my kids to enjoy later on. I read others blogs and compare myself and end up feeling like a loser mom for not doing more, being this or that...You know the feeling, like after spending too much time on Pinterest or Instagram or looking at "The Pioneer Woman"  Or am I the only one that does this??

After talking with many moms, I realized we ALL struggle with some of this. Life isn't perfect, NOONE has it all together.  I was reminded of this after sitting at our homeschool park day the other day and talking for a long time. The thing is, the world would like us to believe that we can achieve perfection and that we aren't good enough unless it is perfect, but that simply isn't true. God has given each of us a different set of circumstances and abilities. God didn't design me to be a "pinterest" worthy crafter, a "perfect" mom, a gourmet chef,  a crossfit champion, an award winning photographer, or the do it all homeschooler. God made me, ME.  God doesn't need me to be perfect at anything. I do enjoy doing crafts, cooking, working out, taking pictures and homeschooling, but those things aren't what give me value, those are all extras. My value comes from Him. If I am finding joy in Him daily, my joy will be complete!

However imperfect my life is, it is beautiful. I am blessed!

So, it's okay to blog about the little things, for life not to be perfect and I need to be reminded of this daily!

I'm back...

I've been composing blog posts in my mind for the last year and a half, since I actually posted a real post...(I know it's ridiculous how long it's been) but I'm back with some great epiphanies and want you to know big things are happening!!! Changes are coming to the Oates household, please bear with me as I attempt to blog again and would love for you to share this journey, called life, with me.