Summertime…

and the livings easy.

Our summer holiday has officially drawn to a close as school started back last week.  It has been a wonderful 72 days full of sun, fun, no schedules, no homework and lots and lots of memories being made.  But now it is time for structure and routine to come front and center and can I tell you a little secret?  I am a seriously happy camper.  I am one of those odd souls that thrive on schedules and break out in an anxious sweat at the thought of two months without it.  But I am also learning to embrace every stage and phase and season of this amazing thing called life.  But I know that my bent, the way God created me, is to love and crave structure and I am finally at a place in my life that I no longer waste any more of my precious days on this earth wishing God had made me a different way.  For many years I tried to live my life the way OTHER people thought I should live my life, and in the process lost many precious years.  But no more.  I now live for an audience of One, and you know what?  He loves me quirks and all!  He doesn’t think I dress too youthful or wear my hair too long, He created me to be this way, and I can finally say, after almost 52 years on this earth, I am glad He did!  My Creator doesn’t make mistakes or junk, so I am fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, and that my friends, is all I need to know!  I am glad to be back blogging…thanks for coming along for the ride!!

The Liquor Store is a 68-year-old building that actually was a liquor store for many years. With all the original signage and unique shaped structure, it has the feel of a retro diner but with amazing upscale food and drink. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and had hand made desserts and pastries to die for.  Broad Avenue has become a hot spot for unique one of a kind shops, pubs, and restaurants.,  To see the menu and hours click on the link below.
https://www.thebroadliquorstore.com/

Broad Avenue was originally a rail line between Memphis and Raleigh and had 3 dry good stores, a barber shop, and a boxcar manufacturer. To say a lot has changed since those days would be a serious understatement!! These days Broad Avenue has become a destination for visitors and locals alike. Here you will find art galleries, woodworking shops, exercise studios, fashion boutiques and many locally owned businesses carrying products made by local artist and craftsmen. Food and drink abound here too…from locally made beer at Wiseacre Brewery, the first craft coffee shop in Memphis, City and State, Bounty on Broad, a farm to table dining experience, The Cove, a bar and grill with its very own pirate ship (those of you who have been around long enough and remember Anderton’s Seafood Restaurant will fondly remember this particular pirate ship 😊) and of course, The Liquor Store which in its past life was, wait for it, a liquor store!!  Colorful murals are everywhere on Broad…some of the best and brightest local Memphis artist have made this street one of the most photographed in the city! And it has just been announced that Broad will be gaining a state of the art/vintage pinball arcade this soon! Memphis’ own pinball wizard extraordinaire, David Yopp, will be opening Yopp’s Pub…so be on the lookout for that! Broad Avenue Art District is a perfect example of why Memphis is such an unique city…have I mentioned how much I LOVE my city!?!

 

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.

John Burroughs

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.

John Muir

When is the last time you saw a sunrise or a sunset?  I mean really stopped and gazed and the sky in wonder and amazement.  I have had a lousy week.  The kind where you feel like a total failure….like you are doing absolutely nothing right.  Parenting-fail.  Friends-fail.  Work-fail.  Creativity-fail.  You get the picture.  And then it snowballs into more negative feelings….which makes you feel like more of a failure.  It was a vicious cycle.  And guess what went out the window during all these negative feelings?  Self-Care.  Any form of self-care.  And I knew better.   But I didn’t listen to my body, and my mental, emotional and spiritual well-being took a hit.  And I’m not going to lie, it was hard to stop the cycle.  Really,  Hard.  But I spent some time outdoors yesterday and today.  Just walking and taking pictures.  Just sitting still and breathing.  I stuck my journal in my backpack and did a lot of sitting and writing.  I saw a beautiful sunrise and an amazing sunset.  I didn’t want to get up and see it.  I wanted to lay there and be miserable.  But I put one foot in front of the other and got up, and it ministered to my soul in a way that I can’t even put into words.  A feeling of hope, of renewal, of peace, washed over me and my focus turned from inward to upward.

From sunrise to sunset, let the Lord’s name be praised.

Psalm 113:3

The time I spent in nature yesterday was healing to my weary heart and soul.  Did it take away my problems?  No, it didn’t.  Did it make my physical pain go away?  No, not at all.  So what changed?  I was given a new perspective, a different view of my world.  And I realized something in the process.  I don’t always have an entire day to devote to doing this, but I can take time and pause and look up at God’s handiwork, and breathe in fresh air, and change my perspective for a moment.  And at that moment things can change, and I can be renewed, and my strength can be restored.  Every.  Single.  Time.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

 

“A house is made of walls and beams, but a home is built with love and dreams” William Arthur Ward

So what is the difference between a house and a home?  If you looked up the definition, you would see how similar they are.  But when you ask people their interpretation, you quickly see there is a big difference between the two.    A house is a structure, something very concrete.  A home, however, has a much more personal meaning.  It evokes a feeling of belonging, and many times comfort and security.  While money can buy a house, it takes heart and soul to make a home.  The good part about this is heart and soul is something that every single person has.  And it doesn’t matter the size of the house, the number of people living in it or where it’s located, you can make it a home.  Many people spend so much of their lives waiting for perfect that they miss living.  Life is made up of thousands and thousands of everyday ordinary kind of days. It is in those everyday ordinary kinds of days that a house becomes a home…that heart and soul are added to the brick and mortar, and the beautiful transformation occurs.  This transformation doesn’t require large amounts of time or money, just a desire to celebrate the ordinary.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Find a space where you can have a seasonal display
• Have rituals that celebrate first… the first day of school… the first day of fall….first snow
• Burn seasonal candles
• Change your door decorations and outdoor flags monthly
• Keep fresh flowers in your home-grocery store bouquets can last a long time when you change the water daily
• Cook in season 
• Hang your sheets outside for a fresh sunshine smell
• Play music and dance
• Display pictures of family and friends throughout your home
• Start a collection or, if you already have a collection, display it in a unique way
• Buy a chalkboard and collect quotes to write on it
• Find a small Christmas tree (thrift stores are excellent sources for these) and decorate it for different holidays and seasons
• Grow herbs in pots on your kitchen window sill…and use them in cooking
• Fill your home with laughter
• Entertain often…and by entertain, I don’t mean elaborate dinner parties.  During fall and winter have a tray with assorted teas and hot chocolates…stick some slice and bake cookies in the oven, and you have a party.

As we approach this busy time of year, a time where people, time, and resources are stretched to the breaking point, slow down and savor your surroundings and take the time to create a haven for yourself and those you love.

I feel that routines can be a daily form of self-care in our hectic lives.  Children receive much comfort and security in knowing what comes next in their daily lives.  If we are honest, adults aren’t any different in this regard.  And while I realize that routine isn’t always possible in our everyday life, it is something we can strive for.  Begin with your morning and evening routine.  At the beginning of the year, I made it a goal to get up an hour before my children do.  While I haven’t been successful every single day, I have had more successful days than not and I celebrate that victory(extending grace to yourself is an important part of self-care too!)!  I have found that this time in the morning is a very important part in how my day unfolds. And it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or time-consuming.  My ideal morning routine consists of drinking a mug of warm lemon water, having some time to read, journal and pray and having some time on my yoga mat to stretch and do a short yoga routine.  It’s completed in under 45 minutes and,  in my opinion, is the most important part of my day.  after investing in myself and taking the time to fill my cup back up, I am ensuring that I have something to give to others.  My evening routine consists of putting the house to bed (general pick up and put away), putting the children to bed,  then some personal time.  Most nights that means a hot bath, some chamomile tea, journaling, and reading.  I try to keep electronics out of the bedroom during this time, and again, celebrate the victories instead of beating myself up when life gets hectic.  Self-care doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive.  It just takes a little discipline, a bit of planning, and a belief that you are worth it…because you know what? You ARE!!