Weekend Links: 5/27/12

Here is some of the "good stuff" I ran across while reading this (last) week.   Hope you have time to take a look.

• Pushing the River by Michelle at Graceful.  I have recorded the following quote from her in my 'mini-me' notebook.  "Sometimes I realize that I'm practicing how to have a realtionship with God, rather than actually being in relationship with him."  Good stuff!
• Veggie Pasta - love her or hate her, you have to admit that Jillian Micheals makes a difference in the lives of those she trains.  I have been so overwhelmed by the amount of calories in pasta dishes, and we eat them at least once a week.  I need to keep this idea in mind during next week's spaghetti feast!
• The Number One Thing That Is Getting In Your Way - This one by Emily at Chatting At The Sky has me thinking...and pondering...and hoping I have a little something else to share with you next week.
• Listening - Lisa Leonard wrote this post over at (in)courage and, oh boy, she so could have been talking about me.  A timely reminder, indeed.

This was supposed to post last Sunday, but for some reason it never happened.  Enjoy!

Weekend Links: 3/2/12

Still no NYC pictures!!  I might just have to tell the stories with no pictures...but not today.  Today I need to get some work done, so I'll keep this short and sweet...just sharing a few links that you might want to read.

• We don't want your obligation - There is a bully in my life.  And I would venture a guess that he bullies you too.  Emily exposes him and shrinks him down to size in this 'must-read' post.
• Epic Fail - Once you name that bully, (in)courage has a wonderful guest post that will help you defeat him. 
• Because I don't want to go back to life as usual - Deidra took a chance last week that I have often contemplated but never followed through.  I may have to reconsider next year...or fly to Nebraska to attend with her and Michelle!

Okay, I need to get busy now!  See you all next week!

Weekend Links: 2/10/12

For your web browsing pleasure this weekend:

• Remember to breath out - Ever get overwhelmed just reading about what everyone else is doing?  You suddenly feel like you SHOULD be exercising, cooking organic, painting a room, homeschooling and knitting winter caps for the whole family...before bedtime rolls around tonight!  I think you will enjoy Stephanie's post over at (in)courage.
• Puzzling - Michelle of Graceful is doing a series of posts titled '29 Days of Quiet' and I am really enjoying it.  (Hmmm...there is that theme again!)  I think I may pull out a jigsaw puzzle for the sitting room this weekend.  I love doing puzzles with my kids.
• Hair-story - Deidra at Jumping Tandem wrote about her life through the lens of her hair.  Her story took me back to an elementary school playground where another second grade girl named Patricia mentioned that she had spent the weekend at her auntie's house having her hair ironed.  I never had the nerve to ask her exactly how that happened, but I will always remember the mental picture that arose of her leaned over an ironing board while her aunt pressed her hair with an iron.  And then I remembered Kim, who sat behind me in Mrs. Avery's fifth grade Arkansas History class and always played with my long hair.  (Kim's younger brother grew up to become a household name in the Sports world...my closest experience with Celebrity!)  I never liked to have my hair touched because I was so tender headed, but Kim was so gentle that it was actually quite relaxing and I would fight falling asleep in class.  Man, it has been a long time since I've thought about Kim or Patricia...thanks Deidra for the flashbacks!

Oh, and by the way, I poured out a Santa puzzle in the sitting room last night and just like a charm, Bri joined me in there within three minutes of sorting the pieces.  Sweet!

Weekend Links: 2/3/12

Hey, guys!
Sorry I have been MIA this week.  Wednesday's post took a lot out of me.  In fact, I wrote it on Tuesday evening and wasn't even able to move again until Wednesday afternoon.  I just skipped work and decided to take my time getting out to run a few errands before Bible study. 

Today is Meagan's birthday and we have plans for that, as well as the big Super Bowl Watch Party at the house on Sunday where we will celebrate her birthday with the rest of the family.  I hope to be back next week with some pictures and a 'Goals Update'

Until then, I hope you enjoy this week's favorite links:

• The Bookstore's Last Stand - An interesting article from The New York Times on the battle between Amazon and Barnes & Noble and what it could mean for the future of books as we know them.  (I am beginning to fall in love with my Nook...but honestly, I LOVE a real life bookstore like no other retail space!)
• Because real life is never as pretty as the Internet pretends it is, but real life friends are even better - Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama wrote a post that has me pondering my lack of  'same zip code' friends...plus the Bible study she mentions looks Ah-mazing!
• One bite at a time...together - I have Tsh's book, Organized Simplicity...but I just haven't been able to get myself going on it.  So, I am thinking about taking up the One Bite At A Time Challenge for myself.  Surely I could manage one project a week, don't you think? 

Hope you and yours have an amazing weekend!

Weekend Links 1/27/12

I'm sharing some links to the blog posts that touched me this week.  Hope you have time this weekend to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy them yourself!

• For the days when your blog or your life feels small - Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama shares encouragement for those of who sometimes wonder if anyone is listening.  I am occasionally surprised when someone I didn't even know was reading makes a comment about my blog.  More often, I just sit and wonder if anyone ever reads it at all! 
• Organizing magazine tear sheets - Angie at Echoes of Laughter shares her tip for keeping up with all those ideas you gather from magazines without being overrun with paper.  I do something similar, in that I tear out the ideas/pictures that I like and place them in 'general' folders. (Ie. a recipe folder or a decorating folder)  Every few months, I go through those pages and discard the ones that no longer appeal to me, then I place the rest in my idea binders.  You should see the binder for the dream home we hope to build one day!
• Thanksgiving in my heart - just in case you missed our daughter, Meagan's latest blog post.  I know that this journey of grief is hard to follow sometimes...but this is a post filled with hope and faith.

Weekend Links 1/20/12

If you have some extra time this weekend, I think you might enjoy perusing some of these wonderful blog posts.

• Seven Ways To Keep Your Home Strong - Ann Voskamp writes about making our homes into houses of prayer.
• Homekeeping & Happy Homes - Boy, do I ever need this reminder from Serena that homes are not meant to be magazine perfect all of the time.  Sometimes I feel like everyone in the blogosphere has it all together, except me. 
• Meet My Sister - This week on the Living Proof blog, Beth Moore introduced us to her sister.  In this first part of Gay's testimony I am powerfuly reminded of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ...especially in the life of a family.