New Year, New Post!

Well, it's a been a few months (more like 6!)  It's not easy to stay in the habit of blogging.  We are in a new year, welcome 2018!  My One Word is Trust.  As I begin graduate school on Monday, I need to trust God (he is right there beside me in this!), trust my abilities, trust my family support.  This year I have started out very intentional with some previous habits, such as regaining my at home yoga practice, Yoga with Adrienne, drinking my Green Smoothie for breakfast, rather than lunch (hopefully cutting down on coffee), daily walk/jog with Charlie.  Although I am only taking one class this Spring semester, I aim to be healthy and organized, for myself and in preparation for busy days to come!  I journal almost daily, starting with what I am thankful for that day!  I am also using Mark Bittman's VB6, to help guide my eating habits.  Finally, I continue to follow simple living pioneers who greatly shaped 2017 for me: Joshua Becker, Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Milburn and Courtney Carver; thank you!

Charlie loves yoga!

Thanks to the east coast Blizzard 2018, I have some extra time to spend working on these "not new" habits this week.

Our snow/ice covered street

Although this post does not include porch dates, they are still very much a part of our marriage, and will appear in future posts (when it's warmer!!)  Thank you for reading!

Flies & Heat!

So, this afternoon's porch date!  Beverage compliments of the Folta's for watching this sweet angel, Lana, over the weekend.  She and Charlie wear each other out and we are happy to have her here.  We welcomed Claire home from Guatemala at midnight Friday night and we sent Noah & Paige off to St. Simon's, GA at 7 am Sunday.  Needless to say, my sleep schedule is a little off right now!  To add to it, I worked at REI from 6 pm to Midnight last night for inventory.

Sweet Lana

I started this post yesterday, Monday, however finishing today.  And I have to say, I slept over 9 hrs last night!  Interrupted, restless sleep, but still feel quite rested this morning . . . yea 😊!

So back to our porch date yesterday; another one with not so many words.  Charlie relaxed in the grass.  We endured the heat and way too many flies!  Our aim now is to figure out a way to repel the flies who want to sample our IPA's . . . not okay!

Our next porch date will be at our flat (Homestay) in Richmond or on the porch/patio of a Richmond brewery; looking forward to it!!

Simple Life!

Karen

Busy Lives, Still Porch Datin'!

Good Monday morning!

We have had a busy month!  Put our youngest on an airplane to Greenville, SC to visit my brother on the 4th for 9 days.  Sent our oldest off to Guatemala for 12 days with her HS Spanish teacher and 9 other PAHS students/graduates on the 10th!  Picked up youngest on the 14th.  Will pick up oldest this Friday night, late.  Meanwhile our middle, the boy, has been working, volunteering, painting his room and being lazy!  To keep it real, I suffered some rather seroius lower back pain last week, starting on Monday while kayaking with Rich, lasting through Friday and still feelling mild discomfort.  Ready for some yoga, not ready for a run yet.

Yesterday was birthday celebration day for our 14yr old, Paige.  After church, she and I rode bikes to Starbucks on 31st street, via back roads and through neighborhoods.  She enjoyed her free birthday drink and chose a Venti Pink Drink.  We proceeded to walk through the shops on 31st street as though we were tourists.  Unfortunately, the Funky Monkey: Antigues and Vintage store was closed; we'll have to catch that one another time.  We decided to take the bo, ardwalk home and then realized why we rode through the neighborhoods on the way out.  The beach/boardwalk was crazy busy!

Claire skyped from Guatemala, perfect timing. Paige was able to open her JMU Dukes t-shirt from Claire, with Claire on skype.  She is having some expected emotional roller coasters, but having a great time!

Before heading out to spend some birthday money at Hot Topic before it expired, then birthday dinner at Jose Tequila, Rich and I were able to manage a . . . wait for it . . . yes, Porch Date!  Charlie was greatful, too.  Thirty minutes, with cloud cover and a little breeze after an extremely hot & humid week in Virginia Beach.  It was a good, good day!

Finished with presents, Coldstone Ice Cream Cupcakes and a movie.  Grateful to have had a great message at VB Church in the morning and quality family time throughout the day.

Blessings!
Karen

Making time/room for friends!

So finally you have a picture of our "porch." Yep, we don't actually have one in the front of the house, although that might change soon.

This Sunday afternoon porch date  was a break from yardwork and mild house cleaning, along with yoga and prepping food for family get together, yes we are social!! Getting together with friends is probably the one thing I struggle with the most.  So many things compete for my time, however I value my husband,  families and friends. Therefore it is crucial to me to carve out that time!

My tip today, no matter house busy you are,  please take time to nurture your relationships!!

Living with joy!
Karen

Hiking and college

I am enjoying my quiet time outside this morning, with my journal and a cup of coffee, after returning home late last night from a two-day adventure with my college freshman daughter. We left fairly early Tuesday morning and drove up to Skyline Drive. My brother gave Claire a national parks pass for her graduation present along with some books and maps. We hiked South River Falls which is a four and a half mile round-trip hike, all uphill on the way back, but well worth the view at the bottom of the 84 feet falls!

We spent the night with my Mom and Jim in Elkton, Virginia, A.K A  the Valley. Then we got up early and went to JMU to attend the summer springboard orientation for new students and their families. I am incredibly grateful and thankful for spending time outdoors and experiencing the beginning of Claire college life with her. 

Upon arrival at home I immediately began to feel anxious about finances which happens often. However, this morning's devotion brought instant peace and the reminder that everything is going to be okay.

Although I am sitting in my porch date chair the only one out here with me is Charlie as my porch date has requested that Claire tell him about her day yesterday. I believe she is lucky to have a father that wants to be involved in her life and the porch date can't wait until later today!

Get outdoors!

Karen

Healthy Body Yoga - Yoga With Adriene

One of the benefits of summer and only working part-time retail at REI is having more time to pursue other activities that bring me joy, such as yoga.  And I love Yoga with Adriene, YWA!

Rich and I had a porch date yesterday afternoon, a quiet one.  After checking my school e-mail (on a Sunday afternoon?!) I learned that I was not chosen for the next cohort of the T.R.Y.I.T. program, basically a fast-track to special ed teacher certification program.  No doubt God may have closed that door for me, however still hard to read.  I'm wondering when I will finally knock on the right door.

It's not that I dislike my current job as a teacher assistant; it's simply that it does not compensate well enough and I need to make more money.  Hopefully this summer, as I pursue the activities that bring greater joy into my life and Unclutter my home, I will find new opportunities to pursue for employment.





Namaste!

Karen

Sunset at First Landing

Our porch date yesterday was going to First Landing State Park to watch the sunset.  It was too cloudy, but a beautiful evening, so we stayed, with Claire and Paige AND Charlie, our 5+ yr old mixed breed pup.

After working hard for three days on our bedroom and closets, I felt the need to enjoy some outdoor relaxation this evening.  It's so important to not let myself become so absorbed in my current de-cluttering area/project and make sure I am taking time to enjoy life, my family, the outdoors, the things that bring me joy.  That's the whole reason for my mission . . . JOY!!

Today was my last day this week working in our bedroom.  I'm grateful for all I accomplished this week and finished by running the vacuum and cleaning our bathroom (desperately needed!)  Tomorrow I will wash our sheets and we will have a fresh bedroom!  It's not complete, but I am happy  and it will take so much less time next go around in the bedroom.  In addition, I am donating/selling/recycling as much as I can and throwing away as little as possible.  I do not like filling my trash bin every time I de-clutter an area of my house, although there is inevitably a great deal of trash!

Take time to enjoy a sunrise ~ sunset!

Seek Joy,
Karen