In the Holiday Mood

Tags

Christmas, Holidays, Music, Thanksgiving

Well it’s official, the holidays are upon us! I love this time of the year! It’s probably the child that’s still in me, but something about the spirit of the season really makes me happy.  This feeling of goodwill stays with me from Thanksgiving to New Years day, and I look forward to it all year. 🙂

Right now I’m sitting and planning my Thanksgiving menu, Christmas music playing in the background.  Some of the best music ever written, is Christmas music! It’s always so uplifting and happy.  Today’s world can use as much happy as possible, particularly since we are inundated with one bad news story after another.

I look forward to slowing down and spending time with my family.  Holiday gatherings are some of my most treasured memories.  I really hope that I can make sure my son experiences the warmth and love of the season, just like I did when I was a kid.  Most importantly, I hope I can eventually teach him the true meaning of why we celebrate. The message of hope and joy that the Christ child brought to this cold desolate world, when he was born in a humble manger.

God Bless you, and may you feel the spirit of the season!

Elza

Self Worth

Tags

Faith, Life, Self-Worth, Thoughts, Value

Self Worth…  Who gives it to us.. and what determines it? Is it something I can give myself?? Is it determined by our talents.. our looks… our paychecks, our accomplishments???  Lately I have been thinking about my value as a person, as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a Christian, a friend, a member of society… and so on.  This value is so often manipulated by the world around us.. whether it be by our relationships..  good or bad, or  the media and pop-culture, which idolizes a certain type or  trait.  This constant shift in the degree of perceived value has me reeling at times. It causes me to grasp for something that gives me intrinsic  value.. This is a worth that is given in spite of myself.. for my own sake.. or in its own right.  Our society likes to flout the importance of  self esteem… but I’m referring to something deeper.

It seems that more and more people are having a hard time finding the intrinsic value in life, particularly their own life.  It seems I can’t go a week without hearing about a person who decides that his or her life has no more value.  Suicide is rampant today, and it is hitting a younger and younger population.  Not only do people not find value in their own life, when they take theirs, they often take the life of another with them. Why is it so many people find no value in life?? Life intrinsically, despite its success or failure??

Questions.. I ask many questions.  I don’t have many answers. However, when I examine myself personally, I find that I am searching for worth in the wrong places. I search for it in the eyes of others. I search for it in my talents and my material possessions.  Yet I often find so little self- worth there, leaving me feeling lonely, dejected and hopeless.   Yet when I think even deeper.. I realized something stunning… The only place I found intrinsic value my whole life, is at the foot of the cross. There I find that despite my failures, my disappointments, I have value. I am unconditionally loved.  Now I’m not here to preach. But I must say, that the only constant value I can find in life itself, is in the majesty and miracle of its creation.  Thus I turn to its Creator to give me value, to show me why I live despite the evil that often surrounds me.  …and when I allow myself to understand this, life becomes precious! My life is precious, purposeful, and valuable.

God help me! I want to live with this understanding as my motivation!

Elza

 

Entering a New Year

Tags

2014, Best wishes, Happy New Year, Reflections, Serving Spirit

A new year has come, and I find myself wondering what it will bring.  Though all it really represents is another day on the calendar, I see it as a chance for a fresh start. It gives me incentive to change some things in my life, and embrace other things.

I’m in the mood for purging…  This year I really want to look at my priorities, and find a way to focus my time on what really matters to me.  Modern life stretches our attention in all sorts of directions, yet I want to find a way to put my energy towards the most important, particularly my family and my faith.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what is means to have a serving spirit. What does it mean to serve my husband and my family? Am I taking this role begrudgingly? I have also been considering the ways I may have touched other people, when we crossed paths in this fast-paced world.  Have I left an imprint on anyone’s soul? …or do I simply ignore the human connection, selfishly focused on only my path and problems.

I guess if I was to have one wish for 2014, it would be to learn to serve others humbly and joyfully.  ..to truly see the people around me, and hopefully have something to offer them.

Happy New Year everyone.  May it be filled with lots of love and joy. May we find a way to serve each other, beyond what is merely expected in today’s age.

-Elza-

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Shh.. its nap time

Tags

Baby, Infant, Nap TIme, Sleep, Time Management, Working time

Anyone who has a small child knows how important nap time is. I’m not talking about how it magically eliminates crankiness in my kid, or any other health benefit here. I’m talking about the benefit for my sanity.  Thankfully my little darling loves his nap time, and I’ve still managed to hold on to two per day.

In the beginning it was “nap when baby naps.” However, it did not take me long to figure out the difference in productivity levels when baby sleeps versus when he is awake.  During these 2-3 hours of my babies rejuvenation, I’m trying to cram in anything and everything that needs to be done around the house.  I literally plan my day around these precious nap times.  However here is the kicker…  I have to be extremely quiet when doing these things, or I risk losing this time of precious productivity.  So often I find myself debating… do I vacuum, ..go into his room to put away laundry, or keep walking up the darn creaky steps that never fail to wake him up, and lose these precious moments of peace?  (I’ve even contemplated whether I should flush the toilet and risk waking him.)  Then there is the cat, who always seems to pick nap time as his time to howl his disillusionment with his nine lives. (.. no matter how much I shush him, or give him the evil eye.)  Then there is the neighbor who always seems to start up his ridiculously loud lawn mower…  or my favorite… the phone ringing… I can not tell you how many times I have frantically searched for my phone on my hands in knees, ready to fling it out the window. (…and people always wonder why I never pick up.. its because I’ve learned to keep it on silent!!)

Did I just hear a cry? Darn it.. my keyboard clanking must be too loud… or was it the cat???

Until next time,

Elza

 

A New Approach

Tags

Blogging, Journal, Online Writing, Writing

I have decided to try a new approach to this blog.  I have not really had the time or the inspiration to post lately. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I’ve been trying too hard to be “pretty.” …and I find that I don’t always feel “pretty”… or “inspiring”..for a lack of a better word.  Writing has always been an outlet for me. I have stacks of journals at home from about the age of 8 as a testament to this. However, somehow this blog has become a bit of a burden, and I think it is because I am trying too hard to present  something that is complete, edited, and beautiful.  Yet in all honesty I don’t always feel complete or beautiful, and I particularly don’t always want to feel edited.  I guess I want the freedom to ramble, rant, and rave.. and not feel the need to add a pretty photograph.    So I have decided to try a more journal style for a month or two and see how I feel about it.

Don’t get me wrong I will still try to post the usual “pretty” and “inspiring”  things.. (I have a few projects I have been meaning to show you.) But, I will also give myself the freedom to simply be honest, and down-right gritty if I feel like it.  I’m hoping this will ignite my spark for blogging once again, and who knows, maybe I’ll hate it, feel too exposed, and go back to being “pretty.”  Yet for now, those of you who still may read this little blog, please humor me, or feel free to skip the “not-so-pretty.”

Affectionately Yours,

Elza

Note –> After this post, I kept singing “I Feel Pretty, Oh so Pretty, and Witty and Bright…” in my head for like 2 hours…   Guess where that’s from??  At first I wanted to blame Mary Poppins, but apparently that song is from West Side Story. Huh!? Who knew??  

How to Decorate Easter Eggs

Tags

Christianity, Decoupage, Easter, Easter egg, Egg decorating, holiday, Traditions

So I wanted to do a little holiday inspired post.  Easter is around the corner, and I thought I would post a little tutorial on decorating Easter eggs.Usually we use candle wax to write or draw on the eggs and then dip them in dye. However I wanted to try something different. I came across this decoupage-style method, and I love how they came out, so I thought I would share.

To get started you need:

• – eggs, hard-boiled (however many you want to decorate)
• – 1 slightly whisked egg white
• – a small brush 
  
• – some pretty 3-ply napkins or pretty tissue paper

Separate the napkins so that you have only the top printed ply of the napkin. The thinner the napkin the better.I found that tissue paper worked well too, if you can find a pretty print that you like. Also, prints surrounded by white work best, because they blend better with the egg. Solid full-colored prints show creases more.

Cut out whatever piece of the print you want on your egg. Then hold the napkin against the egg and use the egg whites as you would Modge Podge to decoupage the napkin onto the egg.

Smooth out any wrinkles, and then place them on a plate in the frig. to dry over night.  The next day rub a little oil over them to make them nice and shiny, and voila, you got some fancy looking Easter eggs you could use as decorations or serve.Technically you could eat these. Just peel the shell and there is a perfectly good egg inside. However I prefer them for decorative purpose. I made a little moss nest inside a bowl and will use them as part of an Easter table centerpiece. I like these because they remind me of Fabergé eggs, made popular by Russian Czars.

Did you know that the tradition of decorating eggs can be traced all the way back to the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs red in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at his crucifixion.   In Christianity, they also symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus. Though an egg appears to be like the stone of a tomb, a bird hatches from it with life; similarly, the Easter egg, for Christians, is a reminder that Jesus rose from the grave, and that those who believe will also experience eternal life.  (Source: Wiki.)

Hope you have a blessed day,

-Elza-

Restless…

Tags

Books, Classics, coping strategy, Journals, Online Writing, Religion and Spirituality, Restless, Thought-provoking, Writing

Has anyone ever felt the need for soul-searing thought?? ..the need for something awe-inspiring? Something that lingers in your heart and mind for days… Well that’s where I am right now.  I can’t seem to shake a feeling of listlessness for the mundane in life.  I don’t know if it’s just the winter blues, or simply the fact that I have not had a cleansing cry in a while, but I can’t help but yearn for something extraordinary.  I am not really sure what it is that burdens my soul, or even if it’s a God-given desire.   It’s almost like feeling unprecedented potential, lost by the passing of time.  I’m not one to wax poetic, or even to get too personal on this blog, preferring to stay light, positive, and at most, helpful.  But these last two weeks I’ve been feeling restless, and I just can’t help but share.

Don’t get me wrong, during the day I am living life, creating, smiling, laughing, taking-care-of, reacting, all in the usual spirit. It is in the evening hours, when I have time to myself, that these longings hit me.

My eagerness for something thought-provoking often turns me towards books. In the last 2 weeks I have read 4 books. I’m not talking about frivolous mind-numbing quick reads here. I’m talking classics. Eloquent classics.  From an early age I held myself to a certain standard when it comes to reading.  I refuse to pollute my mind with some of the modern-day garbage that is turned out, full of sensuality, morale disregard, and carnality. Somehow I have always understood the power the written word has in forming mental images and affecting behavior.

Anyways…  I find that even my beloved classics can’t stifle my restlessness. I know myself enough to acknowledge that reading is my coping strategy, as is writing. (I have stacks of journals as a testament to this.) So here I am… letting go of my thoughts into blog-land.  Why I’m not sure exactly.  Maybe its the tiniest pleasure I get in thinking that someone out there might actually sympathize with me, or the tiniest hope that someone may have some words of wisdom to offer.  🙂

I read somewhere once that our souls are affected subconsciously by the gentle proddings and murmurings of God’s Spirit.   So I am left to wonder whether God wants something from me..

-Elza-

1 year Anniversary

Tags

Anniversary, Blog, Blogging, Thank you, WordPress

Today is my 1 year blogging Anniversary! I was 8 months pregnant, staying home, and in need of a diversion. Thus I created my blog. I never imagined I would enjoy it so much. Not only that, I began to discover other people’s blogs. A whole new world opened up to me, a wealth of creative, informative, passionate, and inspired information at my fingertips.  Writing for my blog and particularly reading other blogs has become one of my much-loved pastimes.

Thus, I want to say thank you to my readers, and all those that take time to write their own blogs to share pieces of their lives.

Yours Truly

-Elza-

 

15 Things You May Not Know About Me

Tags

About Me, Fun Facts

So I thought this would be a fun way for people to get to know me a bit better.

Here it goes!

and lastly..

Until Next Time,

-Elza-

Starting the Day Right..

Tags

Me Time, New year resolution, Quiet time

This year one of my New Years resolutions is to start my days off with some time for quiet contemplation. I have a tendency to just jump right into the day without even a moment to think.  (Usually because a hungry baby is waiting for me to feed him.)From now on I hope to give myself this time. (Even if it means waking up earlier) I find that when I allow for some meditative time in the morning, my day runs more smoothly and productively. (Without me feeling like I’m constantly trying to catch up)

Hope everyone has a lovely day,

-Elza-