Getting to Know You, Wait…Me

This morning I am linking up with a great group of ladies who are also attending The Influence Conference in Indianapolis next week. I’m getting a little jazzed and a little nervous at the same. For an introvert, I’m not so nervous about meeting new people, but rather I’m feeling a bit nervous that I’m NOT overwhelmed. I’m making a few things to put in the Sashes Market at the conference and while I don’t have very much inventory to take, I’m not stressing about it. Maybe my “3 Things to Know About Me” will explain why I’m not stressing.

1. First of all, I am still hopelessly trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my time, effort and energies. My two littles just headed off to full day school in August. For the last almost-8 years being a work-at-home, stay-at-home and homeschooling momma were my most important jobs. While I like to sew and blog, I also like to research and learn and work at things that are bigger than myself. Right now my heart isn’t settled on any one flight plan. It’s disconcerting a bit because I always want to know whats coming up just around the bend. But this time, well…it’s a mystery. In some ways following lots of change and upheaval over the past three years this place of stillness is the most peaceful and unsettling spot yet.

So back to the original question, “Does this explain why I’m not stressing?” Yes and no. I’m simply not willing to sacrifice peace within my family or within my heart for something that is just a temporary event. I sure hope that you all love my pieces at the market, but I really hope that you love my heart  more. Perspective keeps it real.

2. I love Walt Disney World. Yeah, I said it. When I was 8 I still couldn’t ride a bike without training wheels {but seriously, we lived on a country road and it HURT to fall over in the gravel on the side of the road. YEOWCH!} Anywhoo. My parents were getting antsy for me to master some bike-riding skill-z so they bribed me with the promise: If you learn to ride your bike, we’ll take you to Disney World. Harrumph. False. When they found out I needed braces the bribe changed to: You can either get braces or we can go to Disney World. By then I was in the fifth grade, and what 11-year-old girl nursing a pubescent hormonal identity crises wants 1) wonky teeth or 2) to go to Disney World. I got braces.

We finally made it down to Florida when I was 16. By then I figured Disney would be ultra-lame so we didn’t go. But a couple of years later a boyfriend and I spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and I was smitten– with Walt Disney World not the boyfriend.

I even love Disney so much that cheese-tastic overlays get a pass.

Now to clear my parents name here, they did finally make good on their promise in a big way. They have taken the kids and I twice in the past four years. My hubs has a slightly different take on Disney after a catastrophic morning at the MK involving rain, a cranky baby and outrageously expensive ponchos. I’m hatching a scheme to get us there for a grown-up only trip, although the kids are incredulous at the notion. Maybe I’ll turn him into a believer too.

PS My Disney Tip of the Day~ The Disney Dining plan makes the trip so much more magical. It’s worth the cost up front for the peace-of-mind on your trip if its within the budget.

3. I am an unconventional people pleaser. I don’t like it even one little bit when people are ungracious, unkind or not understanding of each others’ differences and preferences. It’s a hard pill for me to swallow that not everyone wants things to be hunky-dory day-in and day-out. I have this passionate opinion that God’s grace extends to every part of my being and we are remiss not to offer that same grace. Unfortunately my grace often falls short for fellow drivers on the road who I am convinced have a death wish that they are trying to fulfill by texting or turning into my line the moment I pass them. I’m working on it. That’s why I need grace too.

I don’t easily and simply just go-with-the-flow, but I also don’t buck convention for the sake of making a point. I really just like to do what I feel is the best thing for myself and for my family. I don’t want or need anyone else to “do as I do” but I do expect respect for my preferential decisions. However, that isn’t always the case which is when I remind myself again to extend much grace and love. Afterall, Jesus was pretty unconventional too and he extended LOTS of grace. I want to be like Him when I grow up.

***For the record, I also start too many sentences with “I” when I’m not paying attention. See #3 for proof. I <—{again, see!} abuse commas, ellipses and hyphens. Writing is great, editing is not my favorite thang although it’s often a necessary evil. Truth. Thank you for your grace!

I also have a random habit of pointing out my faults before other people point them out to me. Umm, case-in-point. Sigh.***