Sippin' Tea & Countin' Down the New Year

Sitting here, sippin' tea and thinking about what I want to do with this blog in the New Year. 

I've wondered if my title has been misleading to some of those who have Googled home school blogs, only to find that I don't write exclusively about home schooling. So, I have some questions for those of you who read my blog regularly. Eh, feel free to jump in if you are new! Would you be so kind as to leave me a comment or two? Even if your name is Cindy Lou? (Dr. Seuss is leaving the building now.) Some guidance for this less than a year-old blog would be welcomed. I'll pose some questions to get ya started, but feel free to toss in some extra thoughts/tips. I will take all that I can get. Your opinion matters a lot to me. After all, if you are going to take precious time out of your day to read my musings, then I think you should have a say here. ;) So, whatcha wanna read about?

Do any of these ideas sound fun/good/bad/weird/amazing?

1. Random product reviews (home school/beauty/toys/books/misc. categories)


2. Devotional writings


3. Recipes (These would be gluten free, and posted when I am well enough to eat what I bake. Otherwise, you'll get the musings of a grumpy chef.)


4. Should I try harder to enhance my photos, or are you okay with the fact that I sometimes take the lazy way out and just post them in the rough stages? What kinds of photos would you like to see more/less? Do I post too many, or not enough?


5. Too much sarcasm? Not enough? More? Okay...more then. ;)


6. Do I post enough home school stuff to qualify as a true home school blogger?


7. Do you like cats? No? Why are you on here? (Just kidding...sort of...)


8. What is your favorite post thus far?


9. Do you like giveaways? Contests? Prizes? Or is that gimmicky?


10. If you could choose one thing for me to post about, what would it be?

*Thank you for understanding that I still have NO IDEA what I am doing.

There are my top ten questions and ideas to get you started. I'd like to apologize for not sticking to a tight blogging schedule. This is something that I am unable to fix. Most of you know that I struggle with health issues, so I am only able to post when my health allows. This bums me out because I LOVE connecting with my blogging buddies, and I enjoy writing, but something has to give when I'm in a flair-up. BOo. I know. :(

Okay, back to happy things. :) I have adored each and every one of my readers. I am positively giddy over the fact that I have a consistent international audience. It boggles my mind to think that people are reading my randomness all over the world! Please feel free to leave a comment if you are outside of the U.S. I would love to know more about you. Heck! Leave a comment if you are my next door neighbor. I think you all rock!

I hope this year blesses the socks right off your feet! 

Happy 2012!!!

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Manic Monday and Jot it Down Tuesday Combo Deal

I was going to blog yesterday, but my phone pics wouldn't transfer to the computer. So now you are going to get a double dose today. Yay!


Yesterday was going to go like this:

Post Christmas Manic Mania

Wow! 

How did the house get so messy?

We didn't even host any Christmas parties.

How can you accumulate so much dirty laundry in 48 hours?

Here is a super dark photo of my messy table. 

I would have enhanced the photo, but I'm feeling pretty lazy.

In case you cannot tell, there is two day old cake sitting out, 

paint on the table cloth, a cat perched on the corner, 

and too many crumbs to count.

I did wash the Christmas dishes and store them.

I broke one of the glasses while I was at it.

There's Tate in my messy living room, watching T.V., with a raging ear infection.

He is doing much better today. :)

(Don't you just love all of those wires hanging down from the T.V.?)

Then there was this:

The Cup of Death, as I like to call it.

Supposedly, this is a 100% hypoallergenic formula for people who suffer from major gastro issues (such as myself). This was my first and last cup, because within 5 minutes I was having a reaction to it.

2 hours later, the E.R. was treating me for anaphylaxis.

I lived. YAY!

My gut is still in shreds. Boo!

Then I was going to type up a bunch of negative "blah, blah, blahs," about how stressful Christmas is to me, and how glad I am that it is over.

But, ya know...

there were a lot more positives than negatives.

So, instead, I am going to end Manic Monday (on a Tuesday) with this:

My favorite stocking stuffers:

Tate's Handwriting on a gift card holder:

"To: Mom

From: tate

$ for herirspray"

And

the tag off of a pair of PJs that my hubby stuffed inside my Christmas stocking:

Complete with Blayne & Skyler's signatures.

Yes, they are capable of writing neater, but they are boys.

What I love about their handwriting is this:

I can see their boyishness in it. 

I love that they each have their own special kind of messy perfect

them-ness.

That they loved me enough to sign the tag on my pair of PJs (which I do love, Honey!).

I am going to laminate both of these things for bookmarks, because they are precious to me.

Jot it Down Tuesday

How I Feel, post E.R. Visit

Tired.

Discouraged.

In pain.

I want to eat a pizza.

I want a glass of wine.

I'd love to feel good enough to purchase "herirspray."

I want to get dressed up,

wear 4" heels,

with jeans...

and meet a girlfriend for coffee.

But I can't.

Because I am always sick.

I feel like a financial burden to my family.

Weak.

When I get like this, I am held up by my amazing family and friends.

I am sustained by my God.

I live a life that is truly unbelievably blessed, and I did nothing to earn it.

I am blessed because I serve a perfect God, who reaches deep, deep down inside my pain, carries it on HIS back and gives me exactly what I need each day.

This is what Christmas truly is:

JESUS.

The one and only GIFT who can wrap my (your) soul in insane crazy love.

Holding it firmly in place.

No food, no clothing, no shopping, no family, no friend, no doctor can do that.

Him only.

I'll end this with my favorite praise song. 

Just click on the link if you'd like to hear it.

(My favorite part is the last half of this song. I cannot help but raise my hands and praise Him.)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

Wordless Wednesday (Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest)

Jot it Down Tuesday

I love Jot it Down Tuesdays. Of course, the jotting down of randomness can happen any day of the week. If you love free writing, please link up with my friend Heather, at the E.O.. There's a lot of fun, inspiring, and crazy links to click on. Don't forget to read Heather's entry. After all, she's the genius behind the Just Write phenomenon.

Here we go...

In Which I Jot Down More Than Usual.

Starting yesterday, we began our two weeks off of school. Christmas break goes like this:

Week one = InSaNiTy.

Week two = Ahhh... :)

Because week one is always intense craziness, this will not be the home school blog to stop by for jaw dropping Christmas craft ideas. There won't be any impressive pics of impeccably decorated cookies either. 

Nope.

I plan on doing some of that next week, but don't call Martha Stewart, as I am pretty sure we will be keeping things more on the Cake Mix Doctor level. (Gluten free versions, of course.) I am not really sure if we'll do any crafts, but I can GUARANTEE that I will be devouring books while the kids are enjoying their Christmas surprise(es).

Speaking of Christmas, I have found myself wrestling with it more this year than ever. I'm tired of the over-load of "gotta-dos" and "gimme dats." I cringe at commercials and balk at annoying tunes about people wanting hippopotamuses, or being good "for goodness sake."  And who in their right flipping minds are buying a Lexus for Christmas???

Did I catch a major case of Grinchitis? Did somebody pee on my Christmas tree?

No, but I can see how somebody might believe those things happened.

It's a process treading through tradition.

Nothing wrong with tradition.

I just want something...

more.

I want our hearts to ache because there are those who won't experience Christmas. No, I'm not talking about kids who won't have 300 gifts to open. I'm not even talking about kids who won't have a 20 course meal on the 25th. 

Heck, I was one of those kids!

I am talking about not experiencing Jesus. 

The Gift.

The real reason why we are supposed to be throwing a big ol' shindig.

Here's the kicker. I'm divided. I want to buy tons of unneeded junk for my kids because it's FUN! I love surprising them and watching their reactions. But a week later, after the magic glitter falls off the toys and the excitement dies down, stuff gets shoved in boxes, or stacked up on shelves.

And my heart sinks to the bottom of my shoes.

Don't get me wrong. It's not their fault. My kids are extremely grateful, appreciative, and don't (usually) beg for anything. Ever. They take very good care of their toys. They understand the value of a dollar. They know that we had to make sacrifices to purchase them gifts.

But I want more.

I want Christmas to seep so deep into their hearts (our hearts), that when it's over...

it just began.

So, I have to be honest here.

I love to give my kids stuff. I even like to get a little something for myself once in a while. Let's just keep it real.

But wouldn't it be cool to get past stuff?

To let tradition go and start something brand new?

I don't even know what that is, or how to start it, but,

by golly,

I intend to find out!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

Extra, Extra...Read all about it!

For those of you who caught last Tuesday's Jot it Down post, you might be wondering what in the world this crazy chick was talking about. In a silly way, I was blowing off some nervous steam, because I am very much afraid of being on camera or speaking in public. The Daily Oklahoman had chosen to feature my health journey in this week's Sunday edition, so last week I'd jotted down some goofy thoughts about their photo shoot. I was a nervous wreck the whole time. That said, I was blown away by the effort and care that the reporter, Sonya Colberg, was putting into this article. She was not only thorough, but truly concerned about my welfare. In the end, she did a beautiful job getting the word out on eosinophilic esophagitis, and I will remain forever thankful. For those of us who suffer from rare and/or undiagnosed diseases, it can be difficult to get family and friends to listen, or understand. To have a total stranger show so much compassion is a rare and precious thing.

Here is the link to my story.

If I could have only one wish for this article's turn-out, it would be that someone suffering with this "mystery" illness would have a BIG "ah-ha" moment. That it would be the beginning of answers for them. That they would find the help they have so desperately been seeking. This disease is incurable, but there is power and healing in knowledge. The more awareness we have, the more studies will be conducted, and (hopefully) some relief will be in sight.

If you have EoE (or similar health issues), please feel free to friend me on Facebook, or email me at: layla@paytonlink.com.

I may not have answers, but I'm great moral support. ;)

 (See, I'm super friendly, and the sun shines on me. Okay, I have my moments, but let's focus on the positive.)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Wordless Wednesday (Missing the Mark)

Jot it Down Tuesday

It's that time again. If you want to join in on the free writing fun, I invite you to link up with Heather at the E.O..

My Day (No, Seriously):

(Photo credit: NOT the news team.)

(Yes, I do realize the pic is backwards. No, I do not know how to reverse it.)

If I told you that I spent today cleaning my house, combing my kids' hair, scooping out cat litter, and getting all gussied up to hold a pile of boxed foods for a photo shoot...


...would you believe me?


A news team chose to tell my story and captured it in the very special, photogenic, stress-free, articulate manner of which only I can express.

It's safe to say that I managed to squeeze in, "Ummm," and "Esophagus," 59 times into the same sentence.

And then the next sentence.

Possibly another, but I may have mentioned something else...not sure...it's a blur...

"Cut"

"Let's try that again, shall we?"

I'm confident that my lazy eye was gazing out the window, while my good eye was honed in on the camera.

 (Again, backwards photo.)

Steady.

Fearless.

One eye in the game. Winning!

Of course I had to try a new lip stain, which I realized, post interview, had transformed my lips into a lovely hue of sunburned fushia, so I am feeling pretty good about the way I talked with my hands, because...


...that should throw off any attention the lip stain might steal from the presentation.


Stay tuned, as I will post a link to the news story. It should be out in a week. If you watch very closely, you might notice that my fly was unbuttoned.

Okay. 

Not really, 

but that would have been awesome!

(Annnnnnnnd...backwards photo.)

*NOTE* This free writing exercise was in no way written to insult anyone involved in reporting my story. Everyone was UNBELIEVABLY professional, kind, caring, concerned, thorough, and truly went the extra mile. I am humbled and thankful to be given the gift of the media's attention. This is just the way my brain processes things while being filmed and photographed.*



Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

P.S. Home school subjects coming soon. Sorry about all of the wackiness. Life happens. ;)

Eh, Skipping Manic Monday...just not in the mood. Pics, Anyone?

Hey, friends!

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAACK! For now, anyway. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. To all who prayed for my family and me, while we were sick, again I say...

"THANK YOU!"

November through February can be a tough time for my wimpy self. I catch things easily and there is a whole salad bar of germs to choose from during these months. It is quite possible that I will "disappear" from time to time, so it warms my heart to know that I have so many friends who are at the ready with encouragement and prayers. My kiddos have been struggling too, but they (thankfully) bounce back rather quickly. That said, even Skyler, who rarely gets sick, bellied up to the "salad bar" and chose two lovely specimens of germs.

Salad, anyone?

Anyhoo, because of my long absence, I was trying to decide what to post first. I think that I will start with a Thanksgiving theme..

...you know...

...just in time for Christmas.

;)

Thanksgiving weekend was the only break from sickness we had had since the beginning of November, so we decided to take a trip to Arkansas. This was our first family trip there, so we really didn't know what to expect. The only times I have been to Arkansas were when we (childhood me, and my side of the family) had to drive through it to get to somewhere else. 

My guys planned a mountain top fishing trip.

I'd tell you all about it, but the photos do a better job.

Arkansas Photos:

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla