A Fine Line

I have written before about the notion that a blog can help with accountability. If I don’t live an intentional life and work on projects, what will I write about? The problem is, sometimes I find myself thinking too much about what I’ll post. It can be a fine, though very distinct, line between living to blog and living a life worth blogging about.

Fortunately, I’m aware of this tendency. And I’m determined not to let it take over. Because living to blog is too much pressure. Yes, it’s important to me to keep an account of what I’m up to, and of course it’s awesome when I’ve completed cool projects or gone somewhere fun or am inspired. But if I truly want to live a life where I value the ordinary as extraordinary, I have to be willing to write about my every days the same way I write about big, fun things.

I want my life to be intentional, but I don’t want to be forceful. I can be thoughtful about doing things and finding things to write about without causing burden or creating extreme expectations. And that is important, because always being in a state of expectation is an infallible way to waste time and days and life.

One in a Million

Please forgive me if my return to blogging and discussing of The Pie and Apron Life has been excessively verbose. It’s just that I’m still hashing out my intent for this space, trying to claim my purpose. I know that I am one in a million in the blog world and that much of what I have to say is not revolutionary. But I also know that what I have to say is mine. It is the same and different all at once in that the topics may be similar to others, but everyone has a unique perspective that has been built through their individual experiences, values, and perceptions.

Even though I started this blog almost five years ago, I’m kind of starting fresh this week. I was hesitant to come back because it’s important to me to revitalize this space and make it more than it’s been, and I know that will take effort. Effort that maybe I’d rather be using towards other things, tangible things.

Part of me thinks it’s silly to continue blogging, because there are so many bloggers out there with way bigger, more interesting lives than mine. But I suppose that’s the beauty of the blogosphere. People write from all walks and places and stages in life. Some of them taking small moments of everyday life and making them memorable and important. Which is what I want to be doing with my days – making the ordinary extraordinary… even when it’s not, I want to write about it like it is. Not necessarily for others, but to help me keep a positive perspective, one that helps me move forward and one that promotes being grateful for even the smallest things.

Maybe no one else will read and maybe these posts will just be a chronicle of my days, a way to look back at what I was doing and what was on my mind and how it changed over time. And really, that’s fine with me. All the rest will just be pie a la Mode!

Stage Two

In January of 2010, my Mum and I had a conversation about how if we won the megabucks, we’d live this cupcake and apron life – meaning we’d be stay-at-homers, keeping house and creating every day. I changed it up a bit though, saying I prefer pie, so I’d be living the Pie and Apron Life.

Later on, I posted that I was already in Stage One of the Pie and Apron Life. That even though I was working full time, I was doing all that other stuff part time, saving for future mommyhood with a full time job and then fulfilling my calling as homemaker in the evenings and on weekends. I was inspired enough by this concept that I changed the title and address of this blog.

I went on to say what the Pie and Apron Life means to me, and this is what I described: Living according to all that I love and all that moves me. Keeping my home clean and comfortable using love and elbow grease. Cooking and baking with love too, most often from scratch. Keeping journals, taking photographs, creating using various mediums, reading, loving my husband, and strengthening my faith through worship and prayer. Love, authenticity, faith, loyalty, determination, and plenty of organization skills. And most of all, banishing piddle and finding fulfillment in making each day, each moment, count.

All of that stuff still applies here in Stage Two. The change comes in that now I’m at home. And instead of being a full time secretary, I am a full time everything to a sweet little boy. Really, Stage Two is the Pie and Apron Life in full, completed, goal reached.

So the plan is to start really rocking it out, this concept for life I’ve created. Doing all those things I described above to the best of my ability, infusing love and care into the moments of my day and the lives of my family. And being so incredibly thankful for every bit of it, because I’m here living this life I’ve dreamed about and it is so, so good.

Welcome Back

As you can see, things have changed a bit around here. I’ve simplified this space of mine by removing a lot of sidebar clutter. More importantly, I’ve widened my post space so I can share larger pictures. And the content will change too, once I get back in the swing of things.

When Abel was born, he took over everything – including this blog. I love that kid to death and he, along with Casey, are the biggest piece in my pie of life. But I want this space back. To write and express and maybe even inspire. To share the other smaller pieces that make up me and my days.

There have been lots of changes going on. Interior house changes involving paint and design and organization and STUFF. And interior me changes involving heart and mind and soul. I’ve not been lazy on these days away from blogging, I’ve been revitalizing. Focusing. Getting down to the nitty gritty. And things are developing and materializing and I’m ready to share and put things out there.

So here we are, at yet another turning point in the life and scope of this blog. If you mainly visit for updates about Abel, please start using Abel’s Place directly. If you’re interested in what else I have to share, please continue to come back.

It’s going to be real. There’s going to be truth. Hopefully some wit and insight. And definitely plenty of creativity. Stage two of pies and aprons is coming to life. My life.

Haphazard

This blog has been haphazard and uninspired lately.  It is disappointing for me, but it’s just not what I want it to be.  I have good ideas for posts, but I start to write and become blocked or things don’t turn out as meaningful as I’d like.  When this happens, it normally means it’s time to take a break.  And so I will.  Hopefully I can ponder a direction, a revival for this space of mine.  I do hope you’ll check back when I return.

Exhale

It has been a full week and a half.  Family was here for Abel’s baptism, then we were at the beach for four days, then we went to a friend’s baby shower on Saturday and to a concert last night.

The beach was excellent, but I was so glad to be in my own bed on Friday night.  It’s lovely to be away, but for me, it’s even more lovely to come home.  And although we had events to attend over the weekend, things were pretty relaxed, which was so good.

Today I kept things pretty light, easing back into “normal.”  I picked up the final bits of our unpacking mess, did some basic housekeeping to make things look nice, and spent lots of time chasing Abel around.

I was glad to take a nap this morning, but even more glad to take a walk this afternoon in the glorious weather – a mix of sunshine and wonderfully cool breezes.

It was a good Monday and I’m looking forward to keeping things similar the rest of the week, mixing bits of my favorite at home activities with plenty of time outside, maybe even including a trip to the pool.