Erin Akin Carroll

You all have been so kind and patient with me as I’ve sorted through the unfamiliar, the lack of control, and have come to terms with the waiting game of finding our next home.

I did my fair share of complaining and grumbling, and then realized that all of that was just a big old waste of time. I couldn’t change our situation. I couldn’t hit fast forward. All I could do was choose to be joyful and choose to be positive.

And what was my biggest source of joy? What is my biggest source of joy? My children.

The freedom and permission to see this season as restful and intentional was the biggest gift I gave myself.

Now that we’ve entered the summer, days are even more lazy. But they’re spent soaking up each moment with my kids. Deciding to be content and deciding to let go of expectations and to just enjoy these days for what they are was huge for me. And these days are wonderful because of my boys.

I’m reading a book and doing a study with a fantastic group of women called “Your Beautiful Purpose” by Susie Larson. The word “purpose” literally makes me sweat. I see that word and feel extreme pressure to come up with a purpose that is different and “better” and “more worthwhile” and more “productive” than what I’m currently doing. And what if what I’m currently doing is my purpose?

I read this paragraph a few days ago and thought, “that is me. She’s talking to me!”

“There will be whole seasons of life spent serving in ways that don’t seem to match our gifts or passions, seasons where we feel overlooked and completely missed, seasons where the storms of life seem to focus their fury on us.” – Susie Larson

It’s normal. Other people have been there!

But those seasons don’t have to be a waste. They’re not lost. There is opportunity to love and grow and make a difference even if we don’t feel like we’re in the right place.

For so long, I’ve felt completely unaware of a dream of calling in my life. I was completely blind to the fact that God may want more for me than for me to feel like I’m just being faithful in the familiar.

And you know what? My “purpose” may not be any different at the end of this study than it was at the beginning. I may discover that God has me right where He wants me to be, but the only difference is my acceptance of it and belief that this work has purpose.

And my belief and confidence of this, that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

These seasons and storms are not a waste. These days where we feel like we’re lost and wandering have a purpose. And being open and willing to accept His purpose for us (and we all have a purpose, ladies!) will completely change our outlook on those hard seasons.

 

Our pastor shared this video with us on in church on Father’s Day. This is so Todd and me, and I’m sure most couples can relate.

I feel like I’ve said to Todd countless times in our marriage, “I don’t need you to fix it. Just listen to me and tell me you understand.”

No matter the situation, this is usually what happens. And when I was working and had a problem, Todd always had a solution. And you know, I just wanted to vent. And complain.

(Usually, I just want him to tell me that he agrees with me and that he thinks I’m right, but that’s a blog post for a different day.)

Anyway, I thought I’d share it with all of you in case you hadn’t seen it yet.

Happy Friday, friends! I’m linking up again today with Darci and Natasha and friends for Five on Friday again!

1. Hudson has had swim camp all week. Oh my goodness, what a fun thing. I love that he is old enough to do some of the fun day camps around town, and we were thrilled to do swim camp the week after his swim lessons. His swimming has improved by leaps and bounds. Or by strokes and dives? Whatever. He is working so hard and always talks about how he wants to practice. The awesome instructor who runs the camp posts pictures to Shutterfly every night so the parents can see what the kids are up to. I loved these pictures of Hudson!

He has improved so much, has gained tons of confidence, but he still has to be watched so very closely. I know with practice and repetition this summer he’ll get there. I guess our days of wearing floaties or puddle jumpers are over.

2. My mom sent some new books to the boys this week and they are loving them. Hudson is especially loving them! KK saw them on the Today Show and ordered them on Amazon right then for the boys. We’re always on the lookout for great new children’s books.

Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle Of The Street by Mark Lee is one of them. I love that it counts and names all of the big trucks. It’s a great book!

Squirrel’s Fun Day by Lisa Moser is the second book. It’s a little chapter book with short chapters and it’s the first chapter book I’ve read aloud to Hudson. It’s fun to read a new chapter every night at bed time.

 

3. I mentioned already that I watched Scandal at the end of May, and I was having withdrawals. I love me some Olivia Pope and President Fitz. So Todd and I watched House of Cards on Netflix after that. We absolutely loved it! But it was even more intense and messed up than Scandal.

 

So to keep with the presidential theme of shows for this summer, we’re back to watching West Wing again. Because, let’s face it, there’s not much on TV this summer, and I feel like we’ve watched almost everything.

4. I don’t love the price tag, but I really love some Lululemon. The pants fit like a dream and work wonders on the lower body. And I love how breathable the tops are. My absolute favorite Lululemon item right now for Pure Barre, walks with the stroller on a hot morning, and just running around town is the Tame Me Tank. This top is so flattering! You may have to search eBay for it because they appear to be sold out in almost every size. But I got this tank in three colors because I love it so much.

 

5. I’m super duper stinking excited because we’re heading back to Orange Beach, Alabama at the end of the summer for our family vacation. And while we’re there, the lovely Sarah Lyn Photography will be taking our family pictures again. Molly told me about Sarah Lyn last summer before we went to the Gulf and I’m so glad she did. Sarah Lyn is a natural with families and just likes for her subjects to just do their thing while she captures the memories. If you’re ever in the Destin, Florida area (and she will travel all over the panhandle), you need to contact her!

Oh my goodness, sweet baby Hayes. He was so little!

 

 

1. I have to keep writing brain dump posts and random posts because I keep forgetting to take out my camera when we’re doing fun things. I know, I know, it means I’m having fun, too, and not focusing on taking pictures. But I want pictures! It makes for more interesting blogging, sure, but it also will be important to me and my kiddos someday. Gotta remember to take pictures of the fun!

2. And we are having so much fun! This summer is already flying by, and we’ve been filling our time with more fun that we have in the past. The boys’ ages are so great that I feel like we can just go, go, go, nap, and go, go, go some more! We’ve had lots of trips to the pool, the zoo, swim lessons, swim camp, romps in the backyard with the dogs and the slip ‘n slide. I really gotta remember to take pictures of the fun!

3. We got our preliminary kitchen cabinet drawings today and I’m starting to feel panicky. Once again, I gotta remember to take more pictures because I want to do an actual house update. But now that I’m looking at the kitchen cabinet drawings I’m trying to decide if we want more drawers or more cabinets. And do we want any glass doors or will that drive me crazy having to keep them tidy? I’ve been pretty low key and easy-going about house stuff so far, but these decisions just make me nervous.

4. I’m going to see Nina in just a couple of weeks! It will be so great to have a couple of days with my dear friend. And then we won’t go on vacation until August. We’re going back to Orange Beach, Alabama. Gulf Shores/Perdido Key/Orange Beach are just my favorite place because they bring back such great memories. And I’m excited about a late-summer vacation!

5. I was heading to choir rehearsal last night, and I left the house 45 minutes before I needed to be there. And then I spent the next 50 minutes sitting in stand-still traffic on the interstate. Good gravy, that’s so frustrating!

6. I do not like wearing makeup in the summer. I need to share my favorite summer makeup with y’all, but I really would just prefer not to wear it at all. (Here’s last year’s post on my favorites for summer.) And in a perfect world of perfect skin and long, dark eyelashes instead of my super blonde, almost invisible eyelashes, going makeup-free for three months would be fantastic. But, alas, I don’t live in that world and I really need makeup.

7. It’s hot, y’all. Somehow it jumped from a cool 85 degrees to 98 degrees in just a day. Hello, summer! So nice to see you so soon!

*The Erin Condren Life Planner winners were posted on the Rafflecopter. All the winners will be hearing from Erin Condren’s team directly, so sit tight. Congratulations!!

*You can still enter to win a copy of A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet!