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Karen E.
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| Posted: Feb 08 2007 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
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This has been the most wonderful "Loveliness of Messes" fair. Thank you, one and all!  I love it!
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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KC in TX
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| Posted: Feb 08 2007 at 11:43pm | IP Logged
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This thread has me cracking up!!! Oh my goodness. That kitchen sink post--I had mine in there, but I spent 15 minutes clearing and dusting everything around it before I took the shot. I could really show you clutter. My office is awful--I'm still unpacking!!! It's been 3 months--almost 4 since we moved in.
I'm loving it. Molly, I love that chicken photo. Before the picture, I was laughing at the mental image. Katherine, I dump everything into dh's study. He said he doesn't expect it to get organized before March. I don't think it's going to get there at all if my study doesn't. You all are too, too funny. Great thread, Molly.
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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chicken lady
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Karen, you made my day.......I hosted a "Loveliness fair" without even a blog, just my crazy chicken. Miracles are real 
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 8:16am | IP Logged
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What I love about the Loveliness Fairs:
They inspired me to go from Bad to Best
except I kinda lost my way and got stranded at Good instead.
And then this thread came, and it inspired me to go from
Good to Better.
So we still come out ahead. Thank you, Ladies of Loveliness, and thank you, Molly!
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stef
mom to five
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 8:23am | IP Logged
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molly wrote:
| Karen, you made my day.......I hosted a "Loveliness fair" without even a blog, just my crazy chicken. Miracles are real |
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Great, crazy chickens.
When I posted a picture of our timeline on my blog yesterday for Theresa, I mentioned this thread and said that before I could take the picture of the timeline, I had to move a globe, a sewing machine, a box of sewing notions, two paper eggs and some Sculpey creations. I felt that full disclosure was a must, given this conversation.
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Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
What I love about the Loveliness Fairs:
They inspired me to go from Bad to Best
except I kinda lost my way and got stranded at Good instead.
And then this thread came, and it inspired me to go from
Good to Better.
So we still come out ahead. Thank you, Ladies of Loveliness, and thank you, Molly!
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I agree -- they are meant to be inspiring, and they *are.*
I've occasionally heard from people that they don't "feel lovely" and therefore, they don't participate -- and I can identify with the *feeling* ... I never feel that I fall into that "lovely" category. But, my *thinking* reminds me that they are not meant to discourage, but to encourage. We can all strive for loveliness, and we can all recognize that sometimes, "lovely" means a messy house because we've been busy being lovely mothers.
We're all in this together. On one day, I might be inspired by someone's beautiful home, and what they've achieved in terms of beauty, coziness, orderliness. Another day I might be inspired by the loveliness of real, day-to-day messes.
It's all lovely ... there's a place, time, and season for everything.
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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MarilynW
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I LOVE this thread - just found it and have been having a good laugh with my cup of tea!
I could quote from so many of you who have said wonderful things. I think back to my childhood when a house was a "home" for living - and not a model home showpiece. I try to remember this when I get the "I want to move to bigger and better urges". Donna Marie posted a great article on her blog a few months ago called "The Singing House" - this really is one of my favorite articles - I have it printed out and have it where I can see it everyday. When I was a child we had a very small house (one bathroom, 7 kids) - but I do not remember much about it - the only things I do remember are that all our friends always hung out at our house because it was homey and there was always fun and good food - and my mom was never hung up about messes. I figure I want my house to be the same.
At the OB yesterday I met a lovely lady who really wants to homeschool - but her reason for not doing so is that she like a tidy house and could not cope with the mess. I told her that one adapts one's standards very quickly - I come from a series of obessive-compulsive cleaning siblings (no kidding - my sister has certain rooms which no kids are allowed in, my brother vacuums around your feet all the time!!!) - but it is amazing how I have changed to living in a kid-tidied house.
My final observation - tidying is a little like living the Myth of Sisyphus - roll that rock up the hill and it just rolls down so you have start again every day. I tidied up the kids' closets in the summer - you would never believe it if you looked now.
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Alice R
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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You know what is going on this morning in my house? I'll tell ya...
*I'm trying to type reports for work but it is so boring and i'm procrastinating reading some boards. 
*The kids are clearing off yesterdays (yes YESTERDAY'S) lunch and dinner dishes off of the table so there is room to eat breakfast.
*We have no clean bowls and I have no idea how we are going to eat cereal. The bowls are in the sink which is loaded with slimy dishes and washing them by hand-NOT gonna happen.
*The boys are attempting to clean out the sink  
*My baby daughter is in the high chair watching all of this. She is wearing an undershirt and looking kinda sticky. 
*My other daughter is jabbering in my ear about The Little Mermaid. I keep looking at her like "WHY is she still talking about this????" 
*The only good thing is that the three big ones are showered and dressed. The baby is all schmutzy and I'm in my pajamas with my hair sticking up. 
*I have NO plans for dinner. It is freezing cold and I have no plans of food shopping either.
*The kids hated the ravioli I made last night-I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it. There is leftover ravioli on my counter.
I could write you more but I think you get the point.
The blog? Oh, that is just a hobby for me. I It is my "therapy". I like to pick out a few things during the week and post them. It makes me feel good. 
No one is superhumnan. Trust me. 
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Mom to Nathaniel (10), Noah (8) Alise (6) Rebekah (3)and expecting another blessing Faith, Grace and Family
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Genevieve
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Karen E. wrote:
We can all strive for loveliness, and we can all recognize that sometimes, "lovely" means a messy house because we've been busy being lovely mothers.
We're all in this together. On one day, I might be inspired by someone's beautiful home, and what they've achieved in terms of beauty, coziness, orderliness. Another day I might be inspired by the loveliness of real, day-to-day messes.
It's all lovely ... there's a place, time, and season or everything. |
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Karen, this is very well-said. It's a balancing act. The house needs to be of some kind of order otherwise it's distracting or worst, no one can function within. Yet, we can't be slaves to a meticulously kept home. It would affect relationships and hinder spontaneous real learning fun. I know I go through "loveliness" swings. Yesterday, half of the house was in order and the rest very much less so. However, the weather was beautiful and so we headed out for a day at the park. My house wasn't completely lovely when I returned but there is always today. People before things. I keep my house lovely just enough for our family to have a jolly good time.
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Genevieve
The Good Within
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Jane Ramsey
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Thank you, Molly! for starting this thread, and everyone else for your thoughts and PICTURES! I love them all, and be assured that my house is equally messy. 
But what really drives me crazy is our back yard.
Kids' toys strewn everywhere, an empty turkey pen (we had turkeys here last year) that my dh refuses to take down, pieces of wood, metal, pipes, whatever the boys can find for their various little "projects"...
My poor s-i-l told me she was going to stop reading blogs b/c she felt so discouraged that she just could not measure up. And she has FOUR children under the age of FIVE, including a newborn, and a husband that travels a lot! Measure up to WHAT!? She's a hero to me for just surviving most days!
I love reading blogs, but I try to keep in mind that behind that perfect-looking post is an imperfect, though beautiful, lady, an imperfect house, and imperfect kids.
And PLEASE keep that in mind if you ever look at my blog and am tempted to think that perfection ever comes anywhere near this home...
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Cay Gibson
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Karen and Genevieve made some excellent points. I found that after blogging my messes I had a feeling of "Okay, enough of that."
We get discouraged and depressed with too much "reality". We all know the reality. It doesn't have to be proven. (Not that I'm discouraged or depressed over this thread. I find it hysterically funny. ) It was refreshing.
It's like watching too much news on television. Sure, it's the reality, but there are good things out there too and you want (and need) to see it. I think that's where the loveliness fairs come into play.
After awhile it's time to say, "I'm a child of God." I can do better than this. Why else would Molly have mopped her floors the other day? Why did I clean off the table after taking a picture of it and chase the dog off the clothes?
Because, despite the messes, we have to be good stewarts. I think God will hold us "somewhat" accountable. No guilt-trip intended...
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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kristina
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Oftentimes, preparing for company is the most predominant motivator for keeping the clutter at bay. It's easy to almost be blind to a little out of place item, then another, then next thing we know, our home looks downright unkempt.
Even though the messes sneak up on me, I really find them suffocating. In my family, I notice that we all function better when our surroundings are tidy. Maintaining order is certainly something to strive for. If not for our own sense of order, but for the very point that Cay makes above.
Blessings,
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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chicken lady
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I like the loveliness fairs because beauty is an attribute of God, and surrounding myself with beauty, even if it is through reading about others beauty, makes me sense God! It calls me to higher thoughts, it raises my mind toward heaven. It draws me to strive for a God like attribute!
For now I have chickens, but you dear friends support me anyways and for that I am grateful
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Tina P.
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 1:26pm | IP Logged
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My 7 yods just sat in a clothes basket filled with clean clothes to read me a story and there was a surprise in it! There was a noisy toy (a little steering wheel thingie) under all the clothes. He exclaimed, "Hang on, Mom! I gotta deal with this noise under my rear."
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Tina P.
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 2:40pm | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
| This has been a great thread for me. For a Christmas gift this year my dh actually gave me a cleaning lady! Well, it lasted about 2 months. I had to clean so much to get ready for the cleaning lady that the whole day before she came I was grumpy and did nothing with my dc but yell at them to stop making messes. The peace I thought it would bring to my home just wasn't coming. Now we're back to no cleaning lady but much more happiness! |
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I need to tell this to my husband. Housekeepers do the easy stuff and GET PAID for it. I can dust and vacuum the whole house in a few hours. I can do each bathroom in about 10 minutes. It's the tidying, sorting, and putting away that I have trouble with.
Becky Parker wrote:
| He and his wife both work full time and they have 3 children but their house is always immaculate. I know this because I have been there and we also share a babysitter who tells me it is always clean even when the kids play - they are afraid to make a mess! |
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This is a sad commentary on life. Maybe I'm being hard-line on this, but I have no sympathy for people who work and who either put their kids in daycare all day or have a sitter spend all day raising their children. And if they're afraid to make a mess, where are the kids supposed to relax and be themselves?
Becky Parker wrote:
| So, yesterday, my biggest nightmare came true - he came upstairs to ask me a question right at around 11:00. This is the worst time of day around here because while I have been doing school work with the older kids all morning, the littles have been running around making messes. Anyway, he walked into our family room, looked untterly shocked, and all I could say was "Uh, welcome to lego-land!". Oh well, it is what it is, right?! |
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Excellent comeback. This had me in fits of laughter!
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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Tina P.
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Bridget wrote:
| It's a great life whether it's messy or neat! |
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Can I quote you on this? I want to use it on my husband.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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chicken lady
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I see this thread is bumped up again,,,,funny as it started with my kitchen sink, and right now dh is installing a new sink....YIPPEEE!!! I had a mental break down this Am over my faucet not working correctly, and viola I got a farm sink!! Nice and deep for big pots, with a nice high faucet!! Now with my chickens perched outside my window, my sink will be truly "lovely"
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: It is what it is.....
