Last week when we were on the cruise,
I felt like I'd accomplished the world if I managed to get out of my yoga pants.
Staring out at that beautiful, clear, turquoise water brought an instant calm.
I found myself focused on the people and the beauty around me and not on tasks or to-do lists.
I haven't been back five days and already I'm feeling unproductive because all I've done today is
make a 7 am chiropractor appointment...
feed my kids breakfast.....
make all the beds.....
workout with my husband.....
school my kids...
feed them lunch...
school my kids some more....
return a few phone calls....
and start dinner.
It's sad how much I have to do before I allow myself to call a day "productive."
It's more sad how often I put the tasks of daily living before being attentive to the beauty
that surrounds me.
that surrounds me.
When I finally sat down to write a post today, I knew that I had to show you these beautiful boats
and the rolling waters, and the brilliant sunshine from our trip.
Sometimes pictures really are worth more than a thousand words.
Looking back at them instantly reminded me of the peace and calm that I felt when I allowed myself
to stop and be still and simply be.
My friend, Cat, from Constant in Chaos is in the middle of moving this week.
She's packing up in Mississippi and heading back to their cottage in Alabama with her man and two toddlers.
{she's moving into the same cottage that was featured in Southern Living a while back}
Anywho, She knew this week would be crazy, and she asked me to do a guest post for her.
I'd love for you to visit her and encourage her in the middle of this very hard week.
You can find the guest post here.
Cat, if you're reading blogs this week,
I hope for you quiet in the chaos and rest in the work of your move.
If you need any help, sit down and get lost in these pictures!
I wonder if those people that hang out on all those boats in the second to the last picture ever
struggle just to be.
struggle just to be.
Surely not.
It is so important to slow down and just 'be'. One of the treasured opportunities you have as a home educator is to simply enjoy the day with your children...throw the 'to-do' lists away...believe me, after years of putting the same kind of pressure on myself I learned to let the beauty of living be priority and at the end of the day if I could see that we loved each other then I knew we had a productive day. My 19 yr. old tells me now that she never felt like she was learning much but after 3 yrs. as an honor student in college she sees how much more she was learning than she ever thought and than her peers. I made sure to take my children outdoors daily...to parks, creeks, the coast where they would jot things down in composition books(nature journals) and that was their science for the day. BTW your vacation looks like an amazing field trip for your family!
ReplyDeleteSome people just manage to have a sense of peace and contentment about them...that is not always the case with me. But I do strive for that or my world would be 'chaos'.
ReplyDeleteI look at your list and I see all of the important and thriving activities you do with your husband and children, you get your exercise in, you have time to yourself to write a post about a wonderful trip. You don't have to "Be"...you "Are"!
I am going to hop over to see your guest post!! Take care.
XO,
Janie
Loved the sail boat pictures..I could just feel that warm sun..I need that! ;D
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures they are exactly what I call relaxing. I love the ocean and looking at anything to do with it is always relaxing to me. I'm glad you had a great time! I'm on my way over to your friends blog now :)
ReplyDeleteI am so in love with those sailboats and will have a sailboat once again, they remind me of the one my family had when I was growing up the SARA R, can you believe that I complained every.single.summer. when we would go on vacation for a month on ours......seriously!!!
ReplyDeletegreat shots tara! don't be in a hurry to lose the rest of vacation! take it slow! family first. Love seeing some of your pics though. that ship was ha-uge!
ReplyDeletei have the SAME feelings about being productive!! i could have the same exact list as you've listed and still not feel like i got anything done...thats so silly of us :) i for sure need to not be so driven to get things done! and i love your photos...just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIf you make it to the end of the day and everyone is alive, then the day was successful. The end.
ReplyDelete:)
(Great pictures)
Oh what a beautiful relaxing time that must have been Tara..thanks for letting me peak into your vacation a little..:)
ReplyDeleteHow I enjoyed homeschooling too Tara!
Such wonderful memories and together time!!
Im heading over to visit Cat now...
Deborah xo
OK, Tara, you need to come see me for a few days. We'd have a ball, and you'd go home feeling like you get a TON done after seeing my lack of productivity. Your list is quite impressive...and feels very full. Maybe you expect too much of yourself? I so often do, but I'm making peace with stillness this year. Not a whole lot getting done on the outside, but God is doing wonders on the inside. As you know first hand, he's good like that!
ReplyDeleteWhen I come home from vacation, it takes me weeks to get back into a groove at home. But you know what, those weeks that I call unproductive are the weeks my kids get the best of me. They want a PRESENT mama far more than they want a productive mama. I bet your kids love the "unproductive" you. :)
Love and hugs,
Linsey
This is great timing! My goal this year is to enjoy more, pay attention (REALLY pay attention), and breathe deeply. Busy season (baseball times two, track, tennis, etc.) are all hear so it's easy to get caught up. I refuse to let it overtake me. Thanks for the reminder! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed looking around ur blog...came the from catherine's blog.
ReplyDeleteI am really curious about the whole cruise thing. I have never been on one and wonder if not being on land would scare me. Can I ask, did you go with your kids, and would you go again? Pictures are just beautiful!! :)
ReplyDeleteAs Aimee says, breathe deeply. I need to do that. I try to remember to do it daily, but get too caught up in the grind. As for the people in those boats, they probably were like you, on a vacation away from chaos.
ReplyDeleteI love to blog, because it forces me to look back on the day, and see the good things. I've never posted a bad day, and probably never will.
Take care,
a new follower,
Leslie
Tara! I can't believe I'm just now getting time to read this post! Thank you so much for your kind words and encrouagement. It means the world to me during this time! I've really enjoyed getting to know you better, too. Oh, and LOVED these pictures. They are beautiful. I think we've decided that when we do Disney the first time, the cruise is the way we're going to go! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Cat
Wow, we are soul sisters... I just posted about this. And I miss you too friend.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Tara!! Your pictures are absolutely stunning my friend. My post vacation trend is to push it into high gear immediately upon returning home (unpack, laundry, everything put away) for a few hours, then get back into regular mode. Those first few hours my family knows to give me space and let me get my ritualistic 'stuff' out of the way, then I'll be back to normal.
ReplyDeleteHigh expectations of ourselves for sure. Guess that's why we all blog right? To add another layer to the mix and really have to balance bubbles. ;)
Can't wait to see the rest of your pics.
xo~
T
Love the green sail boat and the message to just be. I struggle with that one daily.
ReplyDeletebet that was great!
ReplyDeletelove the pics!
♥♥♥
sleep well
Rosa
Sweet friend, just had to come back and tell you that you've had me thinking about BEING all day. Thank you! It's been a sweet time with the Lord!
ReplyDeletexo,
Linsey
wow girl...i know just how you feel. i do the same thing. i go go go and when i stop it's the weirdest feeling. those boats are a perfect example of just being. so glad you had a good time. thought of you a lot.
ReplyDeleteOh girl, I hear ya, I do. We need to stop being so hard on ourselves. You are working the most important job in the world and doing a fabulous job!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Kristin
Wow... what beautiful photos! Simply be... sounds so easy... but can be so hard. I have been thinking about Cat and hoping she is having a smooth move!
ReplyDeleteLove the beautiful pictures! It is so wonderful that a photo can instantly transport you back to that place. I have so many photos when we were on our cruise that I love to look at. I can smell the ocean and feel the breeze and just be. I wouldn't worry about getting lots done, do what is important and the rest will eventually fall into place. :)
ReplyDeletei love the effect that calming blue waters bring....oh to live by the sea
ReplyDeletei hope your settling back in & feeling productive because girlie that i quite a list.
you are an awesome mama by the way
xo
Beautiful photos! What a nice getaway and so nice to be with family! I felt like I got away just reading your post! Thanks for my 10 minute vacation :) Enjoy Him today!
ReplyDeleteLooks truly gorgeous!!! I love all of your pictures!!
ReplyDelete