Home Color Changes

I had the best day yesterday! Scott and I had an appointment with a color expert from Farrow and Ball. Recently we painted our family room. I wanted to try out the 'amzing in light' 'made in England' paint. Was it all worth it? What made it better than paint from Home Depot or Lowes? 

Oh my goodness. I still don't have photos of our painted family room but we are in love with this paint and the color we chose for our family room. The girls tell me that it looks like Calico Critters in there. (I promise to take some photos this weekend and post them here!) 

I had chosen the wall color from a recommendation (online, a house account I adore) but when we went to purchase the paint this 'color expert' recommneded a trim color if we were painting the trim in that room. And the trim (including the fireplace) changed the room more than even painting the walls. It went from a fine but kind of boring room to the coziest spot in the house... pure Calico Critters. 💕

Well, with the family room done we decided to meet with this color expert to talk through some other parts of our house. We were bit by the Farrow and Ball pain bug, that's for sure! 

He worked with us to choose: 

~ a main house color (entryway, hallway downstairs, up the stairs, and hallway upstairs... all one color) 

~ a living room color (still keeping it in the green family but a huge change (including that fireplace)

~ kitchen 

~ dining room (yes... we have chosen a wallpaper and I am in love!) 

All of these rooms, all of these projects will take so much time. Scott does it all himself and can only work on evenings and weekends and there is still a whole lot to do around home in the summer but bit by bit we are going to tackle all of our downstairs. 

Sure, I wish I could snap my fingers and have it all done, but I also kind of enjoy working on it together as a team and seeing it unfold slowly. 

I am so excited!  

A June Letter To Myself

I was thinking... I should write a letter to myself to read the next year for every month. It would help me out so much to remember. If I did, here's what I would write to myself in June: 

Dear Tara, 

Well, you made it to June. First of all, be so proud of yourself. You've taught those fourth graders from September til now. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Gemetry, Decimals, Science... you've helped them 'publish' four books. You've taught 6 units of literacy too. You've taught at least 3 mini lessons a day times 184 days. You've corrected, mentored, answered emails, gone to all of the staff meetings. And yes, you've even gotten up and and gotten dressed 184 times! So yes, first of all, congratulations. 

Try to remember the good that you poured into your family this school year while all of that was going on. I'm sure you've helped them through challenges, encouraged them, and just been there for them. Remember that and let go of what you are still worried about for this month. 

It's okay to feel exhausted. In this month you are navigating 'big feelings' with the transition to summer, and you've just celebrated both of your daughters one year older. It's a lot to make those days special for them but also you are feeling a lot in them turning one year older. You will feel proud of them but also a bit sad for the little days going farther away in the rearview mirror. 

Give yourself a full seven days of summer break (weekend days can count toward those seven). I don't know how you don't remember any year, but it takes a full seven days to feel 'normal', to feel good about down time, to get into a slower summer pace. 

Make a list of house tasks that feel overwhelming and out of order throughout June. Hang it on the frig and then add to it as you go through the month. Everytime you write something on the list, take it off your mind and don't even think about those annoying things you 'just can't seem to get to' until the last day of school. Think: on the list = out of my mind. Remember, the list might look overwhelming as you add and add but just a few summer days and it'll all get done. Ahhhhh. 

Try to prioritze sleep in June. If all else fails on a daily to do list: pray, read your Bible and sleep need to be a priority. 

Remember being quiet at home is a strength in this much pressure. Before school is out and you are 'going through' June is NOT the time to dig deep on a subject with your daughters. You will be so much more capapable of softening their hearts when you are on summer break. (Make a list for those topics too) 

Lean into your senses. As corny as it sounds, it works. Take a step back and look at what is in front of you. How wonderful it feels to 'hear' the chatter of your college daughter home. Taste your food. Light a candle at home every evening. Put on soft music in the morning before school, as soon as you get home, and in the evening. At school when it's early in the morning, turn on worship music. Let it fill your empty classroom and your heart - trust me, it will carry you through June. 

And finally ask God for help. You will feel so busy that you will want to do it all in your own strength. You can't. Talk to him like a friend. Pray while you are folding laundry, driving to school, as you feet hit the floor in the morning. 

And just know that this is the way June is. And it's all okay. You were meant to go through Anna's birhtday, Abigail's birthday, your Mom's birthday, you Mother in laws birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day all in this short period. Do what you can and let the rest go. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just done with good intention and love. 

Oh Tara, you can do this. You've been through this so many times. Summer is coming, summer is coming, summer is coming. 

❤ Love me

Home Is Best

Somehow our routine has gotten a bit weird lately and I craving normal. It can be a bit tricky for me to transition to summer mode. I know I can't wait for it. But I struggle with the non structure and so much time. I remind myself that it hasn't even been one full week off of school yet and that it's okay for it all to feel a bit out of sorts.

We went out to eat tonight at a new to us restuarant. I had a huge gift card from my class. It was good. But I love home nights the best. 

Tomorrow I plan on getting up at my school time and doing some things that are peaceful, productive. And I'm actually looking forward to a 'regular' evening. Eating dinner at 5:30, a nice long evening walk, shower, cozy and reading in bed. I am so boring and I love it and being home is best!  

Father's Day

Simple. Grateful.

 

Just Mama

Friday was my first day of summer. Anna and I went out to lunch to an adorable new to us bakery type place for lunch. I had an appointment and I made a H U G E list of things that feel like they need attention right now in our home and yard!

After April break Scott and I just 'survive'. It's all hands on deck to make it to the last day of school and then when mid June rolls around we are itching to get some things done. 

I am so thankful that he feels the same way -- so let's go!!! Why are all of the pots and pans all neat and tidy all year long but then are shoved in from mid April to mid June? Why are all of the summer flowers planted but we just can't get to trimming any bushes that are overgrown? And on and on and on. It's becuase we moved our daughter out of college mid May. We celbrated both of our daughter's birthdays. There was Mother's Day and Father's Day, my MIL bday, my Mother's bday, my Father's bday, and closing out the last two months of school... that's why! Ha! 

We really do better than just getting through. There is still loviness from mid April to mid June but it's not for the faint of heart. It's go go go and we are so glad to get off that treamil and live! By live I mean finally find a routine, get to a million things on a growing to do list and start summer! 

Today (second day of summer) I was 'just Mom' and I loved it. I got up at 5:30, had my prayer/journal/devotional time, worked out, showered and got ready for the day and still was able to make Abigail's first day of work/camp counselor breakfast and pack her an adorable lunch. Then I got to drive her. 

It was the BEST feeling in the world to just be Mom and I am so grateful for this time to tune into my daughters and this precious family of mine. They deserve every moment of my summer and I intend to do summer with intention and love.  💕

Last Day of School

On the last day of school I got there when the parking lot of my school was empty. It was so early. I emailed every family with a selfie picture of me with their child and wrote a personal letter to them.  

I felt such gratitude and truly awe that God would give me the purpose of being their teacher all year. 

And I felt sad. Sad to see our classroom all down and away. Sad to have our last Morning Meeting. Sad for the goodbyes that were to come at 2:00 that afternoon. 

And relieved. Relieved because I'm soooOoooo behind on 'life' at home. There are just a mountain of things I want to do/get to/need tending too. 

On the first day of summer I am making lists and lists and list! 

You Know It's the Night Before the Last Day

I know it's almost the last day when my trunk looks like a garden. 

I have all of these plants lining the windows of my classroom all year. It looks too plain when they all come down so I wait until the night before the last day. 

Scott always comes with me. We load the plants into the car. He helps me with some last minute stashing things in my closet to make it all set, and them my exhausted self goes home, showers, and falls into a deep sleep ready for the last day the very next day.