follow up::

For the past few weeks I've had this nagging in the back of my head-- you need to blog, just sit down and do it!! I kept putting it off and putting it off until finally I had to ask myself-- why didn't I want to do it? A few more days crept by until finally a light bulb popped on; maybe if you give your space a facelift that will erase the urge to drag ones feet. The next thing I had to tackle was what exactly should go there?

^ Something Autumn related?
^ Just some words?
^ An illustration? {btw I'm completely in love with illustrations right now}

 I wasn't exactly sure, until I hoped on board my latest train of thought that was pulling out of the station, so to speak. It went a little something like this; I love autumn, autumn makes me think of cold weather and cold weather makes me think of Christmas and instead of listening to holiday music in September and October I listen to classical music. Which brought me of my love of Tchaikovsky and his ballets where I finally ended up at Degas. Oh how I love Degas. His dancers are some of my all time favorite pieces of art. When we went to The Met {# 7 on my favorite place of all time list} one cold rainy February afternoon I stood in front of several of Edgar's pieces for... for what I'm sure Royal thought was to long. It couldn't be helped though, they are so beautiful. And so now his dancers are at rehearsals on my blog perfecting the art of grace and beauty.


Now where was I, oh yes--- lets keep the follow up from my last post brief shall we??

I woke up that next morning and mustered the courage to make the call and to my amazing surprise/relief they were able to fit me that morning. I dropped off Margot and Richie around the corner at my girlfriends house(bless her) and took off for the doctors. After a thorough exam there were no warning flags or red lights of any kind, but because of my family history she wanted me to schedule a sonogram "just to be sure" for the following week. My initial appointment with her was enough however to get me through the weekend without multiple panic attacks ensuing.

That following Wednesday I drove downtown and was told by a very nice woman after my exam that there were absolutely no nodules, cysts, lumps, or irregularities of any kind.  It was defiantly a huge relief to have the ease and calm I felt throughout the weekend confirmed.

So long story short:: I quote the great Judy Garland:: "Happy days are here to stay."

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And now that I've shook off the old and established the new I'm excited to dive into the blogosphere.

xO- Etheline

Word To Live By

One of the greatest things about my relationship with Royal is we hardly ever argue. We have a few spats here and here and the occasional doosey every other year or so, but generally we get along like peanut butter and jelly.

If you could peek through your computer screens you would see me nodding my head in agreement with this old woman. I love the sentiment that she expresses. I was born in 1985, many years into her 65 year marriage but I too believe in hard work and family values. To try harder when it seems impossible and not give up when adversity finds your door. I believe that these principals are essential to keeping the balance in this fast paced ever changing world in which we live in. As well as the keys to raising wholesome and respectable children and there is nothing more in the world that I{we} hope to achieve with my 3 little ones.

Don't give up. Live simple. Share your dreams and live them with the one you love.

xO- Etheline

Words To Live By

Let me just start out by saying this is in no way a reflection of life currently in Georgia, but I heard this quote by Winston Churchill the other day and I just loved it. 

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I, in my life from time to time, have fallen into the hell that occasionally is partnered with this life. And while I whole heatedly believe in prayer and faith in God to help you get through the trials of life there is also the lover of post hardcore music and long boarding side of me that needs that kick in the butt via words to keep going. To keep moving forward.

 It is my hope that if you find yourselves stuck in the depths of the darkness know that it is not a place that you have to set up shop and stay. Keep going, there is an end, even if it's not yet in sight.

 xO-Etheline

Words To Live By

Some days confusion gets the best of me. Thankfully I realized today after many tears that I need to be less wishy washy and instead be more firm, concise, and confident in my choices. That when I do this, when we do this, we are blessed with peace.

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Do not be afraid to submit to the tears; there is healing in them. Do not be afraid to work hard; sweat and pain is weakness leaving the body. Do not be afraid of the ocean; it's magical.

xO- Etheline

Weekend Wrap Up

This week? Not so good. Parts were fine, but over I feel like I'm being dropped off for the weekend; emotionally raw with hints of melancholy, and somehow over the weekend  I'm suppose to find a way to patch myself back up. That should be good. The only person I feel like I can turn to is my savior. That through prayer I may feel his love for me. That I can be lifted back up through his grace and mercy.

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While I won't do into the details of why I find myself strongly identifying with the above picture I'll just say that on top of everything else I think I'm becoming lactose intolerant. Can one all of a sudden become lactose intolerant? Is that even possible? I'd love to know? Any of you had weird experiences like this?? The idea of having to give up dairy products just makes me want to cry. What will I do without Cherry Garcia? I practically survived on chocolate ice cream and glasses of milk {usually 4-5 glasses a day} while I was pregnant with Margot. And no more cheese? Really?? Ciao delicious Ina Garten mac and cheese. I am Irish, doesn't my body know that I have to have to have milk while eating spaghetti?? Let's hope this passes.

I know down and dumpy posts are no way to win friends and influence people, but I just needed a spot to vent. I usually keep things happy and up beat, but today, in this moment, I just needed to as Claire Colburn would say, "get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened."  Hopefully Monday will bring more beauty and less melancholy.

Have a happy weekend. Now if you'll excuse me I've got A LOT of work to do, and by work I mean praying<3

xO- Etheline

Words To Live By

Over the weekend I was followed around by a metaphorical, as well as literal dark cloud, that taunted me with a torrential down poor at any possible moment. And therein was the excuse I needed to let the major chip on my shoulder loose on whomever or whatever I pleased. I knew I was being terribly irrational and cold to loved ones as well as perfect strangers, but I felt like I had hit my first wall since we had left home. It had been a little over two weeks since we arrived in Colombia and the romance of a new language had fizzled out for. Instead I found myself angry that I couldn't communicate beyond a "Hello, how are you?" I was tired of it being cold and rainy, and my never ending supply of patience with my kids was running low. Royal decided to come down with a gnarly cold and share it with Margot, and when she is sick...she flips her switch and becomes something similar to a raging little lamb! So we have been hulled up in our tiny apartment for what is turning into a long weekend and everyone is beginning to show symptoms of cabin fever.

During the minutes I was experiencing these hardships I wanted to cry to someone about how horrible life was, because at that moment I was so blinded by what I was feeling that I thought the sun would never reappear.

When I woke up this morning after being up with Margot for 3.5-4 hours last night I was expecting to be irritable and tired. To my most happy surprise though I felt well rested and chipper. I came down with the kids at 7am and made pancakes for everyone while Royal slept upstairs.

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While I was flipping pancakes I couldn't help but remember this quote I found a few weeks ago because you see I was acting ridiculous. Even though it wasn't the greatest of weekends of my entire life it forced me to stop and take a step back. I needed to look at the whole picture so that I could realize that I am truly blessed. My family is all healthy and we are traveling this great world. My husband and I had the means for him to quite his job and still be able to take care of all out other responsibilities. I get to spend every day for the next {at least 6 months} with my husband without anyone or anything getting in the way. How flippin' lucky am I??!?!

I'm so grateful for words like these that happily break into my thoughts when I'm in a rut of feeling sorry for myself. A real "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" kinda quote. So this week let's all try to shake off the negative we are thrown up against and focus on things we do have and are blessed with. Who's with me??

Happy Tuesday Friends--

xO- Etheline