And life keeps rolling

The old expression, “no need to reinvent the wheel” never made sense to me. It’s taken me all my thirty years to learn one of the oldest expressions in the book is basically preaching one very big life lesson: life is hard enough, don’t create more work for yourself than needed.

Unfortunately, my wonderful hubby and I have never been so good at this. We tend to go about things the hard way. Straight lines are too easy for us. We make several wrong turns and pit stops between points A and B. In our defense, life has thrown us in the ditch more times than most others our age, but I’m not one for excuses.

To be honest, we’ve had a hard year and once again we find ourselves at a crossroads. The fork in the road and commitment and choices that must go with each path has been our place of biggest mistake in the past. But not this time. We’ve learned this fear, anxiety and un-comfort with the coming changes is our call to prayer. This time, we’ve answered the call. Our decision process has been much longer and more prudent. Big changes are coming, but we know they are the right ones.  We’ve prayed diligently and have been rewarded by affirmations at every turn. Affirmation that we’ve discerned correctly has been our biggest blessing.

Loose strings will be tied this week and hopefully, the I’s will be dotted, T’s will be crossed, and the Rutchiks will roll onto the next phase in life.

So excuse the dust, rubber cones and confusion, the Rutchiks are under construction these days.

For today, I share with you the first step in our new life – the new “Rutchik family van.” I’m so excited to have a van again and Joseph is equally pleased. One of his favorite daddy moments is driving his sleeping family of ladies late at night in the dark. We’ve spent a lot of time together in the van these past 2 weeks as we prepare for our next step in life. It’s been fruitful time for our family’s present and future.

3 carseats in the back of a car was not working out. We couldn't get our bags from the market to fit in the trunk and nobody was happy.

Our "new to us" van.

The new van has space for our new and improved family. Who wouldn't want to ride with this little gal?

First trip through the car wash.

Anna likes the new van, but not the carwash!

Sleeping Beauty and Other tidbits

We’re settled! Ok, that was a lie. We are not settled. It has been almost 2 weeks since we moved and we are not settled. In our defense, we had no clue how difficult it was going to be with kids. I feel like the only time I can unpack boxes is when both girls are sleeping. And, if you know anything about our family, these gals don’t sleep at the same time.

Never the less, we are coming along slowly but surly. It feels good. Joseph had his first class this evening and came home looking smarter already. Or at least that is what the smile on his face told me.

I am feeling really good about this change in our lives. I am not, however, feeling good about paying 2 rents. So, please, pray for us to find a lease take over in Milwaukee. It would lift so much worry and uncertainty from our shoulders.

I’m working on many big projects in life. One of these will be a picture recap of our summer for my blog. One of my main motives for beginning this blog was to document our day to day life as a family. The summer handed us some crazy and challenging times, so the day to day aspect of life went out the window – with the blog. I am hoping to recap and get back to more regular postings. I will also be adding posts about my “writing life” to blog. I’m doing so in an effort to share a big part of myself I’ve never shared before. I know, I’m growing as a person!

While these things are in the works, I thought I would share a little piece of lovely from my day. While Joseph was at school the girls were getting a bit crazy. Tessa was sent to her room for a little alone time to reflect after a bout of sassy sassy talk. I was organizing my desk while Anna Clare sat on the floor playing with a sippy cup. I found myself caught up in my project. Panic washed over me as I realized there was silence in my home. Any mother with little ones can tell you silence is a bad, bad sign when you’ve got kids. I looked into the living room to find this:

Now, to the average person – this is a cute picture of a little gal falling asleep. How cute—and so on and so on. However, Anna Clare is the anti-sleeper. She has never - in all her 9 months of life - fallen asleep without an hour of screaming and rocking. Falling asleep in the middle of sitting up and drinking is a big accomplishment for her – and me! I love her so very much, but feel as if she has been overlooked when it comes to who she is as a person – because she has screamed day and night since the day she was born. Thus, that is the aspect of her at the forefront of our minds and conversations with family and friends. Could this be the dawn of a new day for her…for us…..for my sleep?!!

Here is hoping the changes around here as a beautiful as the summer to fall transition happening outdoors.

Do you feel like your life changes with the seasons? What changes does this fall bring for you?

Make Over!

Well, I feel the need for a makeover!

Ok, so I'm not talking about a shopping spree or a new hair cut. Although, I do feel as it I "deserve" a nice pedicure(something I LOVE but gave up when I stopped working full time and had kids.)

But, then I recall how we don't really deserve anything in life, and how I should count my blessings and not the calluses on my feet.

Nope, I'm talking about a BIG LIFE makeover. I've been praying and writing about many, many things and think I have come to some big conclusions.

I'm not yet ready to reveal, but I thought when I do - a blog makeover will be in order as well. I love my little blog, modest as it is, but it reflects what I feel is a bit of my darker, more reflective side.

The picture at the top is one I took on Chamber's Island in Door County, WI. It is a shot of a staircase outside of Holy Name Retreat House. I love Door County and truly believe the Spirit is alive and well at Holy Name Retreat House. However, lately, the picture has been bothering me. I have many, many friends who have been as blessed as I to have spent time on the Island and none of their pictures reflect the same moods as mine. With such a beautiful place comes vibrant colors and life, something I choose not to depict in my photo. I believe this is somewhat reflective of my state of mind at times.

I enjoy my reflective and often somewhat dark side. I believe God has made me this way for a reason, and I view my melancholic temperament as a gift. However, we have been through so very much over here in the Rutchik home this summer. There has been nothing but worry, reflection and all around seriousness and I think it's high time I brought out the happy, bubbly Holly I try to portray to the world.

Big changes are also coming for our family and as soon as my lovely hubby pulls the figurative trigger and makes a decision and tells me it is 100 percent, I'm in! Growing wearing of me saying this?--me too! I invite you to have a little chat with the love of my life.

So, I anticipate the lifting of the reflective clouds over here and am excited to spend some time in child-like joy. I'm also looking forward to having my blog reflect this and to learning a bit more about how to use all the features.

Some things I don't know how to do--in case you feel like helping:

Linking to another blog. I know how to incert a website, but not how to change it so it says the name of that blog, book or person.

Subscribing to a feed. I can only follow blogs if they have the little "follow" button, otherwise, I don't understand how to do it. I hear talk of people's "readers" and wonder what in the world you all are talking about.




Until then, I hold you all close in my heart and my prayers.