The Shy Girl

Do you know who I envy? People, especially other women, that have an outgoing, friendly personality. You know the type. The woman that can make everyone feel special and important. That can strike up a conversation with anyone and make it seem like they've been best friends forever. The woman that has a genuine compliment for anyone she encounters.

Let me be real with you...That's not me. I am awful at small talk. If I run into someone at the grocery store, even someone I know well and am usually comfortable with, I feel awkward. It's as if my brain just shuts down. I have no idea what to say and I'm even worse at ending the conversation. I won't easily approach someone to say hi, because let's face it, beyond that one word, I don't know where to carry the conversation.

Today was another prime example. My boys have swimming lessons every day. Everyday I see the same women. Everyday these women are laughing and talking about trivial things. I yearn to be a part of the conversations. But instead, I sit back. I utter a small "Hi" and smile. That's it. I have not mastered the art of casually squeezing myself in.

Growing up, I was a shy little girl. Somehow, though, through the grace of God, I managed to make friends. But as I've gotten older, my shyness was mistaken as snobbery. Unless a person took the time to have a one-on-one conversation with me, they only saw a woman standing off to the side, not saying anything and seemingly unwilling to do so. I have heard from multiple ladies, ladies that are now my friends, that upon first seeing me, they thought I was stuck up.

It seems like such a juvenile problem. But it is definitely something that I struggle with. I realize this is how God made me, but I also realize that God wants me to be a light to others. How can I possibly be that when I appear stand offish.

This post isn't about having people feel sorry for me. It's not a pity-party. It just occurred to me that more than likely there are others that deal with the same thing. I want to acknowledge this battle. I want to acknowledge that this struggle is real! Maybe one of you has dealt with this and overcome! I would love to hear some tips and ideas on how you worked through it.  

Summer Break

Summer break is upon us! I have been so ready for this. Not only was I ready to have leisurely days ahead of me, but I missed having Evan at home with me. I always look forward to the days that we can all be together, even if we're not doing anything extraordinary.

What I tend to forget about is the constant fighting! We're only on day 4 of our summer vacation and I've lost my temper with my boys multiple times!!! They bicker and fight all day long!

How can two such innocent and sweet looking little boys be so ready to kill each other!

I realize, from my own life experiences, that siblings will fight. But at this rate, I won't have any hair left by the end of the summer. So my question to all you mommas out there is "What tips or tricks do you have to keep order in your home throughout the summer months?" I'm ready to enforce some changes so that we can all truly enjoy our time together this summer.

And the Heavens opened...

For anyone familiar with West Texas, you know that we receive little rain. For the past several years, we've been under a drought...but this year.....this year God has gifted us with so much rain!

It's an enormous blessing to receive a short bout of rain at some point in the day, but to have overcast, drizzly weather two and three days in a row is something extremely special!

We haven't had to water our grass at all this spring! These pictures were taken yesterday evening. My view hasn't changed much since then, but I am loving it so much!

 This is actually perfect crafting weather. Since my hubby decided to do me a huge favor and take the boys for the afternoon, I'm going to try my hand at painting a few canvases for Penelope's room. I'm excited for the project, but intimidated as well. I am not at all familiar with painting techniques, so this will be a true learning experience for me! I will definitely post the results when they're done, which could be a few days or even weeks. So check back often!!

Hello!

Hello Everyone! I realize that it has been several years since I last posted anything. I'll be honest, I lost interest in blogging almost immediately after starting this blog. But for months now, I have considered jumping back into the blogging world. I need a creative outlet and this seemed to be the most logical place for the time being. So here I am!

I'll admit, even though I have felt ready to blog for months already, I put it off, telling myself "I need to redesign my blog first. I need it to look pretty" or "I need to have more professional looking pictures to post before I start. I need to take some photography classes first". Today, I decided it was time to start, regardless of the way my blog looks or the quality of my pictures! So rather than seeing a perfectly perfect blog, you'll get to watch me learn and improve through my posts.

I never properly introduced myself, even at the creation of this blog. My name is Tina. I am the mother to three beautifully imperfect kids, Evan, Mason and sweet little Penelope (who is currently throwing a fit over who knows what). I'm married to a man that has challenged everything I thought I knew about myself, yet has helped me grow in so many ways. I love using my creativity, whether it's redoing furniture, decorating for events, doing crafts or in this case, writing. I just survived my first home reno which allowed me to express myself in my home. I'm currently assisting in planning and designing a wedding as well as decorating my baby girl's nursery. As you can see, I don't limit myself to any one type of creative avenue.

I'm excited to see where this blog takes me and to get to know my readers! Thanks for stopping in!

Photo Credit:BonBons Photography