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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

4×4 for Declare

August 2, 2014 by HappyGoStuckey 11 Comments

In less than 5 days, I will be headed to the Declare Conference!!!! (YAY. Seriously. YAY!)

This will be only my 2nd Blogging/ Writing Conference and my first ever Declare. I am absolutely beside myself excited to go and spend time getting to know these other women with  similar passions and hearts– but other than a few that I’ve met virtually, and a few that I met last year at Allume– I really don’t KNOW too many women going. Which makes the FUN link-up that the Declare Hostesses planned even more exciting. I have spent so much time going through and “meeting” other attendees, I’ve failed to write my own 4×4 post– so here it is (finally!)

IMG_0708

4 Things About Me: 

  • I’m the youngest of five children, (all brothers!) and still absolutely LOVE making the drive and going “home” to my parent’s house. Something about standing in my Mom & Dad’s kitchen in my socks, drinking coffee from “my” mug while my mom cooks breakfast. It’s simply perfect.
  • The moment I first met my husband is forever frozen in my mind just like a scene in a movie. We both worked for the same professor and I vividly remember every single detail of that afternoon when he first walked in. Goosebumps, I tell ya. Oh, and Aviator Sunglasses. Those too. I’ll never be the same.
  • I am the proud Mom of two little girls, ages 5 and 2. Our days are full of squealing and every bit of princess paraphernalia known to man. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • I very often hear songs in my head as a sort of soundtrack to certain moments. I’m an idealist and I do not care. I overuse explanation points. And maybe instagram. I over-gram. Be warned.

4 of my “Endearing” Quirks:

  • I have a problem unpacking suitcases. If I don’t do it in the first 12 hours after returning from a trip– it’s usually a real struggle to get it unpacked. It’s a problem I’m working to fix, because– you know… stubbed toes.
  • I am unspeakably horribly geographically challenged. I struggle with knowing where places are. It’s laughable, really. I can find my way around a city just fine– it’s more knowing where cities and states (and ok, countries) are. I’m pretty sure it’s because I sat right next to my best friend in 7th grade Geography and I don’t remember ANY learning going on. I blame that.
  • I’m hard to win over on new things– restaurants, foods, clothing trends, hairstyles, etc. and then once I’m won over– I’m the biggest champion for that thing. My husband rightly explains it this way: “You HATE something. Until you don’t. Then you LOVE it more than anyone.” I’m not this way about people though. I generally love everyone I meet. 🙂
  • I have so many quirks, I recently wrote an entire blog post about them. 

4 Things About my Writing:

  • I’ve always enjoyed writing but I started writing a blog almost 8 years ago as a way to tell people directions for our wedding. From there it just never stopped.
  • I have written more in different seasons of our life than others, the happy and the difficult, but in the last 18 months writing has changed from an occasional hobby to a calling and an act of worship. It’s a life-giving exercise.
  • I write about... encouragement. Life. Grace. Mothering. Trust in time of difficulty. The hardest things I write are… affiliate posts. I’m trying to work at them, but they stretch me for sure.
  • Some day I would love to write a book about hospitality. I love cooking. I adore feeding people and I always have– even in college, I cooked meals for everyone and my apartment felt most like home when it was busting at its’ seams with friends and family sharing a meal.

4 of my Favorite Things:  Only Four???favorite four

  • Chocolate. I recently discovered these Chocolate Covered Almonds at Target and WOW. And BONUS, you get a little protein from the almonds. Score. Find me at Declare– I will most likely have them and will gladly share.
  • Iced Coffee. I almost always prefer making it at home but I love, love, love Iced Coffee. It is, as they say– MY JAM.
  • These Fireball Stud Earrings from the JCrew Factory Store — my sweet lifelong BFF (yep, you guessed it– Geography girl.) gave them to me for my birthday this year and I wear them WAY too much. But they go with everything!!
  • Okay. these chips. IF you live near a Whole Foods Store, (I do not for at least a few more months) you need to go try them. (And no, all other brands are not created equal. They add things like jalapeño powder and sugar???)
  • Honorable Mention goes to this Benefit Cosmetics erase paste concealer (because four really isn’t enough.)
    Such Fantastic coverage. And it lasts for eons. Literally, I’ve had it so long the packaging has changed several times. (affiliate link) I’m definitely packing mine for all those late night Declare chats!!
Finish. And how you must first begin. (FMF)
Tell them there is Hope. (FMF)

Comments

  1. Simply Beth says

    August 3, 2014 at 8:14 am

    I am enjoying this Declare Conf. linkup. So much fun getting to know one another beforehand. While I did not share them as endearing quirks I totally have the same problem with unpacking suitcases and with geography. I traveled last weekend and my packed suitcase it still waiting to be unpacked. Looks like I will be unpacking and packing right away again. I hope to meet you next weekend. Super, super excited!!

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      August 5, 2014 at 7:25 am

      Thank you for stopping by, Beth! Looking forward to meeting you in person this week! Cannot believe it’s finally here!!!

      Reply
  2. Cherie Werner says

    August 3, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Cynthia,

    Let me just say your girls are adorable. It’s been so fun reading everyones 4×4. I am so glad you will be attending Declare. I went last year and loved it. I too have to unpack my suitcase but within the first hour of arriving at the hotel, home, etc.

    So fun visiting your blog and learning a bit about you. I look forward to meeting you in a few short days.
    Blessings,

    Cherie
    http://thewerners.org/2014/08/01/factoids-about-me-as-i-prepare-for-declare/

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      August 5, 2014 at 7:26 am

      Hey Cherie!
      I enjoyed your list as well! I am so glad I’m not the only one with suitcase issues! Hope to meet you in person this week. YAY!!!

      Reply
  3. Emily Thomas says

    August 5, 2014 at 7:00 am

    Just a delightful list. You are so adorable. And your blog is just so happy and uplifting to look at and read! I am totally embarrassed to say this: I don’t read many blogs (just don’t have time!!) but I’m subscribing to yours.

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      August 5, 2014 at 7:30 am

      Thank you friend. I agree, it’s tough to find the time to be a reader of blogs and not just a writer of them! HA! I’m glad you stopped by and I’m looking forward to meeting you in person in just 2 days!! WOOHOOO!!!!!

      Oh and P.S. Somehow I missed the previous post with the Penelope photos. DYING laughing over here. Proverbs 31 mouse in your car– we should all be so lucky!

      Reply
  4. Jennifer M. Frisbie says

    August 5, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    Your personality makes me smile and giggle all at the same time. I’m excited to meet you this week! (and I’m adding those chips to my list of foods to pick up next time I’m at Whole Foods) 😉

    Reply
  5. Leslie Johnson says

    August 5, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    Gal,
    Loved your 4 x 4’s. I am looking for you and the chocolate covered almonds, for sure! I was at Allume, too, in 2013, so this time around we must meet. Love your blog name. Makes me smile.
    xoxo

    Reply
  6. Christie Hughes says

    August 6, 2014 at 12:32 am

    Oh girl, I chase squealing princesses too! (5 & 3) And I’m the only girl of 3 brothers (how BLESSED are we to finally have girls? :). I also live out of my suitcase for an undisclosed period of time–with stubbed toes to prove it. Almonds, chocolate, coffee, oh my! OK. DONE. We’re friends. I do DECLARE! 🙂 Let’s connect & subscribe. Can’t wait!!

    Reply
  7. joleneengle says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:09 am

    I’m right there with you about being geographically challenged. Oh, and the dark chocolate covered almonds. LOVE them, but now I have an allergy to almonds. 🙁 Looking forward to meeting you at Declare!

    Reply
  8. Paula says

    August 14, 2014 at 6:43 am

    What a fun post! I love this. In the same way with unpacking. I’ve left a suitcase unpacked for weeks!

    Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Some of the rhythms we took up in ‘20 we will co Some of the rhythms we took up in ‘20 we will continue to sigh into in ‘21.
Baking sourdough, watching it bubble and rise and fill our BlueHouse with the scent of a good, long, posture of patience— I absolutely need a second serving of this.
While we wait, and whatever it is that we wait for— may the space between be made sweeter by the knowledge that we never wait alone.
You can’t tell by their joy, but the day I snapp You can’t tell by their joy, but the day I snapped this photo was somewhat of a regular day.

What looks like a winter beach vacation was actually the tail-end of a masked lunch stop in the middle of a pandemic road trip.

This sparkling moment of sun-splashed fun was sandwiched between brutal conversations about regular life, especially the hard parts.

And this is how it is. 
These bits of life that we never see coming, they are enveloped between all that makes us tired, weary, sighing pilgrims in a world that was never really meant to be hospitable in the first place.

This photo reminds me to look again at our year, our season, our circumstances.

To look a second and third time.
To keep looking as long as it takes to see that the joy of our right now isn’t gone, it just might be hiding in the shadow of all that’s hard.

Brokenness is never vague. And we don’t have to search very long to see it both within ourselves and around us.
Sometimes the weight of that fact is crushing.
And then, sometimes it reminds us even more clearly of the light shining in darkness.

Joy is an act of defiance against despair and I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling rather defiant at the moment.✨✨✨✨

@hopewriters #hopewriterlife 
#feastingandforaging #hopelenses #getaftergrateful
Endurance can feel like standing still. Especially Endurance can feel like standing still. Especially if what we’re called to be about is the same as yesterday and last month. 
It’s difficult to meet each day with the same fervor and joy for what we are called to do, especially when at present, the progress seems small and immeasurable. 
But even then, perhaps especially so — our faithfulness matters.

When we cannot yet see the other side, the light at the end of this particularly long tunnel, we begin again.

Not because we will always wake with fresh energies and bright, sparkling hope for what comes next, friend. But because the God of Endurance (Romans 15:5) dwells within us.

“It is the grace of endurance granted to you by the God of endurance that provides you with everything you need to continue to be what he calls you to be and do what he calls you to do between this moment and the moment when you cross over to the other side. When difficulty exposes the weakness of your resolve and the limits of your strength, you do not have to panic, because He will endure even in this moments when you don’t feel able to do so yourself.” — Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies

#hopewriterlife
Stuckey, party of two. Always ready to run out for Stuckey, party of two. Always ready to run out for paper towels... especially if the store is in convenient proximity to a quick date for croissants and dirty chai for two. Love my forever coffee companion even more at the start of this new year. Wherever he’s going, I’m riding shotgun.
We have learned... The inestimable value of a goo We have learned...

The inestimable value of a good camp chair, for they have been used for everything from soccer benches and coffee dates to theatre seats and church pews.

What our neighborhood streets can offer in the way of an outing—from the colors of spring to the sparkle of Christmas.

To hold plans with the loosest hands possible.

To rejoice in things found. Time. Margin. ...and enough toilet paper to share with a neighbor.

To give grace and accept it for ourselves.

The hilarious joy of a group text complete with “have you seen this meme yet?” 

To pivot. And then pivot again.

To find more joy in candlelight closer to home, instead of the bright lights of traveled cities.

To perfect our pizza dough recipe and truly learn to prefer it over dinner out.

To work with yeast and flour again and again— until the message of waiting for something really good dusted our apron fronts and kitchen floors.

And in our house, we learned how to be unexpectedly unemployed. We learned how to honor that new found space with needed grief and desired hope. How to be grateful for true friends who prayed with us, held questions with us, and hoped with us. We were reminded of our true identity and that it will never rest in a job. 

In a year in which we’ve all lost quite a lot, you and I have been given so much as well. Some of what we’ve lost we have learned to be without. Some, we won’t go looking for again.

In 525,600 minutes and in all the things, found and lost and found again— there is far and away more to be grateful for.

And we choose joy.

✨Happy New Year, dear friends!✨
Not rushing too quickly into a new year over here. Not rushing too quickly into a new year over here. Though the one in our rear view window is one we wouldn’t choose to repeat, still it was one full of God’s nearness.

One day I’ll write it all down.
But for now I’ll just say,
we were not alone. 🕯
“Once in our world, a Stable had something in it “Once in our world, a Stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”
C.S.Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

Joy to the World, friends.
Behold. The most apropos Christmas Eve 2020 desser Behold. The most apropos Christmas Eve 2020 dessert ever. Made from a wonky gingerbread cake that did not cooperate.
We shall not go quietly into 2021.
We will fight back with beauty and joy and candles... and fresh whipped cream made by an eleven year old with sparkly green eyes. 🎄❤️✨
Merry Christmas from the Fam! { 👉🏻 swipe for Merry Christmas from the Fam! { 👉🏻 swipe for Stuckeys in their natural habitat.) 🎄🕯❤️✨
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