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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

What I Learned in October

November 2, 2015 by HappyGoStuckey 3 Comments

WhatilearnedOh, October. I do love you so– from your acorns falling on my sandals to your last days of candy-crazed-costume fun, you are always a favorite. This October was the busiest I can remember. We traveled ALOT; a few mornings in a mountain cabin, one family wedding, one beautiful weekend in lovely Greenville for the Allume Conference, and then a few days of recovery time at home. October bursts at its red and yellow seams with good memories– and as much as I anxiously await November, October always seems to be just a few days too short.

Today I’m sharing what I learned in October with Emily Freeman– join me?

octoberlearned

Saying ‘No’ in the right way is life-giving and leaves room to breathe. This year I looked at what October held and opted out of the 31 Days of Writing Challenge. Not wanting to lose the discipline completely, I took up my own Instagram challenge called 31 Days of Noticing. It was my goal to be present in each day and notice something, large or small. It was great fun and I appreciated the discipline amidst the steady pace of the month. A few people joined in and you can check out the hashtag #31daysofnoticing on Instagram for more!

Stretching myself creatively is a good thing. This year at Allume, we had the chance to take part in one of several different Creative Sessions and I was so inspired, I stopped on the way out of Greenville and bought a small set of paintbrushes. I’ve never been a painter because I’ve always tried to paint in a style which isn’t easy or enjoyable for me. When I just relaxed and let myself enjoy the feel of acrylics on canvas– I had a completely different result. And it was fun.

Creative dryness looks a lot like exhaustion. At one point this month, I found myself exhausted and a little bit lost. Having worked toward a desired “result” for such a long time only to learn that the finish line was really just more road… and that said “finish line” was completely out of sight until further notice.

Disheartened and exhausted from throwing myself into something for so long left me quite unsure I wanted to keep going in the same or another direction. Sometimes quitting looks awfully attractive when going forward is hard. For several days I felt unmotivated and unable to take a step in any direction. What brought me back to the writing chair, was not really writing at all– but finding other ways to be creative for a few days. I cooked a lot. I developed new recipes. I created a new soup and a new cake and then made it again a few days later to perfect it. (Yes, we gave most of it away– thank goodness.) That is also when the painting day happened. And then I read ALOT. Good books. When I was ready to come back to writing after a few days, I started where I always should– with Scripture. Reading and writing scripture every morning has been a new habit and it has completely changed the way I retain the verses. The next time I feel empty– it will most likely be because I am and I need to be filled with the only One who can FILL me with Himself and His truth.

And so, we press on. Knowing that He has called us to these things– and when the things are hard and exhausting and it’s all “wait– WHAT?!!? Why am I still DOING this?!”   We can know, it is hard because it just IS. And we are ill-equipped to handle it alone. But God is good and He is always enough. 

What did you learn this October? I would love to hear!

Lessons from a Tea Cup
Savory Cheddar Scones

Comments

  1. Lyli @ 3dlessons4life.com says

    November 2, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    Cynthia, I love how you made the challenge work for you. Great “meeting you” through Emily’s linkup this week. 🙂

    Reply
    • HappyGoStuckey says

      November 2, 2015 at 4:08 pm

      HI Lyli!!! So glad to meet you as well. Such a fun way to meet “neighbors!”

      Reply
  2. achildoftherisenking says

    November 2, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    I am learning being assertive is okay. I am also learning as a people pleaser that if i say yes to everything I am not good at any of it. I am so drained.

    Reply

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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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Just in case you need the reminder, not everything Just in case you need the reminder, not everything blooms at the same time.

If you find yourself in a season that requires all of you— all your energy, time, and mental space— Take Heart.

The truth that life is made up of seasons and no season lasts forever— is perhaps the greatest comfort for those who suffer.

Seasons slowly fold their way into another, taking their place in line.

Often what we wish would bloom right now, doesn’t. We can’t force it. 

Still, we can’t miss the beauty of what stands in front of us while we wait for other things.

I know that so many dear friends are in a season of waiting. Perhaps you’re waiting in secret, waiting for something you’ve not even spoken aloud.

We can wait together, you and I— knowing that the beauty of today is not a gift we want to squander as we wait for what’s around the next corner. 

Pictured: the Tulips at The Biltmore, followed by the beautiful, but still bloom-less rose garden.
I’ve always wanted to paint, but I guess this is I’ve always wanted to paint, but I guess this is almost as good. 🥰 

Finished this lovely piece for a very special birthday and I really love it!
Thank you for the free pattern, @dmc_embroidery !
It’s that time of year again! Here in Augusta, e It’s that time of year again! Here in Augusta, everything is shades of green— ⛳️🌿🥬🌳— including some of our favorite foods! Our Masters celebrations look different from year to year, but we ALWAYS have at least one meal made of Pimento Cheese, Arnold Palmers, & Green Jacket Salad. If only we could get someone to smuggle us out a 🍑 Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, we’d be good!!

I’ve linked my favorite recipe for Green Jacket Salad today so you can grab it and bring a little Masters into your meals this week!
Happy Easter from the grateful, hopeful, Stuckeys. Happy Easter from the grateful, hopeful, Stuckeys. He alone is our Peace.

Surely he has borne our griefs
  and carried our sorrows;
 yet we esteemed him stricken,
 smitten by God, and afflicted. 
 
  But he was pierced for our transgressions;
 he was crushed for our iniquities;
 upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
 and with his wounds we are healed. 
 
  All we like sheep have gone astray;
 we have turned—every one—to his own way;
 and the LORD has laid on him
  the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
It’s officially Guac-A-Clock. 🥑Ringing in the It’s officially Guac-A-Clock. 🥑Ringing in the fact that it’s almost Master’s Week in Augusta with pollen and Pellegrino aplenty.
When all is well, we often forget to pay attention When all is well, we often forget to pay attention.

We forget to look for daily provisions and mercies as we do when they are life and water to us.

It is not sunny optimism, but hope-filled obstinacy that pushes us to count our gifts instead of our trials.

To know that when the season is hard, and awkward, and everything seems backwards— we are not forgotten.

You may well know, it’s not an easy task. It’s hard work. Like those last few reps of lifting weights— when your muscles burn and you need to quit. What does the coach always say? “Don’t stop. These are the ones that count.”

Perhaps we think of gratefulness like this— It’s still important when we’re sitting with so much grace around us that we hardly remember our thanks.

But when it’s hard?
When it hurts?
When we cannot possibly see the light at the end of this particular tunnel— ✨there✨ is where we make the list of all we know to be true.

That is the place where it counts.
Where we squint if we must, to see what God is doing for us and in us— and definitely in spite of us.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll just be over here filling pages with provision I never want to forget. #solideogloria
Just a little flower garden while we wait for spri Just a little flower garden while we wait for spring to come in earnest. 🪡 🌸🪴🌼🌿 

This is a flour sack towel and although I don’t recommend it for stitching, (too loosely woven,) I do love the way it turned out! 💗
“Sometimes, placemakers make new. Build fresh. S “Sometimes, placemakers make new. Build fresh. Start from scratch. But most of the time, they repair. They restore. They protect. Sometimes, placemaking is nothing more than the refusal to unmake.”

@christiepurifoy // Placemaker

#internationalwomensday #mothersofdaughters #getaftergrateful #weareplacemakers
Do you remember your last normal adventure? Mine Do you remember your last normal adventure? 

Mine was one year ago today and I love the pictures from it so much I made them into a chatbook.

My Mom & I visited the @biltmoreestate to celebrate her being healed from cancer— We enjoyed the most beautiful afternoon tea, saw the Downton Abbey exhibit and were even surprised with a bit of unexpected snow.
It really was ✨magical✨ and proof that short getaways really can be the best!

Planning travel might be my favorite part— Where will you go next? 🧳 🛫⛰🏰
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