Thursday, January 08, 2009

The Still


I used to hate the quiet, absolutely wanted nothing to do with it, I preferred the noise and the hustle bustle of life, but as I get older and with the kids both in school this year, I've come to love the Stillness, the moments of nothing, those moments where you actually stop and think "what should I do?"

So with things back to normal, with the little ones and hubby at work/school, I find myself able to dive back into the simple things that I love.

Really old books circa 1905 - my fascination with books goes back as far as I can remember, and I especially love vintage books, those really really old ones with stained pages and beautiful words.

And if the old ones don't keep me busy, I can always turn to this bookshelf. The bottom basket holds my library books, I like keeping them in there so that I always know where they are when it's time to return them.

The bookshelf behind the basket is my TBR pile....wonderful treasures found in a box I had forgotten about. After all the moving we've done the past year, I realized that there were one or two boxes still packed away in the hallway closet, to my surprise, one was mine and it held a ton of books I have yet to read. You should have seen how happy I was when I opened it up.


My knitting basket is filled with yarn of all colors and textures and I can't wait to get in there and start some new projects....first of all I need to make myself some more dishcloths/washcloths, I can't get enough of those and I love how soft they are. The kids love the washcloths for their baths.

In between all of this there's baking and cooking and new recipes to be tried and family favorites to be revisited.

There's also blogging, reading and posting and most importantly there's God, there's the yearning that I feel to reconnect and to draw closer to Him, my need to devour all the Christian books I can get my hands on, my need to stick to the devotionals every morning, to stick to reading the Bible everyday and to live a spiritual and fulfilling life. I really can't ask for more than that can I?

BTW I want to thank you all for the comments on yesterday's post. If I had known that putting my face on video would bring me so many readers and comments, I would have done it a long time ago LOL Who knows, maybe I'll make it a weekly thing, that way you get to listen to me babble about something or other, once a week.

I'm off to pick up the kids from school, then it's homework and dinner time and all that stuff, so I leave you with one of my favorite quotes.


Helen Keller: "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

15 comments:

Mari said...

I enjoy the quiet too but I'm afraid I don't take time for it enough.

Amy said...

I love the quiet and alone time too... something about being with people that is so rejuvenating, but also something about have that time alone in the quiet to stop, think, and be....mmmm...it's so wonderful!

Enjoy this season, linda amiga!

Amy

Tina Leigh said...

What a profound statement by Helen Keller! I'm gonna have to write that down. I love the stillness too. I am lacking in books to read though...for some reason all of my errands have been in the opposite direction of the library. I am having to re-raed Lonesome Dove (which I love). I hope you do post a video every week or when ever you can....your new name is REAL SANDRA! LOL

Anonymous said...

Whether we know it or not we all need those quite moments.. good for the body and the soul.
Sometimes when I feel bored I remind myself of those horrible days when I was ran off my feet.. that snaps me out of it real fast.

Susanne said...

The older I get the more I crave and enjoy the quiet too, though I can't ever seem to get it with dayhome here. LOL.

Melonie said...

Yes, I love the still and quiet times too. I stopped listening to the radio in the car years ago. For a while there it was my only way to listen to MY music (as opposed to Blue's Clues or whatever else the kids wanted)...then I started just turning it OFF. I love moments like this (nap time/school time) these days. Blissful peace and quiet. It's the one thing that helps me make it through the long days. I count down to the next session of silence. :-)

As for a weekly video - have you considered picking your favorite page from a devotional or book you're reading and reading it aloud? It might be a really effective and fun way to share what you're reading - and treat the rest of us to it as well.

everyday mom of one said...

Quiet moments are precious around here and I appreciated them greatly. Have you read " The Shack" it has rejuvenated my spiritual walk.

heidi @ ggip said...

We have several things in common. I love the quiet and stillness AND I love yarn. It sits there patiently waiting to be made into something and it is just so fun!

Happy Thursday!

The Raggedy Girl said...

Where to start... I stopped by earlier to add a couple of your recipes to my weekly shopping list. I picked orange chicken and FRANGO A MODA DO ALENTEJO. They both sound great. I am studying Galatians this month and so enjoying it. I have 65 books in my To Read pile and I am so glad I am not the only one. I use to never want to be alone or be in the quiet but now I love it. When I hang out clothes sometimes I listen and it is totally still and I just stand there and I am still too. I also saw that you are Portuguese and my great grandma came from the Azores. I guess that is all I can think of. Oh one more thing I made the Cookie Cake at Christmas and it was so good.
Roberta Anne

Anonymous said...

You are AWESOME! I read your blog daily and just wanted to let you know how very much I enjoy it!

Wendi said...

I don't get it often, but I cherish my quiet time.

Anonymous said...

If I don't have a quiet time, I really miss it. I also like the house to be quiet and peaceful much more than I used to.

Hugs & love.

Christina said...

Next week my kids go back to school so I will be enjoying the quiet too. Wow finding more books to read, what could be better then this? Maybe chocolate to go with it, but not much else. I love to read Christian books and I also feel it brings me closer to God. I like many of the same authors you do, I was on your book blog yesterday and found some new stuff I can't wait to try. Now knitting I have never done, but I am going on Wed. to get some needles and yarn and I am going to try to learn from a website online that is pretty easy to follow (it gives video). Anyway is it easy to make washcloths and dishtowels? I'm guessing wash cloths are pretty soft. Well enjoy the rest of your quiet time.

Michele said...

Ah...quiet time! For 10 years I never even knew what it was since I had two young girls and a husband that insisted the TV be on any time he was home (he worked nights so the TV was on ALL the time). Now, divorced and the kids are grown I have more than my fair share of it. I LOVE my quiet times. I spend mine crocheting, reading, or even playing an occasional computer game. I have never learned how to knit, but I would love to learn. I have all my grandmothers needles and hate to have them tucked away unused.

Lulu said...

i love the quiet also, its so peaceful.