Thursday, April 9, 2015

Life Lately

{in all the glamorous glory of hotel spring cleaning. ahem}

Today...I send y'all hello's from the most beautiful place of all-my home sweetest home!

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be here. On the farm, in the country, in the midwest, in IOWA. To some it is just a simple little state full of mostly hogs and cornfields. To me, those things equal HOME and are simply beautiful. I'm telling you-I'm crazy about the country. Not many girls would let down their car window on purpose while driving past a big hog barn. This one did, though. =) 

Ah, life lately. I will start with last Friday morning.  We arrived home in the morning. There were so many things to go around and see and do that it was almost noon before I finally made it to the shower. I was seriously headed there for almost two hours but kept running into things to do. When I finally made it...I may or may not have been in there for nearly half an hour. Friends, never take your showers for granted. They are lovely things. After three months of military-style showers (i.e. short showers involving very minimal water) I just can't tell you how fun it was to have no time or water limit. What a treat. =)

Honestly the day was just so packed with all the glories of home and farm and unpacking and somehow in the midst of that my regular little get ready routine didn't happen and I never put any makeup on. People came and went and I finally just gave in and let my pride go out the window...because who wants to spend any time at all putting on makeup anyway when there's just so much HOME to enjoy? My thoughts exactly. Thanks to sister dear for telling me I looked beautiful anyway. In my mind, sweats and tee shirt and ponytail and no makeup isn't exactly the definition of beautiful. But people you love see past the outside anyway-so grateful for that. =)

Saturday was more delicious homeness. And lots more laundry, and unpacking, and things of that nature.

Sunday. Can't even describe how my heart just swelled up so big to be back in my church again. Most wonderful feeling ever. Hugs from "my" kiddos and being back in the routine of helping get them ready for church-so wonderful. Sunday noon dinner with our whole big + lively family around our own dinner table. A wonderful service at church again that evening in which God spoke to my heart + I was so challenged. And afterwards...a long talk about life with one of my dearest friends. 

Monday + Tuesday was spring cleaning @ the hotel. (above picture)
We had a great time working together as siblings (six of us) and were excited to get all thirty rooms done in two days.
Last night-heading out to Debuque for the Annie Moses Band concert with my sister. Tickets were her early birthday present. We had such a marvelous time. Talked a mile a minute or listened to music on the way to and from, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the concert while we were there.
I didn't get lost once which is definitely worth mentioning, since I am notorious for getting lost on our various road trips. It was especially surprising since at the last moment we couldn't find the GPS and had to use mapquest directions. Mapquest and I have never gotten along well at all so I was quite skeptical. But for once in its history, the directions actually got us to exactly the correct place with no detours or wrong turns. (miracle moment!) We had a very uneventful and safe trip in which we arrived early, met no sketchy people, didn't get lost at all, and had no catastrophes. Amazing.
The concert was phenomenal. Those siblings are honestly probably the most diverse + talented musicians I have ever seen in concert. Their talent was so stellar---blew us away! They ended their first set with an unbelievably brilliant arrangement of the Orange Blossom Special (watch a sample of it here) and when they finished and the applause had died away my sister leaned over and said to me very quietly, "I shall never pick up a violin again." I convinced her otherwise. =) My personal favorite of the night was their encore of America the Beautiful/Battle Hymn of the Republic. SO GOOD.

And thats a bit of life lately. Its been a full + rich week. So thankful for safety + adventure while out on tour the past three months, and so thankful for April at home!

I leave y'all with this quote today. I love quotes like this. I read them and find myself wanting to raise my hands and yell "amen"! Because it is so true.

"Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. 
Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and 
make the most of the moment 
you are in NOW."
-unknown


 So much truth. Live like you believe that.
 Happy Weekend!
-Chels

33 comments:

  1. I absolutely love your outfits ladies!!!!! :O So gorgeous!

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    1. aw thanks-you're so sweet! And I will pass that message on to Allison. =)

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    2. Yaasss! I totally love your out fits gurls! I also love your positive additude on cleaning all 30 rooms! Love your kind, generous, loving and positive spirits!

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  2. Oh, and you can tell Allison that's how I feel about the violin when I hear her play. ;)

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  3. So fun to read how your're enjoying your time at home, Chelsy! I always read your blog but never comment and thought I would today! I'm a country girl at heart and totally know what you mean about rolling the window down... I was just saying the other day how I LOVE the smells of cows! ;) Look forward to reading more! xo
    Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment! Country girls unite. =)

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  4. SO so glad to have you home again + love these type of posts you do :)

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  5. Great to be reading your posts again Chelsy! What a true quote- thanks for sharing!
    ~ Morgan R.

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  6. It was so great to read this post! Iove how you find joy in the simple things. So what do you mean by spring cleaning the hotel? That got me curious:)

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    1. My father owns the hotel in our town. (www.dutchcountryinnkalona.com)
      And once a year it gets deep cleaned, which means shampooing the carpets, washing windows, airing out the pillows, flipping mattresses, wiping everything down, etc. =)

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  7. Love this post Chels! I completely understand about just lovin' the country...I feel the same way! =) And I loved what you said about makeup:) Of course you are beautiful whether you are wearing super dirty work clothes or a outfit for a girls outing=) Love your outfits in both photos!!:)

    Blessings, and have a lovely day, friend!<3

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    1. And, I just watched the Orange Blossom Special link...oh my...that was absolutely amazing! I was just playing that song with my sista earlier this evening, but it was nowhere.near.that:)) Thanks for sharing!

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    2. I know...isn't it amazing?!?! They did a longer, even more incredible version than that at their concert...that clip was just a short little snippet similar to part of what they did in concert. SO GOOD.

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  8. What a fun post! :) and girl, you sure look cute when you're cleaning! ;) miss you!

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    1. Thanks hun...you're so sweet. =) miss you too-so much! June can't come fast enough for me!!

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  9. Fab post. =) loved it.
    -Priscilla

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  10. CHELSY...I'M SO STOKED THAT YOU'RE BACK!!
    Deathly looking forward to our date sometime this year. Definitely agree with Marissa...#whyyouhavetobesocute? :) love your outfits. #alwaysinspired

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    1. You're so kind, dear! Looking forward to seeing you sometime in the hopefully-not-so-distant future! We need to get this thing planned!

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  11. "In my mind, sweats and t-shirt and ponytail and no makeup isn't exactly the definition of beautiful"

    Oh but it really is! Especially the natural, no make-up, it's raw beauty at its best! And the sweats and t-shirt, I would wear them every day if I could. Just sew em in if ya need to so they fit nicely and you're just as pretty as ever. :)

    (Ya, just thought my opinion was necessary here, lol. :D Haha, Sorry!)
    Grace

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    1. Its no problem-I love comments of any kind + it makes the world more flavorful to have different opinions and ideas anyway. =)
      Personally I haven't found very many feminine + classy beautiful sweat/tee shirt combos. They are out there..but rare and the majority of the time I just choose to dress up to do exactly that-dress up. =)

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  12. Finally got around to returning to read some of these post that I've missed. You must be so happy to be home! I know it always feels good to get home after being gone for just a week! Can't imagine if I was gone as long as you! There is nothing like being HOME and sleeping in your own bed.:)
    Oh and I totally get that whole thing about it being nice to take a shower with no water limit! We've been redoing our bathroom (we just have one with eleven people) and so I haven't had a real shower in weeks! (My family isn't the fastest when it comes to projects like that)! We brought a cattle watering tub in....Said at least we know what it was like in the pioneering days! Hauling water!:)
    Well I better end before this comment gets much longer!

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    1. Wow..that makes our shower situation sound pretty grand! =)

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  13. I meant to add that the quote you shared is a wonderful quote! So true! I think everyone tends to "wait" for whatever. That quote is a good reminder to make the most of where we are.:)

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  14. Love the Annie Moses band! :)

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  15. I haven't been on the computer much lately, so just now saw your post. I'm so glad you and your family made it home safely! I can't imagine being gone from home (and on the road) for so long! I'm sure it must be soooo nice to finally be home! What a neat ministry you and your family have. I'm sure many, many people were very blessed by your family's concerts!

    I loved the quote at the end of your post too... so true, and such a good reminder! Thanks!

    Looking forward to the "Ten Day Tandem"!

    Sarah F.

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    1. Thanks for your comment! And yes, it is truly so good to be home! =)

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  16. Sounds amazing! So glad that you can recover and have time with the Lord.
    I'm sure you look great without your makeup also. After all, that is how God made us. I don't believe makeup is wrong though.You are a beautiful lady and God is using you in so many ways to serve Him.
    God bless!
    Rose

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