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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

BYH // August 2016

Blog Your Heart // via StephanieHowell.com

1. Blog whatever is authentic. Whatever is truly on your mind and in your heart.

2. It can be serious, silly, short, long. NOTE:No one said it has to be serious. But it should be authentic.

3. No judging allowed no snarky comments, no making fun, no passive agressive digs.If you are going to read the blogs linked below, don’t be mean. Nothing here is whining, though I can’t help it if you perceive it that way. It’s me honestly sharing my feelings. if you feel that it’s whining, then you don’t have to read. :)

4. If you BYH, link back here in the comments. I always read and comment on every single post.

5. Feel free to use the graphic above. Just make sure to link back to me.

 

 

1.I’m ready for school to start. I keep seeing all of these truly awesome moms on Facebook talk about how sad they are that summer is ending. And how great of a time their kids have had together all summer. And all can I think about is how Harper and Sadie wake up ready to claw each other’s eyes out and how I just.need.a.break. And then I feel really bad. But the truth is…we do better with the structure of the school year. And I keep seeing all of these photos saying “You only have 18 summers with your kids, make them count” or whatever…and that makes me feel even worse. But we’ve all been on top of each other all summer and I feel like I’m losing my mind. All four of the big girls will be in school this fall. And although I will shed tears watching Cate and Lucy walk into their classrooms, I’m ready. I love them SO much, but I’m ready.

 

2. There is nothing in this world that makes me happier than reading. Every time I set foot in a library or book store, my heart starts pounding. Books are life. I’ve read so many great books this summer and my passion has been refueled.

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3. I have an emotional hangover from watching The Olympics every night? Michael Phelps on the podium? SOB. Simone Biles? SOB. Aly Raisman’s face when she completed her floor routine? SOB. Simone Manuel? Ugly sob. And so on and so forth. Every. Single. Night. It’s killing me!

 

4. People like to ask me how I do it all. And the long and short answer is I DON’T. I do some of it. And I do the important things well. But the rest of it? Screw it. Who cares if my house looks perfect? I don’t need to look perfect either. But as far as doing the things that matter? Coffee, prayer, and a good planner. That’s my secret.

 

5. I am so in love with this sweet baby girl. 2 years ago, I thought our family was complete. But we were missing her all along and we didn’t even know it. She’s poor joy and sunshine wrapped up in a sweet (hairy) little package.

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6. My 20 year reunion is coming up this fall. How did that happen? I’m a weirdo- I LOVED high school and I’m so excited to see everyone.

 

7. I am entering month four of 5x a week exercise- one hour a day. I feel so much better about myself. SO much better. I hope that this will finally be a life long habit. It took me long enough, dammit!

 

8. I turn 39 in a couple of weeks. I am not one who complains about growing older. I know so many who didn’t get that privilege. It’s a gift and I am so lucky to have another year.

 

9. I had no idea I would love being a Thirty-One consultant as much as I do. I’m paying our bills and sharing my passion for organization every day. It’s pretty much my dream gig. And it’s turned out to be so much bigger than I ever could have dreamed of it being.

 

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10. I miss Italy. I miss it so much that it literally hurts my heart. I dream in Italian and I get teary every time I think about it. I like it here, but I’m lonely. It’s so hard to make friends and I’ve never had that problem before. EVER. But it’s not a military town and that’s new to me. I miss my friends and my coffee and my wine and my walks. I’m scheming of a way to get back.

 

11. I’m still planner crazy. It’s a fun way to combine my creative side and my organized side!

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12. I was looking over the health curriculum for the girls school the other day (we have the opportunity to sign a waiver- I didn’t but I still wanted to read the curriculum). As J and I read the 5th grade curriculum – lots of puberty stuff- I totally had a breakdown and started to cry. When did my baby turn into a tween? I’m so proud of her and I’m loving this new stage…but I look at Cora and remember when Harper was that little. My heart is too tender sometimes!

 

Okay, that’s it for this month. If you have a link, share below.

Love you all!

 

xo

S

Comments

  1. From one avid reader to another, you will love “Did you Ever Have a Family”. Such an amazing book. Enjoy!!

  2. I love how you blog your heart. It’s perfectly normal to be ready for school to start. I loved having my girls home with me(but remember I had 2 Only children – one graduated high school the same day as the younger one had her first preschool graduation) I loved the one on one but there was only me to entertain them & I was usually ready for a break. You are doing a wonderful job, mama!

  3. Love this – great post – love the peek into your life. I can so identify with much of the Mom thoughts.
    Good for you with the exercise!!
    #12 – so hard to see them grow up. I love each stage, truly I do but it’s hard when they don’t need you as much anymore – kind of like part of your identity is being taken away. So proud of my kids 16/13 but still love it when they cuddle.

      • I can promise you she needs you just as much now as she ever did and will continue to need you as well. I’m 34 and my mum arrived today to stay for a few days and help with my baby (almost nine months and going through painful teething) and I almost cried to see her! It may not be so obvious but I promise she needs you. Thank you for blogging your heart – the most engaging blog post I’ve read from anyone in a long time xxx

  4. Amen to going back to school! It’s all I can do to keep my girls from fighting for the next couple weeks. It’s been so hot and humid here in MI that everyone is staying inside! I get teary thinking about my babies growing up, but I love the big kids that they are becoming. Saving my big tears for five years from now when my oldest graduates high school!!! Thanks for sharing your heart. ❤️

  5. Are you kidding me…………..lovely summer breaks with all the kids home…….together……at one time………….oh hell NO!!! It has been a long, really long, time since I had kids in school and home for summers but unlike childbirth that is one memory that is forever etched in my mind. For most of those years we lived in a small town and I can tell you that the first day of school ritual for the mothers in town was to get the kiddos ready, drive calmly to school or to the bus stop and try not to shove them out of the car and then race to the town diner where we all met up for coffee and pie for breakfast. It was our celebration!!!

  6. Oh how I have missed you Stephanie Howell! Your life is so colorful, so wonderful to read about! Thanks for continuing to blog! And thanks for encouraging us to blog! I do have to get back to it…now if I can just figure out the link to my old blog! LOL! Enjoy!

  7. Sorry you’re a bit lonely at the moment, I hope you find some like minds very soon. I can imagine how you miss Italy. It’s somewhere I think about a lot as well. I hope Cate and Lucy enjoy starting school. A whole new adventure. I’ve got three boys and sometimes it seems like they fight for a large portion of the day, it can be hard work at times! I’m enjoying The Miniaturist at the moment, and I completely agree about that feeling you get when you walk into a library or a bookshop. Blissful. CJ xx

    • Thank you so much, CJ! And the Miniaturist has been on my to-read list forever!

  8. I just moved cross country at the end of May. I have 0 new friends. But then I have no school age children, which really helps, because you get to meet all the parents at school… at every school function. So you will soon have tons of new friends. So I guess I need to give this problem of mine some serious consideration. If I get a volunteer position somewhere that will probably help. Enjoy the tween years. And find those all important extracuricular activites (some, like music, start early to develop skills prior to high school) for college entrance requirements. Glad you can take some time for yourself.

  9. You are (and have been) doing *lots* of treasuring these girls throughout their lives. Wishing for some much-needed structure to the days is natural and you’ll get some special time with the adorable Miss Cora. Right there with you as far as passion for books & Olympics. Sorry you’re missing Italy and haven’t hooked up with many local friends yet. After three years in a beautiful, laidback (& sometimes frustrating) country, it’s completely understandable. That’s what happens when you embrace places & people with your whole heart — it makes the experience very deep, but then difficult to let go. 🙁 {{{hugs}}} [Linking up: http://bookworm.typepad.com/blog/2016/08/blog-your-heart-august-2016.html%5D

  10. Hi,
    Really loving your BYH posts! They are so refreshing to read.
    I’m SO ready as well for school to start!

    I’m curious how you manage to exercise each day for 1h with the girls at home? Do you exercise at home or take classes at a gym? What is your routine?

    I hope you’ll meet some great friends soon!

    • I go to the YMCA and take a class every day but Thursday. The Y offers two hours of Child Watch every day. So I work out and then sit for a bit and get my mind straight. And as an added plus, the girls get to watch me take care of myself and exercise. It’s been amazing!

  11. My 3 kids are now 24, 22, and 15 and I was always one of those moms who felt guilty but kind of enjoyed being back in school. We always all got along better and were more productive when we had a routine and I was never good about keeping a routine in the summer. Don’t feel guilty and definitely enjoy a bit of time to yourself when the 4 bigs are at school – you have earned it and a happy mama makes for happy kids!

  12. I love when you blog your heart! So genuine and raw and truthful!
    I would love for you to connect with RoBin Joss of Big Red Kitchen as she is in williamsbuRg! Awesome Christian mama! Her kids are Older but you botg love wine and Jesus and her husband was military.
    She is RobinJoss on instagram

  13. Stephanie, I’ve missed you. I absolutely loved your posts on Italy and your pictures were oh, so beautiful. I think most mothers are really ready for school to begin, truth be told. Most bloggers paint a pretty picture, but it’s not realistic. You, my sweet friend, are realistic and so tender hearted and so talented. I’m with you, I don’t need a perfect house. I do need to exercise and I’m trying to work that into my schedule. My children are grown and I’m grandmother to ten and have had three staying with me since April until 2 weeks ago. I am missing them desperately but am so happy as well to have some much needed relief from a 4, 7 and 9 year old! Just keep swimming! Hugs and love from a friend of yours in Georgia!

    • How lucky they are to have a grandmother like you. Thank you so much for your encouragement!

  14. Love your post and agree with Laura–you have treasured those girls (I love that phrase). Mine are grown and gone but we all love the break and love the back to structure! Curious about those flower stickers on top?? Do you know who made those???? PS I want to go to Italy so bad, maybe when the oldest gets done with her residency–we can go as a family! I loved your blog from there—did a lot of dreaming!

    • If you have the chance to go…GO. I can’t recommend it enough! And the stickers are by My Newest Addiction – my favorite planner shop.

  15. I adore these posts. It is real. I “stalk” your book recommendations. Have you read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch? I would like to hear someone else’s thoughts. I could not put down…

  16. Love your BYH post…definitely authentic and there should be more of it.
    So the only things I like about school holidays are being able to stay in pyjamas ALL day (and the kids do too),, not having to make lunches and do that whole ‘get dressed, get your bag, get in the car’ thing every morning!!!. Absolutely support other mums who love their kids to infinity and beyond but are glad for school 🙂
    I also love reading and can’t sleep if I don’t read first. I was a mess when I lived in a country that didn’t have English books…finally found someone with the World Book Encyclopedia and started on it…just wish I could remember all the stuff that I read about!
    Praying that you will find true, authentic friends where you have been planted at this time and flourish 🙂
    I think you are AWESOME!!!!!!

  17. I’m a sobbing mess watching the Olympics too! I was in my ugly cry place when the Brazilian gymnastic won silver. He was excited and crying all at the same time. You couldn’t help but be happy for him; his joy was so infectious!
    I completely understand your missing Italy. I actively plot my return to France. 🙂
    Love the picture of Cora!

  18. Stephanie! You are doing a fabulous job with your precious family. Keep in mind it is called “practicing parenting” for many reasons. Having J. by your side is a blessing.
    There are some special IG’s that were also military juniors and we all shout out the marvelous gifts we gained from a gypsy childhood. Gained a multitude of traits to walk into a room full of strangers and be at ease or at elegant dining out dinners with all the military pomp and traditions.
    Keep doing what you are doing!

  19. I was literally just thinking the other day that I missed these BYH posts!
    Although, I have to admit I have not blogged since January of this year, I may have to make a post 🙂
    I have been wanting to share some of our summer adventures anyway.

    As for your #1 I am a little of both! I do love having my kids home for summer. I love spending more relaxed time with them free of homework! But usually about this time of summer, I am ready for the structure and a little more alone time. My kids are older now though (14 and 9) so it’s a little easier as far as taking care of them. Although let me just say these ages have their challenges as well! lol

    And the Olympics, oh how I have loved some of the swimming and gymnastics. What an amazing group of young women team USA has! Lauren Hernandez is just simply a great role model it seems.

    As for turning 39, I will admit turning 40 a few years back was tough for me. But then I embraced it and decided I was not going to take one single year for granted in my 40’s. Because eventually I will be 50 and don’t want to feel like I wasted my 40’s 🙂

    Hope to blog soon!

  21. Love these posts, and I’m so glad you did it again! Good for you keeping up on the exercise routine. I seriously need to get busy. I KNEW you would miss Italy terribly. Of course. When it gets to be too much, maybe think of all that terrible driving and parking that was nearly driving you to road rage. Maybe that will help, lol. As for making friends, it does take time. It’s funny … I’ve been reading here a LONG time and you have said that same thing before. And then, before long, you share that you’ve made some wonderful friends that you can trust in and laugh with. It will happen. New friends are making their way to you right now! xo

  22. Always my favorite blog posts from my favorite blogger. My two oldest went back to school on Wednesday and I found you BYH post. I haven’t exercised since early June and it shows! You inspired me- I said if Stephanie can do it with 5 kids at home every da, then surely I can do it with just my one little at home. So I’m 3 work outs for 3 days now! So thanks for the motivation! And sharing what is on your mind!

  23. Stephanie I have been reading your blog since right after Sadie was born (sometime around the roof leak in Texas) and have enjoyed every single post. I love your authentic and tender hearted honesty and have truly enjoyed watching how your families journey through the years. Even though I have 15 years on you and a grandson older than Harper I would be thrilled to have you as a friend! As a momma of 4 I remember summer vacations and the feeling of OMG please is it September yet because I am literally on my last nerve, ready to dig a hole and pull a rock over me…hang in there chica, you’ve got this!

    By the way, even though I have been a Kindle lover for several years now you have inspired me to go and get a shiny new library card. My library card was a treasured item from the time I was 7 and I would check out the maximum allowed every Friday afternoon. I can’t tell you how much it brings a smile to my face to see a stack of books on top of my night stand, so thank you for your suggestions (love Mary Kaye Andrews Summer Rental by the way) and the reminder that a book in hand is a beautiful gift.

      • Actually the thanks belong to you chica…it is not an easy choice to put your very authentic, vulnerable self out there. You have a very big cheering section out here that loves and appreciates the fact that despite how scary that can be you chose to share anyway. I know how glad I am that you do share.

  25. I love reading your thoughts and following along on IG. I too am so looking forward to school starting back up! I am back to work tomorrow after the summer off. (I work for our school district) hubby will be home for the next two weeks with our boys 6 & 8. I look forward to hearing all about their mornings…I might have to rescue the boys for a few more beach outings ☺️
    I too love reading and love a good library or book store visit. Have you heard of bookbub? It’s an email with cheap/ free e-books. I love it as I do most of my reading these days on a kindle.
    Hope you have a wonderful week!!
    Gwynn

    • I so wish I liked e-books, but I”m old fashioned. Thank you so much for your comment, Gwynn! Hope you are enjoying your family time.xoxo