28 April 2009

I have curly hair and other details of omission


I have curly hair.
I have a pointy nose.
I am forgetful. (I order the same DVDs from netflix, only to sadly discover we have seen them.)

I could go on about my flaws and foibles, but that isn't my purpose.  I have been asked on more than one occasion, how I am so organized.  How I find time to do all I do with 5 kids.  As with most everything in my life, organization ebbs and flows.  Okay, mostly ebbing.   (have you seen my garage? or my pantry? or...)  I'm assuming this assumption is formed because of what I include in my blog.  FYI(!): Blogs (as well as 3 hours of church, or a few minutes dropping off your kids) are a highly edited slice of one's life.  Romanticizing one's life is quite easily done--especially in blogdom.  That is also the beauty.  What I choose to include is what I want my children to see and remember.  I want them to know that creating is one of my sources of balm for the soul.  Some people exercise.  Or read.  Or play computer games.  Or cook.  Or clean.  (Or organize.)  We all make time for what we enjoy.  I try to balance that which I enjoy with what I view as necessary evils.  I'm no acrobat and easily "fall", but don't give up.  I draw inspiration from multiple sources (like the placemat bag from a friend's), and sometimes I do have brilliant ideas (if I do say so myself) without prompts (did you see Azure's new dress, yesterday's post?)  

I am not going to start wearing my hair curly everyday, or get a nose job, they're just metaphors.  We've all been given what we've been given.   I want to teach my girls that they can't be good at everything, but they can be good at some things.  Be willing to make mistakes when trying something new.  You won't be able to rollerblade as well as your dad, the first month of trying, Divine.   But if you never try, stretch that which is curled up tightly, you'll miss much of the beauty and subtleties that are so worth experiencing in this life.   As my dad often quotes Vincent Van Gogh, "I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it."  

Nobody has a perfect life.  If you think they do, you don't know them well enough, or they are masters at facades.

If you want lessons in sewing, come on over.  If you want lessons in organization, go somewhere else.  Either way, do some stretching.  It eventually feels good.

19 comments:

  1. I didn't know your hair got so curly, and we're sisters!

    Thanks for sharing Katy, very well put.

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  2. Your hair is gorgeous. You're a champion of natural beauty. Great thoughts and reminders!! Thanks.

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  3. Wow--your hair is soooo long and beautiful! Thank you for the thoughts. AMEN!

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  4. I love reading your blog because it inspires me. In fact, you inspired me to make some curtains (I am not a confident seamstress at all, so this is kind of a big deal). Do the curtains hang straight? No. Am I proud of myself for trying? Yes. Will I keep reading your blog for ideas and inspiration? Yes.

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  5. I'm heading over for some sewing lessons! Too bad you're so far away!

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  6. Oh my precious Katy. I do so love your wisdom and what I learn from you.

    Thank you! Thank you!

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  7. You just re-capped the lesson we had in Relief Society last Sunday. So well said. I think that unfortunately, as women, we compare our worst to other people's best.
    BTW, I LOVE your curly hair...what an asset! Also, your brilliance in creating is a gift!

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  8. I love this post! So well said, and so very, very true!

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  9. Katy, I read your post because I have found a soul mate type friend in you and I'll bet you didn't even know it. Your philosophies are so similar to mine that I feel at times I am talking with you and not just reading you. I believe that some general authority or two in the last couple of conferences has tried to tell us the same thing. Thanks for listening and knowing. Hugs, Tina (Anns mominlaw)

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  10. your wonderful and i so look up to u. i honestly do.

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  11. my hair is curly too but i love it.

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  12. thanks. One think I always loved about your friendship is I never felt like I had to hide my flaws.

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  13. Oh, Katy, you have the most beautiful golden curls! I see a little hint of red that I never noticed before. I love Azeure's orange dress, too!

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  14. WOWzuh lady! Super long locks look excellent on you. Excellent points--blogs should be about remembering the good stuff. I'd rather look back ten years from now and be reminded of how much I loved hearing Soren say 'eow' (meow--so cute) instead of how tired I was cuz he got up at night (boring).

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  15. Katy, I love your pointy nose and profile. You look like Julie Andrews - a true beauty!

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  16. BEAUTIFUL hair. beautiful post.

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  17. I know this post is old and you may not ever read this comment but I stumbled across your blog today and somehow found this post. Thanks. This is something I needed to hear today. I really appreciate your words of wisdom. :)

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Be a lamb & tell me what's on your mind.