my heart

hey everyone!
today i come to the blog with a different kind of post.
you all know, if you have spent any time here, that i am completely real and honest--sometimes to a fault.
i really can't hide my feelings and so i want to be real with you, my closest friends, family, and even some of you i may never meet.
i need your help.

you see...here's the deal. i am in a state of a funk right now. i don't really know how else to describe it.
i have thought it may be some sort of depression and it seems to be increasing, not decreasing.
i am in a very weird place, hormonally. i am in menopause, medically induced, and do take an "add back therapy", but i don't feel quite right.

i have never experienced any sort of depression so i don't know if that is what is going on.
here's where i need your help.
i could use all the prayers and words of advice you can spare.
i hate this feeling and hate the fact that no matter how much i pray, try to choose joy, try to use kind words, try to be intentional and positive, the yucky comes out.
i want to sleep all the time and have zero energy--even though scott and i have started working out almost daily.
i don't sleep well at night, but then that has never been something that comes easy for me.
there are very few smiles and laughs coming from me lately and i hate it!

yet, as much as i hate it, it is still here.
ugh!
that makes me mad too!
i want to fix things! maybe that is the "man" in me or my lack of affection for being out of control.
at the end of the day i know that God will deliver me out of this season just as He has been faithful through it all.
i just hate this. i hate this for my family. mainly scott. i feel like he gets the short end of the deal and he is the one person who should never get it!

like i said, this is me being completely real.
thank you for joining me in praying that God delivers me through this and that i am patient and obedient through this process/season He has allowed me to be in right now.
i love you guys and am so thankful for each of you--those close and so far away!
know that i am praying for you too! i pray that you feel the love of our Savior just as i do...even in this valley.

here's to hoping that all of you have a very Happy New Year and that 2012 is the best yet!! (that is what i am praying! not sure if your 2011 was rough, but ours was! we are believing great things for this next year!)

It is just around the corner...

Yep. That is right. Christmas is almost here. I want to decorate so badly right now...maybe I can convince my family to decorate as soon as we take down the Halloween decor. :) (fingers crossed)

This year, more than any other year, I am trying to be on a super tight budget while still giving some really thoughtful and cutesy gifts. My short time looking on Pinterest has come up with some oh-so-cute ideas.

Today, I wanted to share a few with you and ask for your help. What is a really good, really inexpensive gift you have ever given or received? I would LOVE your feedback.
While you are thinking on that question, I wanted to share just a few of my finds. I am sure I will be sharing more as I am going to be steady searching these out!

For your spouse....of course, The Dating Divas came through with this amazingly cute idea!!

 

The Five Senses Gift

Here's some cute ideas on inexpensive wrapping ideas....

I am so in love with this idea! So many creative ideas with TP rolls! Check out the info HERE!

Confetti or paper hole punches on double sided tape

Here are some super cute and super inexpensive gift ideas (thanks to Pinterest)

The next 2 ideas come from a GREAT site with GREAT inexpensive ideas. Check it out HERE!

Time to ring out the old and bring in the new...might as well start with the scrubber brush!

We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas!

These are the cutest bookmarks! Check out the how, here!

Reusable drink cup filled with candy/chocolate/hot cocoa/apple cider. The Dollar stores are carrying these cups now, so this would make for a great teacher gift or coworker gift.

photo coasters: 4x4 tiles and 4x4 pics, glue photo onto tile with glue stick, cover with resin, mount 4 felt circles onto bottom corners

"blowing Christmas wishes your way" 

LOVE this idea: Spray paint a cheap frame, scrapbook paper in frame, hot glue a metal clip, change out photos as often as you want. I can't wait to find some materials to make these for my kitchen to display kids' art work & school work.