Giddy Up, Eunice: A Call for Women to Stand Up With and For Each Other ( A Review)

"Don't you dare discount your importance, your influence or your calling."  This quote by Sophie Hudson in her latest book, "Giddy Up, Eunice" is a wake-up call to Christian women of all ages.  The tag line of the title says it best:  because women need each other.  This gentle and funny book will draw you in but also challenge you to rethink your influence and need for mentorship.   So, like Sophie said, "Saddle up, sister. This is going to be fun."

Reading Sophie Hudson's writing or listening to her on her podcast with Melanie Shankle is always a delight for me.  Her Mississippi drawl, pop culture references and love of SEC football are what drew me to her in the first place, but her love of Jesus and His church are what keep me coming back.  I don't know if you keep up with all the gloomy news about the American church, but it isn't good. Rather than getting lost in the the finger-pointing and blaming going on, I think we just need to get back to what the church does best--building a community of believers and nurturing one another in the growth of that faith and belief.  That's not a one hour a week thing;  it takes relationship.  It takes people of different ages working together, learning together, breaking bread together and living life together.

The stories of three pairs of women:  Elizabeth and Mary, Naomi and Ruth, and Lois and Eunice, show just how the Holy Spirit can use intergenerational relationships for His glory.  Mary needed someone who understood her, Naomi and Ruth needed each other for survival and redemption and Lois and Eunice worked together to build up faith in the next generation.  The title character, Eunice, doesn't get a lot of space in the Bible, but that's sort of the point.  Lots of us mamas feel like we've become somewhat invisible.  We've taught Sunday School and VBS and been choir mother at church.  We've served on the PTA boards and been room moms and been chaperones on field trips.  As our children grow older, we feel less needed and get to the point where we think we've finished our race.  A friend of mine and I joke sometimes about the Barna church research and the "nones" (no church affiliation).  We call ourselves the "dones".  We're burned out and tired out and don't really see a place for us in church.  That's not really true, but it sure feels that way sometimes.

This place--this worn out place-- is where mentorship is so important.  We most certainly aren't the first women to feel this way.  And I bet if we look around us, we can see ladies who have walked this path and are willing to walk alongside of us and show us how to move on to the next stage of kingdom work.  We're blessed with strong Christian women at our church of all ages and when I've had "enough", I see them.  I see them serving and working year after year.  I see them showing up for their friends and for people they don't even know.  That's what I want and that's what I need them to teach me and remind me.

Looking behind at the upcoming generation, I know they need to see relationships with us old-timers, too.  So many people think working with teens is hard.  And, I'm here to tell you that they're right.  I've taught youth Sunday School off and on and it is absolutely terrifying.  A class full of three year olds, glue bottles and a tub full of glitter is a cakewalk compared to trying to get a conversation going some mornings.  But it's worth it--so worth it.  I am so thankful to the adults who have poured their time into my kids' lives.  There is this quote in the book,"...wherever you have influence with the generation behind you, start investing.  Pray that the Lord will help you find the folks He'd like for you to encourage."  If you don't want to teach Sunday School or work with large groups of teens, fine.  Look for that one that the Lord has put in your life and reach out to them.

I loved this book and am in the process of reading it again.  This would be an excellent starter book to read for an multi-generational ladies small group.  Look forward and look back---find those people God has put in your life to learn from and encourage.  Giddy up.



Full disclosure:
*I received a copy of this book for being a part of the book launch team.  My opinions are my own.
*Some affiliate links are included.

Must Read Summer Book: Review of Sophie Hudson's Giddy Up, Eunice

Get thee to a bookstore and buy this, post haste.

I may have mentioned a hundred few times that I was a part of the launch team for Sophie Hudson's newest book, Giddy Up, Eunice.  The tagline because women need each other is what will draw you in and hold you and then push you out the door, filled up and fired up and ready to see "how the Lord multiplies our efforts."

In these days of pinterest and instagram and facebook posts full of perfectly filtered snapshots of life, we are missing the intimacy of safe and sacred spaces with each other.  Where we don't have to filter life--we just live it.  Together.  These safe spaces need to move beyond the "generational silos" we often find ourselves in with our friends moving in the same narrow lanes we move in.  We need to look back and forward and learn from the generation ahead of us and encourage the generation behind us.  The wheel doesn't need to be invented over and over again.  The human race hasn't really changed all that much in the last 10 years.  Women have been encouraging and teaching each other for EVER and somehow we've forgotten that.  Sophie's gentle book reminds us that "what we have in common far exceeds any perceived generational differences."  Blessing and confirming and strengthening--that's what we need to be about

Taking the stories of pairs of women--Elizabeth and Mary, Naomi and Ruth--Giddy Up, Eunice shows us how to do that.  Moving beyond comparison and competition, we can start investing in what matters:  people.  In the picture above you can see some of my washi tape  tabs.  My copy is full of them, along with highlighted passages, exclamation points, smiley faces, and all manners of asterisks and stars.  If ever a book was meant for a women's book study group, this is it.  I've been processing through what I've read and really can't wait to dive in again and see what those words mean for me to actually DO.  It's not enough to read this and nod our heads and move on.  This funny, sweet book shares a truth that needs to be acted upon.  The church and our world need women to rise up and cross over our self-imposed boundaries and "bless the fire out of each other".

Amen, Eunice.  Giddy up.





*affiliate links in post

He Said, She Shed: Ideas for My Getaway Shed

Ella Claire's Beautiful Retreat

The warmer weather has me looking outdoors and eyeing our outbuilding for a make-over.  It's time and I can't wait to sort out the "stuff" and make it a space for creating.  Or napping.  Whatever.

It's time to tackle the She-Shed!

Here are some ideas from my Pinterest board for my Getaway Shed.

from House Beautiful

I love this light and bright artist studio.  And it's so organized!!

from Kloter Farms

This pink reading nook is perfect for a lazy afternoon (link has great DIY tips!)

from Oddee.com--click link for more stunning sheds!

It's always been a dream of mind to take pottery lessons.

A backyard pottery studio would be heaven!

from Finding Silver Pennies

I love the natutical theme of this shed.  I could close my eyes and hear the ocean...

from Finding Silver Pennies

And if you want to know how to get that shiplap look,
she has a tutorial over at the Home Depot blog.

from the Little Yellow Bicycle

Love the space and the name of the blog.

from Studio 5

As much as I like looking at the white interiors, I think I want a little more color in mine.  

This more whimsical one from Studio 5 caught my eye.

Home Sweet Treehouse

And, of course, I couldn't resist the Junk Gypsy sister's treehouse makeover.  

I kinda love it.

Do you have a backyard retreat?  I'd love to hear about some of your ideas!

Sometimes, we just need to get away!

100 Things 2 Do

Remember to check out my Pinterest board for more inspiring shed ideas!

Babies and Birthdays

Sweet Homeland of the Soul

Baby showers are not something I attend much anymore.  Most of my friends are long past bringing new little ones into the world and we're not yet to the point of having baby showers for grandbabies.  This weekend, though, I got to go to two celebrations of looking forward to new life and one gathering celebrating a milestone birthday that reflected on a life well lived and much more to come.  

My sweet friend, H, will be bringing home her 5th child in a few weeks.  It was fun seeing people I probably hadn't seen since her last shower, a few years ago, as well as some much-needed catch up time with two of my closest friends.  I was struck by the generations represented there--mamas, grandmas, great-grandmas and sisters and the friends of these women and girls.  As the two older sisters of this already-loved little boy took photos of their mama and helped with gifts, it was clear he will be surrounded by a circle of women that will love and cherish and guide him.  And that same circle will be there for his mother when she's tired and needs encouragement or just a pick-me-up from Starbucks.  

The other baby shower was for a new mom.  She doesn't have the experience of having four older children, but she has a group of women surrounding her, as well.  The girls she teaches who are so excited for this new tiny dancer, her mama and family, her fellow teachers and dozens of dance moms who make up that particular part of her "family"; we're all there to cheer her on and share her happiness at this "new chapter", as her mom described it.  This little one is already surrounded with love and a whole group of ladies ready to cheer her on as she takes her first steps and performs her first dance.

And to cap the weekend off, the "milestone" birthday.  You know, the kind ending in a zero.  The people gathered at this party have been friends for decades.  We have worshiped, laughed and cried together.  We have prayed each other through cancer and health scares.  We've had our own baby showers and weddings and funerals.  We have walked this journey together through the mountain tops and valleys and the long stretches of flat road that have no end in sight.  We have done life together in every meaning of the phrase.  

Celebrating a brand new life or celebrating a milestone birthday--both reminded me that we need people.  We need those precious people surrounding us, loving us, supporting us, praying for us, and just giving us that little thumbs up, when we need it. My hope for you is that you will find those people in your life and that you will take the time to nurture those people and allow them to bless you as well.  Open your hearts and lives and allow the people God has placed in your way to become part of your family.  We all need that circle of care.  Be that for others, as well.

Seeing Things a New Way

Pinterest Projects I Actually Completed: Sweet Petunias and a Freshly Painted Front Door

Welcome to my new front door!  Well, not new, but the color is definitely an improvement.  I shared some pinterest ideas for painted front doors last week.  The weather finally cooperated yesterday and I was able to get some pictures of the finished project.

In this photo, the paint is reading more as blue, but this is the color we painted it:

Sherwin Williams Vintage Vessel

Our door is wood, but it has a strange finish on the exterior side and it was starting to lose it's luster.  So, after seeing a beautiful painted door on the Fixer Upper, I busted out the primer and went to town on the door before I lost my nerve.

Before

 

No going back now!

There are lots of tutorials out there on the best way to paint a door.  The easiest way would be to take it off the hinges and lay it flat, but, for some reason, I don't usually do things the easy way.  After lightly sanding everything and taping off the hardware, I applied a coat of Sherwin Williams primer that I already had from painting the paneling in our living room.  Here are my tried and true painting tools:  a sanding block, foam roller and a Purdy brush.  The compressed air is great for making sure all the dust is gone after you sand.

One coat of primer did a great job and then I painted it with 2 coats of paint of the first color I tried, Green Trance by SW.  It ended up being way too light.  

So, I went and got a $7 tester can of Vintage Vessel and two coats later, we were good.  The tester was an indoor/outdoor paint and the gentleman at SW said it should hold up just fine.  After choosing the wrong color the first time, I took some artwork I have hanging next to my front door and matched the color off of it.  Vintage Vessel was a perfect match.

I love this little print.  I got it at an arts/craft fair and mounted it on a gold chevron piece of scrapbook paper.  The gold frame is from a thrift store and I think it just adds a little pizzazz to the entry.

Welcome to our Home

I also added a little graphic to the brass kickplate on the front door.  This screen door is fairly new, but I think it will look better on the getaway shed.  That's a project that I intend to complete this summer and make it my "studio".  No one would mistake me for an artist, but I do like to craft and paint and little sis likes to sew.  It would be nice to have a spot to put all of that and have a fun, creative space for us.

When we move the current storm door, I plan to get a new solid glass door for the front door.  When that happens, you'll actually be able to see the vinyl address numbers.  

Vinyl address numbers from Leen the Graphics Queen

A new welcome mat from Lowe's and some pretty flowers 

in a vintage-looking olive bucket and the front entry refresh was complete.

The olive bucket was one I got from Wal-Mart about a year ago, 

but they don't seem to be available anymore.  

Here's a similar one from Target:

Threshold Galvanized Garden Basket

Here are some final pics of my spring-ified door.  

I'd love to hear about what you've done to refresh your house for spring!

Definitely looks more blue in this photo, but the picture below looks green.  

Always do a tester--you can't believe your lyin' eyes!

I refreshed my old spring wreath with new white flowers.

A Little Housekeeping for the Soul

Housekeeping.  Keeping a house.  What does that mean to you?  It sounds so grand.  A housekeeper sounds as if they have a plan; a schedule, an orderly way of doing things.  Lately, my Instagram feed has been full of photos of beautiful kitchen sinks full of bubbles (and, supposedly, some dirty dishes in there somewhere.)  It's spring and there are lots of posts about cleaning and organizing.  There's apparently something motivating about a clean sink  full of hot, soapy water and all the lovely scrubby things you can do with it.  

Truth be told, though, my sink wasn't that pretty this morning.  After breakfast was cooked and eaten and the lunches made, I took one look at that mess and it made me want to close my eyes and go back to bed.  However, comma, no Alice, Rosie the Robot or Mrs. Hughes had plans of showing up today , and those dishes weren't going anywhere until I got down to business.  So, I cleaned off the countertops, scrubbed the sink and filled it with the requisite hot, soapy bubbles.  That was a nice start and I made a pot of my favorite Irish Breakfast Tea as a treat to further fortify my resolve.  

Washing dishes is my prayer time.  I can be alone with my thoughts and I talk to God about what's going on, my friends and family who are in need, and give thanks for the blessings I've received.  It's usually quiet enough than I can listen, too.  Not that I'm hearing actual words, but my heart can hear when I'm quiet long enough to be in His presence.  With my hands submerged in the soapy water, washing and rinsing, I feel my own heart being cleansed and cleared of all the things that need to be washed away.  

As I scrubbed those dishes and cleaned the stovetop and swept the floor, the chaos of my kitchen started to disappear and order took its place.  And as I spoke the words of my heart to my Lord and listened quietly for his Word, my worries and stress took their proper place and my world felt restored.

A sink full of soapy water, some pretty flowers and a pot of tea:  they're good for the soul. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)