an interview with (or takeover by) annalea

hello there!  annalea here.  i am taking over naptime diaries today!
um, i pretty much LOVE jessi and her sweet blog.
it has been a blessing to get to know her and an honor to be a sponsor for naptime diaries.

jessi had some questions for me.  here are my answers. . .

1. Tell us about your family. How many of there are you and what are you guys like?

let me introduce you to the hart clan.  eleven years ago this week, jesse (yes, i'm married to a jesse!) and i were two young ones saying our vows and making a covenant before God.  we had no idea what was in store for us.  our life is so much more beautiful than we expected.  but the road has been difficult, folks.  incredibly beautiful, but incredibly difficult.  our love is in spite of weakness and hardship, not because of who we are and what we have done. we live a lovely little life with three sweet babes and they bless our lives immensely. firstborn luca is a creative and sensitive 6 yo boy who loves animals and legos. miss gia, 4 yo princess superhero extraordinaire, is our comedian and sweetheart who loves to dance. enzo, or the goo, is our fiesty 20mo who loves to play ball and make noise. we have known the grief of losing a child to miscarriage.  we educate at home and like to get our hands dirty in all kinds of diy projects (when we get the time).  i am a 13 year veteran in the world of chronic illness.  being diagnosed with fibromyalgia while in college has been my most life altering experience.

our family mission is to glorify God. simple as that. but a challenge that will last this lifetime. we are creating a legacy of faith

2. What are your favorite things to write about? 

i love to write the real stuff.  sometimes that is pretty and crafty, simple tutorials and fun upcycled projects.  but most of the time it is about choosing joy when life is hard or finding beauty in the everyday.  i simply tell our stories and share our life.

3. What activities reenergizes/recreates/refreshes you?

spending time in worship of my Father refreshes me like no other.  sometimes that looks like reading my Bible or praying, but it often will be me singing loudly and dancing around the house with my littles.  or using my hands to create and relishing the truth that i was made in the image of the Creator.  what humble satisfaction that brings!

4. What's something you're passionate beyond measure? Keeps you up in the night and makes your face feel hot when you talk about it.

this question is stumping me!  i think it is because i am feeling guilty that i can't think of a better answer.  for most of my life, i have been a crusader - a justice seeker - and i could easily come up with 1 (or 5 issues) to speak up for.  right now, it takes near everything i have to just get up in the morning and be accountable for my husband and littles.  i guess you could say i am passionate about being a wife and mama - about living my life well.   not perfectly, but with excellence.

right now, i am entrenched in the world of home education.  i am passionate about giving my children the tools of learning through a classical education.  our mission is to know God and to make Him known.  as director of our local homeschool community, i have the opportunity to equip and encourage other parents wanting the same.  it is exciting!

5. What has surprised you most in this life? 

i am most surprised by the relationship between sorrow and joy.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.  Ecclesiastes 7:3

it used to seem that trials were something to endure in order to get to the good place.  now i know that the Good is in the trials.  in fact, i can more easily find it there.  the suffering gives me a focus.

But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.  C.S. Lewis

sorrow is part of my story.  but it does not have to crowd out the goodness. it is less of a weed and more of a wildflower. my life is not less joyful.  in fact, i experience joy more fully knowing sorrow.  joy blooms alongside.

thank you jessi, for having me over today.
i should have warned you i wouldn't be using capital letters.
but i am pretty sure you are a-okay with that.

thank you naptime diaries readers for spending some time getting to know me.
have a lovely day!