Goals

Reading list – 2014

~ Christie ~ 10 Comments

I feel like posting this dooms me to never read these at all. Perhaps it’s because four or five of them are ones I’m currently reading that easily should have been finished last year.

Here’s a post about two books I actually did finish last year. Yay! #livinginthepast

Okay. Reading is one of my goals for this year. So here’s the list as it stands right now:

via Amazon
via Amazon

What Jesus Demands From the World, John Piper

via Amazon
via Amazon

The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Edith Schaeffer

via Amazon
via Amazon

Robert Frost’s Poems

via Amazon
via Amazon

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, Nicholas Carr

via Amazon
via Amazon

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

via Amazon
via Amazon

The Well-Trained Mind, Susan Wise Bauer

via Amazon
via Amazon

Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God, Noel Piper

via Amazon
via Amazon

Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp

via Amazon
via Amazon

Give Them Grace, Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

via Amazon
via Amazon

True Companion, Nancy Wilson

And… that’s about the list for now. If you look at my goals, you’ll see that I want to read twelve books this year. This list is only ten because I know there will be books that I discover throughout the year. I’ll try to update the list as that happens; maybe mention it on facebook so you can stay up to date. = )

A few more comments about the list:

Yes, unfortunately, the first five on the list are ones that I am in the middle of. When did I pick up that habit of reading four books at a time? How do you read? One by one? A few at a time? I obviously need help! Oh dear, I don’t think I read Gatsby at all last year; it is way overdue.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart, I have read most of that before; but I think I’m much more in the stage of life to need and use it now.

Give Them Grace piques my curiosity. I’ve heard good and bad; so it’s time to find for myself. = )

The Well-trained Mind and Faithful Women and Their Extrordinary God were both gifts from friends. I really wanted to start them, but was already so far behind. = / This is the year!

I really want to read True Companion! Need to put it in the amazon cart and hope my husband buys it along with his seminary books. = )

Oh dear, so excited! Can I just be honest with you and say it is so hard to forego that iPad at night and just pick up a book?! I frustrate myself. Once again, this is the year. Oh yeah, and if you even read the first few chapters of The Shallows it will help with the whole technology thing. For a few weeks at least. = )

I think I will try to finish The Hidden Art of Homemaking by the end of January. I’m close to done; and it is so inspiring.

I’d love to hear from you! What are you reading this year?

The “Un”- word of the year

~ Christie ~ 10 Comments

Last week I came across an interesting idea from a few of my favorite bloggers. Since everyone is picking a word of the year; they also picked an “un” word for the year.A word to kick to the curb. A character trait, attitude, vice, etc. to consciously work on not being.

Novel idea, right?

I wasn’t sure if I would link up or not, but then I thought of a good one. Something I really want to overcome this year. It’s a great addition to my 2014 goals; much needed. And since I tend to take things literally, it actually starts with “un.”

un-word of the year, unthankful

This is actually a very specific thing I need to work on this year. While I feel thankful, I’m horrible at expressing it. My list of thank-you notes to write is currently too long. I know it’s a little out of style. Some people make fun of it or put it on their list of things they give themselves permission not to do. But, I really don’t want to go that route.

Theoretically, I want to make more effort to show personal thankfulness in this age of rapid communication and gratification. Even things like hostess gifts, little things that just say you appreciate the kindness shown to you; these are things I want to become. To grow out of the “oh, I forgot; I didn’t have time” excuses.

It won’t happen overnight. But I think it’s well worth working for a year to overcome this omissive unthankfulness.

My girls are already so much better at this than I am. They love to make thank-you notes, pictures and gifts. Do you think I’ve delivered all of those notes, pictures and gifts? I don’t want them to adopt their mom’s negligence.

Unthankfulness: you are not the problem; I am the problem. Prepare to be slowly replaced.

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Read more:

Nesting Place

Fieldstone Hill Design

Life in Grace

The Painted House

2014: goals, plans, priorities, resolutions

~ Christie ~ 16 Comments

imageI sit down to work on my 2014 goals post (that was supposed to be published yesterday) and quite frankly, I don’t feel like doing anything right now. But the past few days I’ve been thinking about my goals for this year.

I want them to be helpful in these down, unmotivated moments.

So many times goals are set in a super-motivated, conquer-the-world mindset. Then when we have trying days, we give up. Because who can really accomplish that anyway? “Surely not sorry-excuse-for-a-human me.” (not that I feel like that right now or anything)

I want my goals this year to be representative of growth, not necessarily achievement.

What areas of life do I need and want to grow in this year? What are specific ways I can work towards that? What will my priorities be when everything else around me is crumbling -meaning, I bought the wrong kind of couscous which actually takes 18 minutes to cook instead of 5 so now there is no way on earth we will get to Wed. night church on time. Again. and other such disasters of various degrees. What are some guiding resolutions I can remind myself of when tempted to give up or stop caring?

So here they are, probably in an order that only makes sense to me.

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Goals

1. To be more organized and prepared for life. Specifically, homeschooling, church events, doctor’s appointments, birthdays, meals, family time, etc.

2. To be more productive in the morning and evening. (while the girls are in bed)

3. To re-sharpen skills from another lifetime. Playing the piano and writing letters.

4. To become more of a reader.

5. To do things with my girls just for the sake of spending time with them.

6. To love Paul more than I did last year.

7. To establish an attitude of prayer throughout the whole day. Though I do not have hours to spend on my knees at this stage of life, I want to redeem time while folding laundry, doing dishes, and cleaning to pray specifically for the members of my family and others.

8. To grow in the domestic skills -cooking, baking, cleaning, decorating, crafting.

9. To prepare for the birth of our new baby. To be ready as much as possible, and to embrace that newborn stage of life with thankfulness and calm.

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Plans

*please note: I understand that these are sketchy. I pounded them out during a car trip. However, part of my plan of action is that these will be a work in progress. I’ll look at them and see how they’re going and make more specific plans as the year goes. I always seem to start with real specific things and end up making general attempts. Maybe that can reverse this year?? = )

PERSONAL
Bible:
Read Old Testament
Memorize 3 passages from the New Testament
Books:
Read 12 books *list to come soon*
Music:
Sightread classical music for one hour a week, plan works to read through
Fitness:
January-  do cardio and strength training once a week
February- cardio and strength training twice a week
March- three times a week
April- four times a week
May- five times a week
June- six times a week
July- stretch three times, walk one day a week
August- one cardio, strength training and walk a week
September- two cardio and strength trainings a week
October- December – three times a week
*walk twice a week
*plan which days to exercise
Home
*Organization
-organize one room a month
January: kitchen and pantry
February: master bedroom
March: Mckayla’s room
April: girl’s room
May: laundry room
June: balcony
July: living room
*Cleaning
Plan spring cleaning
Make homemade cleaners to keep under sinks
Have girls help with chores
Plan to clean the balcony thoroughly after pollen season
Laundry system: never put laundry in baskets??? *already trying this and it’s working!*
Projects/Decorating: 
Use more candles
Keep surfaces clean
Print out and frame family pictures
Something on girls bathroom wall
Room for baby
Rearrange decorations in girls room
Save up for a couch
HOME EDUCATION
poetry, reading, science experiments, beginner biographies
Hopey
Weekly planning
Choose science project *already did this! Woohoo!*
Church library
Piano lessons
Sophia
reading
piano lessons
numbers
Gracie
alphabet
writing
coloring
sorting
playdough
check on other things
Mckayla
ABC’s
singing
coloring
counting
GIRLIES
*for fun questions to ask your kids about the New Year, read here and here
speaking respectfully to adults
looking at people in the eye
Morning habits
Hope/Sophia
potty, clothes, bed, hair, teeth
Gracie/Mckayla
potty, clothes, bed, (hair and teeth by Mommy)
Chore possibilities
trash
setting the table
folding laundry
doing laundry
cleaning sinks and toilets
Daily habits
put away all books, toys, and clothes
clear dishes
throw away trash
dirty dishes in dishwasher
read
create
ask mom
serve others
Personal responsibility. Kindness to others. Always rejoice. *This is for me, too!*
Activities
play outside one hour a day
work 1-2 hours a week
go on nature walks
have adventures
field trips
explore new things
give to others
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Priorities
1. Rejoice
2. Give thanks
3. Love Paul with kindness and affection.
4. Love the girlies with time, teaching, and discipline.
5. Make meals.
6. Do laundry.
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Resolutions
To rejoice in the character of God.
To diligently fulfill mundane daily responsibilites.
To prioritize nighttime sleep.
To simplify; to focus on the responsbilities and joys that will not remain after this stage of life.
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Big breath.
Hello 2014.
*note: there are some things that will not make it to this list. Remember when you read blogs that you’re only seeing a percentage of their life. Hopefully, I will give monthly updates on progress and further plans, but no promises. = )

3 helpful posts on New Year’s Resolutions

~ Christie ~ 1 Comment

imageIf you didn’t know this about me already, I guess it’s time you found out.

I love New Year’s Resolutions!

And for the record, I do tend to keep up with them at least a little better than the 92% who reportedly never do.

So for me, it’s that wonderful time of year to think and plan for changes and improvements for the new year. I did work on my list a little tonight, but it’s not quite ready to share.

Following are links to three posts I’ve read recently that I found to be helpful and thought-provoking:

When You Track Your Spiritual Progress by Jonathan Parnell

Trading One Dramatic Resolution for 10,000 Little Ones by Tedd Tripp

Your Most Courageous Resolution for 2014 by Jon Bloom

Hope you enjoy these!

In the meantime, we’ll keep thinking and planning! = )

My friend, Amy, already has a great list up here. I always am super convicted inspired by her initiative! And with four kids! In Africa!

Anyways, hope to talk more soon!

Christie

The Idealistic Homeschooler

~ Christie ~ 6 Comments
Idealistic homeschooling... for two weeks
Idealistic homeschooling…. for two weeks

I have a dream. It goes something like this:

I wake up early; have some quiet time to myself; exercise; and get completely ready. At this point (hopefully @7:30) I go in and wake up my children. Did I say their clothes were already out and waiting for them? They wake up, get dressed, make their beds, and come to me so I can fix their hair. We eat breakfast and clean it up. School commences at promptly anytime earlier than what it has been. Oh wait, I’m being idealisitc; school starts at 8:45. When school is done, we make sure everything is tidy from that and then go outside to exercise and play for an hour.

In case you don’t know this about me, what I just described is nothing like how our weekdays go.

But I have this idea.

Starting Monday, we have officially two full weeks of school until Christmas break. What if I just try to live my “ideal” for two weeks? Only two weeks! Can it really be that hard? And if it is…can’t I stick it out for just two weeks?

Now, in my defense, the last three weeks have been crazy and unusual. There is no way that we could have or should have tried or expected something like this to happen due to all that was happening.

Why do I even want to try this?

I know that change is better done gradually; I know have to be realistic about my life expectations with four little kids; I know the whole thing could be a colossal failure on day 2.

But it just occurred to me that I have this two-week window coming off of a very relaxing holiday break; and it might be a fun time to try.

I’m hoping for a couple of things:

1. To realize that some ideals are maybe more livable than we think if we just give it a chance. Sometimes it’s too easy to just trudge along and never actually try for anything better.

2. To get over my fear of waking my children up earlier, thinking that they won’t get enough sleep.

3. To force myself to get up earlier for the purpose of prayer and exercise, and to therefore go to bed earlier. (because if this girl doesn’t get enough sleep, she’s not gettin’ up; AND, we’ve been starting to do a lot better at this already!)

4. To bring some more structure to our homeschool routine.

5. To make more time for extra homeschool things with Hope and other activities/learning times for the little girls.

What do you think?

I just spent almost two hours cleaning up our homeschool space, organizing, and in general trying to prepare the house for a fresh start tomorrow.

And the whole point of hitting “publish” now is to make it a point of no return.

Don’t expect updates; hopefully, I’ll be in bed.

Completely unrelated: we got our Christmas tree tonight!!!!! Mmmmm…. the smell of Christmas tree could inspire me to do just about anything.

****A slight, but important amendment! I will post about how it’s going, but just on the facebook page to be faster. If you haven’t liked the facebook page, do it here so you can keep up!

When I just want to crash

~ Christie ~ 4 Comments

One thing is for sure about 99.8 percent of the time: if I sit down on the couch right after I put the girls in bed, I won’t be getting up… likely for hours.

I always think, “I just need to sit down for fifteen or twenty minutes; then I’ll get up and finish the dishes/pick up the house/etc.” It feels like I can’t do anything but sit down. My body has literally no option.

My mind does kind of tease me about that feeling sometime, though; because you know if one of the girls became ill or something, I would jump off the couch to rub a back, or clean up the mess, or give a drink, or start the laundry- all that those wonderful middle-of-the-night episodes entail. Conversely, if a trusted friend appeared on the doorstep to say, “Hey, your kids are in bed; I brought you a Target gift card, go shop for an hour!” I would probably be able to muster that little last bit of strength to do something fun.

Note: I am not saying at all that it’s wrong to sit down at the end of the day to just relax. I just know for myself that if I do that right after putting the girls in bed, it is very unlikely that I will get back up to do something profitable. Even though I always intend to.

Which brings me to a point of inspiration.

A few weeks ago, I read an article that said something like this, “You will never do what you want to do until you decide what you won’t do.” (Unfortunately, I cannot track down that post anywhere!)

Hmmm. “Won’t do.” Very interesting.

I thought it was a pretty good point and began to think where it could apply to my life.

One thought led to another, and here is what I came up with:

Thing I won’t do #1: I won’t sit down for twenty minutes after the girls go to bed.

At all. Anything standing, moving or walking is fair game. (except leaning over the counter looking at my ipad)

It’s amazing how that first small step of self-denial is so hard; yet the subsequent steps are so easy. Just picking up toys, putting away books, getting dirty dishes out of the sink, or laundry into the dryer doesn’t seem so taxing after all. Wow, I’m getting a lot done!

The other sort-of rule is that I don’t watch the clock. Ding! Twenty minutes; Pinterest, here I come!

This might be takng it too far, but I want it to be about my heart, not just a silly rule I made for myself. Body, I am in charge and you will do what I say. You’re not as worn out as you think you are. 

Funny sidenote: I am currently sitting on the couch, truly exhausted from a taxing week of homeschooling and a sick little one. Special circumstances do apply.) = )

Anyways, this has been a huge help to me! I think it’s been about a month now that I’ve tried it and I would say there’s been 80-90% success! I find myself doing profitable things for longer than twenty minutes, genuinely enjoying it, and accomplishing even more than I intended to.

And then when I do sit down? it feels really, really good. And I’m not as likely to relax too long before going to bed.

For some reason thinking of it as something I won’t do is easier than thinking of it as something I will do. eg. I will straighten the house for twenty minutes after putting the girls down.

Do you have any reverse psychology that works for you?

If you have trouble with a time-sucking couch, try this and let me know how it goes. = )

image

{Israel recap} Day 12: In other news

~ Christie ~ Leave a comment
Viewing the Sea of Galilee from Mount Arbel
Viewing the Sea of Galilee from Mount Arbel
In view here are the regions where Jesus did most of His miracles
In view here are the regions where Jesus did most of His miracles

(Thanks so much for your patience as we rerun this Israel series. It’s almost over…)

Since life is still clipping along at an ordinary pace and there is not much to report from the day, I thought I would talk a little bit about one of my goals for this time.

I believe it is a common theme among young mothers who claim to be followers of Christ that finding time to devote yourself to Him in prayer and Bible study can be at best elusive and often downright frustrating. I definitely have to confess that this has been a struggle for me.

I have also realized that simple devotional reading (i.e. go to a passage, read, think: what does this mean to me?) does not suffice for learning the Bible and therefore learning of Christ.

If I can copy off of my husband and some of his professors, you must determine first of all, “What does the passage mean?”, before you can ever make a conclusion regarding what it means to you.

This requires the skill of diligent Bible study.

This past semester my husband was required to read The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald. His praise for it caught my attention. “This is the best book I have ever read on teaching someone how to study the Bible!” My ears perked up; one, because he is extremely careful about how people teach/interpret the Bible and rarely speaks so well of a book; two, because I noticed the book was very short – maybe I could work through it! And finally build a foundation for how to study the Bible.

Well, in case you haven’t guessed already, one of my goals for this time alone was to begin reading and working through that book.

This book really is wonderful. I’ve actually only gotten through the first chapter and practice exercise, but it has been so helpful. It’s really teaching me how to dig through a passage, not to find something that no one has heard of before, but to understand the true meaning of the text.

In all honesty, I’m ashamed at how little I have studied the Bible, especially through these last five years of childbearing.

Is it difficult to find the time? Yes; but it’s also difficult to live day in and day out without that all-satisfying water of the Word. Believe me, I know.

Lord-willing, I’ll keep you updated on my progress as I continue to work through this little book. Interested in checking it out? Here’s an amazon link: The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study

Thanks for reading my first series: Taking care of four little girls alone (while my husband is on an amazing study trip to Israel). Here are links to the other related posts. 

Series coming soon

It’s official: the Israel trip is on

Official introduction

Day 1: to turn out that last light

Day 2: lonely in a crowd

Day 3: Is something wrong with me?

Day 4: Sometimes you just need…

Day 5: It hit me

Day 6: The problem with “me” time

Day 7: I need you

Day 8: An answered prayer

Day 9: Letting others be there for you

Day 10: the weakest link

Day 11: exhaustion setting in

It’s all about love! what I just finished reading

~ Christie ~ 4 Comments

9780312499440_p0_v1_s260x42051bYIGEBUQL._AA160_Since I care a great deal about accuracy, I feel inclined to tell you that I didn’t just finish reading these. But both of them were completed in the last several months ; John Donne first, Uneclipsing the Son last. But as a young mother of four little kids five and under, I’m still basking in the accomplishment of finishing two books.

Also, it’s been a great while since I did an actual book review. I didn’t enjoy it then, and I don’t plan on enduring it now. So I will try to tell you why I read these books and point out some things that were especially enjoyable or valuable to me. That sounds a lot better then going through my old Composition text and writing point for point a good book review.

Ready?

Poetry first.

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I dearly love poetry, but have only come to realize this since being married. One of our favorite hangouts as a couple is Barnes and Noble; I remember the first time I decided to browse the poetry section. Hmm… Dylan Johnson, there was a poem of his I loved in high school. Egh, but not right now. Tennyson? Longfellow? John Donne. Oh yes, this is what I want.

“Batter my heart three-personed God!” rang in my ears. I wanted to read more of this guy.

These poems were definitely a stretch for me. Sometimes I would have to read it two or three times to really understand. There are a lot of references to ancient mythology? history? I didn’t get all those, but it didn’t hamper my understanding too much. In his introduction, Charles Fowkes relays how reading Donne’s love poems connects with the feelings of your own heart. His writing truly captures the universal emotions associated with romantic love: jealousy, discontentment, peace, adversity, desire, worry, infatuation, joy, loneliness… you know you’ve felt them all; and he will put verse to your feelings, my friend. = )

Warning: I wouldn’t suggest these if you’re a dreamy teenage girl. It’s perfectly cool if you’re married, but maybe a little too intense otherwise.

One of my favorites was entitled “His Picture.” It tells of a young man going off to sea who gives his picture to the girl he loves. He hopes that when he comes back, “weather-beaten… a sack of bones… with care’s rash,” that she will remember what he was, and maybe even appreciate him more for what he has become…

That which in him was fair and delicate,

Was but the milk, which in love’s childish state

Did nurse it: who now is grown strong enough

To feed on that, which to disused tastes seems tough.

Ah… I love it.

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Switching topics completely. I’ve written before here about my desire to simply grow in my love for Jesus this year. Some messages we heard at our church and seminary convocation last year really helped me formulate how this could happen. They were preached by Rick Holland, pastor of Mission Road Bible Church. (Here is his blog, approachingdamascus.com).

Uneclipsing the Son, was the basis for those messages. Rick Holland sets out to prove that the answer to the problems Christians face is answered in one word, Jesus. Amazing stuff, I know. Here are a few excerpts from his beginning statements:

You’ve spent hours in church, listened to countless sermons, compiled enough notes to sink a battleship. You’ve had enough good intentions to compete with Mother Teresa and enough failures to compete with Peter’s denials and Thomas’s doubts. Still, something is woefully missing. There is a shadow, a pall over your very, very “normal” Christian life.

I am not so arrogant as to think that the book you are holding is the answer to all your questions and the cure for all your soul’s ills. But I am convinced that Jesus Himself is that Answer and Cure. I have experienced dry times in my faith and tried everything I could to quench my heart’s thirst. But nothing has made a lasting difference, except Jesus.

The entirety of the New Testament is devoted to getting Jesus right. These biblical books are not a mere directive for a new way to live, but a manifesto of the amazing greatness of Jesus. Get Jesus wrong and you lose everything that matters; get Him right and you gain everything that matters.

Every single chapter in this book was valuable and helpful. You are slowly brought along, disabused of misconceptions, and inspired to follow Christ in a way that is real and doable. Here are highlights from a few chapters that were especially helpful to me.

Chapter 3, Eternal Life Is Not What You Think. Yes! We are not talking about a mere fire escape from hell and ticket to forever happiness in heaven. Eternal life is knowing Jesus Christ, John 17:3.

Chapter 6, The Word And Words, is a faith-strengthening call to rely on the Bible for your knowledge of Jesus.

Chapter 7, Satan’s Associates. If we are to love Jesus and to pursue knowing Him above all else, it will require making war on the idolatrous passions of our heart. A great chapter on sin in the Christian life; it takes away our excuses.

Chapter 9, The Lost Supper. This was my favorite chapter of all. I plan to reread it often. Did you know that there is a God-given way to “accelerate your spiritual growth and rekindle your love for Christ”? It’s not a gimmick, not a formula, not an incentive, not anything man-made, but it works every time. And I’m not going to tell you what it is! You have to read the book! How valuable just this one chapter of truth was to me!

This book did not impact me on an intellectual level. It was aimed at my heart; that place that every day experiences the warfare between loving God or loving myself.

On the note of writing style, I found Rick Holland’s blend of theological proposition and conversational informality to be evenly balanced, giving the reader equal opportunity to think hard and then mentally breathe.

This book could be read by anyone.

I would strongly recommend it for someone who knows and cares nothing about Jesus, what have you got to lose? There’s always something to be said for expanding your horizons.

I would recommend it for someone who might be struggling with their own salvation or finding the Christian life more difficult than expected.

I would recommend it for someone who has loved Jesus for a long time; there’s nothing sweeter than rehearsing our Saviour’s greatness.

I would recommend it for someone who is coming alongside a younger believer; it’s full of practical and compelling truth regarding living the Christian life.

Here is the Amazon link again for Uneclipsing the Son, by Rick Holland.

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Thanks so much for reading about what I’ve been reading! I love to hear about books. What have you been reading and why…

An encouragement regarding children who aren’t inclined to work

~ Christie ~ 4 Comments
for the families 006
She volunteered to wipe down the cabinets!
In her element, "playing" with water
In her element, “playing” with water

If I’ve heard my husband say how he first noticed me once, I’ve heard it a million times.

“We were working at this camp together, and it was my job to give out the responsibilities. I noticed that this girl was always where she was supposed to be, didn’t mess around, worked really hard and did great at everything…”

Blah. Blah. Blah…little did I know in a few years he’d want me to have four kids in a row, take care of them, clean the house, make the meals… no wonder he noticed a hard worker! = ) Totally kidding!

A funny thought occurred to me a few weeks ago; maybe it was after hearing him begin that story for the bajillionth time.

I actually wasn’t a good worker at all as a kid.

My parents, who were very committed to teaching us how to work and be responsible, had to remind me constantly to keep working. I would daydream, do a half-hearted job, ask to go do something else, or just plain stop. We weren’t allowed to whine or complain at all, but I do remember not being very happy about working on the inside.

To their credit, my parents never really criticized me for this. I don’t remember any lectures or “No more, or else!” moments. They just quietly, consistently kept giving me jobs, talking about the value of work, and expecting me to do my part for the family. I don’t remember at all it being a negative memory; I just know that in my heart, I would have rather been swinging, reading, or climbing trees.

I do remember a big light bulb moment towards the end of high school. (Sorry, Mom and Dad that it took so long!) I literally remember thinking, They ask me to vacuum and wash the car every week! Why don’t I just do it before they ask me so it won’t be so annoying when they tell me to do it and I’m in the middle of something? Like I said, light bulb! I began to do it first thing every Friday and I was so much happier! By that time, I actually enjoyed the jobs that I did; and finally taking ownership of them was even better.

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Now I remember what made me think about this: I was watching Hope do some little job and thinking, She’s just not a very good worker. Then I remembered, Oh yeah! Neither was I; for a looong time. Then I thought, Ha! Isn’t it funny that the “hard worker” character trait was one of the first things that Paul noticed about me.

So, the point is, if you have a child that’s not inclined to work, don’t despair. Even the worst of us can be reformed.

I’m proof. = )

(Now just don’t ask me about what happened to that stellar work ethic after I got married and pregnant!)

Hello February

~ Christie ~ Leave a comment

2007-2009 334Hello February… a week and a half late.

Hello shortest month of the year.

Hello my husband’s birthday month.

Hello busy month.

Hello month that I’ve decided to not read blogs.

What? Screeeeeech!!! Slow down, and say that again.

Hello month that I’ve decided to not read blogs.

This was a hard and easy decision for me. I began reading blogs about two years ago; it’s been a constant source of inspiration, entertainment and relaxation ever since. But the truth is, I’m not that purposeful with it anymore. One leads to another, to another, to another; before I know it, it’s way past my bedtime. And what do I have to show for it? Not much. The thought crossed my mind that for a month I should not read any, and right away I knew it would be a good thing to do.

I’ve been feeling a definite pull in my heart away from devotion to Jesus, a disconnectedness to my children, and an apathy toward my marriage.

Are blogs causing this? No! My heart is the cause of this. I love myself so much that I’m willing to sacrifice what’s best for me (sleep, preparation, prayer) for the temporal pleasure of reading interesting posts or looking at pretty pictures of decor.

So, in honor of the month of love, I’m casting something away with the hopes of learning again to love Jesus supremely.

So far, honestly, it’s been a little rough. I find myself during the day thinking about it or looking for an excuse to check my email or something. It’s amazing how quickly we can set ourselves on mommy-autopilot without even realizing it.

I was sort of on the fence about whether to cut out Pinterest or not, but am pretty sure that at least for now it needs to go, too.

There’s no official plan of action besides just cutting out my nighttime pastime for right now. I’m not expecting instant results or trying to go about it in a A.B.C. no-fail manner. Just saying no to my desire for “down time” which inevitably leads to “wasted time.”

So… we’ll see what happens.

Hello February.