along for the ride

My New Home

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 21 May 2016 00:08:00 +0000

I've made the move to Medium and I'd love for you to join me. What a sweet space Along for the Ride has been. Excited to keep writing in a new season in a new space.

Poor Second Child

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:49:00 +0000

When I was pregnant with Sam, I blogged each week, posed my growing belly for pictures, and thought long and hard over each word I wrote for my son.

Second baby...

A terrible bathroom selfie with a hashtag #nopenottwins.

Sorry second baby.

With Sam, this blog was so vibrant with prayers for my growing baby.

Second baby gets crickets.

But that doesn't mean we aren't over the moon that our family is growing.

Baby boy Theodore, we are so excited to meet you. Truly. Even if my days are filled more with potty training your brother than daydreaming about my growing belly. Please don't take it personally. You are incredibly loved -- we are incredibly blessed. While I had lots of time to think about my first pregnancy, I hope it's ok that I'm spending more time making sure your brother doesn't accidentally punch you in utero.

21 weeks down, Teddy. See you in the fall!

Hey...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:42:00 +0000

Sam has an announcement!

We're over the moon about our growing family!

Being pregnant the second time around has been so different. Not really different physically. Similar queasiness, similar exhaustion. Different in the way I've thought about it. I don't really, not much. I'm aware of how my clothes don't fit (second baby does not mess around - full on maternity clothes over here at 11.5 weeks). But other than that, I don't spend nearly as much time thinking about being pregnant. Frankly, I forget.

That sounds terrible, doesn't it?

Sam is super excited about being a big brother. He is hoping for a baby Jesus, but he's pretty sure it's a baby sister.

Why I Shop At Aldi

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:21:00 +0000

It's no secret that I love Aldi. Simply put, I get more for less. I'm able to feed my family real, whole, good food and not break the bank.

I buy all of our groceries at Aldi. All of them. The milk, the cheese, the meat, the bread, the fruits and veggies, the TP, the dish washing detergent, the diapers. Everything.

Aldi has a pretty cool history - and fun fact, it's sister company is Trader Joe's!

Going to Aldi is literally one of the highlights of my week. I love searching out amazing deals on their every day great items, special buys (unique items, store-brand stuff), home goods, and random fun things (house plants anyone?).

I love that I can fill my cart to the brim with staples, a few indulgences, new things to try, and a boat load of produce and I am rarely shocked by the sticker price (do you ever go to the store and buy 3 things and think wow that was a fast $50?)

What I love most is how Aldi is constantly adapting their offerings to serve their customers various diets and health interests - non-GMO items, organic, specialty items (like prosciutto and brie), gluten free.

Seriously, it's like shopping at a specialty grocery store. I just want to stand outside of Whole Foods with a big sign that says "grab your bags, we're going to Aldi!"

In the next few posts I'm going to share my tips for a successful Aldi shopping trip and some things that I typically buy.

Have you ever wanted to try Aldi? What is holding you back? Have any questions about their products? Ask away! (I've probably had it!)

Sam's Big Boy Room

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:47:00 +0000

Once upon a time, Sam's room looked like this.

And while it wasn't that long ago, it seems like an eternity since the walls of his nursery were bare, the room waiting for it's new tiny occupant.

And now it's not even a nursery any more.

We had been wondering for a while when Sam was going to escape the crib and make a run for it. We worried about the right time to transition him to a big bed. But we didn't have to worry for long. Sam decided for us.

Over Thanksgiving, Sam chose the big bed over the crib at Pops and Nana's house and there was no turning back. We took down the crib a few days after we got home.

Some folks suggested converting the crib to a toddler bed. Others said to have both in the room for Sam to choose. I wanted to just move the crib in the spare bedroom for a while, just in case. But when it wouldn't fit through the door, down it came and up it went into the attic.

And now we have a big boy room.

Oh my goodness, I love the big boy room!

We made a few changes in here - got rid of an unsafe book case, took out the changing pad and updated the book rails (that can't hold books or Sam would never want to go to sleep), We didn't have to do too much baby proofing, because, honestly, there isn't much in here.

And I added another color into Sam's yellow room. I am very particularly when it comes to the colors of things, so a green bedspread meant the room needed other splashes of green. Frames and prints on the shelves, a few green baskets, and the curtains. I bought a set of green panels and literally cut them in half and put them on either side of the yellow blackout curtain, making sure to hide the cut edge because you better believe I did not hem anything.

Does it make me a bad mom because I am not really sad that Sam is growing up? I love that he's growing and learning and talking. I love that he climbs into his bed with his animal friends, or helps as I change his clothes. But I do still love that he wants to rock with his mommy in that chair.

dusting things off

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 21:57:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure I've used that metaphor before. When I leave this space quiet for too long I come in and dust it off and start working again.

So here I am, early spring cleaning.

I've been really getting into a few blogs lately. Reading back and back and back, learning women's stories. Seeing their lives. Getting inspired. Feeling a little creepy. But mostly, getting inspired.

So here I am.

The new year has come and gone. Unceremoniously. Digitally as I didn't mention it here. And literally as I fell asleep on the couch at 11pm on New Year's Eve.

I've dug into my new planner and so far, I feel fairly on top of the new year. My husband thinks it's ridiculous that I still use a paper planner. But most of the features of my smart phone are completely lost on me (and most of the time my phone is lost anyway) so paper it is.

Do you choose a word for the year? I have in the past but I never do anything with them. So I didn't pick one this year.

But if I did, it would have something to do with growing or flourishing or being intentional.

But mostly, I want to focus on small victories this year. Flossing my teeth. Washing my face. Eating real food. Not biting my nails. Forcing my child out of the bathroom while I pee because I deserve like 2 minutes by myself. The little things.

Maybe my word should be "self-care." I want to focus a tiny bit on being a better version of the already amazing self that I already am. I want to be able to take care of my family a bit better than I did last year. And I want to spend a bit more time as a hands-on mama of a crazy 2-year-old. Because, truly, he's the best thing there is.

My Pinteresting Expectations

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 17:39:00 +0000

I had a mini-meltdown this weekend regarding decorating for Christmas, and I'm blaming Pinterest.

It's no secret I love and hate Pinterest. And I think, deep down, we all kind of feel this way. From spending way too much time on Pinterest, one thing has become clear. There are some folks out there that are really good at pretending to be perfect.

One of my favorite blogs did a feature on how they take their blog pictures. Hint - not with their iphones. They listed their favorite camera, lenses, accessories, and lighting. That's right, every amazing picture is taken with those umbrella-type gizmos you see at a photo studio. Well, no wonder their photos are 100 times better than my mine taken in poor lighting with my smudgey phone camera. Now, this blog remains my favorite because they do share real-life photos with giant piles of laundry and a sick full of dishes (although the pictures are still really good!). They also frequently remind readers of the giant piles of junk just out of site.

But I digress. I know perfect is an illusion on sites like Pinterest.

But it doesn't mean it doesn't get me down.

So back to my point - this weekend. I realize now that I'm just not the greatest holiday mom. But going into the weekend, I had such high expectations of family decorating time. I even bought tiny marshmallows for hot chocolate and stuff to make cookies (well, a bag of cookie mix, whatever). But in the midst of burning cookies, tantrums, failed Christmas crafts, and an overall lack of Christmas spirit, I kind of lost it.

There were tears involved. It was ridiculous.

Why do I do this to myself? Why do we let Pinterest ruin our holidays like that (I'm assuming you've done this too)?

My hubby gave me a talking-to (in a totally caring and justified kind of way) and we hit restart on the day. We didn't get a tree this year since we'll be traveling, but we did make a trip to the tree lot for some greenery (I would not call it magical as we got wet and had to drag Sam to the car screaming after we wouldn't let him take home the giant plastic frosty), but it was pretty great none-the-less. We put out the nativity scene, put up our little tree, hung Sam's stocking, and called it good. Because it is good.

Seeing Sam's eyes light up when he saw the tree the next day, reading Away in a Manger 100 times before Sam will fall asleep, and watching him fall in love with the tiny baby Jesus from my childhood nativity set, now that's magic.

[i think i may need to search Pinterest for some shoe organizing ideas. #putitinabasket]

Aromatherapy Shower Melts

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 15:39:00 +0000

I hate waking up in the morning. I probably hate it more than anyone else in the world.

So in an attempt to be a little bit happier about having to get out of bed, I whipped up a few aromatherapy shower melts.

I used "cheer up buttercup," a blend of bergamot, orange, lime, grapefruit, and lemon oils. Seriously, it's like bottled joy.

This is hardly a scientific recipe. I dumped a box of baking soda into a bowl and added enough water to make a paste. I filled a cheap silicon baking mold with the mixture and let them dry (I baked them for a while at 250 and then let them dry the rest of the way on the counter). I added a drop of oil to each cube and put them in a jar, because everything in my house goes in a jar. (Next time I make them, I am going to mix the oil right into the paste before I put them in the molds. I am also going to skip the oven and just let them dry on the counter over night.)

To use, put one on the floor of the shower in the morning, take a deep breath, and hate waking up just a little bit less.

My mom and I made these this past weekend and she added Breathe to her melts, perfect for the sniffles or a persistent cough. Here's another great recipe for vapor shower disks that uses rosemary, eucalyptus, and lavender oils.

Want more of a "fizzy" effect in the shower or bath? (perfect for making toilet fizzies too).

Have any other tricks for me to not hate the morning so much??

Essentially

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:32:00 +0000

I've been dabbling in essential oils for about 9 months. We were super sick last winter and while looking for ways to help my family stay healthy, I stumbled into the strangely large world of essential oils.

Essential oils aren't that complicated. Basically, they are highly concentrated compounds distilled from a variety of plants.

It gets complicated, however, when you start to talk about various brands and companies that sell essential oils. Two large companies market them through direct-sale methods - folks not only buy oils, but they typically sign on as consultants (I did at first to get a discount on the products) and then can start to sell and market the oils and build their "business."

This is where things got strange for me. The cost, schemes, requirements, and business models of a few companies rubbed me the wrong way -- I wanted to use more oils in my house, but I just couldn't get around these things.

I have recently found a brand that I love - I'm loving the oils and the company itself! And it's been so fun learning new ways to use these powerful tools in new, beneficial ways.

I see myself writing more about the ways I use oils every day, and hope to share my experiences (in a fairly brand-neutral kind of way).

Do you use you essential oils? I'd love to hear how!

Getting Away

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 21:17:00 +0000

This past weekend, Kyle and I got away for a bit and took a trip to the mountains. We're only about 2 hours from Ashville, so we left right after work and get there for cocktail time.

Kyle's parents graciously volunteered to watch Sam - it was my first time away from him ever. I have been with him every night (or with him in my belly) every day for 2 years and 9 months. Crazy!

I don't think he missed us.

Kyle and I had such a great time. We ate our way through Asheville and has some of the best meals I can remember. I will crave the brussel sprouts from Wicked Weed for the rest of my life.

We are so not picture people, but we did manage to capture this cute little selfie before our brewery tour. Kyle with his new old man hat. Me with my poor attempt at wavy hair. Gosh, I'm so glad we found each other.

Happy Birthday My Little Human

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 18:15:00 +0000

Dear Samuel,

I can't believe you're already two! Boy, that sure happened fast.

I remember finding out about you. Hearing your little heartbeat. Watching you grow. And then welcoming you home. Spending your first year together.And then heading back to work full time, missing you every day.

It's been a hard two years. I don't have to tell you that not every moment of parenthood is a picnic.

But even when it's hard, it's usually better than I could have every imagined.

Two years ago you were a teeny tiny bundle, crying and eating and not much more.

Now you're running up and down the hall, talking up a storm, and being super silly. You're all like "look at me, I've got underpants on my head."

You're basically the silliest, funniest, cutest, wildest, most wonderful kid I know.

I love you, Sam. I love watching you grow and change. And I love seeing how you change me for the better. There are parts of my heart I didn't even know existed until I had you.

You're a gift. Even when you poop in the tub and throw it at me like a monkey at the zoo. You're a gift. And I cherish you.

Love, Momma

Autumn Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:07:00 +0000

I'm keeping it super simple this year -- a few pumpkins here a new wreath there and we're done. I feel like I finally have all my regular decorations in exactly the right spot, so why would I want to move them all around for seasonal decor?

But it doesn't mean I don't like looking at the way other people decorate. Here's what I'm loving on pinterest (just pretend it's what I would do if I was doing anything this year).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

As you can tell, I really like simple decorations with lots of neutral and natural elements.

How do you decorate for fall?

Welcome October (my absolute favorite month)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:03:00 +0000

I for one am so glad!

Parenting is Hilarious!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:14:00 +0000

I've talked about this before, but I'll say it again...

parenting in hilarious. Truly. It's the funniest thing I've ever done.

when your son wears underpants as a hat
when he insists on putting his face in his cereal bowl and eating like the cat
when he dances around the house naked
or poops in the hallway

I mean, come on, that's funny.

Last night I was wrestling with him to get him diapered. I took a break from the wrestling match and he quickly hid in his closet (hide and seek is his new favorite thing). I heard a strange noise, and when I opened the door he said "Mamma I pee peed. Look, pee pee) and pointed at the pool of pee he was standing in.

I cracked up!

Of course I cleaned it up and tried to explain why he shouldn't pee on the floor.

But I also started crying from laughing so hard.

Of course parenting is serious business, and our days as moms and dads are full of moments of pure joy and pure challenge. But as Sam gets older, I find more and more to laugh about. And not a "how is this happening, if I don't laugh I'll cry" kind of thing. But the kind of laughing you do when you are overwhelmed with happiness over the child you created. Over seeing him learn new things, get into silly situations, and make his way through the world one pee pee accident at a time.

Coloring Outside the Lines

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:40:00 +0000

The picture I shared yesterday got me thinking about coloring, specifically coloring outside the lines.

I have never really been one to color outside the lines. I'm a rule follower. Elephants are gray. The sky is blue. Flowers are shades of pink and purple.

I can already tell Sam is going to be a color-outside-the-lines kind of kid. And I'm trying really hard to let it happen.

It would be so easy for me to stand over him as he plays, dictating which toys go together and which ones don't.

But Sam knows what he likes. He likes to park his trains in the barn and put his animals on top of tall block towers. Thanks to papa, he has a collection of wooden ducks that he moves along his train tracks. A toy's a toy and it's fun when they're all playing together.

I pray that Sam will continue to follow his heart when it comes to creativity, and I pray even more that I can help foster this. It may require me to loosen up on a few personal definitions, but it's worth it. Seeing him color outside the lines is worth it.

Kid Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 20:36:00 +0000

[hoping Sam did not get his crayons confused with his veggie straw]

I absolutely love kiddy crafts, but I have not been very good at cultivating Sam as a young artist. It's sometimes hard to find the time to get messy or to find projects that are age appropriate. I did just order his birthday present, though, a bunch of fun art supplies!

Here's a few things I'd like to try (now and when Sam is older).

homemade doodle paint

I'd love to know: what are some of your favorite kid crafts?

Clutter (part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:03:00 +0000

...If I see one more printable cleaning schedule on Pinterest I just might puke (and then who will clean that up?).

But seriously, I feel like I'm going back and forth between two extremes: being organized and being present.

Last week I shared some thoughts on clutter, and specifically clearing clutter. I referenced a blog post that encourages us to clear clutter so that we can further "operate out of joy." And I want that, don't you?

But at what cost?

So often, when I'm stuck over a sink of dirty dishes or stuffing the washing machine too full, and I'm getting frustrated, I often tell myself that these are the things my family needs, I'm serving my family with my acts of cleaning.

But after I cleaned up Sam's trains for the millionth time this weekend (because our neighbor was stopping by), I thought... I'm not doing this for my family, I'm doing this for appearances.

Oh geez. Now what?

How do I balance wanting to serve my family well and give them a comfortable, clean space, and still be present with them in that space (instead of forcing myself into some chore and missing out on quality time)? How do I balance organizing because my mind works best in an organized space with my need to present my home perfectly when a guest walks in the door?

What are your thoughts?

A Small, Cozy House

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:00:00 +0000

I love our small home. And I love reading about why others' love their small homes.

I love this post by The Prairie Homestead. Jill makes so many great points, but I love how she mentions that living in a small home is easier to decorate. And how true that is! I love filling our cozy home with artwork, creative images, trinkets. I love to be surrounded by things on the walls.

Ashley at the Vanilla Tulip has a whole feature on her small space. She talks a lot about how she's constantly changing things up in her home to make her furniture work best.

Things I love about my small home:
- It's quick to clean

- My family is always close

- Decorations make a big impact in the small space

- It's easy to find the cat (I can't image having any more nooks and crannies for her to hide)

- A few small candles fill the whole home with a great smell and happy glow

- It always has a warm, welcoming feeling

- Small improvements make a big difference

- Cozy, cozy, cozy (my favorite thing ever)

- I can always hear when Sam hollers "mommy, hep pees"

Do you live in a small house? What do you love about it?

A few of my favorite views

And of course, my favorite family

Clutter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 17:49:00 +0000

Do you ever feel like you're just drowning in clutter? Straight up fighting to get air from under the dirty dishes, piles of paper, laundry.

And books. So many books.

And it seems like I'm not alone. So many women on my instagram feed and blog roll are fighting the good fight against excess mess and excess stuff.

Two of my favorite ladies have talked about it this season.

Ruth (who is simply amazing) shares her perspective in At The Root of Clutter.

She starts off saying something that hits me hard.

And so I purchase baskets, and boxes, and labels, and sorters. And they help. But sometimes a chaotic home is a reflection of a chaotic mind, and sometimes a chaotic mind is a reflection of a chaotic home. Do you know the vicious cycle I speak of? Buying more tools for organization doesn't simply make the mess go away-- not on the dresser, not in the closet, and not in our overwhelmed minds and hearts.

Oh.my.gosh. Truth right there. I can't help to feel anxious when I come home to a messy house - and I can't help but let my home go when my mind is elsewhere.

But how do we find a balance?

So many times I've looked where it seems Ruth has looked. I think "how can I better organize ____" and I come home with the tools that I think will help.

When really, I need to get to the root of clutter and send things out the door instead of bringing things in.

Rachel from Finding Joy (one of my daily reads) says what I need to hear in the first sentence of her post Clear the Clutter.

Stuff can suffocate joy.

Oh my.

Rachel goes on to talk about taking charge of the clutter so it's "easier for us to operate out of joy."

I want to operate out of joy!!

I've done quite a bit already. Donated duplicates. Thought critically about my closet. Tried to limit my sentimentality towards objects and think more about function (which is really hard for me).

Just because it's cute, doesn't mean it has a place in my home.

How have you struggled against clutter? And if you haven't, well, I'd love to know your secret.

Told you we had a lot of books.

Shaping My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 16:14:00 +0000

October 18, 2013 (in my journal):
"Another morning in the playroom, watching Sam explore.

He's one now. So hard to believe we made it through those difficult days, Our connection has become so strong. I look at Sam and see a part of myself, the best part. The holy part. I see Christ is my son. I see the Lord using him to sanctify me. I know I have a big responsibility as his mom, but I almost think his responsibility to me is even bigger.

Lord, help me go gently through this day. Help me to be intentional and present."

Have you ever thought of that? The role of our children in our lives? And not what we do for them - but rather, how God is using our children to shape and grow us.

I see this play out more and more every day. As Sam winds up in the timeout chair for the 100th time today, I see God using this experience to grow my heart toward patience and obedience. As I care for Sam when he's sick, I see God using this experience to shape my spirit toward softness and compassion. As I teach Sam the values of our family, I see God using this experience to mold my spirit toward the Holy Spirit.

Parenting is funny like that. You get so wrapped up in what you need to do as a parent, God pulls one over on you. You realize that you are really the student. You are the one changing. You are the one becoming better.. As much as I try to lead my child toward God, God is using my child to guide me as well. I am closer to God because of my closeness with Sam.

Lord, help me go gently through this day. Help me to be intentional and present. Help me to be open to the lessons you have for me. Help me to see my son as a teacher, a molder of my heart. Help me to grow toward you through what he is teaching me.

So Sleepy

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:02:00 +0000

I am so sleepy. All the time. And I'm tired of it.

I'm tired of being tired.

I went in last week for a regular thyroid check, and my levels came back low. My medication was switched and adjusted, and I've been on it for a few days, but I am still so tired.

I told Kyle this morning that I have two settings lately: it's night time and I'm tired and I must sleep so I go to sleep, or it's daytime and I'm so tired and I want to sleep but I can't.

I could seriously sleep until 2015.

And I know, you're thinking "you're a mom, you're tired, it's normal." But you know, I really have no excuse. Sam's a great sleeper and rarely wakes us up. I'm not a night owl and I'm in bed by 10pm. But in the morning I hold on to my bed as long as possible until Sam is like "no really, momma, I'm 5 seconds from climbing out of this crib" and I have just enough time to take a fast shower, make crappy lunches, and put my shoes on in the car.

Are any of you sleepy sleepersens like me? What have you done to get a jolt of energy?

Here are a few of my goals as it relates to sleep:
First, I would like to get up on time.
Then, I would like to get up without hitting snooze.
Then, way in the future, I'd like to get up early. Like drinking coffee in a quiet home with my bible kind of early.

So baby steps, ya'll. Baby steps.

And because every blog post needs a picture.

Get it, he's sleeping.

Overwhelmed With It All

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:38:00 +0000

I have to admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed with what is happening around the world. Quite overwhelmed, actually - terrorism and violence, rioting and racism, depression and loss. I've started to shut things out, hiding myself from the news. It's like I almost don't want to know.

But I know I need to. I need to see what is happening. I need to feel sadness and anger. And while I'm not always sure what to do or how I can help, I know I can pray. I know I can turn to the one who sees and knows all. The one who listens. While I don't understand how these events fit into His plan, and while I'm saddened and confused, I chose to trust Him. Trust in Him and His workings.

via

Missing Her

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 17:44:00 +0000

This past week I was in my hometown, saying goodbye to one special lady. After a long, hard battle with cancer, my grandmother passed away.

How do you say goodbye to someone who helped raise you?
My mother was really sick after she had me, so my grandmother stepped in, helping my dad with the late night feedings, early doctor's appointments, and tiny baby diaper changes for the few weeks of my life. Later in my childhood, my parents and I moved just down the road from my grandparents and memories of them in my life are too numerous to count.

How do you say goodbye to someone who gave so much?
I've never met a woman (in combination with my grandfather) who were more generous. And not just financially. With their time and talents, too. Serving in the church and in the community. Hosting events, sponsoring programs. My grandmother crafting tote bags/ornaments/wreaths into the wee hours of the night for whatever charity auction she was participating in. They gave big to their families - heart and soul.

How do you say goodbye to someone you're basically more and more like every day?
My grandma and I argued tirelessly when I was younger. She had an opinion about everything (and did until her last breath). I was a strong-willed teenager, not wanting any of her wisdom. But she kept dishing it out, and although I sighed and rolled my eyes then, what I wouldn't give for one last life lesson. I said something the other day and Kyle turned to me and said "You are her. You are your grandmother." I smiled, laughing that the person I often fought against when I was young is really who I became.

She was a devoted mother and wife, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a leader. She was a believer. She was a fighter. She fought for her family, for her faith. At the end, she fought for her health, and then, graciously acknowledged it was time to fight now more. To drift away and enter paradise.

And that's where she is. With Jesus, living her eternity, a reward for a beautiful life well spent.

via

Quiet Time

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:20:00 +0000

I find myself longing for more quiet time. As a mom, I don't have enough.

But you, know, that's a lie.

I do have time for quiet time. It's just that I don't make it a priority. Yes, a lot of my time is filled with the chores of every day life. But there is time in my day that I just waste - blatantly and ridiculously.

I try to justify my wasted time by saying that my mind is too tired for "quiet time." This TV show or that internet game (Candy Crush, oh geez) will help me quiet down for the day.

But in reality, but I need, what my soul needs, is real, reflective quiet time.

Our small group is going through Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Chapter three, The Day Alone, is all about the need for quiet time. Bonhoeffer's book is all about living in community, so it was strange to see a chapter about being alone in the midst of a book about living with others. He says, "Let him who cannot be alone beware of community."

I have long viewed quiet time as "me time," the shutting off of my brain, melting into the couch, weary at the end of the day. But the wasted time at the end of the day doesn't feed me like intentional, well-spent quiet moments.

"Silence is the simple stillness of the individual... nothing else but waiting for God's word and coming from God's word with a blessing."

Bonhoeffer outlines "three purposes for which the Christian needs a definite time when he can be alone during the day: scripture meditation, prayer, and intercession."

Scripture meditation: Bonhoeffer calls us to not read scripture as generic words, but to "read God's Word as God's Word for us." Scripture reading and meditation is a personal process, hearing God speaking directly to our heart and experiences.

Prayer: "We pray for the clarification of our day, for preservation from sin, for growth in sanctification, for faithfulness and strength in our work." When I am at a loss of how to pray, Bonhoeffer sums it up sweetly - I love his outline and can see if revealing so much.

Intercession: I often find myself writing down the struggles and prayers of others and never returning to those pages. How do I even begin praying for other? "Intercession means no more than to bring our brother into the presence of God, to see him under the cross of Jesus."

How do you use "quiet time," and how do you make it a priority in your day?

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noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:28:00 +0000

- I have read this post from Andrea from For the Love Of about a 100 times and each time I get more motivated to make a commitment to my families health and wellness.

The first 7 food items I banned from the house were Nutella, Coffee Mate, Eggo waffles, Country Crock margarine, frozen chicken nuggets, Cheez-Its, fake maple syrup. These items were the biggest offenders in our household because they were filled with sugar, artificial colors, additives, preservatives, MSG, and hydrogenated oils. And we were consuming them on an almost daily basis. My biggest break through in all of this came when I started to see these as “fake foods” which were made to mimic real products, and offered no real nutrients.

- I desperately need to follow these tips for getting more done each day from Living Well Spending Less. For me, it's not necessarily that I run out of time. It's that I run out of motivation.

Take 10 minutes to list your priorities and to examine who or what is important to you. Keep this list in a place where you can look at it frequently, and make sure the big stuff comes first. Think of your life as a jar you want to fill with rocks & sand. If you put the sand in first, the rocks won’t fit. The amount of time you spend on things should be somewhat relative to how important it is in your life. Life is short and moments are precious. Don’t waste time on the things that don’t matter.

- On a similar note, I love The Shabby Creek Cottage's tips for decluttering your life. She's speaking truth directly to my heart!

Getting organized brought to light a fairly new habit at our house – gimme 20 minutes. Every day when my girls get home from school we crank up the music and clean for 20 minutes. You’d be amazed at how clean you can keep a house in only 20 minutes a day. No more days full of cleaning – no more yelling at them to pick up their things. And the music helps to make it fun. If we spend those 20 minutes cleaning, then we have the rest of the afternoon (or day) to spend together doing things we enjoy. And bonus – most days we’re done in less than 15 minutes!