We got an aquaponic garden kit for Christmas, and it has been so much fun! The plants grow quickly, and they’re not buried in dirt, so we’re able to see the growth happen right before our eyes.
We set up a time-lapse camera to capture the miracle and strength of shoots pushing up and straightening out (you can see it on my Instagram!). It’s the stuff of inspirational posters. I won’t try to caption it, but I hope it gives you the motivation to overcome whatever challenge you’re facing today!
In the last month, we’ve taken BIG leaps of faith in our family. My husband changed careers, I launched my business, and we’ve started homeschooling . . . WHAT?!
I am NOT a risk taker. Of all the personality styles and assessments I’ve ever done, NONE of them suggest that I enjoy going out on a limb. So what am I doing out here among the leaves?
Trusting my intuition.
Do you ever get a gnawing, nagging thought that won’t quit? Either the notion that something is very wrong or very right and it’s time to act? What started as a nudge that made me a little nervous became a strong pull that I couldn’t deny.
For months, I’ve been writing the intention “I am faithful in transition.” It doesn’t mean I believe it will all be smooth sailing. Instead, it means that when things get rough, I trust that a “gut feeling” prayerfully considered is the Holy Spirit living and working on me.
Here’s to adventure!
Without my family, I’d be pretty dull. I’d go to bed early, enjoy lots of silence, and live a predictable, tidy life. There are days when that sounds like heaven.
Most days, though, I’m grateful for the ways my husband and kids add spice to my life. Here are my favorites.
1. Loud Singing-I’m proud of the fact that inside the walls of our house, there is very little self-consciousness. If no one is home, I might sing in the shower. The rest of my family lives life as though it’s an ongoing talent show.
2. Glow Stick Dance Parties-It’s pretty self-explanatory. We’ve collected a playlist of our favorite anthems along with glow stick wands, necklaces, and bracelets. Lights out. Volume up. Dance like no one’s watching!
3. Jam Tag. This is typically something we do right before bedtime to get out the last wiggles of the day. My husband plugs in the electric guitar and plays heavy metal while the kids run through the house trying to tag each other. There are also slow motion and freeze tag variations. My major role is to know where the keys are so that when someone inevitably crashes and needs to go to the emergency room, I’m ready.
What are ways your family adds spice to your life? How do you share your uniqueness with them?
Places like this are not unusual along the Texas-New Mexico state lines, and they capture my imagination.
I’m especially intrigued by the sand dune. Chances are, there’s a fence buried under that sand. Big tumbleweeds got caught in the fence, and with no one there to clear them out, smaller weeds got stuck in the large ones. Over time, the fence became a solid barrier and as wind carried sand across the plains, it was deposited here. Over time, a hill formed.
It’s a reminder to clear our fences. Boundaries are essential, but if they’re tangled up with other debris, they no longer serve their intended function. Fences, after all, allow things to pass through when appropriate.
Let go of drama. Forgive. Let your fence be sturdy and clear.
You’ve probably noticed that gratitude is getting a lot of press. Books, podcasts, and social media are full of the news that gratitude will make you healthier and happier and even extend your life! Gratitude leads to more contentment, but a word of caution: If you are discontent, yet say “I’m fine,” “at least I’m not . . .” or “I guess I should be grateful. . . “ take notice.
Being resigned is not the same as being content. Resignation dressed up as contentment breeds resentment.
Resignation says It will never get better.
Gratitude says I’ll find joy while I’m here.
Resignation stops trying.
Gratitude finds a way.
Resignation says Might as well get used to it.
Gratitude says Something good can come from this.
Resignation says This is just the way it is.
Gratitude says Some days are like this. And yet . . .
Perhaps it’s time to make new choices, create new patterns, or ask for help. Contentment only comes through genuine gratitude, not resignation.