Yay! Finally got my blog to work. Everything is switching over to google and I like to think that I am technologically savvy but it gave me some grief.
This weekend I went on a ladies retreat w/ Gayla and the ladies of Willis. It was really nice, the focus being on uber-business. Ummm....yes! Haha, I actually took away a lot of good stuff from it and want to set some new goals.
The first thing I really took away was how controlling I am with somethings, to the point that I have had a lot of trouble praying about it because I don't want to give up the control and trust that God will put me where s/he wants me. Specifically, I have had this mental block with praying about finding a job. Maybe its fear or lack of trust that God will want me in a place I am unwilling to go, but my gifts may be needed. So my first goal was to pray everyday that God would give me the desire and trust to go where he wants me.
The second thing I really appreciated was the focus on intentional rest, solitude, and sabbath. I LOVE Sundays where we go to church, have a long lunch, take a nap and a bike ride and generally just play and rest. Like so many things....there is always a *however* and I'd really like to spend more time on Sundays, if not the whole day than most of the day, intentionally resting and NOT WORKING. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Along with sabbath, comes the discipline of simplicity- something I've been striving for and kind of hitting and missing for a long time. If you've been following, I've really been wanting to fix more budget friendly meals at home that don't take a million years, and we have really been working on it, but I know there is more we can do. Some possible ideas: eating simply when too tired to cook like sandwhiches/canned soup instead of getting fastfood, less meat/gourmet items (stickler for fun stuff) which would mean more meatless meals hmm..., less nonessentials. I feel like a lot of our grocery bill is stuff we don't really need- likes cokes and candy which are tasty but not necessary.
I also find that I check my email a LOT, especially at night. I would like to reduce the amount of time in the evening I spend on the computer-kind of ironic since its past midnight and here I am blogging :) But, it has been found to cause stress and reduce sleep right before bed, so shutting down earlier would be great. I know I can't every night, that is too lofty a goal. But I will be taking a break on nights that I don't really have a lot of work to do, or doing it earlier.
Annnd....stuff! Greg and I live in a really small house, so its not like we can comfortably own a lot of stuff- it gets too crowded. Maybe the time is about ripe for me to sell/give/throw away some clothes and shoes. I say throw away b/c I literally have some shoes that I have about worn out with holes in the bottom and sides. Although if I threw them out now I'd have to get some more workout shoes...hmm. After a year of working with CIS, and sorting through piles of donated clothes (some good, some horrible) I am not opposed to retiring items for good. I love recycling and reusing things, but at some point it is time to say goodbye forever and just throw it out, and thats OK. (Sidebar: if you do donate to someone in need, like a homeless student or goodwill, keep in mind that if you don't want your old holey, stained, item, they might not either!! How about donating something gently used and scrapping the rest? Or, if it is for a charity event that touches your heart, give away something you really like that you've taken care of or something brand new! Just some perspectives.)
And with that, its time for me to shut down and go to bed. Happy Sunday!
