After the first section of the book, it is broken into months. Perfect! I also bought the 12 month guided journey. While it is already February, I haven't posted my thoughts on January, so I'm going to take a step back and start there :) My HOPE is to post the last Wednesday of the month a recap of how my month has gone implementing what I took away from the book, and saying what I plan to do for the upcoming month... But with being behind, I'm doing all of January in one month and introducing February ;)
In the book, January is centered on the rhythms, routines, and rituals of the home. With being the planner that I am, this is a perfect place for me to start this journey as well as 2018! I am not a schedule person! I just cannot do it!!! And maybe that is one reason I enjoy homeschooling so much - I don't have to look at the clock and say "oh it is 11 - time for Science." I am, however, a routine person. For example, in the morning, we all get up o spend some time with my hubby before he leaves for work. He is fixed breakfast, lunch, and sent out for the day with lots of hugs, kisses, and love. After he leaves, the boys and I tackle our homesteading morning chores like feeding the animals, getting them fresh water, and milking the goats. Then it is time for our breakfast and starting our school day. Our subjects vary day by day, but we have our morning time, which consists of singing the doxology, saying the pledge, praying, Bible time and then our family subject for the day, be it geography, history, or civics. After that we tackle the rest of the subjects.
My biggest take away from the January chapter was making time for people. I am an introvert by nature. Large gatherings exhaust me, leaving me needing some down time. Even having eight children I am home with all day exhausts me, hence why I LOVE quiet time during the afternoon. With that being said, I still need and crave adult interaction! But more often than not, I lean more towards letting it happen by chance. My goal for January was to actually set up time to have people visit our home; to grow friendships. Sadly, this did not happen. Instead, life has happened, and our family vehicle was broken, we fought the chicken pox, and I'm still fighting an infection. But it is still a goal for the rest of the year ;)
My other takeaway from January is the idea of decluttering and reorganizing. This will take me ALL. YEAR. LONG if not longer! But with that said, I have started! I still have a long way to go, but I have started! I have a seriously long way to go which is mind boggling as we decluttered prior to moving... but obviously not enough!
February is all about love <3 a="" about="" all="" and="" as="" because="" busyness.="" but="" cannot="" chapter="" children="" decided="" did="" first="" from="" good="" have="" he="" help="" her="" him="" hubby="" i="" ideas="" in="" included="" inside="" instead.="" it="" just="" later="" love="" me="" missed="" my="" nbsp="" neat="" normal="" of="" off="" one="" others.="" our="" out="" p="" possible="" put="" really="" shared="" sharing="" she="" show="" showing="" some="" something="" sons.="" stood="" story="" sunset.="" sunsets="" take="" takes="" that="" the="" then="" there="" thing="" think="" this="" thought="" thoughts="" time="" to="" tremble="" until="" wanted="" was="" were="" when="" wife.="" with="">
The thing that hit me right between the eyes, however was her proclamation that "keeping house - picking up those messes one more time - is a service of worship to God as we craft a place of beauty and comfort for all who enter our sanctuary of His very presence" (63). Y'all I am not a good housewife. Our house is lived in, and looks it! When you visit me, especially "unannounced," you see what our lives entail, complete with school, toys, dishes, and laundry. I despise constantly picking up the spilled dog food off the floor. And yet this small, and may I add monotonous, act is a service of worship! How dare I complain or grumble - audibly or within!
Sally spoke of how she made Valentines Day special for her children... I have never really cared all that much for this holiday, as it has never been that big of a deal growing up or even as an adult. I do try to have a special meal (usually chicken parmesan with pepperoni hearts on top) for dinner, as cooking seems to be how I show love... but I need to do more. She also spoke of making birthdays extra special.
So here are my cumulative goals:
- Further refine our routine
- Continue to organize and declutter
- Make time for people
- Make my busyness wait instead of my children
- Worship God in ALL things, even the monotonous chores
- Make holidays extra special
- Make birthdays a holiday!
No comments:
Post a Comment