Quiet Time

Quiet time is what I need - every day. I call my devotional time my "quiet time", and I need that every day too. But I also just need time to myself that's quiet. If you put a label on people, I would definitely have the "introvert" label. That means that I get energized by alone time, whereas extroverts get energized by being around people.

It's been more difficult lately to find that time. One, because I have a 9 month old who has lately decided that everything within her reach should be crumpled, banged on the floor, and then eaten. Two, because I am living in transition and don't have a home of my own where I can go into hiding. (Sad, I know...but exciting too!)

But having some time to myself makes my day go so much better usually. So, I've realized that to make this happen, all I have to do is ask my wonderful husband. Sometimes I get huffy and irritable, thinking that he should just read my mind and know that I need him to watch Evangeline for half an hour so I can go outside for a little bit. Well, he can't read my mind but he does listen and try to make me happy when he can. So I ask and I receive. Yay for wonderful, sweet husbands! 

A Day in the Life

Well, there is not really any such thing as a normal day since we moved from Wake Forest. But here is a day in my life as it is now. :) Maybe I'll do another one of these when we get to Pennsylvania.

A little before 7am...looking for mama to feed her!

 8:15 am--Getting McDonalds on the way to visit Angel at the market in New Smyrna Beach

9:30ish--She stayed happy in the basket for about 5 seconds! And I couldn't just

choose one of the pictures I took right then, so I included the next two as well...

10:15am--Still at the market listening to the Beu sisters sing oldies and dancing with Granna

11:45am--Finally home and Uncle Josh is back from taking his comprehensive exams! Yay!

12:45pm--Eating at Pit Masters in DeLeon Springs...Evangeline liked to suck the bones!

1:55pm--Adam decided to brave the love bug invasion and change the oil before we leave on Monday.

 3:00pm--Baby's down for a nap! I decided to work on our new blog.

4:30pm--Evangeline woke up but was not a happy camper the rest of the day.

Daddy decided to walk her around while watching 'Eureka', our new obsession.

5:45pm--I decided to carry her in the Ergo while I started dinner. She still wasn't happy,

but she stayed pretty content as long as I was moving around. And I was able to get something done!

 6:30pm--Adam took over dinner when I realized I only had half an hour left to do a whole lot of packing,

since we won't be around much Sunday and are leaving early Monday morning.

(Oh, and I couldn't choose between these two either!--also 6:30pm)

7:55pm--Baby finally in bed! I got to enjoy my dinner (albeit after everyone else had finished)

with my parents and sister Angel for the last time this trip. Lower quality photo because I accidentally left the camera in Evangeline's room and wasn't about to risk waking her up! So it was taken on Adam's phone.

*picture coming*

9:30pm--Relaxing with the family in front of the TV before bed.

~Hannah~

Discipline, Part 2

Well, speaking of a lack of discipline...it's been a while since I wrote that I was going to be writing "over the next few days"! Oh well. My friend Amanda wrote a blog post recently, and whenever she does it reminds me to, so here I go.

I have actually been doing better with being disciplined about having my quiet time. I say this today, of course, when I have yet to spend that wonderful time alone with Jesus. But overall, ever since we've arrived in Florida it has been easier to keep a schedule with things like that. I also just started a new Bible study. It's on the life of John, by Beth Moore. Having a structured Bible study seems to be important for me--at least at this time in my life.

The other thing I am really excited about is that Adam and I have finally become consistent in having a devotions time together. A big part of that is us having the same sleep schedule for once, but I think we have also come to realize how important it is for us as a couple. We are listening to/reading Jeremiah, talking about it, and praying together. I really believe that our marriage is becoming stronger because of this, and that makes me so happy!

I probably won't finish this little series on discipline. There are still lots of smaller things to be disciplined about, of course. But at this season of life, my spiritual discipline is really the main thing that matters. I don't have a home to take care of and I am not taking any classes (although I do still have reading to finish before training!). 

Discipline, Part 1

Don't worry, I'm not talking about disciplining Evangeline...yet. :-)

I'm talking about discipline for myself. Or maybe, my lack thereof. I struggle every single day to make myself do the things that I know I should be doing, but for some reason don't want to do (anyone else reminded of Paul?). They are not painful things. (Ok, exercise can be painful.) They're just things that I feel are important to living a healthy life, spiritually and physically. And things that are important in my quest to continue "becoming excellent".

I started reading 'The Discipline of Grace', and was so thankful for just the first few chapters, because they fit exactly with how I've been feeling regarding my lack of discipline. The author writes about how we seem to have it in our mind that if we have a bad day spiritually, God will withhold blessings from us because of that. And if we have a good day spiritually, He will be more likely to bless us. This isn't true though. Even if we completely understand that we are saved by grace, we forget that we are also to live by grace. Praise the Lord for this, because I need all the grace I can get. Thinking about it, I've realized that some of the biggest blessings I've received have been on days I've deserved them the least.

All that to say, while I want very badly to do better at being disciplined, and I do feel that it is a matter of bringing glory to God in all that I do, I am not writing this because I necessarily feel guilty (anymore). I am writing because it's nice to get it out there, and to have some "virtual" accountability. And maybe even be able to encourage someone else who lacks discipline.

I'll write posts over the next few days about things I want to be more habitual about but haven't because of lack of discipline.

The Never-ending To-Do List

I usually like to-do lists. They keep me on track and I love that feeling of checking stuff off. The best part is when I look at the list and realize everything is done and I can have some relax time without feeling guilty!

Recently, however, I have developed a never-ending to-do list of things to be done before moving day. It is stuck up on the refrigerator, taunting me all day long. Half the time I add something to this list without checking anything off that day. I loathe this list. It makes me feel overwhelmed, unaccomplished, and guilty whenever I'm doing something that's not on the list.

I also have this terrible tendency to just not do anything if I feel like I can't do everything. I don't know why this is. I think it has connections with my tendency to not want to play games if I can't win, or answer questions I'm not 100% positive about, or try anything that I am pretty sure I'll fail at...ok, it's called pride.

Lord, in the middle of my overwhelmed, unaccomplished, guilty, prideful, worried and tired life, help me to remember to be still and know that You are God. You will not give me more than I can handle. Everything on my to-do list will eventually be done, and even if it's not the world will go on. Thank you for giving me peace beyond understanding and the strength to do what must be done. Thank You most of all that I do not need to do anything to receive grace and salvation from Jesus...He finished that list on the cross.