I've been trying to sit down and write all evening, but things keep coming up and I get pulled away. A teething baby, an overtired 4 year old... Anyway, I'm here now.
Over the weekend Eli and I attended my church's women's retreat in Post Falls. Eli doesn't take a bottle, so we are pretty close! It was very kind of the ladies to let him come along. He did fabulous, such an easy little guy. Anyway, the retreat was focusing on spiritual disciplines. I am familiar with these, I actually practiced a few before I had children. For the past 6 years, my life has become a bit more hectic... all the more need for some spiritual discipline. But how in the world will I accomplish this? This is something I have to give up in prayer. I know it is a good thing to desire, to find time to pray, meditate of the Word of God, find some solitude, practice simplicity, study the Bible... and there are more. I know there is a way to do this, but I'm not sure what it is. It's not that I feel like I have to do some of this, but I really want to. I'm feeling a bit dry in my faith walk, like my cup is looking a bit empty. I desire to be closer to the Living God, to hear the voice of my Creator in the words of the Bible, to spend time with the Lover of my soul. I know God will grant this desire of my heart... I just hope it doesn't mean getting up at 5am each morning... is that terrible of me? Do I crave sleep more than I crave intimacy with God? I need both. I am not a morning person, I have had to learn to function well in the mornings since having children. I just don't see another time of the day that can be devoted to this. Maybe God will reveal another time of the day, or maybe 5 am would be the best thing for me.
I think in the morning I will try getting up when Aaron gets up to shower. I'm going to give it a go, this 5 am thing... maybe more like 5:15. Those 15 minutes make a big difference.
The other thing I am trying to fit into my schedule is a time to exercise. I find myself taking care of everyone's needs but my own. With young children this is almost a necessity, so how do I find time to take care of myself too? Seriously. I am enjoying this part of my life with my kids... I treasure their childhood and love being their Mom. I just am finding that I need to take care of me too.
So that is what is on my mind lately. I'll let you know how 5:15am works out!
Rob got an audio version of the Bible and will listen to it in the car as he commutes to work. We set aside time every monday with friends to do a bible study. We sometimes get off topic but in the end it all relates. There are times when we can't get together and I haven't figured out how to do something during that time. Sometimes you need to steal away time. I like taking the bus to and from work because that is my time that no one can take away. I just create a little bubble and all the chaos around me doesn't bother me.
ReplyDeleteWe bought passes to the Aquatic center (sorry to say but they were 1/2 price in September). We try to make time at least 2x a week. Xavier can play in one pool while we swim laps or work out. I know you can't do that because of the little one's ages but the baby pool connects to a deeper pool where you can exercise while playing with the kids.