Enough hours in the day

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I have been thinking a lot lately about the Scripture verse in John 11:9 "Are there not 12 hours in a day?"

Though He was using it in a different context, God put this on my heart for a reason.  I tend to try to squish 20 hrs in my "12 hour day".  And as a result have struggled with adrenal and hormonal imbalances.

You see, I have learned that even though we may not have physical stresses, we can create them in our mind.  Pushing ourselves to do more, getting that checklist done, rushing here and there.  Truly though,  we don't get anymore accomplished and we are actually harming ourselves physically and emotionally.

Lydia of HomeLiving often writes on the need to do some work, but just as important is to take time to rest and rejuvenate.  As women we have a lot on our plates.  It almost becomes imperative that we do take the time to rest and rejuvenate, each day.

For example, I can create a "perfect" schedule that I can accomplish all the things I want done that day at home, an errand or event at church, and try to cook 3x that day.  At the end of the day, where does that leave me when my husband gets off work.  I'm exhausted, grumpy, and really not interested in him or his day.  How does that help me, or my marriage?

Yesterday the Lord put the hours of the day subject on my heart again.  I am seeing how much I try to force me will into the day and hardly have time to "listen" to Him and see where He wants my attention and work.

A daily reader I use says this:   "We forget we need deal with only one day at a time, and try to crowd too much into the waking hours of that day - or we even extend it beyond the point of weariness."  Later it speaks of living in the 12 hours we are given, slowing our pace and, this part I love, "If I am under pressure and setting myself deadlines ...I will stop and think, for this one day what can I do."

This too was a recent addition to this insight: Chinese medicine says we should live according to the day given, the seasons.  Rising with the sunrise and resting when the sun goes down.

All of these are really causing me too look at all the things I try to get done, according to my will.  And seeing how I feel at the end of the day, how my body reacts to such constant stresses.  As a homemaker, I joke that I am busier now than I was when I worked full time!  How true, but a shame.

When I worked long hours I used to dream of keeping a tidy home, decorating, a nice simple meal set at a table with a pretty place setting and being happy, dressed with feminine flare, and a smile when my husband came home.  As soon as I started making a schedule that was too full, I lost that.  All of it.

I'm not saying don't make a schedule, they are invaluable to me.  I'm saying God gave us 12 hours to do work and be active, the other times are meant for resting and rejuvenation.  Quiet time reading a book with my husband reading his book is an amazing way to end the day. Or he watches football to unwind and I do some crafting.

Just two nights ago my husband shared all the "things" he got done that day, and while he got a lot done he felt frazzled and was looking forward to down time.  Thank goodness I had dinner done and I too was needing quiet time.

Changing my thinking, changes my choices in my day. Another tip I've learned from Lydia is to make a list, just a few things, get them done before lunch, then I have the afternoon to myself.  That is what I try to do.  That gives me a chance to rest in the afternoon and do something that lifts my heart.  Like tea time with a pretty cup and snack!

I'm seeing that so many things I want done, really don't need done, I just want it that way.  Is it worth the stress on my body? Is it worth loosing my peace and my smile over?

Light in the midst of Winter

Today I want to write about a neat idea that relates to Christmas.  Christmas is traditionally right around the Winter Solstice. The time of year that is the darkest and cold.  Seems awfully dismal.

Yet when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Jesus' birth, the Light of the world.  The One who brings promise and love beyond our imagination.  He IS the Light of all. How appropriate then, that Christmas (the Light) is near the Winter Solstice (the darkest day).  Jesus is our Light in our darkest times and our coldest times.

Now, growing up, the weekend after Christmas we took down decorations and the house was empty.  After all the beauty and twinkle lights for weeks, gone.  Blank. Empty.  Right after we just celebrated one of the two most important holidays of the year.

Several years ago it was brought to my attention about the 12 days of Christmas.  These days are the days FOLLOWING Christmas.  They go to Jan 6th when the Epiphany is celebrated, also known as the day the Three Kings came.

The continued celebration (hundreds of years ago) went until Feb. 2nd. Traditionally known as Candlemas or the Presentation of the Lord.  The day He was presented to the temple. The day Mary would have completed the required time for Purification (Old testament) after giving birth.

We have in the past left our decorations up until Feb 2nd.  But I am WAY over all the decorations for that long.

I have found a new way to celebrate the Light of Christ coming during this long winter.  We take down everything except the white twinkle lights on the tree.  You can see from the picture, no decorations, just the tree.

It is so bright and cheery every night to turn on.  This is something I enjoy and so does my husband.  We will leave it up until Feb 2nd.

Then on Feb 2nd, Candlemas, we have beeswax candles (or any candles if available) blessed...enough for the year, and each night during dinner we light it. As  a reminder that Christ is our light and we give thanks.  The candle is worked into what ever table decoration we already have, or one I create.

It is such a joyous time.

I share this as a way to bring joy and light to the home in the midst of what we hear "the dead of winter".  Winter is the time to snuggle in, to rest, to ponder what we will grow, or places we will go.
It's also a time to find joy and celebrate Christmas beyond one day a year.

Blessings.

New Year

I am so excited for this new year.  Many people talk about resolutions, but I have learned that resolutions for me equals failure.  I like the term I have heard about goals.  Having goals and working towards them.

Last year I met most of my goals, except camping.  We only camped once...the week before Memorial Day and it was 30 degrees.  That sort of put a damper on my camper spirit.  The other goal was to find the root cause of why I have felt so bad for years.  I did.  It was two layers.  The first being, I had Lyme. Note the word HAD.  Please praise God for His goodness.  The second layer is that I have a hormone imbalance that I have had most of my life, and these last few years I have experienced worse symptoms, but never knew because of the Lyme.

God is so good!  Now that the Lyme is gone, I have found a practitioner to help me with the imbalance of hormones, and she understands hyper-sensitive people.  Yeah!

This year, I am looking forward to balancing those hormones, decluttering our "stuff" to the things that bring joy or are useful.  My mottos is "Beauty and Useful".   Another goal is to read more inspirational books and less health related.  I find the power of inspiration to be....inspiring. 😊  I love how we can change our world by changing our perspective.

I hope to turn this journey into a blogging adventure.  I don't get on here much anymore, but have enjoyed looking back at years past.  A sort of online journal.  Not someone else's thoughts, or trying to please the reader, but honesty and simple.

I pray this new year will bring many blessings to you.