Blech

 Okay, I am gonna be open and honest with you girls today ...

My emotional resources are LOW today. They are in overdrive, and I can tell that they are overdrawing into my other resources BIG time!

The main reason I am a little emotionally strained is because today is my baby brothers birthday ...

 He would be 26 years old today. He passed away January 15th, 2006 in Iraq as he protected the country that I love so much. I know he is in heaven, and most days missing him is bearable and even excitement inducing knowing I will see him there at some point :)  But, there are a couple days a year where it is a bit more emotional than others.  Today is one of them.

Also, my boys and I both said good byes to dear friends today.  We and the Beals have built our families together over the past 6 years, meeting when we were both pregnant with our first little guys. They are members of the military, and headed on to their next mission in Alaska today. We miss them already.

So, you see that my emotions are a bit strained.

THAT is why I actually teared up talking to the INSURANCE lady today while trying to get a billing problem worked out. Seriously, that is not what that lady signed up for.

AND, that is why I havent gotten my video post up as planned. And, that is why I am gonna let it go and not worry about it today. I will have renewed resources tomorrow, and I guess God isnt asking that I post on youtube right this minute :)

New Milestone!

Well, the LPLS has hit a milestone! ..a couple, actually!

We hit 2000 visits all time ..I know, not a big deal if I were MckMama but I am little ol' ME and I am excited. We have certainly bumped our visits since our guest post on Smockity Frocks two weeks ago, and have been enjoying getting to know our new friends.

We also got our own DOT COM (can you hear the commercial in your head?). We are officially www.peacefullylessstressed.com!

How fun is that?!

Celebrate with us, by following us here on the site,  being a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Blog Frog ..whatever your little heart desires.  Sheesh ..things are crazy nowadays huh? How many ways can you say "I love it!" ..apparently as many as the buttons you can fit on your blog :) Now, I could link those to the words in this post BUT ..I am going to not be a perfectionist and do it right now. I am low on resources right this minute so ...there are buttons for all that on the sidebar :)

Thanks for being here ..and a shout out to Miriam, who gets the award for most comments in a week ..you have made me smile with all your sweet and encouraging words Miriam! :)

Everything We Need

As women, we have a pretty impressive job description. We are wives, moms, lovers, sisters, daughters, and friends. We are cooks, counselors, nurses, housekeepers, guides, teachers, life coaches, office administrators, students..the list goes on and on.

On top of all of that, we have to do it well and for the glory of God...no pressure, right?

We are so blessed to be promised in 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.."   


Everything we need!

Then why do we SO overwhelmed so often? Well, I will just speak for me ...I feel so overwhelmed so often! :) There are times and days when I feel that I dont have even a fraction of what I need, much less everything!

Even so, I trust His "very great and precious promises" ...2 Peter 1:4. So, what is happening to my "everything I need"?

The Less Stress journey is all about that for me! I need to discover how to use that "everything" the best way I can.  If I dont feel that I have what I need to accomplish all that God has planned for me, then where are those resources. What has happened to them?

I have three ideas ...

1. I dont think we are fully aware of what our resources are!  ...so we must ask God to show us what those resources are
2. I dont think we realize how we are misusing those resources ...so we must ask God to show us how we are misusing those resources he has given us

and, 3. I just realized the past few days, that the promise that He will provide "everything we need" is related to what HE has planned for us ...not necessarily what I have planned for me!

Simple, but I think we can get caught up in good things, while missing out on what God has perfectly planned for me.  If we are missing resources, then maybe it is because we are using what we have to accomplish the wrong, or not the best tasks for God (even for God!).

I may have planned on the house being clean and the school done by end of day, but God may have a different plan. I may have planned to use my resources to get the bills paid, but God may have a different use of my time today.  Because I am trying to use my resources effectively, but not on what God has planned for me, I am going to feel overwhelmed and stressed.

So, we have to ask that God show us what He has planned for US. Today. Right now.

What has he specifically given us today, to accomplish the tasks He requires of us?

Are you short of resources because you dont know what they are, or because you have misused them on not worthy things, or are you perhaps using your resources to efforts that may be good, but not God-best?   


I will pray for you today as I seek to discover which of those that apply to me the most today!

Tool Time: the Car Bucket

I have asked my sweet friend, Ashley, to share some ways that she uses what she calls the "car bucket". I have watched her use this for keeping her family's traveling odds and ends in order. I asked her to share how she uses it and help inspire us to order the  easily out of control area of our vehicles!

Ashley is married and has two little ones, a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son.  She stays busy in and out of the house, which is how this idea evolved for her family.

The basic idea ...  Ashley carries a sturdy tote with her wherever she goes, in and out of the car. It helps her manage all the stuff that comes with kids, a busy life and the minivan that shuttles it all around. According to her, "the "car bucket" serves as a carry all for my cell phone, sippy cups, purse, a couple of diapers, blankets and more" when going from one place to another outside the house. 

She loads it up when she is at home, thinking of all she may need for that particular trip out. She packs the tote differently if she is visiting with friends, going to church, going on a grocery shopping trip or whatever. Her husband and kids know that everything that goes with them has to go in the CB and that it is there when they go to look for it later.

When they leave the house, she loads up the kids, the husband and the CB!  We all know that when Ashley comes over, she is gonna make ONE trip to or from the car. Everything she needs is in that one place.   If her kids need their sippy cups, check the CB first!  If she is heading the pool, betcha the towels and sunscreen are in the CB!  Snacks anyone? ..CB.

When she gets home she uses the CB to declutter her Swagger Wagon, making sure to grab all the kid-related odds and ends, as well as the trash they have generated on their trip out. She makes sure to empty it out at home, each and every time. This is my favorite part, since my vehicle is always a cluttered mess!

Tips from the master ... "The "car bucket" needs to be big enough to make it able to hold several items and small enough to carry. I don't like the floppy kinds I like the kind that is pretty stiff and holds its shape well. Also, I like them to have handles on each end. That way when they are pretty full you stick one end on your hip and the other end you can hold by the handle."

One thing about the car bucket is that it will only work if you empty it IMMEDIATELY every time you come in the house. Otherwise it will just become something else in your car full of junk taking up space. 

"When I am by myself so I don't forget anything I put the kids in the car first so they are strapped in the car ready to go (and can't get into anymore mischief). The car bucket is the last thing that goes in so that I can come in one last time take a quick look if I need anything else and toss it in. Then I lock the door and take the car bucket with me."

I think the Car Bucket is a great idea, it Works for Us! ...and I plan on looking for a WAY cute tote to use.  I remember Ashley told me that it helped to have something cute, so she would be more inclined to use it. I agree.

Update: Per request ...here is a shot of Ashley's CB!  Here it is, on her dryer by her back door. This is close to where her car is parked, so that is where the CB sits ready to be filled up. And, she says the purse stays inside because that goes everywhere she does, just like the CB :)


Tell us what you think of this idea, and if you have any questions for Ashley I know she will be around the site to answer them!   

Do you have any other great resource saver ideas? 

Today

Well, today looks like it may be one where it will take purpose to use my resources effectively! The boys and I have some good things planned out of the house this morning, we are expecting out of town company this afternoon, and my house is a WRECK!

It is days like today when my resources feel limited when my "resource management" kicks into high gear! I have less time than stuff to do ..but we are not discouraged or frustrated just yet.

First, I am working on reminding myself to use my Prayer Cues ...that post is a bit long so I bolded the pertinent parts, in case YOUR resources are limited to day as well!

Then, I am using my timer ...I have set one for writing this post. THAT post is long too ...sheesh, I can be wordy! Again, I highlighted the highpoints to make it a bit easier.

I am also not going to let my self get caught up in perfectionism...I found two posts on Less Stress that were just about exactly the same on that topic, apparently I was insane on about July/August last year :)  ...actually, come to think of it I was pregnant and I didnt know it. Ah, that explains it!

ANYWAYS ..focus Courtney.

Today is gonna be a good day, girls. I hope that you have a wonderful day that is full of blessings and sweet ponderings.

What does your day look like? What is your plan for managing what you have well? Come on, just the sharing is a good way to refocus!

Tool Time: Project Life

As a new feature of the Less Stress blog, I would like to take the time on a weekly basis to look at tools that help us utilize our resources the best we can! To kick things off I want to show you one of my favorites ...

Project Life is something that helps me use my time, energy, effort and financial resources in very effective ways!  If you love to take pictures of your kids, then you will love this! If you dont, then you will want to so you can work on this project for your family! :) 

I find that it is a great way to for my kids to remember all they have to be grateful for ..looking at all the activities they get to participate in, the friends they have, how much their parents love them, etc. This binder is sturdy enough to handle kids taking a look on a regular basis :)

I am sad that the project is currently backordered, but I understand that it should be available again after the first of July.  You will want to take a look!

This product Works for Me ..its one more way we can make a few resources go a LONG way! :)

Tell me what you think ...of the product..not the video skills :)

Resource Refresher

I know there are times when I am evaluating my resources and it clear they need some refreshing!

Specifically, mental, emotional and physical resources need refreshed often several times a day. Those resources depend so much on what is going on around us, and sometimes we are short to accomplish what God has planned for us because we have used up those resources before we run out of assignment! :)

So, I have been pondering some ways that we can refresh those resources throughout our days ...what can we do to get back some of these resources, so we can be better equipped to meet the demands of our days?

Here is what I have come up with so far ...

First, STOP ..and recognize that you are feeling overwhelmed and needing a refresher (yes, it does need saying some days!)

Physically ...
* a nap ...20 minutes does wonders
* hydrate yourself ...dehydration will sap your energy big time!
* exercise ..I know, I know ..but it really does help
* eat protein ...us moms often take care of everyone else before ourselves

Mentally ...
* take a break ...a quiet place for 10 minutes can really help to refocus
* talk to someone ...sometimes it helps to vent a bit
* write in a journal ...a safe place to talk about all that is on your mind and heart
* take a deep breath
* recite scripture ..."Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:8-9

Spiritually ...
* Pray
* Read God's word
* Meditate
* Reconnect to the One who provides "everything (we) need."

In the midst of our busy days, we are often found to be handing out resources right and left! We cant help trying to juggle everything we have on our plate, and sometimes that juggling exhausts our reserves. With our days of busyness and constant assignment, we can find ourselves weary and unable to tap into that which has been promised to us already.

God created us with limited resources on purpose. He knows that we will run out at some point, and so relishes when we come to Him for that refreshing. If we are striving to use what He has given us for all taht he has called us to, we have to be willing and able to follow his directions for using them ...

Part of that entails..."be still, and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10

How do you refresh your resources throughout the day?

Whatcha Got?

I have been noting something about stress and its relationship to my resources.

Our stress levels have a very close relationship to what resources we have to give to the things that we want or need to get done. If we have the resources, be they time, money, or energy then when something requires those resources we are able to respond. If, however, those resources are in short supply when they are required of us, then stress ensues.

Think about it in terms of your budget. When you have budgeted $120 for the electric bill, then when it comes and it is $115 ..you are golden. No stress, no strain on the resources because they were already assigned for that need. If, however, you did not budget at all or budget $60 instead, then that bill would be a major stressor that month!

Same with our resoures - they require a degree of "budgeting" or at least identifying the areas where they are needed and used the most.  Coupling that with our priority list and what we need to reserve our resources for, we can use them better.

If you need a reminder of what we are calling resources ...go here and here.

For me, budgeting my resources means that I evaluate what I have available to me today. I have found that resources are dynamic ..they shift with situations, hormones, statuses of relationships, amount of sleep I got last night, this month's paycheck, my schedule, etc.

Today, I may have some time, a little energy, alot of motivation for doing what God has planned for me. Tomorrow, I may be a little short in any and all of those areas. Noting where you are at any given time is important ..ask the question, "what do I have to give today?"  ..or, even better "what has God given me as my "everything I need" today?"

 At this point,  its a good idea to pray and ask God to both show you what you have, and what he has for you to do.  My most frequent prayer is "show me the priorities you have assigned me and give me what I need to accomplish those things."  You may be surprised when those priorities have nothing to do with laundry or vacuuming. :)

Then, one more step is realizing what your budget will allow of you ..what can you do, and what do you need to let go of? Its the hard part, but sometimes you have to not answer the phone from that particular friend,  be okay with a messy living room, stay home for the afternoon, say no to a friend for a request for you to babysit. On the other hand, being able to identify what is the most important and where your priorities are you may find that you are able to sit and read to your little one,  spend some special time with your husband,  declutter a room,  write a note to someone,  pay that bill or perhaps you need to do that laundry for the sake of your family.

I have found for me, that my heart is much more at rest when I know what I have and how I need to use it. I have a much easier time letting go and saying, "I just dont have the resources for that today." (I really do say that on a regular basis!)


What does your budget look like today?  Are you rested, or weary? Are you emotionally stable, or feel a little on edge? Is your schedule full, or lite today?  Is your mind cluttered, or feeling sharp? ...note those resources and then pray God will show you how to use them!

Two Minutes Could Save You ...

 I love organization! 

It makes me giddy to experience order, especially in my own home. Because of that, I get really frustrated when I cant achieve some level of order in my home. Just having had a baby 6 weeks ago, I am feeling that urge to order and reorder the world of crazy chaos around me :) ..three boys under 6 will do that to a gal.

I keep hearing one of my favorite order mentor, FlyLady saying ..."anyone can find 15 minutes in a day."  Now, not to disagree with her (like I said, I love her concepts and use them regularly) but 15 minutes all at one time is often IMPOSSIBLE to find in my crazy days. 

Part of the problem is if I do get 15 minutes at one time when I am not needed by a new baby, a potty training toddler, a learning to read 5 year old,  a wonderful daddy, a busy household ..I have 1000000 things to get done in that 15 minutes.

I have learned to settle for asking less (much less) of myself, and trying not to let that idea that "anyone can find 15 minutes" throw me off.  Somedays, 2 minutes to accomplish anything is all I have. 

But, I am working on a mental list of things to do that I can get done in 5 or less minutes ..here is what I have come up with so far ...

*Make my bed ..JUST make my bed, not put clothes away or dust the dresser, JUST make the bed

*Switch the laundry 

*Fold some of the laundry ..maybe not all, but if I knock out half then its that much less that I have to do later

* Fill the dishwasher ..again, maybe not all but its okay

* Swish the toilet bowl

* Wipe off the bathroom sink

* Take the stuff on the stairs upstairs, or downstairs depending on where it goes

* Take the meat out for dinner

* Consider dinner 

* Clip this week's coupons ..not all, perhaps ..

Having a few things in mind before hand,  I can get straight to it in that quiet time between putting the kids in the bath and them start yelling about their sibling splashing them, or while the baby is happy between feedings and needing a nap, or that wonderful first 5 minutes that a cartoon is keeping their attention.

Short spurts of time can make a big difference if I have a plan, AND be okay with not getting something completed. Sometimes, it may take several short little productive bursts to complete that load of laundry but when its done, YAY! 

Can you think of some other 5 minutes jobs you can do?...do share!

Motivation

I remember in my psychology class in college, that I was struck with a "hmm" with the idea that everything we do has a motivation. Its a simple idea, really.  A profound one though, I felt at the time.

It is true, of course.

I know that for me, my expectations of myself have changed drastically as my motivations have matured. In college my motivation was related to education, finding a husband, and taking care of me. When I got married, my motivation for everything changed to being about me and my husband. If I thought my motivations were self-sacrificing then, I got a real slap in the face when I had kids...talk about a shift in motivation!

I have mentioned recently how my relationship with God has grown, as I have embarked on this journey to know a more peaceful and simple life. I think, looking back I can see that a big part of my moving foward down the road has been a change in motivation.

I see that my focus on my home, my family and my life in general has shifted to more about using what God has given me better. No longer am I motivated by simply having an ordered home, but rather that my home reflects peace and encourages a better relationship with God for everyone here.

Making our motivation more God directed, we are not just settling for the "best I can do" but rather "all that God has planned."  Strangly, I am finding that I am more content with less, I can let go of things easier, I can be okay with less than perfect ..but its because I am motivated by what God wants for me, not what I want for myself, or what the world says I should want.

I dont just want to keep peace in my relationships, because I am motivated by God in my own life and want to enourage that in others, so I have to get in sticky situations sometimes.  I dont just want to provide food for my family, I want to be a good steward of my resources and so I put the effort forth to spend wisely.  I dont just want to be happy in my marriage, I want to encourage my husband to be his best and so I must sacrifice, love unconditionally and keep my mouth shut sometimes.

What is motivating you? You may find that what you have let be your motivation is putting more weight on your shoulders than is needed, or that you are not living up to your god-given potential. I know I have been there, and am trying to keep that motivation true.

Back to Basics

As I look back over the journey of the past couple of years, I see that my walk to a more simple life and one that reflects God better in my life has meandered slowly but efficiently.

I see where I am now, and where I came from and I find the walk an interesting one.

I am so thankful to myself for keeping track of it on this blog, because I am sure I suffer from short term memory loss at times :)

For my own benefit, and perhaps my reader friends as well, I want to put down where I feel like I am in this journey. I want to clarify for myself where I am right now, and see where God has brought me at this moment in time. It is sure to change, I am sure it will as I learn and grow in Him every day.

Today, I am here ...

I believe that God has given me everything I need to be all the things he desires me to be ...

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

I believe the Spirit in my life is that "everything" ...

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:25-26 - NTSB

I believe that the Spirit uses the resources God has given us each personally to accomplish what God has planned for us ...

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:10-11

I believe too, that we has Christian woman carry a burden that is greater than God intended us to. I believe that our harried schedules, unrealistic expectations of ourselves, constant comparisons, overworked bodies, distracted relationships, and overall STRESSED OUT existence prevents us from fully experiencing God and His Spirit in our lives.

I believe that God has given me very personal resources that He wants to use to fulfill His will in my life and that if I am aware of them, I can use them more efficiently.

I believe that my resources are anything that is in my control to be used for God. Its time, energy, finances, home, my background, my relationships, my thinking, my passions ...my resources are abundant.

I believe that if we dont feel like we have all that we need to be what we need to be for God, it is because we misuse what we have been given for His purpose.

I believe, that when we use the resources God have us the way that God intended, the Spirit can move more effectively through my life and thus my life can resonate with His peace more powerfully.

I desire to have a life that is more reflective of God in my life, and I believe peace reflects that better than stress does. 

And, so the journey to all that continues.  My journey entails constantly learning what my resources are, how I am misusing them, and in what ways I can better use my "everything I need." I would be most honored if you would continue the journey with me! I have learned so much about me and what God has planned for me ..and it is good! :)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:!1

Perfect ..I am not

Part of living a life of less stress, is letting go of the things that are not in our control. These days I have to practice this on a very regular basis ..because this is where I am right now:

Having just had a baby 5 weeks ago, my third boy. I have two other very busy boys (3 and 5).  I am a married woman.. all of those people wear clothes and eat.

I have a home with three bedrooms, a playroom, a living room, a kitchen and three bathrooms ..all those rooms have floors, all those bathrooms have toilets that are used regularly, and all of them collect dust.

I homeschool my kids ...which means I have to teach them all something

We have busy lives..so I have to go places with all those aforementioned people.

We love our church family..so we have classes, events, potlucks, picnics and church services

I am a sister and daughter ..so my mind and heart is often full with family who is far away

I have wonderful friends ...and so we have playdates, phone calls and the occasional moms night out

I love to write..and so get to give time to doing so

I am a christian mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend ...so I must take time to ponder, pray, read and study


So, I dont have the time or the energy to be perfect.


So, yes ... there are half-eaten english muffins on my dryer ...

and fingerprints on my walls ...

and there are ice cream cones on the shelf ...

and my mini-van is a mess ...

and paint brushes that were attempted to be cleaned sitting on the sink in the guest bathroom ...

...my bathrooms are less than stellar

...I dont iron

...and I couldnt tell you the last time I made my bed


Somedays, my resources do not allow for attention to those areas. Hopefully soon they will, but for today I have to be okay with my imperfectness.

Its not easy, because I am constantly comparing myself, my home, my time, my talents and my resources with the me I wish I was.  But for today, O Lord, let me be okay with being everything you need me to be and less focused on the things that are just part of the wonderful life of chaos I have right now.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  

2 Corinthians 12:9

Naturally

 
I have considered quite a bit as of late, how we are so inclined toward what is "natural" to us.

Of course we are.

Not just in the human sense, where we desire love and have to struggle against the carnal desires we have to suppress on a daily basis. I am talking about the things we struggle against that are as easy to us as breathing. Like, our emotional inclinations at any given time, the desire to dish to someone when we get upset, our desire to be silent when we are angry, how we say what we think, or dont tell anyone anything.

Thinking about this in terms of God's resources and how we use them, in what ways do we use the resources God has given us without even thinking about it? ..and how do we misuse them?

Thing is, that God made us how he made us on purpose, no argument there. He also had plans for how he wanted us to use those resources. Satan has a great plan as to how we can misuse them as well. And that is as true for those things that come "naturally" to us as not.

Sometimes the ways that using our resources feels the most "natural" is not the way God would want us to use them at all. 

Here are some examples ...

If you are one who speaks her mind ...you can naturally disregard how your words affect others, because you are just "saying it like it is"

If you are one who are shy by nature ...you may resist building Christian relationships and seeking out godly friends

If you are an emotional gal ...you may react in ways that hurt others, and use your feelings to justify it

If you are the brainy type...you could have less than loving degrees of compassion towards others

If you are by nature a leader ..you may use your influence to gain attention for yourself, rather than God

If counseling or teachings others is as easy as breathing ...you may put too much pride in your words, and talk when you should listen

If you are naturally inclined to plans ..you may struggle with letting God lead, and letting others guide
 
If you are are giddy over order ...then you may give undo worry to areas where God is the only order, and that is as it should be


All of these things are ways that God has blessed us gals, each to different degrees. He has given us "everything we need" in these areas so that we can do the tasks to which he has called us, but how many of our own struggles are because we follow our nature? We do what comes naturally to us, and so it seems right at the time...but if it is not Christlike, then it is not the way God intended us to use those resources that he gave us "naturally".

To refer to a recent post (here), we have to find balance between knowing and accepting what God gave us, and not being so comfortable with our "nature" that we ignore how Satan has used it against us. We have to be aware of both extremes - being too comfortable, and too uncomfortable.

No longer can we use what comes "naturally" to us as a justification for doing things that God would not claim - yes, God made us how He made us, but if we arent using what He gave us how he intended then we falling short of what we could be doing for Him.


For me, this thinking brings this verse to light a bit more ...

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Romans 8:5

Just because it is natural to me, is not warrant to misuse my resources ..God specifically states that the Spirit cannot work under those conditions.


Blast ..I got more work to do than I realized ;)

Peace on Purpose

I know alot of us have been thinking in terms of living "purposefully".

I have been doing the same, especially as it relates to my use of God-given resources and the peace that comes from using them well. I am realizing that living simply, peacefully and a life of balance and awareness of God's purpose for us ..takes purpose!

To consider my very personal set of resources, hand picked by God for me ..takes purpose.

Choosing to use those resources in worthy ways ..takes purpose.

Being content with the resources God has given me ..takes purpose.

Basically, a life that is simple and free (or at least freeER) of unnecessary and unworthy stresses ..takes purpose.

Just like when we budget our finances on a monthly basis so that we are able to manage it the best, we need to be aware of how we are using our "everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3) on a daily basis.

It takes purpose to build a schedule that allows for resting our bodies, minds and spirits.

It takes purpose to make time for our husbands and children.

It takes purpose to be less judgemental of ourselves, so that we arent wasting mental and emotional energy on comparing us to others.

It takes purpose to let go of things that are not beneficial to us.

It takes purpose to consider what God wants of us more than what we want of ourselves, or what others make us feel we need to be for them.


To keep the theme going, you cannot expect your stress-less life to simply fall into place by itself.

Without effort you cannot expect your schedule to be open to nurture relationships in your life..

..or your home to suddenly become more ordered for the peace of mind of your family

...or your time with God to passively become a priority

...or find yourself with an abundance of relaxation and rest time for the sake of your body and mind


People who have created lives of simplicity and who balance their godly-assignments with their human resources, do so on purpose. I am working on living more purposefully all the way around ...these resources are too precious to be wasted on who knows what! :)