A Weekend at the Shore

I have a confession to make, Friday I did not get up at 7 am for coffee. I was just tired and wanted to sleep. The look on my husbands face when I said I wasn't getting up made me feel awful, but in my sleepy state I rationalized that sleep was what I needed at that moment to be more useful throughout the day and evening ahead. Although my day did go on as usual once I woke up an hour later, that night a friend came down to the shore with us and had dinner. Over dinner, she was discussing this blog and Jon mentioned how I had not gotten up that morning and how it had "ruined his whole day!" Now, for the sake of cutting through the drama, I do not believe that my husband had an awful day on Friday, in fact, work seemed to go well, we went out fishing after work and then had a lovely dinner. However, the sentiment really hit home with me and reminded me of all the positive things I have outlined in the blog concerning my morning coffee. Of course, I had realized how much he enjoyed it and that it gave a positive spin on his whole day, I just didn't realize that it would give a negative start to the day when I am just too lazy to get up.
Another observation I made this weekend happened today on the treadmill. A song I have on my play list for running is "Your Love is My Drug" and in the context of the song, really doesn't apply to my life. However, I am happily coming to the knowledge that nothing gives me great joy, aside from God, than the love of my husband. I like making him happy and feel euphoric when he praises me. The love he gives me is definitely my drug. Although I never read the love languages book a few friends did in college and I am starting to realize that my said "language" probably revolves around words of affirmation and quality time. I am loving the time I have been able to spend with my husband and in turn find myself happier and more content. When I once wanted to be out every night "doing something" I now relish time spent at home eating dinner, sitting outside watching "our deer," and even catching the latest survival show on Discovery.
My final slice of knowledge came in a conversation I was able to have Sunday morning. Although I did not go to church I feel like I heard a message loud and clear that day. I had purchased some local peaches and wanted to make some peach butter to can. A little P31 I suppose, "providing food for my family." Anyway, as my friend and I cut up the peaches and set to make the butter we started talking about nature and how things are grown. I have come to really enjoy growing food in my own garden and marvel time and time again at how much can grow from so little. Our conversation easily morphed into the greatness of God and the intricacy of mankind and the natural world. To grow an entire bushel of tomatoes from one small seed and for a baby to be created and then grow in the womb is truly amazing. It would seem that science should only point people toward God instead of away from Him. That people all over the world in remote areas feel the existence of God simply because of what is around them shows mans arrogance and the true cost of sin. All in all it was a fantastic weekend.
My plan this week is to work on verse 26. "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." I have decided to start a Bible study for the girls in our youth group. I have chosen the book and will be meeting with the youth team at our church to decide on the best night and plan of action. I have also decided to join the ladies Bible study at church in order to gain "faithful instruction" and harbor more accountability.

A P31 sort of day

I feel very P31 so far today. I woke up this morning to the announcement of my husband that it was pouring rain outside. This was great news to me because one, I would not have to worry about watering the garden or landscaping outside which means that two, I could do both the laundry and run the dishwasher today :-), and finally just because I love rainy days and cooler weather! I realize that most people love jumping out of bed on a bright sunny day but I prefer mild and rainy to hot and sunny any day of the week. So while Jon fixed his hair, I made up some eggs and we were able to have a relaxing 15 minutes on the porch listening to the rain. After that, I worked out, dropped off some clothes to the Goodwill, dropped produce from the garden off to a friend, bought some fresh produce from a local organic farm, gassed up the car, got books from the library for the weekend ahead, and then purchased some scotchgard for the new sectional on the porch...all before noon!! After I got home I spent and hour in the garden pulling weeds that I really should have taken care of weeks if not months ago while listening to a great sermon on my ipod.
So, my day was very productive to this point but was also very enlightening. The sermon I listened to was from a church called Apex Community out of Dayton, Ohio. I went there during college and have recently begun downloading the sermons to listen to when I am working outside. This one happened to be out of the book of James and it was about planning. Which was funny because directly before I turned it on I had just outlined some ideas to my mom that I had for our farm. (Sometimes God just isn't so subtle, He can really just knock you over the head if you need it!) The plans discussed included possibly starting a CSA, taking a master gardeners course, doing some hands on gardening classes here at the farm, etc. Now the sermon focused on James 4:13-16.

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

At first, I thought the message was pretty simplistic, don't plan what you will do just say "if it is God's will" this is what I will do. Pretty basic, but on a deeper level it really means that you plan your life based on and with great input from God. So all these ideas I am having or plans I am making need to be based on what God wants from my life. I may have a strong desire to go in one direction but is that where God wants me to be? I know that I need to be more cognisant of God's will and asking Him what I should be doing next. I felt pretty convicted about my prayer life and including God in my decision making on a daily basis. The other part of the passage that talks about boasting was interesting as well. I would normally say that I don't boast. I am not out there spouting all the great things I do in my life, how awesome I am, etc. However, in this context, the boasting is actually about making plans. Saying that you will be doing this or that in the future, as if you know what the future holds. Basically, the exact thing I was saying to my mother 1 hour earlier. It is pretty neat to see how God is continuing to work in my life and show me areas for improvement.

When Life Gets in The Way

I have had a pretty busy time the past week and a half. My husband left for an overseas trip, I visited a friend in Kentucky, and now my sister is here visiting. Unfortunately, I have not been as diligent about staying on task with P31. I find it difficult to wake up at 7 when no one else is home. I have still been getting up consistently "early" but certainly not like I was when Jon was home. I think it is partially a motivation issue and partially an accountability issue. Sure, when there is no one else counting on my waking up it is easier to sleep in, but I also really enjoy being awake in the mornings with Jon. It is simply much easier to convince myself that I should continue sleeping when I am only counting on myself. This is something I really need to address. I can see how things have begun to slide because of the extra hour or so that I am not getting up.
It has been horribly hot this past week and although I have wanted to accomplish a few things outside, I found that trying to do so in the heat was making me sick. If I would have gotten out there early, it would have been cooler and I could have gotten a least a little done each day. Also, because of the heat/lack of rain, I have been needing to water the garden and landscaped areas around the house. Unfortunately, I have found that with our older home, the water pressure seems to only be able to accommodate one zone at a time. So not only do I have to water each outdoor zone individually, I cannot do laundry or use the dishwasher when watering outside either. This stipulation has meant that I have really fallen behind on the laundry and probably could have been avoided had I been more motivated in the mornings.
Obviously, I have also enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with my friends and family. I have an amazing visit with my friend and her husband. Of course, I was mostly there to see their children, my little buddy Preston and her new little bundle Whitney. (Who is cute as a button let me tell you, although seems to be slightly crafty. She likes to be held and will sleep like well, a baby if you hold her but wakes up and cries if you put her down. Smart little girl, watch out u guys ;) I have also really been enjoying my time with my sister, Lindsey. We have been able to have a wonderful dinner in Philly and spent the better part of yesterday shopping in NYC. Living out here in NJ is great, but I do miss my family and love when I get time to spend with them. I will mention that, despite my strongest efforts to make her coffee/breakfast in the morning a la P31, she has turned me down! I even offered her a farm fresh omelet, with my chickens eggs and produce from the garden.

Getting things done...

So for the past week I have been thinking about how to proceed in this little endevor. I have been reading this passage everyday trying to familiarize myself with who this woman is. The first thing that jumps out to me is basically that girlfriend gets stuff done!! How she can manage her enterprise, make her own clothing/bed linens, care for her household, and still have time for the poor and needy is something I definately want to understand better. I certianly aspire to being multifaceted and able to juggle such a packed schedule. "Her children call her blessed and her husband praises her." Isn't that what everyone is striving for?! I think that I really allow myself to feel overwhelmed and I feed into the mindset that I am accomplishing much when really I am only reaching a portion of my potential productivity. Sure, modern life takes time. Sitting on hold with a company, traffic on the highway, commuting, etc. I experience these time wasters on a daily basis but really find myself leaning on them as a crutch to explain why certain things are not getting done. When in fact, I am simply allowing myself to be idle because I think I deserve it. When certain tasks are tough, physically or mentally, I mentally convince myself that I don't/can't accomplish another thing because I have exhausted my energy stores or I have already done enough that day. P31 certainly doesn't think that way. This woman wakes before dark and burns her lamp well into the evening.
Does this mean that I should spend all my waking hours working or cleaning the house? No, I don't think so. I think that this woman enjoys her time with her family. For me I think it means that I need to finish projects as they come and do things now instead of procrastinating. I will be putting this mindset into practice over the next week and report back...