Hello,
Normally I’d do a little overview of the weekend adventures but it was a relatively calm solo weekend while Grant was gone for some Army training and, frankly, I didn’t take many pictures.
Instead here’s five ways I’m trying to live in my season. For reference this season is the cold winter between holidays where we are pushing pretty hard with Grant’s work and the boys are still young enough to need a lot of attention and supervision but learning some independence. (I.e. helping with chores or learning to self entertain more though I love playing with them too!)
1. Including the boys in chores.
I’m more of a “get it done quick and efficient the first time” person. That doesn’t really work well with preschool and young elementary age children so I’m trying to learn to put that aside and just have them help. It’s a fair chance that things won’t be done exactly as I like them, and it will DEFINITELY take five times as long, but it’s worth it for them to learn some additional life skills and build positive memories doing it!
Jamie playing the “guitar” while vacuuming.
2. Staying off of the news/social media.
This is helping me mentally so much right now to avoid unnecessary “swirl” as a previous boss will cover it. I still get the big decisions or actions, but avoid all the speculation intended to enrage or depress us beforehand. I’m also avoiding all the advertisements insisting that “this one item” will change my life. We’re still attempting to decrease our possessions to avoid filler and be more sustainable and January was definitely a win there.
3. Appreciating the little things.
My morning hot beverage or an afternoon walk through the zoo or watching a favorite show is giving me so much joy right now. Our word of the year is gratitude and I felt it so much last night sitting around the table playing “favorite things” while eating dinner with my guys. Let’s be clear this doesn’t last long and doesn’t happen every night, but I will be grateful every time it does.
4. Digital Library.
Cincinnati’s public library has a HUGE digital collection and it is helping me so much as a free form of entertainment that is bringing joy and cutting out the unnecessary stressors. There are definitely still necessary ones there, but doom scrolling is rapidly decreasing, which is helping me to just enjoy the cold cozy days of this literal season and snuggle with my boys without feeling FOMO in the emotional one.
5. Focusing outward.
Our church’s mission this year is a very outward focus, last year it was more educational and ensuring that we were grounded properly, this year it’s more mission and bringing Christ’s example outward. For the church at large this is serving as a warm place for students waiting for the bus with their after school program, building ADA compliant home ramps, working with our sister church to support their shelter, and more. For me personally this has been reaching out and attempting to mend a broken relationship as well as showing my gratitude for people.
That’s all for today as I’m now running extremely late for the morning routine. 🤦♀️
Have a wonderful day!
💛Jess
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