Dear Faithful Readers,
I have hit a road block. I am without Internet connection, and so, have only my phone. This will be short and sweet, and I hope to have something better tomorrow. We are on Oahu this week for District Assembly (a Nazarene denominational yearly meeting, of sorts). A short flight, but worlds different. Though smaller in size, Oahu feels very different from the Big Island... More people, massive city... More on that another day. I cannot count the number of times Justice has flown, but she thinks today was the first time she has been on an airplane, and she was uber excited. When does a child's long-term memory kick in? It was also Micah's first flight and he did great. Today has been a long day, we are all tired, and it's only the beginning! Wish us luck as we attempt District Asssembly with 2 small children! We are hopeful to make connections and build relationships with fellow pastors. We plan to be on this district a while :)
With hope,
Joy
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Day 21: Family Prayer
About a month ago, I came across a blog on family prayer. It's good, in a simple kind of way. It's from a family with 3 young kids and they share their simple, yet meaningful, routine; how they started, what they've noticed, etc. I liked it then, and have thought of it often since. Sometimes we have great goals and ambitions, we just don't know where to start. And if you're thinking of starting a different family routine or have something else that's important to your family, this is still a good read. I appreciate how Anna (the mom) lays out the procedure and the boundaries. You can find it HERE!
A note about this blog. I came upon it through my brother-in-law, Doug. I have never met this family (the Robinsons), though I appreciate many of their entries. They reside in Sheffield, UK and lead 3dm UK. You can learn more about 3dm at the 3dm website. Simply, they are a Christian organization that comes alongside churches and organizations who want to address challenges facing the future of the church. 3DM trains churches and Christian leaders to do discipleship and mission in an increasingly post-Christian world. Considering that we are Christian leaders doing mission in an area that is definitely post-Christian, we enjoy listening to their wisdom.
A note about this blog. I came upon it through my brother-in-law, Doug. I have never met this family (the Robinsons), though I appreciate many of their entries. They reside in Sheffield, UK and lead 3dm UK. You can learn more about 3dm at the 3dm website. Simply, they are a Christian organization that comes alongside churches and organizations who want to address challenges facing the future of the church. 3DM trains churches and Christian leaders to do discipleship and mission in an increasingly post-Christian world. Considering that we are Christian leaders doing mission in an area that is definitely post-Christian, we enjoy listening to their wisdom.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Day 20: Little Bo-Peep, and Other Spiritual Things
My daughter has been on a nursery rhyme kick recently. We received a large book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes in the mail, and it's been fun to read through them with Justice. I say 'read' because Joy and I are clueless on how to sing three quarters of the short rhymes. We've got ones like "Row Row Row your Boat" pretty good, but we can't seem to pin down a few obscure ones like, "Bobby Shafto's Gone to Sea." Today, Justice has clung to Little Bo-Peep. She's pretty torn up about Bo-Peep losing her sheep. This morning it was, "Where did the sheep go?" This afternoon it was, "She lost her sheep." My daughter is a feeler; one who cries because the big bad wolf just needs his mama. So, you can imagine that she really wants Bo-Peep to have her sheep. If you're unfamiliar with the rhyme, it simply goes:
Little Bo-Peep lost her sheep
And Doesn't know where to find them;
Leave them alone, and they'll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them.
We were reading this to Justice right before bed, to let her know the sheep were no longer lost, and my mind drifted to those people within our life that wander away from God. I happen to believe that the story of Christ is True, and that we find ourselves most at home- uniquely human and fully our created self- when we are confidently at rest in God's love for us. And, for those we know that do not have this confidence, do not want this confidence, or runaway from this confidence, we seek after them through the love and grace Christ.
But this nursery rhyme kind of hit me in a different way. This first stanza of the rhyme indicates that Bo-Peep stops shepherding. She just leaves them alone. It's almost as if she has a quiet trust that the weeks, months, and years of shepherding her flock has instilled in them the knowledge of home. So she confidently leaves them, and (I suspect) eagerly awaits their return in hopefulness. At which point, they do, indeed, return.
I think there are some people within our lives who make it abundantly clear that being 'lost' is exactly where they want to be. And we've tried prodding, encouraging, inviting, judging, coercing, or shepherd crooking (is that a thing?) them into a life of resting in God's presence to no avail. At this point, as the years pass on, perhaps Bo-Peep can teach us to quietly, patiently wait for the call of God in their life to echo for home. I like to think that Bo-Peep doesn't just leave her sheep, but actively prays for their return. So, we become confident that just as God's grace met us for the first time, perhaps the same grace has gone before us, still working, in the people's lives we hold so dear. I think this looks like placing our trust and faith in the one who does the saving; you know, the shepherd who refuses to keep any of us lost.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Day 19: Week in Pictures
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| Institute for Family Enrichment Playgroup |
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| Institute for Family Enrichment Playgroup |
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| Picnic dinner at the beach |
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| Practicing thankfulness for AAA services |
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| Justice's first "pony tail." She even wrote a song, "Pony tail and car seat." |
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| A lesson in nursing |
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Day 18: Furlough (part 1)
What is this crazy missionary term, Furlough? Some may be familiar with furlough as a leave of absence, often unpaid. In the missionary world, furlough is a bit different. For clarification, we have missionary friends who also use the term Home Assignment or Home Ministry Assignment.
To unpack the details of Furlough, for us specifically, this will be a series of 3 posts (though not immediately within the 30 day challenge). We plan to address the following:
Yes, Furlough is stepping away from what we are currently doing. For Eric and I, Furlough will be leaving Hawaii and returning to the mainland for a given amount of time. All missionaries have different time frames, and we're in the beginning stages of discussing what this will look like for us. As we to look toward our second year of fundraising, we are beginning to learn the necessity of taking a furlough- to reconnect personally with those who are passionate about the work God is doing on the Big Island. For now, please know that we do not take our work lightly; we are intentional about the way we connect with our neighbors, use our funds, raise our family, and communicate with you.
If you ever have a question for us, please don't hesitate to ask. Readers, supporters, funders, partners, parents... anyone!
To unpack the details of Furlough, for us specifically, this will be a series of 3 posts (though not immediately within the 30 day challenge). We plan to address the following:
- Length of Time
- Projected Date
- Furlough vs. Vacation
- Funding Furlough
- Purpose of Furlough
- Location of Furlough
Yes, Furlough is stepping away from what we are currently doing. For Eric and I, Furlough will be leaving Hawaii and returning to the mainland for a given amount of time. All missionaries have different time frames, and we're in the beginning stages of discussing what this will look like for us. As we to look toward our second year of fundraising, we are beginning to learn the necessity of taking a furlough- to reconnect personally with those who are passionate about the work God is doing on the Big Island. For now, please know that we do not take our work lightly; we are intentional about the way we connect with our neighbors, use our funds, raise our family, and communicate with you.
If you ever have a question for us, please don't hesitate to ask. Readers, supporters, funders, partners, parents... anyone!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Day 17: Interceding
The Mason's are here!
Tony and Colleen Mason (+ 3 girls) are fellow missionary-pastors who have joined our team. They join us from Illinois, and are called to plant a church in Waimea. They arrived just over 3 weeks ago, and we are so excited they are here! Eric and I had the chance to sit in their Illinois home and meet them over coffee and muffins back in August. Moves like this take time, and for us, it's exciting to see the planning and preparatory work of the last 8+ months coming to fruition. Justice instantly gained 3 new friends, and we have teammates!
But here's their current status: Homeless. Their family is currently surviving off the generosity of others... people they have known less than a month. (Let me interject a special thank you to those people, and others, who have extended a hand to help in any way they can. I can say with confidence, the Masons are grateful.) Due to varying circumstances, they do not have a home to live in. Simply, there are a VERY limited number of homes available, and our income situation is unique because we are missionaries. You can just trust me when I say, it's not that simple.
The Mason Ohana needs our prayers. All of us. They have written an open and transparent blog here. I invite you to read it (and browse around for more of their story - it's inspiring!).
Please join me in interceding on their behalf starting NOW!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Day 16: Justice Quotes
Me: Micah is your little brother.
Justice: No. He not little. He big.
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Justice: Fleece bear pooped in my hand. It gross.
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upon seeing Justice picking her nose...
Me: Let me help you with a kleenex.
Justice: No! I got it!
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upon seeing mama's breastpump...
Justice: Mama, I need to pump for my boobs. That will work.
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helping Justice in the bathroom.
Justice: Mama, I poopin.
Me: Yeah, I know.
Justice: Don't put your hand in there mama.
Me: No worries.
Justice: Micah pooped in his diaper. I poop in my pants.
Me: Uh, please don't.
Justice: No, I poop in the toilet. But don't touch my poop, Mom. It gross.
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Me: Your dad is calling us.
Justice: What's "calling?"
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phone receiving text
Justice: Your phone is blinking.
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everyday at the conclusion of nap time...
Justice: Mama! I'm awake!
Justice: No. He not little. He big.
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Justice: Fleece bear pooped in my hand. It gross.
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upon seeing Justice picking her nose...
Me: Let me help you with a kleenex.
Justice: No! I got it!
------------
upon seeing mama's breastpump...
Justice: Mama, I need to pump for my boobs. That will work.
------------
helping Justice in the bathroom.
Justice: Mama, I poopin.
Me: Yeah, I know.
Justice: Don't put your hand in there mama.
Me: No worries.
Justice: Micah pooped in his diaper. I poop in my pants.
Me: Uh, please don't.
Justice: No, I poop in the toilet. But don't touch my poop, Mom. It gross.
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Me: Your dad is calling us.
Justice: What's "calling?"
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phone receiving text
Justice: Your phone is blinking.
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everyday at the conclusion of nap time...
Justice: Mama! I'm awake!
Monday, March 24, 2014
Day 15: Thank YOU
Friends (and a few strangers) - you have been so encouraging to us! Over the past year - from making the decision to relocate, to selling 80% of what we owned, to flying across the Pacific, to resettling - YOU have given us the strength to proceed. Now, I know what some of you are already thinking, Shouldn't you rely on God for strength? Absolutely. And I can say with confidence that you, my friends, have been Christ to us.
At times we're antsy with adrenaline, or overflowing with energy from excitement. But there are times (and have been many over the past year) that look a little gloomy, or discouraging. It was in those moments that one of you has shown up. Maybe it was a letter, or a phone call. Maybe a package in the mail, or a card just to say you're thinking of us. Or an email, or a simple comment on the blog. Or a special treat for one of our children. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you.
Eric and I are both pledging to be better about thank you cards from here on out. So here's a public apology if you didn't receive a note back from us - we are so sorry. Our absenteeism should not communicate our level of appreciation. Just picture us a bit disorganized, sometimes treading water, and sometimes running without our feet hitting the ground.
In reality, your words have spoken to our hearts. We have saved emails and cards because they have been so encouraging, at just the right moments. Thank you for listening to the prompting of your spirit to send us words of encouragement. And to those of you reading this blog (isn't that everyone?) THANK YOU! We are honored to have a few followers.
*If you haven't already done so, remember you can sign up to receive email notification when a new blog is posted. You might consider waiting until the end of this 30 day challenge, unless you want an email every day for the next 15 days :)
At times we're antsy with adrenaline, or overflowing with energy from excitement. But there are times (and have been many over the past year) that look a little gloomy, or discouraging. It was in those moments that one of you has shown up. Maybe it was a letter, or a phone call. Maybe a package in the mail, or a card just to say you're thinking of us. Or an email, or a simple comment on the blog. Or a special treat for one of our children. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you.
Eric and I are both pledging to be better about thank you cards from here on out. So here's a public apology if you didn't receive a note back from us - we are so sorry. Our absenteeism should not communicate our level of appreciation. Just picture us a bit disorganized, sometimes treading water, and sometimes running without our feet hitting the ground.
In reality, your words have spoken to our hearts. We have saved emails and cards because they have been so encouraging, at just the right moments. Thank you for listening to the prompting of your spirit to send us words of encouragement. And to those of you reading this blog (isn't that everyone?) THANK YOU! We are honored to have a few followers.
*If you haven't already done so, remember you can sign up to receive email notification when a new blog is posted. You might consider waiting until the end of this 30 day challenge, unless you want an email every day for the next 15 days :)
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Day 14: Seeking Missionary-Farmer
Some of the things Eric has been working on are several positions within our North Kona Mission Zone: Three Missionary type positions that combine social, familial, and bodily well-being with discipleship. Two of the positions are partner positions with the Pregnancy Center of Kona for a Mobile Team Missionary to do ultrasounds around the island and the Kumu Alaka'i (Mentorship) Missionary. The third, a Missionary-Farmer position, is outlined below.
Over the past couple of months, Eric has met with several housing managers, community leaders, and County Health Dept. employees to gain a better understanding of the general health and well-being of our neighbors. Having seen the increased rates of food related diseases, the local desire for re-connecting with the land, the economic need for lower food costs, and the willingness for collaboration around food sustainability, KCN is excited to post the following job description to be shared with all interested individuals.
Seeking Staff Position for:
Missionary-Farmer
[Job Description, Accountability, and Responsibilities]
Description
Kona Coast Nazarene is a local church committed to reaching the
lost, discipling the found, and modeling the Kingdom on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Given the contemporary challenges of ministry
and the unique context of the various communities along the Kona Coast, KCN
recognizes the necessity to respond appropriately to cultural, social, and
relational differences within distinct communities. Therefore, KCN is calling, equipping, and
sending Missionary-Pastors to facilitate ministry development, equip local
leaders, and invest in the health of their communities for eight identified mission
zones along the West Coast of the Big Island.
The Missionary-Farmer will be working within the North Kona Mission zone
under the leadership of the N. Kona Missionary-Pastor.
Missionaries
are those called to vocationally respond to the Great Commission, making the
Gospel contextually relevant and meaningful.
Farmers are committed to the health of both the land and its inhabitants
through sustainable food production. A
Missionary-Farmer uniquely touches a growing need in North Kona to address
declining health, food education, and cultural re-acclimation to the land among
recent immigrant groups.
The
Missionary-Farmer is a hybrid role—combining the practical and relational elements
of farming with the commitment to making kingdom-focused disciples. The Missionary-Farmer must be deeply
committed to the working of God’s grace outside the walls of the church,
culturally adept and able to assimilate to new cultures, possess knowledge of
and ability to teach and learn various forms of sustainable agriculture, build
a network of relationships across social and religious boundaries for the
purpose of food development and health, submit to the local church body, and
connect meaningfully with the Kona Coast Nazarene community. The work of the Missionary-Farmer is viewed
as an extension of Kona Coast Nazarene in the community, modeling the Kingdom
of God for our neighbors.
Accountability
·
The Missionary-Farmer will report
and be directly responsible to the N. Kona Missionary-Pastor.
·
The MF will welcome
accountability from the Pastoral Team, which is a regular component of required
staff meetings.
·
The MF is expected to be
professional and perform his/her duties at the highest level of excellence.
·
Annually, the MF and the N. Kona
Missionary-Pastor will work together on goals and reviews.
Responsibilities
·
N. Kona Mission Zone
o The first and most important role of the MF is to be sensitive to
the cultural milieu of HI, assimilate into the local context of ministry, and
begin to build relational bridges with local residents.
o Farmer
§
The MF will organize a network of people
devoted to food sustainability, health, and discipleship in various
neighborhoods. The MF must be well versed in various forms of gardening
and agriculture, ability to learn and cultivate native food varieties, teaching
local gardening/farming for reproduction, and creatively access new
avenues for growing.
o Missionary
§
Consistent with the mission of
KCN, the MF contextualizes the Gospel in relevant ways, guiding others through
growth in the Spirit as they form relationships in the community through
farming/gardening. The MF will use food
growing, food and health literacy, meal prep, and diet and nutrition as vehicles
to develop community and discipleship opportunities.
§
While KCN promotes “organic”
discipleship, the MF is expected to establish and work toward objective
ministry goals that fit within the measurable parameters of church
ministry. (Ex: bible study, prayer
gatherings, discipleship clutches, missional communities, compassion projects,
etc.). These goals will be established
and reviewed annually.
o The MF will be given leeway to think creatively for any
entrepreneurial investment that may uniquely aid in the whole health of our
neighbors.
·
Kona Coast
o The MF is on the KCN Pastoral Team and is expected to invest in
the accountability of that team through attendance at and contributions to team
fellowships and staff meetings.
o The MF is expected to believe in and embody the mission and vision
of KCN, which includes participation and implementation in the Three C’s
framework—Discipleship Clutches, Missional Communities, Church
Celebrations. This assures consistency
in ministry along the coast and strengthens KCN’s impact on the Big Island.
o The MF will participate and invest in appropriate KCN events
intended for the whole Kona Coast.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Day 13: Friends!
We are slowly building friendships over here. Truth be told, I wanted a previously existing group to jump into; a moms group, a women's group, a playgroup... something! The problem with having an expectation already in your mind is that it's really difficult to fulfill exactly what you're looking for. There aren't any groups like what I thought I wanted.
It's taken me several months, a lot of courage, but we're finding friends. And we are so, so thankful.
It's taken me several months, a lot of courage, but we're finding friends. And we are so, so thankful.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Day 12: Facing Challenges PART 2
So Micah was born mid-January, and I don't remember the following 3 weeks due to sleep deprivation, then my family came to visit. I stayed busy. Shortly after they left and the commotion died down I began to experience what I have come to label "isolation from ministry." I reached out to a good friend and told her, "I'm not involved in anything and it's somewhat depressing to not be doing ministry for the first time in my life."
In reality, I don't know what being a missionary looks like. I don't have an office, or departmental responsibilities. I don't clock in or clock out. I'm not writing curriculum and no one is calling me pastor. Maybe I'm having an identity crisis?! At the same time, Eric is attending meetings and diving head-first into learning our community. He's on the preaching rotation and attending Kona Ministers Fellowship. I'm glad Eric is doing all of this, and it's exactly what he should be doing. But the felt contrast of doing and not-doing brought me to a breaking point.
As I've said many times before, we entered this journey as a team and we intend to remain a team. What I was feeling, whether good or bad, was effecting me emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Thank Jesus for those who have gone before us and can speak truth into our lives. My friend Brittany has been just that for me. She's given me many nuggets of truth, but perhaps the most profound is the affirmation that being a missionary is HARD. So often we hear (from well meaning people) that moving to Hawaii must be a luxury missionary position, and quite simply, that couldn't be further from the truth. While having no limitations or boundaries on this "job" might sound a lot like not having a job - that's not true either. I need to find my niche within the community. For the first time in my life, my niche is not clearly defined by a job description. When I don't know what to do with my time, or where to direct my energy, I can't dissect a piece of paper and find a list of tasks.
To be totally transparent, we're still dealing with this. And my gut tells me I'll be dealing with it for a while. My personality type deals better with life when I know the challenges that are before me. Sometimes we just can't know those challenges, but we can know that it will be hard. For some reason this reminds me a lot of breastfeeding a newborn. Thankfully, I had a few dear friends who told me long before the first baby was born that breastfeeding is hard, and painful, and exhausting, but completely 100% worth it! And when that baby was little and I was living off coffee and holding my breath through the pain, I knew it was normal and that it would get better, because of those that had gone before me. In a recent email, Brittany left me with these words. And I'm trusting her.
In reality, I don't know what being a missionary looks like. I don't have an office, or departmental responsibilities. I don't clock in or clock out. I'm not writing curriculum and no one is calling me pastor. Maybe I'm having an identity crisis?! At the same time, Eric is attending meetings and diving head-first into learning our community. He's on the preaching rotation and attending Kona Ministers Fellowship. I'm glad Eric is doing all of this, and it's exactly what he should be doing. But the felt contrast of doing and not-doing brought me to a breaking point.
As I've said many times before, we entered this journey as a team and we intend to remain a team. What I was feeling, whether good or bad, was effecting me emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Thank Jesus for those who have gone before us and can speak truth into our lives. My friend Brittany has been just that for me. She's given me many nuggets of truth, but perhaps the most profound is the affirmation that being a missionary is HARD. So often we hear (from well meaning people) that moving to Hawaii must be a luxury missionary position, and quite simply, that couldn't be further from the truth. While having no limitations or boundaries on this "job" might sound a lot like not having a job - that's not true either. I need to find my niche within the community. For the first time in my life, my niche is not clearly defined by a job description. When I don't know what to do with my time, or where to direct my energy, I can't dissect a piece of paper and find a list of tasks.
To be totally transparent, we're still dealing with this. And my gut tells me I'll be dealing with it for a while. My personality type deals better with life when I know the challenges that are before me. Sometimes we just can't know those challenges, but we can know that it will be hard. For some reason this reminds me a lot of breastfeeding a newborn. Thankfully, I had a few dear friends who told me long before the first baby was born that breastfeeding is hard, and painful, and exhausting, but completely 100% worth it! And when that baby was little and I was living off coffee and holding my breath through the pain, I knew it was normal and that it would get better, because of those that had gone before me. In a recent email, Brittany left me with these words. And I'm trusting her.
I love you. I'm praying for you. It gets better but not tomorrow or next week, maybe not even next year. I'll be praying for you tomorrow… and next week… and next year.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Day 11: Facing Challenges
If you've been following our blog through our transition, you will know that we've faced a few challenges along the way. Some more surprising than others.
With any move across the country, one will have challenges. When you add in fundraising your family's income it might become a little more stressful. And if you move to a new culture that is quite different than the one you came from, well... things can get interesting. We landed in Kona 20 weeks pregnant. While I thought this would add anxiety to an already uncertain move, it worked in the opposite way. My pregnancy allowed us to focus on the health of our family first. We took a 12 week birth class, read books, and found childrearing the topic of many conversations. In hindsight, my pregnancy helped our family stay connected and strong.
Some of things we thought would be challenges ended up not being stressful at all. And some things we weren't even aware of became quite challenging indeed. And then there's isolation.
We were aware of isolation. We talk about isolation and loneliness in staff meetings. We know it leads to burnout and suffering. We know people, pastors, who jump ship because they can't do it alone. Isolation sounds miserable. And so KCN has been intentional about the way we are building a team to be on this mission together. We will have missionary pastors spread across a 100 mile coast, but have a plan and structure ready so that we, as pastors, are not isolated. We have close friends who have experienced extreme isolation, mentors who have warned of isolation. We know the danger of isolation.
Imagine our surprise when isolation showed up on our doorstep.
- We knew we would need to find a midwife and would have labeled that quest as a potential challenge. We didn't rush this process, and found a midwife we had total confidence in.
- We knew we would need to find housing, and would have labeled the hunt as a potential challenge to find the right house. We didn't realize we wouldn't find one at all, (we are living in an ohana in the church parsonage).
- We knew we would need employment, and probably would have ranked it as one of our bigger and more immediate challenges. Eric's first day of work was one month after we arrived - not bad!
With any move across the country, one will have challenges. When you add in fundraising your family's income it might become a little more stressful. And if you move to a new culture that is quite different than the one you came from, well... things can get interesting. We landed in Kona 20 weeks pregnant. While I thought this would add anxiety to an already uncertain move, it worked in the opposite way. My pregnancy allowed us to focus on the health of our family first. We took a 12 week birth class, read books, and found childrearing the topic of many conversations. In hindsight, my pregnancy helped our family stay connected and strong.
Some of things we thought would be challenges ended up not being stressful at all. And some things we weren't even aware of became quite challenging indeed. And then there's isolation.
We were aware of isolation. We talk about isolation and loneliness in staff meetings. We know it leads to burnout and suffering. We know people, pastors, who jump ship because they can't do it alone. Isolation sounds miserable. And so KCN has been intentional about the way we are building a team to be on this mission together. We will have missionary pastors spread across a 100 mile coast, but have a plan and structure ready so that we, as pastors, are not isolated. We have close friends who have experienced extreme isolation, mentors who have warned of isolation. We know the danger of isolation.
Imagine our surprise when isolation showed up on our doorstep.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Day 10: More on Encountering God
My gears are still turning from this Day 8 post about encountering God. In fact, my laundry is drying right now and I've been looking forward to folding it today. God is here, now. How can I better tune-in to God's presence?
I've been reflecting on different types of encounters. My previous example about attempting to read scripture while nursing was intended to be an individual encounter. It didn't work, so I'm dumping this idea. It was simply too difficult for me to "tune in" under the circumstances. This encounter needs to be a separate time carved out in my day with minimal distractions. Maybe it's early morning, or nap time, or during Justice's independent play time. But adding it to the middle of my day was ineffective, for the intended encounter and for optimal parenting. I'll try again at a different time of day.
Times in my day/week that involve community seem to be easier for me. Things that Eric and I have decided to do together, because of the company and because of the accountability, rarely get skipped. Especially rhythms we've built to include Justice... that girl never forgets!
Where I've felt the need to be creative (or perhaps more aware) is seeing God in the patterns of my already existing day. Like laundry. Or Eric mentioned while doing the dishes. Our daughter has a pretty good example of capitalizing on an act that's already part of her day; using the bathroom.
Justice has been potty trained for awhile now - nearly 10 months. Though she can take herself to the restroom on her own, she oftentimes wants me to "help her." When I get to the bathroom, she says, "I can do it!" and proceeds to do all the steps by herself. So why does she request my "help." While I can't be certain, I have a hunch. You see, she's more likely to go by herself during the day, when it's just us at home. And she's more likely to request help when Eric is home. But she doesn't request Eric's help. In fact, when Eric tries to take her she often says, "No, mama can help me."
My hunch is that Justice uses this time in the bathroom, sometimes only 30 seconds, to connect one-on-one with her mama. When Eric is home he can take Micah, or make dinner, or do the dishes, or take over whatever I was previously doing, thus freeing mama to help Justice. Our bathroom conversations are sometimes random, but often include some reflection from the day. Justice will tell me about a friend she played with, or a book we read. She sometimes talks about Micah, or Daddy, or asks to call Papa on the iPad. It seems to be whatever is on her mind. And then we race back to the kitchen with happy hearts.
We all have moments like this in our day. Yes, the bathroom! Even if it's only 30 seconds. I'm sure there are other things we do every day (maybe multiple times a day). Making coffee. Brushing our teeth. Taking a shower. Exercising. Making dinner. Maybe just taking 10 seconds to focus on breathing. These are moments where our heart's gaze can be focused on Christ's life and love for us, our neighbors, and this world. We can learn to rest in God, even in the midst of our daily activity.
I've been reflecting on different types of encounters. My previous example about attempting to read scripture while nursing was intended to be an individual encounter. It didn't work, so I'm dumping this idea. It was simply too difficult for me to "tune in" under the circumstances. This encounter needs to be a separate time carved out in my day with minimal distractions. Maybe it's early morning, or nap time, or during Justice's independent play time. But adding it to the middle of my day was ineffective, for the intended encounter and for optimal parenting. I'll try again at a different time of day.
Times in my day/week that involve community seem to be easier for me. Things that Eric and I have decided to do together, because of the company and because of the accountability, rarely get skipped. Especially rhythms we've built to include Justice... that girl never forgets!
Where I've felt the need to be creative (or perhaps more aware) is seeing God in the patterns of my already existing day. Like laundry. Or Eric mentioned while doing the dishes. Our daughter has a pretty good example of capitalizing on an act that's already part of her day; using the bathroom.
Justice has been potty trained for awhile now - nearly 10 months. Though she can take herself to the restroom on her own, she oftentimes wants me to "help her." When I get to the bathroom, she says, "I can do it!" and proceeds to do all the steps by herself. So why does she request my "help." While I can't be certain, I have a hunch. You see, she's more likely to go by herself during the day, when it's just us at home. And she's more likely to request help when Eric is home. But she doesn't request Eric's help. In fact, when Eric tries to take her she often says, "No, mama can help me."
My hunch is that Justice uses this time in the bathroom, sometimes only 30 seconds, to connect one-on-one with her mama. When Eric is home he can take Micah, or make dinner, or do the dishes, or take over whatever I was previously doing, thus freeing mama to help Justice. Our bathroom conversations are sometimes random, but often include some reflection from the day. Justice will tell me about a friend she played with, or a book we read. She sometimes talks about Micah, or Daddy, or asks to call Papa on the iPad. It seems to be whatever is on her mind. And then we race back to the kitchen with happy hearts.
We all have moments like this in our day. Yes, the bathroom! Even if it's only 30 seconds. I'm sure there are other things we do every day (maybe multiple times a day). Making coffee. Brushing our teeth. Taking a shower. Exercising. Making dinner. Maybe just taking 10 seconds to focus on breathing. These are moments where our heart's gaze can be focused on Christ's life and love for us, our neighbors, and this world. We can learn to rest in God, even in the midst of our daily activity.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Day 8: New Habits; Encountering God
It's Day 8, and I don't want to do this. But I'm not a quitter. Which actually makes today's post quite appropriate. Pressing on...
A few weeks ago, Eric wrote a post titled The Five Pillars of Christian Living. In the post, he outlined the five topics covered at a spiritual retreat he attended with our church. I stayed home with the kids that weekend, so Eric and I have been going over the material together. Here's Eric's blurb on the first pillar; Encountering God:
Eric and I discussed this material a couple weeks ago. Together, we brainstormed ideas for triggers during our day/week that would serve as a reminder to be in communion with God. When we ended that session, I left feeling encouraged and ambitious about the week. We've since revisited that discussion twice and I've learned that the practice is much more difficult than what I originally thought.
I had good ideas, but maybe I didn't really have a plan. Here are a few examples.
Laundry: I do the household laundry, and I probably do laundry 5x/week. I planned to use this time as a reminder to pray specifically for each person in my household as I folded that person's clothes. The problem came when I folded laundry in between meeting the needs of my toddler and hungry infant. My mind got distracted, and though I returned to folding clothes, my mind did not return to praying. I also firmly believe new habits are formed with practice... so the days that I've let laundry pile up actually have a counter effect.
Bible App: Eric suggested reading scripture during a set time when I'm nursing Micah during the day. So I downloaded the app, and I've used it once. The idea was it would be easier to use than my paper-copy bible (that's weird to say). In practice, I found that being engaged by my phone doesn't work so well with the toddler. Like I said a few days ago, she's really pushing the boundaries. She actually took off her dress, stood at the foot of the chair while I was nursing, and screamed while simultaneously jumping, "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!" Sometimes you don't have to read between the lines.
Living in communion with God takes practice; it takes intentional habit making work. I'm pressing on, and finding motivation in the practices that have worked. Like singing specific hymns to each child, praying with Justice each night, and cutting way back on "screen time" to connect better with my spouse.
What about you? Anyone had good luck forming new habits? Notes on your mirrors? Reminder alarms set in your phone?
A few weeks ago, Eric wrote a post titled The Five Pillars of Christian Living. In the post, he outlined the five topics covered at a spiritual retreat he attended with our church. I stayed home with the kids that weekend, so Eric and I have been going over the material together. Here's Eric's blurb on the first pillar; Encountering God:
1). Practicing the Presence of God: Some may know this title from the work of Brother Lawrence, a monk who devoted his life to practicing God’s presence in the mundane activities of everyday life. He wrote that “there is no sweeter manner of living in the world than continuous communion with God.” But this is a very foreign concept in the church today. We are so distracted by technology, work, family, and sports that we honestly don’t know how to dwell in the Presence of the Lord, much less do it while washing dishes or playing with our kids. Living in communion with God takes practice; it takes intentional habit making work.
Eric and I discussed this material a couple weeks ago. Together, we brainstormed ideas for triggers during our day/week that would serve as a reminder to be in communion with God. When we ended that session, I left feeling encouraged and ambitious about the week. We've since revisited that discussion twice and I've learned that the practice is much more difficult than what I originally thought.
I had good ideas, but maybe I didn't really have a plan. Here are a few examples.
Laundry: I do the household laundry, and I probably do laundry 5x/week. I planned to use this time as a reminder to pray specifically for each person in my household as I folded that person's clothes. The problem came when I folded laundry in between meeting the needs of my toddler and hungry infant. My mind got distracted, and though I returned to folding clothes, my mind did not return to praying. I also firmly believe new habits are formed with practice... so the days that I've let laundry pile up actually have a counter effect.
Bible App: Eric suggested reading scripture during a set time when I'm nursing Micah during the day. So I downloaded the app, and I've used it once. The idea was it would be easier to use than my paper-copy bible (that's weird to say). In practice, I found that being engaged by my phone doesn't work so well with the toddler. Like I said a few days ago, she's really pushing the boundaries. She actually took off her dress, stood at the foot of the chair while I was nursing, and screamed while simultaneously jumping, "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!" Sometimes you don't have to read between the lines.
Living in communion with God takes practice; it takes intentional habit making work. I'm pressing on, and finding motivation in the practices that have worked. Like singing specific hymns to each child, praying with Justice each night, and cutting way back on "screen time" to connect better with my spouse.
What about you? Anyone had good luck forming new habits? Notes on your mirrors? Reminder alarms set in your phone?
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Day 7: Target & Easter
My mom was here visiting a few weeks ago. You know how it is when parents visit, (particularly moms), you try to do things you've been putting off for a while. So off we went to Target, looking for doll clothes. Justice's one doll has been naked since it was gifted to us a few months ago. Naturally, we went to the toy section and strolled down the pink isles. Except nothing about this was natural for us. With Justice sitting in the front of the cart, I quickly and rather abruptly realized she had not traveled down the toy isles before. Several "oooh!" and "Oh! I like that!" exclamations came from her lips. Then a bright yellow cash register caught her eye. She called it a computer, and for the rest of our shopping trip through Target (we get some groceries there) she repeatedly whined, "I need the computer!"
Thankfully, grandma did NOT cave and buy her the "computer!" In sharing this experience with Eric, I started to realize how overloaded Justice must have felt. For a girl who had never been in a toy isle - especially a bright pink and sparkly isle aimed directly at girls - and a girl who doesn't have TV, and therefore has never seen a toy commercial, her brain was processing a lot. Now don't get me wrong, the girl has toys. We have been unsuccessful at limiting the grandparents gift giving... and that's only half of it! Every family member sends a gift, and we have been quite fortunate to have a sending church in Nashville that has "adopted" our kids in many ways. But if Eric or I are going to buy Justice a toy, we have a different approach. First, we know what we're looking for. And second, it's almost never new (second hand store, craigslist, friends, etc.). For example, right now we have 3 things on our "Justice radar;" construction trucks, trains, and clothes for a dress-up box. None of these are urgent (are toys ever urgent?), so we'll just keep our eyes out for something that might work.
Yesterday I was at Target again, and a different section of the store caught my attention. Easter. Thankfully, my mom-filter was working. My first observation was that 90% of this multi-isle section of the store is designated for candy, (the remaining 10% is decorations). So I walked right past it. Now, I love a good chocolate bar, but really? Obviously, I don't want my child begging for candy during the rest of the trip. But on a deeper level, I would prefer that CANDY is not her first association with EASTER. And while we're on the topic, I'd also prefer she not think of EGGS.
I like Target, and this really has very little to do with the store. I will continue to shop there. It has way more to do with intentional parenting. We're in the season of Lent - building up to Easter. It's all around us. So what DO I want to focus on? Sure, we'll do crafts and read books. We will talk about Jesus and the resurrection. We will do the best we can to communicate the meaning of Easter to our 2 year old.
What I don't know is how we will celebrate on Easter Sunday. We are at the ground level for building traditions in our little family. Will we have easter baskets? A special breakfast? Some symbol, or card, or picture representation? I don't know! What I do know is this: we put a significant amount of thought into the toys our children have. I certainly hope we put more thought into how we plan to celebrate our risen Lord.
Any suggestions?
Thankfully, grandma did NOT cave and buy her the "computer!" In sharing this experience with Eric, I started to realize how overloaded Justice must have felt. For a girl who had never been in a toy isle - especially a bright pink and sparkly isle aimed directly at girls - and a girl who doesn't have TV, and therefore has never seen a toy commercial, her brain was processing a lot. Now don't get me wrong, the girl has toys. We have been unsuccessful at limiting the grandparents gift giving... and that's only half of it! Every family member sends a gift, and we have been quite fortunate to have a sending church in Nashville that has "adopted" our kids in many ways. But if Eric or I are going to buy Justice a toy, we have a different approach. First, we know what we're looking for. And second, it's almost never new (second hand store, craigslist, friends, etc.). For example, right now we have 3 things on our "Justice radar;" construction trucks, trains, and clothes for a dress-up box. None of these are urgent (are toys ever urgent?), so we'll just keep our eyes out for something that might work.
Yesterday I was at Target again, and a different section of the store caught my attention. Easter. Thankfully, my mom-filter was working. My first observation was that 90% of this multi-isle section of the store is designated for candy, (the remaining 10% is decorations). So I walked right past it. Now, I love a good chocolate bar, but really? Obviously, I don't want my child begging for candy during the rest of the trip. But on a deeper level, I would prefer that CANDY is not her first association with EASTER. And while we're on the topic, I'd also prefer she not think of EGGS.
I like Target, and this really has very little to do with the store. I will continue to shop there. It has way more to do with intentional parenting. We're in the season of Lent - building up to Easter. It's all around us. So what DO I want to focus on? Sure, we'll do crafts and read books. We will talk about Jesus and the resurrection. We will do the best we can to communicate the meaning of Easter to our 2 year old.
What I don't know is how we will celebrate on Easter Sunday. We are at the ground level for building traditions in our little family. Will we have easter baskets? A special breakfast? Some symbol, or card, or picture representation? I don't know! What I do know is this: we put a significant amount of thought into the toys our children have. I certainly hope we put more thought into how we plan to celebrate our risen Lord.
Any suggestions?
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Day 6: Blogs Eric Follows
So, because this is a shared blog space for both of us, and because we took wedding vows that made the two of us one, when I (Eric) post within the 30 day challenge, it also counts for Joy. Now that the caveat is out of the way, Joy shared four blogs that she follows. We figured it would be fun to see the difference between us in who/what we choose to read. For the record, however, we do overlap...I do enjoy hearing about the good people at Rough Draft Farmstead.
Reclaiming the Mission:
David Fitch is a pastor, church planter, and Professor at Northern Seminary in Chicago. One of his earlier books, "The Great Giveaway," introduced me to his evangelical anabaptism, and I've followed his blog ever since. Fitch is a contextual theologian, always uniquely engaged in his surrounding, and deeply passionate about theology and practice. Much of what he has to say encourages me as we move deeper into Mission: Kona Coast.
The Other Journal:
This is an online magazine that deals with the intersection of theology and culture. The articles revolve around a particular theme for the quarter (For instance, The Other Journal's current issue is on the Body), and cover theology, creative writing, praxis, and art. The articles are well written, theologically engaging, and substantial. The site also carries some of my favorite blogs: The Amish Jihadist, and one with which I have contributed- Justice Outside the City.
ABC Religion and Ethics:
This is a wonderful site that offers reflections on present day issues around the globe; the role of the church in public life, Christian relationships with Judaism, Islamic faith and globalization, the importance of Pope Francis, Christian reflections on nonviolence and Just War, critiques of marxism and capitalism from theological perspectives, etc. This site never fails to reflect and critique our current time in history, and does so from some of the leading theologians and philosophers from around the world.
The Nuance:
Zach Hoag is a missional church planter, and another one of those pesky evangelical anabaptists. His blog offers a particular critique of the current state of the evangelical church, but it's the kind of critique that has a deep longing and passion to see the ship redirected towards it's proper destination- witness to the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The Nuance probes, dismantles, and refuses to be pigeon-holed into right or left categories. In a world driven by ideologies, we need some who remain ideologically homeless.
Leslie Family Adventure:
Todd and Brittany Leslie are friends from college. They just spent the last five years as missionaries in South Africa, and have written about their experiences. I should say, Brittany does most of the writing, and as a lover of literature, I read her blog not just to keep up with her family, but because I value her writing skill. She reflects well on the small daily tasks of being a mother, wife, missionary, and disciple of Jesus.
Joy wanted me to list just five. Though there are a few others that deserve honorable mention: Faith and Theology; and Dry Bones Rattling.
Reclaiming the Mission:
David Fitch is a pastor, church planter, and Professor at Northern Seminary in Chicago. One of his earlier books, "The Great Giveaway," introduced me to his evangelical anabaptism, and I've followed his blog ever since. Fitch is a contextual theologian, always uniquely engaged in his surrounding, and deeply passionate about theology and practice. Much of what he has to say encourages me as we move deeper into Mission: Kona Coast.
The Other Journal:
This is an online magazine that deals with the intersection of theology and culture. The articles revolve around a particular theme for the quarter (For instance, The Other Journal's current issue is on the Body), and cover theology, creative writing, praxis, and art. The articles are well written, theologically engaging, and substantial. The site also carries some of my favorite blogs: The Amish Jihadist, and one with which I have contributed- Justice Outside the City.
ABC Religion and Ethics:
This is a wonderful site that offers reflections on present day issues around the globe; the role of the church in public life, Christian relationships with Judaism, Islamic faith and globalization, the importance of Pope Francis, Christian reflections on nonviolence and Just War, critiques of marxism and capitalism from theological perspectives, etc. This site never fails to reflect and critique our current time in history, and does so from some of the leading theologians and philosophers from around the world.
The Nuance:
Zach Hoag is a missional church planter, and another one of those pesky evangelical anabaptists. His blog offers a particular critique of the current state of the evangelical church, but it's the kind of critique that has a deep longing and passion to see the ship redirected towards it's proper destination- witness to the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The Nuance probes, dismantles, and refuses to be pigeon-holed into right or left categories. In a world driven by ideologies, we need some who remain ideologically homeless.
Leslie Family Adventure:
Todd and Brittany Leslie are friends from college. They just spent the last five years as missionaries in South Africa, and have written about their experiences. I should say, Brittany does most of the writing, and as a lover of literature, I read her blog not just to keep up with her family, but because I value her writing skill. She reflects well on the small daily tasks of being a mother, wife, missionary, and disciple of Jesus.
Joy wanted me to list just five. Though there are a few others that deserve honorable mention: Faith and Theology; and Dry Bones Rattling.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Day 5: Blogs I Follow
Eric and I follow very different blogs, and between the two of us have quite the range. Here are a few blogs I follow on a regular basis. Tomorrow, Eric will post a few of the blogs he follows.
Rough Draft Farmstead - A young married couple, living off the grid, and farming for a living. We had the great privlege of knowing these two while we lived in Nashville (though they live in KY). We both admire the work they are doing, the seriousness with which they care about the earth, and the amazing food they produce. And we're a tad jealous of the animals they raise! Check out these pigs they've been bottle feeding!
Radical Farmwives - This blog is run by three farmwives. They have children in varying stages of life, and all have been farming for a substantial number of years. I appreciate the variety this site offers; from knitting, to schooling, to boiling maple syrup, to herding cattle... you name it! I am consistently inspired by work ethic of these ladies.
Katy Says - I've been following this blog the longest. Produced by Katy Bowman, biomechanist and the only human physics scientist that has focused her expertise to address our country’s epidemic-level health crisis and the mechanical causes of disease. She is challenging, and all of her information has sound research. Advocate of health; from movement to nutrition to education. Check her out!
Stay at Home Money Manager - a newer blog by my friend, Mandy. Taken from her blog, you would learn this: Mandy makes the most of time and money while raising two sons with her husband in Nashville. A lover of spreadsheets and lists, she shares challenges and strategies of effeciently managing a household. Because I know Mandy personally, I would also share she's down to earth, has a great sense of humor, and shares very practical information. She's the type of person I totally trust a book recomendation from.
Rough Draft Farmstead - A young married couple, living off the grid, and farming for a living. We had the great privlege of knowing these two while we lived in Nashville (though they live in KY). We both admire the work they are doing, the seriousness with which they care about the earth, and the amazing food they produce. And we're a tad jealous of the animals they raise! Check out these pigs they've been bottle feeding!
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| Photo Credit: Roughdraftfarmstead.com |
Katy Says - I've been following this blog the longest. Produced by Katy Bowman, biomechanist and the only human physics scientist that has focused her expertise to address our country’s epidemic-level health crisis and the mechanical causes of disease. She is challenging, and all of her information has sound research. Advocate of health; from movement to nutrition to education. Check her out!
Stay at Home Money Manager - a newer blog by my friend, Mandy. Taken from her blog, you would learn this: Mandy makes the most of time and money while raising two sons with her husband in Nashville. A lover of spreadsheets and lists, she shares challenges and strategies of effeciently managing a household. Because I know Mandy personally, I would also share she's down to earth, has a great sense of humor, and shares very practical information. She's the type of person I totally trust a book recomendation from.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Day 4: Big Picture Parenting
A few months ago a good friend challenged us to make a list of qualities/traits/characteristics we want our children to exhibit as teenagers and young adults. Then she said, "work backwards" in your parenting to make sure those things happen. I didn't quite understand until she gave us a really simple example like this: I want my children to love reading (as a young adult). To "work backwards" we ask ourselves, What does my parenting need to look like when my kids are 15? 10? 5? in order for him/her to grow up a reader. We read a lot in our house, so this was an easy one for me to grasp.
I remember mentioning it to Eric and both of us feeling challenged by the task of coming up with this list. And then we did nothing.
More recently, my brother-in-law Doug wrote about the same topic. In making their lists, he said something that really stuck with me:
You can read more at their blog, and see their initial lists here.
The challenge of coming up with this list is still overwhelming to me. But I have started. I have a small notepad where I've jotted down 5 things so far.
I shared this with Eric last week and I think he said something like, "What do you mean by recognize intentionality?" Obviously, we have some work to do. This list is far too broad to actually have practical, every-day parenting objectives. Hopefully we will work together to write a more concise list in the near future.
One other tidbit, shared by my friend who initially mentioned this (Thanks, Britt!), is to re-visit your list in 3-6 months and then again in 9-12 months. My guess is, as I become more aware of our goals, the list will get tweaked a bit.
I remember mentioning it to Eric and both of us feeling challenged by the task of coming up with this list. And then we did nothing.
More recently, my brother-in-law Doug wrote about the same topic. In making their lists, he said something that really stuck with me:
It occurs to me that if we never really articulate and pray through what those specific things are, we are parenting/discipling them in a slightly ambiguous and accidental direction.
You can read more at their blog, and see their initial lists here.
The challenge of coming up with this list is still overwhelming to me. But I have started. I have a small notepad where I've jotted down 5 things so far.
- Love reading
- Know and recognize intentionality
- Recognize injustice
- Be a thinker
- Show compassion
I shared this with Eric last week and I think he said something like, "What do you mean by recognize intentionality?" Obviously, we have some work to do. This list is far too broad to actually have practical, every-day parenting objectives. Hopefully we will work together to write a more concise list in the near future.
One other tidbit, shared by my friend who initially mentioned this (Thanks, Britt!), is to re-visit your list in 3-6 months and then again in 9-12 months. My guess is, as I become more aware of our goals, the list will get tweaked a bit.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Day 2: The Kids
*This Day 2 post is showing up as March 12, but let me be clear. It is TUESDAY, March 11, at 10:03pm. I have NOT missed a day yet... it's only day 2!*
Here's a picture of our healthy wee one. Can I still call him a "wee one?" He's huge! Needless to say, Micah is eating quite well. He's 7 weeks old and is falling into a good sleep/wake pattern. I suppose "good" is a relative term, but it's becoming more and more predictable. He is happy most of the time, smiling more, and definitely more alert with each passing day. And Justice loves him.
Justice, on the other hand, is not the quiet and content child. I should probably start by saying when you're one-on-one with her, she is a joy! She is saying (and repeating) lots of cute phrases. She thrives on attention - whether good or bad - and absolutely loves people. But we've had a rather difficult past 10-or-so days. Just writing that phrase makes me laugh at myself. I know this is only the beginning. I mean, she's 2!
The behavior that drives us both bonkers the most is when we call her name and she walks (or often runs) the other direction. Ahhh. It's maddening! And here's a battle I chose not to fight this week, Justice wanting to color without her clothes (and on the floor instead of at her little craft table). Another good one was when she again de-robed, and then wanted to eat dinner with a bath towel tied around her. Sure, kid. Why not?
It's launching us into a new realm of parenthood though. We're having to really think about our philosophy on discipline, and think about what behavior is important to us. We want to be consistent and model predictability. But we're also finding we need to be flexible enough to change approaches if what we're doing isn't working.
It's easy (for me) to get caught up in the play-by-play of every day and loose sight of the big picture. Which actually brings up a bigger issue... What is the big picture?
Here's a picture of our healthy wee one. Can I still call him a "wee one?" He's huge! Needless to say, Micah is eating quite well. He's 7 weeks old and is falling into a good sleep/wake pattern. I suppose "good" is a relative term, but it's becoming more and more predictable. He is happy most of the time, smiling more, and definitely more alert with each passing day. And Justice loves him.
Justice, on the other hand, is not the quiet and content child. I should probably start by saying when you're one-on-one with her, she is a joy! She is saying (and repeating) lots of cute phrases. She thrives on attention - whether good or bad - and absolutely loves people. But we've had a rather difficult past 10-or-so days. Just writing that phrase makes me laugh at myself. I know this is only the beginning. I mean, she's 2!
The behavior that drives us both bonkers the most is when we call her name and she walks (or often runs) the other direction. Ahhh. It's maddening! And here's a battle I chose not to fight this week, Justice wanting to color without her clothes (and on the floor instead of at her little craft table). Another good one was when she again de-robed, and then wanted to eat dinner with a bath towel tied around her. Sure, kid. Why not?
It's launching us into a new realm of parenthood though. We're having to really think about our philosophy on discipline, and think about what behavior is important to us. We want to be consistent and model predictability. But we're also finding we need to be flexible enough to change approaches if what we're doing isn't working.
It's easy (for me) to get caught up in the play-by-play of every day and loose sight of the big picture. Which actually brings up a bigger issue... What is the big picture?
Monday, March 10, 2014
Day 1: Writing Goals
The day 1 doldrums. Is this like starting a new work-out routine? I'm excited about my 30 day challenge, but I don't want to write! It's nap time at our house. Though the 2 year old is attempting a nap-time boycott, she's still confined to her room. I would love to be napping myself. Or reading. I actually picked up a book, read 2 pages, and then remembered that I needed to blog. I guess the public accountability is working... otherwise I'd be reading myself to sleep.
Let's start with ministry. Eric and I have been working on creating 2014 goals, and a 5 year dream document. Yes, we're a tad tardy, but there's no better time to start than right now. Our thinking, praying, and conversing on the subject has been healthy. We hope to have our 2014 goals written this week and we'll save the 5 year dream document for another day.
Writing our goals has helped us focus our energy. It gives us a clear picture of where our time and efforts should be spent. It will help us communicate more clearly and succinctly what we are (attempting) to do. And, perhaps most importantly, keeps us on the same page as a team members and co-workers. Eric and I have not worked together before this venture as missionaries. What we're discovering, especially during this period of having a newborn (and 90% of my energy being focused on child-rearing), is that it's easy for me to feel like Eric's working and I'm sitting at home. But I am still very much part of this team! I think we'll end up with a couple goals we can work on together, a few Eric will pursue individually, and 1 or 2 I will pursue on my own.
Any other couples out there with a living together/working together relationship? Any tips to share with us newbies?
Let's start with ministry. Eric and I have been working on creating 2014 goals, and a 5 year dream document. Yes, we're a tad tardy, but there's no better time to start than right now. Our thinking, praying, and conversing on the subject has been healthy. We hope to have our 2014 goals written this week and we'll save the 5 year dream document for another day.
Writing our goals has helped us focus our energy. It gives us a clear picture of where our time and efforts should be spent. It will help us communicate more clearly and succinctly what we are (attempting) to do. And, perhaps most importantly, keeps us on the same page as a team members and co-workers. Eric and I have not worked together before this venture as missionaries. What we're discovering, especially during this period of having a newborn (and 90% of my energy being focused on child-rearing), is that it's easy for me to feel like Eric's working and I'm sitting at home. But I am still very much part of this team! I think we'll end up with a couple goals we can work on together, a few Eric will pursue individually, and 1 or 2 I will pursue on my own.
Any other couples out there with a living together/working together relationship? Any tips to share with us newbies?
Sunday, March 9, 2014
The 30 Day Challenge
This is a challenge. For me (Joy).
In short, I'm less-than-impressed with my own blogging frequency. I think about writing often, and ocassionally even have a good idea. But I rarely prioritize blogging at the top of my list. What I've discovered is that thinking about blogging doesn't actually produce a post. And before I know it, I've spent my day chasing my children, and am utterly exhausted from doing just that.
These days I'm up in the wee hours of the night/morning with a little extra "thinking" time. Thinking about my desire (and apparent inability) to blog regulary has led me here... This is the beginning of a 30 day blogging challenge. I do not promise quality content, but I do promise a post per day. I'm hopeful that the outcome will be more consistency on a permanent basis because the habit will have been formed.
And since this would be a pretty lame first post... the challenge will be begin tomorrow :)
In short, I'm less-than-impressed with my own blogging frequency. I think about writing often, and ocassionally even have a good idea. But I rarely prioritize blogging at the top of my list. What I've discovered is that thinking about blogging doesn't actually produce a post. And before I know it, I've spent my day chasing my children, and am utterly exhausted from doing just that.
These days I'm up in the wee hours of the night/morning with a little extra "thinking" time. Thinking about my desire (and apparent inability) to blog regulary has led me here... This is the beginning of a 30 day blogging challenge. I do not promise quality content, but I do promise a post per day. I'm hopeful that the outcome will be more consistency on a permanent basis because the habit will have been formed.
And since this would be a pretty lame first post... the challenge will be begin tomorrow :)
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