Today’s View

A few months ago I started a series of photographs I call “Today’s View”.  They started as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek view as how big my belly - and finally ankles - had grown.  But as I took the pictures I started to notice the change.  My belly really did grow – BIG.  My legs looked shorter.  Then there was an actual baby’s head.  He was nursing – and I didn’t show all that – but I continued to show what I saw that day from my current perspective.  It helped me to remember why I’m doing what I’m doing.  I’m not just sitting here, doing nothing, although I often feel that way.  I have so much I want to get done, and yet I sit.  But why do I sit? I sit because I’m the mom of a newborn.  I direct my home from my perch, and in directing have to let many things slide.  Until it can slide no longer.

Today I had an professional organizer come and help me prioritize.  She is amazing.  She gave me ideas.  She motivated me.  Previously, it was only her photos on social media that motivated me.  That is until the ankles and belly became too big to do much, and then the baby came to nurse.  And nurse.  And nurse….

But today she came.  Hope is in the air!  All this happened and then I had a thought… 

Perhaps I can only get just one thing accomplished each day.  Only one.  Some days, that’s simply caring for a baby {and perhaps about 5 loads of laundry… but they won’t get folded… not in one day.}  Other days I can get something else done.  Just one simple thing, mind you.  But I do something every day, no matter how small.  

That lead to this thought.  If I get one thing done each day, in a year that’s 365 tasks accomplished!.  Okay, so I may not do it every day, but even it I only do it once every few days… well, you get the idea.

So I have begun.  I will try to only get one thing done at a time.  I know, I know!  This sounds silly.  But you see, I get overwhelmed.  I see messes everywhere and I can’t figure out where to start.  So I'll just focus on one simple task today.

Just do one thing.  It doesn’t have to be the “right” thing.  I can try something else tomorrow.  So, where to start?

·      Go sort dress-up clothes?
·      Go through baby cloths to look for the next size up?
·      Change out the maternity clothes in my dresser for my real clothes?

·      Or write about doing it all right now?

Today I write, so that tomorrow I can read about this and remember.  Oh, yeah, I’m going to go DO that ONE thing right NOW!

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Asking for Grace and Motivation

I’m sitting in my completely silent house – which is surprisingly noisy.  There are these birds outside – loud birds.  Must be hundreds of them – all enjoying this late fall rain.  I just finished exercising but I have to admit that I did it only because Brad asked me to.  He said it would help my day start out on the right foot.  He asked me to because I asked him to ask me.  I like to exercise, but I also find myself distracted with the busyness of my day – kids, food, laundry – not to mention work, design, editing – all those little things that eat up a day. 

Regardless, I asked him to help me remember this too is important.  And, you know what?  He did.  He asked me and so I did – even though {honestly} I didn’t want to .  But who wants to go back and say, naaa, I just didn’t.  It’s amazing what accountability can do!

Speaking of accountability – I joined an social media accountability group to help me prioritize eating well, working out, and even drinking enough water!  Sounds crazy – but as a mere human I find that I do better with accountability.  On the other hand I got sick a bit ago and missed two weeks of the accountability – and with my all or nothing personality I wanted to quit.  I really wanted to just give up – but I have an amazing husband.  He encouraged and also challenged me – and well, I’m back up on this horse!

As I move in various social circles I am amazed to hear a couple of different things this Holiday season.  One is that many people have become more away of the joy in giving and NOT receiving.  Times when silly Santa gifts were once taken have now changed to times when money is gathered and sent to such deserving organizations to “buy” gifts for other people.  I have missed much of my prayer group meetings over the last few months.  But this morning I was delighted to find that they had gathered money to buy chickens and goats for families across the world.  What a joy! My father received the gift of giving rabbit’s and chickens to families across the world from my girls two Christmases ago.  The girls loved picking out Papa J’s gift and knowing it was helping a special family.

Secondly, I hear people struggling with GRACE.  Grace for themselves, grace for others.  Because of the lack of grace we find disappointment difficult to manage.  This seems to compound during the Christmas season.  Perhaps it is the busyness and all the “extras” we are fitting into our already over crowded schedules.  We can become bitter, tired, and angry.  We don’t work out of love – but out of a twisted version of what God wants for us.  When I struggle with grace I don’t give myself the ability to make mistakes and continue on.  I get frustrated and quite!  What do you do when you find yourself needing grace?  I’m not sure why I find it much harder to have grace for myself than for others.  Regardless, there are times I need to have grace for myself as well.  Brad is amazing at helping me see this.  He helps me see myself through the eyes of God.  Loved and safe and given permission to make a mistake and keep going.

So, although most people don’t discuss exercise and such until January; I am thinking of it today.  Today is a great day to start taking care of the inner you again.  Giving yourself permission to start over, to have Grace, and to know you are loved.  I’m thankful for my husband and my friends who provide accountability and kindness.  So, here’s to today – a day to work hard and to put other’s first!  To find grace for myself, so that I can find it for others. 

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Meg and Brad

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