What? Is a recap of washing towels and making my own ranch dressing NOT riveting blog material? I am shocked. SHOCKED, I tell you.
And so, to calm Ryan's concern, and the worries of any of you faithful readers who {for reasons unknown to me} do NOT want to read about the number of towels I folded or how many cups of water I poured over my begonias...I hereby promise to not make the blog all about that.
Starting tomorrow.
Just kidding. {Kind of.}
Yesterday was, in the words of the Matthew West song, Day one of the rest of my life.
The first day I did not have to get up at the ridiculous crack of dawn and be in a car by 6:45 in the morning and drive with one hand while gripping coffee with the other hand. It was the first day I didn't have to mentally plan out a whole day's worth of chores to cram into an evening after a long day of juggling producer details.
Want to know my favorite part of the day? The utter peace that never left me from the moment I woke up until the moment I went to bed. The peace of living in what I know is my calling for this season.
I went to the store in the middle of the day - for tomatoes and milk, not to be consumed together - simply because I could. I went when crowds were small and lines were non-existent, and while I was there, I ran into a guy I worked with way back in the days of Financial Aid. He asked how radio life was treating me, and I told him it was my first day of a new chapter. I told him the short short version of resigning, and his response was an offer of places I could check for a job.
I wasn't offended. I appreciated his thoughtfulness. But it also made me remember that this season is sacred ground. I don't know how long God will allow me to pursue this particular path...this writing and "wifing". I don't know if this is my new forever or if this is a respite between assignments. But I do know it's a sacred calling for this time.
And so yesterday, I gulped in the freedom of being a wife and a writer. I ran errands so Ryan didn't have to. I actually swept the carpet on a weekday {and not because company was coming}. I folded towels and boiled eggs and made salad dressing. I answered emails and launched into the list of people I haven't checked on for far too long - to catch up on their lives and learn how I could pray for them. I took a big tray of cookies to Ryan at his work so he could share with his co-workers, and I threw in a treat of a sweet tea for him because he loves it so. I made lists and strategized how to best use the moments in the rest of my week.
And when he came home, I was suited up for the gym so we could work out, come home, enjoy our dinner, and then enjoy a Monday evening in whatever way we chose.
It feels like a gift. A treasure. I know some days ahead will be crazy busy in their own way. I know some days ahead might lull me into a nap. But I also know this season is God-breathed. A sacred gift. Day one of the rest of my life was all I'd hoped it could be. Productive and restful. Energizing and peaceful.
And this girl is grateful.
14 comments:
WOW!! I LOVE how you spent your first day! There is so much to do on and around the home place to keep things caught up without the rush, and to stay in touch with family and friends which is so important too! It can be a full time job and such a worthwhile one! I'm sure Ryan appreciated it also! God bless you for your obedience to His prompting for this season in your life! Now....go ahead and tell us all about folding towels and making salad dressing!! :o}
So glad this is feeling right!!
This is how I feel at the start of summer break - gym when I want to, market when I want to (aka when my small city Trader Joe's has room in the parking lot!), chores when I want to!
Enjoy!!
Shari - Thanks for the affirmation. I'm keeping careful notes {that I won't bore the blog with} about what I do every day and what it allows us to do in the evening, because for now, this IS my job, and I am just curious to see how much it "pays" in time and peace, even though it doesn't pay in salary. And good news - another load of laundry is in the washer right now, so there are more clothes folding adventures to come!!
Tamar - I do kind of feel like a teacher on break right now! But unlike you, I don't have to work on lesson plans for later! :) And also - I've heard such wondrous things about Trader Joe's, but I've never been to one because I think the closest one to us is an hour away in Indianapolis. So I think it's cool you guys have one there in the city, even if parking is at a premium! :)
Great. Now you got everything done and nothing left for today.
Thanks for the cookies!
Congrats on your first day well done! You will love the freedom of running errands in the "down times". It's so nice. Enjoy this season and make the most of it!!
Hi Bekah, I *cannot* be silent on this post. When I quit teaching school (many moons ago) to stay home so my husband and I could start our family, several 'well meaning' friends said, "You're going to be so bored....what are you going to do with your time?....etc., etc." Today's world just can't comprehend that motherhood and keeping a home is a career. I could write a book on it! Everyone is so busy running, running, running that too many do not take the time to stop and realize what's really important in life. (I know this isn't necessarily true of everyone that works outside the home,but I think you get my point.) The main thing is that you are following God's direction for your life right now. He will bless you for it! Believe me, you will *not* be bored (even without children, which you've said is not in the plans for you and Ryan). Praying for you as you start this new chapter in your life, Lisa
YAY!!!! I'm so happy for you and the peace you feel in knowing that you are right where God wants you to be! I am a stay-at-home wife/mom whose kids are 10 and 11 and I often become defensive when I feel judgement from people's thoughts about me not working. Before the kids started school I got the "What will you do all day?!" question and at that time I was hoping I'd get a nap every once in awhile. But in the 6 years that they've been in school, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've gotten a nap (although I do wish the number of times was actually something close to every single day). I'm busier now than ever volunteering at the school, helping an elderly grandparent, housework, yard work, errands, etc. I'm so thankful I get to do those things!! The sacrifices we've made in our standard of living have been more than worth the peace that is in our home because I am here during the day taking care of business. :) I am so very blessed to be able to stay home and my husband would never trade the benefits of it for a second income from me.
I like what you wrote: The peace of living in what I know is my calling for this season. When you have that peace, it doesn't matter if you're folding laundry or changing the 20th diaper of the day or trying to decide what to make for dinner- you know you are right where you should be. And, I think you could make a blog post about making salad dressing or laundry very entertaining (and informative!) to read.
yes yes yes!! i love this! I can barely handle working two days a week and thats for just another few. I cannot WAIT to be wife again and busy with home things before I start massage therapy school. Heck i love my life and it's SO full and even after abbi's off to college, I will be so busy just BEING. :) God calls us to love the people we are with and encourage and help our husbands and yes it's so sweet to have time to really be where are you supposed to be. and heck YES make ranch dressing and tell us!!! I love those simple parts of your blog, just the normal life stuff the very best of all. you are such a joy and i honestly think this season is gonna be the most "blog worthy" of all! hugs!
XOXO
WOWSA. I confess I just finished making my own laundry detergent {just call me Mrs. Ingalls!!} and came back to my desk to all these comments - you ladies are passionate about your stuff, and I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Lori - HA!! I wish! Then I could scrapbook. That had initially been my main goal for week one and - gasp - it's not even on the list yet! NOOOO!!!!
Heather - You are welcome! Amanda is devising ways for me to show up much more often with food. LOL!!
Christina - I confess that all those many years ago, when we met up in Kokomo that one day for shopping and lunch? I was so jealous that you had all day freedom and I didn't. I love it that you've worn this season well for so long - even though I know the more recent years of it haven't been fun for you. ALSO. Been on the ball chair for several days now and have absolutely no complaints. I love its flexibility and nothing hurts. Actually that's not true. SEVERAL things hurt, but that's because of the gym and not the chair.
Lisa - I LOVE your passion! I know there are a ton of women who find their fulfillment in working outside the home - whether or not they consider their job a career. I have met so many of them in the working world and am a better person because I knew them and got to watch them love their work. But just as God made some women for that, I believe He also settled in others the passion work out of their home - whether that work be wifing it, mothering, home based businesses, art, writing, or whatever. And I've always known this was a dream of mine. Like I said. No idea how long the season is intended to last, but I feel crazy blessed to be able to give it a shot for now!
Tia - I think you affirmed exactly what I hoped!! Including the dream of naps that may never materialize! I appreciate SO SO MUCH that Ryan sees the value in this time and he has already told me dozens of times that he appreciates the hard work I've done at home already - and he knows my little day planner is laden with more plans. I can be more excited because he's backing it 100%.
Maria - LOL!! Thank you!! I sure do hope so {on the blog material}. Today was so nice because Ryan had an appointment first thing this morning and went to work just a little later than usual. I was able to make breakfast for us and we ate together and did some devos before he had to scoot out the door - any other day that wouldn't have been an option!
Polly - BINGO. I believe God will bring me to new people - and back TO people I've not seen - to encourage them, and I'm excited to have the time to do so. Thanks for the confidence that the blog remains blogworthy. :) Hugs!
Sounds wonderful!
Jan S
This sounds like a great first day of this new season. I don't know if you've read my blog yet today, but I'm looking forward to days like this starting next year now :)
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