The Two Week Notice

And by that, of course, I mean...what I've noticed in the last two weeks. Not that I'm quitting quitting.

Today is the end of my first two weeks off work, and I wanted to pause and look back over this start of a transition to see what I've loved. Some of the things I expected, and others have been surprises. But if you'll indulge me...

* NO COMMUTE!!!!! Not for one moment have I missed that drive {which my car can pretty much do on auto-pilot} or the two hours sitting in one spot, trying to stay awake and alert. I also haven't missed Ryan's early morning dashes to the gas station to fill up the car {three trips every week in the commuter days}.

* Slower mornings. We actually get to sleep in a little later than we did before, because there's not nearly as much that HAS to be done before we walk out the door, and I'm able to pitch in to help Ryan get everything together for his day. We've even had time to pray and do devotions together in the mornings, which has pretty much never happened in the history of our marriage. This has caused both of us to have better days and clearer minds, I think.

* Cleaner house. Please still be my friend when I tell you that the only real reason our house has gotten any attention since we've been married...has been company. If we invited people over, we cleaned. But alas, we never had time to invite people over...so our house wasn't the cleanest. {Embarrassing but true facts.} It's actually been cleaned once each week now, and Ryan especially loves that. And I love the smile on his face when he comes home to a clean house. {I'm more of a slob than he is, so it really makes his day more than mine.}

* Working ahead. Last week I put together a baby gift for friends who are coming over for dinner TONIGHT. I don't remember the last time I had something done a WEEK AHEAD OF TIME. This is monumental. And it makes my list-making self so happy.

* Moving around. I told Ryan the other day that I have no idea if I've lost any of my BCL 25 yet, but I definitely feel better because I get to move around all day long. Whether I'm doing chores, cleaning, running errands, cooking...whatever...I'm moving SO much more than I was. And I can feel the difference. {Plus I'm not sitting in one spot with no ability to move at all for that solid two hours every day.}

* Exercise. I had hoped this would improve, and so far it seems to be. I'm able to work out while Ryan's working - if it's not a day when we're able to make it to the gym. I need to be consistent like that, and this gives me the flexibility to do so. Don't get me wrong. I still don't like exercising at all, but I like having the time to actually do it.

* Weeding out. Besides cleaning the DIRT out of our home, I have also been working on purging and organizing the place, which frankly has gotten out of control since our wedding. I'm throwing things away, tagging things for rummage as I pull them out of their hiding places and put them in a rummage box...and I feel SO GOOD about getting control of our house again! {For example: learned that we don't need to buy light bulbs for a while! We had quite a collection buried under junk!!}

* Treating Ryan. The first week I was off, I had the chance to take cookies to him at work. This week I surprised him with that strawberry pie I told you about yesterday. Little things like that make me so happy.

* Time to write. God's already put a project on my heart and I actually have time to marinate on it and pursue it properly, not just slap things down haphazardly. I'm excited about it, and I'm eager to see where it goes!

* Flexible schedule. As you might remember, my sister was here visiting last week, and I didn't have to miss out on any of the fun - because I had the freedom in my schedule to join up with whatever they planned...whenever they planned it. And there have also been a couple of days when Ryan's work schedule was different than normal, so I had the freedom to adjust to spend more time with him!

* I have friends!! I had a coffee date earlier this week - in the middle of the day. No rushing between work and dinner. Just a leisurely and needed conversation with one of my friends. Looking forward to finding more of my friends again - not all at once, of course - but over time.

All of this, plus the giant peace in my heart from knowing I'm being obedient and following what the Lord is asking of me in this season...is a blessing. I've been writing down each day's blessings in my journal so I don't lose track!

I'm grateful, each day, for this new season and all its adventures. I'm grateful for rest. I'm grateful for a husband willing to support us as we venture forth into this new path. I'm grateful for all of you who visit here and encourage both of us so much with your words!