What I Learned in June

I haven't done a good, old-fashioned "What I Learned..." post for a long time, but just like the goal posts, I thought I would bring it back and see how it goes! June was full of learning for me, so here are some of the biggest lessons I gleaned.

1. I really do function better with an active paper day planner.

I have long loved a day planner - ever since I learned to use one in junior high, really. However, my ability to effectively use one at WillowBridge did not go well. Schedules there were governed by shared online calendars, because each part of every day required so many people working together. And things were ALWAYS changing there. Meetings were constantly canceled, moved, etc. Paper planners took a real beating. But I returned to my beloved paper planner this month, and I love it. I am keeping track of things so much more effectively. Not just appointments, but habits, prayer requests, praises, and more. I'm so much more productive each day. Even when I don't complete everything because of unexpected interruptions, I still get more done than I have in the last couple of years. My life feels so much more organized, and I think it shows in the way we're able to live our days! Our home is back.

2. Stretching is amazing, and I wish I would have known that sooner.

Just one week in with the new daily stretching routine, I could tell a marked difference in how I felt. I didn't stretch more than five minutes a day, most days, but even that little bit was a game-changer. I am much more aware of my posture now, and my back and legs, which are allllllllllways tight, feel better than they have in a long time. I am moving around better and legitimately feel better. I had no idea that something so small could make such a huge difference! (This was extra mind-blowing to me, because usually if I try something that I've seen other people call a game-changer, I actually don't see the same results. It can be really discouraging! So to actually see change from this was an encouragement!)

3. Purposeful prayer and praise in every single day is an outlook-changer.

This is part of the day planner routine. I am keeping a written prayer list, which means if I tell someone I will pray, I write it down and then I follow up after a while to see how things are going! The planner also has a section for daily praises, so I sit down at the end of each day to find praises and answers to prayer from that day. Some days I need a bigger box, and some days I have to really hunt for something, it feels like. But the mere practice of being extremely purposeful in both my requests and my answers has caused me to see God's hand at work in my life in ways I'd been missing. He's always been working - make no mistake about that. But I see it in new ways now, because I'm writing about it!

4. Working with/for Ryan feels like home.

We do have some life/work updates that I shared a few days ago, but the short version is that this month has given me every opportunity to work alongside Ryan in the work he is doing. It is different than the work we did at WillowBridge - different in detail and in appearance - but it still feels just like home. Working together is our absolute favorite in the whole world. It is a joy, a gift, and makes both our hearts sing!

5. Poetry is still most CERTAINLY not my gift. 

I completed daily writing prompts this month, and one day I had to write a haiku. I haven't written a haiku since college, and I learned this month that I am still terrible at it. I'm not being critical. I'm being honest. I am not a poet. That has not changed in the last twenty years. I did it. I tried it. I did not do well. Back to prose! 

6. Growing a yard is not for the faint of heart, and we are one and done on this experience.

The landscaper hired by the company that built our house installed our yard and landscaping this month. This meant we had to launch into a complex, time-intensive watering system to make sure all these baby plants stayed alive and well. It is harder on Ryan than it is on me, but I feel his pain as he tries to find the right mix of sprinklers, the right times to water, and the whole bit. I did a lot of praying for rain this month (though it only happened twice), and we are learning a considerable amount about patience in the growing process. I'm sure there are spiritual lessons involved that we have yet to uncover. But I wasn't mentally ready for the time and labor intensity of growing a yard. This has, without a doubt, been the worst experience of our new-build adventure. I'm pretty sure if we ever move again (which is not the plan), having an established yard will shoot straight to the top of the wish list. Signed, Faint of Heart. 

7. Keeping a puppy still for two weeks is also not for the faint of heart.

Lexi was spayed this month, and my full-time job became keeping her still. Ever try to keep an energetic puppy from jumping or running? My goodness. I worked from the living room floor most of the time, trying to keep her quiet beside me, and for the first 10 days, I almost never left home. We all missed walking regularly, and after she got her stitches removed, we were SO HAPPY to see the literal spring return to her step. 

8. I love sharing our home with others.

Earlier this month, we were able to share our home with our church staff for a day retreat. Some of you probably know, if you've hung out here long, that running a bed and breakfast or retreat center has been on our list of jobs we think we would love, and that simple opportunity proved we weren't wrong! Of course, we were not present during the retreat, but just being able to provide an atmosphere of (we hope!) comfort to them was a great joy and blessing for us. 

9. I have much to learn in the capsule wardrobe journey.

Back in 2015, after I left WBCL, I purged my closet and entered the world of capsule wardrobes. Over the years, the day-to-day functionality of that has changed in a variety of ways, but this month I took the free masterclass offered by Audrey at Putting Me Together and learned just how much I do not know about the mechanics of putting together a wardrobe that actually works well for me. She shared some great nuggets in that class, and it was more than worth my time. (Just FYI, in case you also take it...the last part of it is a plug for her longer, paid course. I honestly wish I could afford it, because I think it would be really interesting and informative. I'll put it on my wish list for someday, but it's not practical for us financially right now.) But...I did learn some key points that I can use now, and I learned that I still have much to learn! 

I'm sure I learned more than just what I listed here, but these items are the standouts for me!