Less = More

I'm a big fan of "Less = More".  Yet somehow, we keep accumulating more things.  This just means we need to be inspired to edit and reevaluate often. 

Watch the video below and let me know in the comments if you agree.

Amazon Printer Paper Deal

 

If you need to stock up on printer paper, act quick!  The current $12.83 price tag is a great deal to me, especially considering I don't have to load this heavy box of paper and a toddler into a cart to get this deal.  Prices change quick on Amazon, so be sure to snag this quick if you need it!
 
This is my affiliate link, which you can read all about here.  Basically I get a small commission for you using my link above.  I use this towards running this blog, and hosting monthly giveaways on my Facebook {www.facebook.com/ASlightlyBetterWife}.

Coming out From the Comfort Zone

 

At 6:30am I made a phone call to tell my husband he left the bedroom light on.  He was in the kitchen, 50ft away at the time.

Pretty mature, huh?

I would've just hollered, but I didn't want to wake the sleeping babes in the house. & I would've turned it off myself, really I would have... Except I didn't want to. 
I was being lazy, and it was kind of the principle of it, you know?
He turned it on, he could turn it off...

He's a good guy, so he came back, turned the light off, and whispered some encouraging words and hinted that I should get up.  I'm so glad he did!

Those extra minutes this morning have added volumes to my day!  I think this will become my new thing again.  I used to wake early and found it quite satisfying.  Somehow through nursing a baby, homeschooling, or whatever, I got out of the routine of having "me time" in the morning.

Why do we do that? 

We find something that works for us, then we let ourselves get out of routine. 

Adversely, why do we not search for what works better when we are discontent or troubled? 

Maybe we just don't realize things could be better.

For me, life changed big this past year.  It wasn't the typical adding another baby or a death in the family, but a wake up call in another form that changed me.

The situation(s) I'm referring to seemed devastating at the time.  I was confused and hurt.  Everything I thought to be true proved very false.  I didn't know exactly what to think.  I kept thinking of the ripple effect from this particular event and how it would "ruin my everything". 

My routine was disrupted and I couldn't control it. 

It was rather uncomfortable, to be honest.  At first it left me feeling alone.  Then it forced me a step or two or three out of my comfort zone.
I later reflected and wondered, why was that place called a "comfort zone"?  It wasn't really comfortable, it was just familiar.

 

Familiar is not the same as comfortable.

 

How am I just learning this now, after 20+ years of life?

 

In this new place just beyond my so-called comfort zone I've discovered more community, more authenticity, more honesty and more care than I've ever known before. 

 

Had my routine not been disrupted, I wouldn't have known this beautiful place.

 

There is beauty beyond pain.

There is something better out there waiting for you.

Go get it.

 

 

The Ball Player's Passion

I hope I never forget the way he carries his hooded sweatshirts around on his head, when he doesn't want to wear them. 
Today he teared up because although we have a ramp on our front stairs, we don't have one for the basement stairs.  This means his best friend who is in a wheel chair right now (broken leg) can come over, but can't play down in his room. He wishes we never built this stupid house and feels all sorts of angry.  He questioned why we designed the house how we did.  Eventually we talked through it, and came to a resolution.  This boy has passion like no other boy I've seen before. 

He is a crazy wild 7 year old. Most of the time he is way too loud, and breaks things easily.  People stare because he is so impulsive.

I used to dread his drama.  God changed my heart, and now I see his compassion.  I can now appreciate the feelings my boy feels, and even more so I appreciate that he shares them with me. 

That impulsivness I told you about, has proved to be a good thing, more than once.  He's the first on the scene when someone is hurt, and doesn't waste time in getting them care.  He is a do-er.

This boy has my whole heart. 

This boy is The Ball Player.

Embrace Your Story, and Other Sunday Morning Ramblings

 

Random thoughts that ran through my head this morning:

 

Sitting in church and my 7 year old boy leans over and snuggles up to me.  He’s tired.  I’m not sure he’s listening, but he isn’t being disruptive to anyone else (but me) so I put my arm around him and hold him.  It’s what he needed.  His father, my husband, would’ve abruptly told him to sit up and pay attention.  That wouldn’t have been wrong either. 

You could say we’re a good balance that way, or that we’re just confusing the poor boy because he doesn’t know which of us is right, or who to listen to.  Regardless, this is what happened today. 

Two pews ahead I see a mom next to her high school aged boy.  He’s sitting tall, attentively listening to the pastor.  I can tell because when the pastor moves, his head moves to follow him. 

At first I feel a touch of jealousy.  What’s she doing right, that I’m doing wrong?  Her son is surely making her proud. 

Then I realize, this is just the stage I’m in.  My 12 year old was sitting just as well as the high school boy.  Listening well, following along.  This skill will come for my 7 year old too.    

One thing I’ve been working on for some time now is just embracing my story.  It was our MOPS theme last year and I didn’t quite get a handle on it the way I should have.  I am trying to be thankful for this stage, right here and now. 

I saw a couple tired moms with babies in church, and my heart ached for them.  My heart ached for me too.  It wasn’t that long ago that I was the mom swaying side to side in the back of the church rocking my little baby, feeling like I was missing out.  Wondering why got dressed for this and longing to go home, because it was just easier there.

 Now my “baby” is two, and rarely needs rocked or shushed.  I should’ve embraced that stage, rather than crying as I rocked my baby in the church nursery rocking chair, wishing those days away.  Shame on me, it was a beautiful stage of bonding. She was learning to trust me, and I couldn’t just fully enjoy it.  Hindsight is 20/20.

So my message to you, dear momma, is EMBRACE THIS STAGE. Whatever it is you’re going through, whether this is about you, your kids, or your marriage.  Own your story.  Yes, just embrace it.  Work to improve it, because without a struggle, you won’t find your strength.  No matter how bad it is for you right now, please don’t wish these days away. 

And if your church offers it- don’t be afraid to use that nursery!  Embracing your story and enjoying this stage doesn’t mean you have to do this all alone.  Don’t be afraid to ask a neighbor to watch your littles for an hour so you can have a little break.  Life is better when we do it together, and when we do it well rested and refreshed.  ♥