Cherished Moments of Solitude

I am not a loner.

I am not an introvert.

I am not a hermit.

And yet...I DESPERATELY NEED TIME ALONE!!!

I realized that this week more than ever as our house is overflowing with company.  This has made me cherish the tiny opportunities I have each day to be silent and be still.  At three separate intervals I found a few spare minutes of time to be alone and I treasured them for all they were worth!

This morning I was awake before the majority of the household and I was able to get ready in silence and have a few minutes to collect my thoughts.

This afternoon I took two siblings and four cousins to the park.  At one point I delegated the overseeing to the next oldest, leaving her in charge of the children on the playground.  I spent a few minutes with my camera in hand and just enjoyed the creation around me.  It's amazing how differently you see things when you take the time to look for the beauty.

And this evening I took five minutes longer in the shower than I needed just to have a couple more minutes of silence!

O Great God

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

 

>> Words and Music by Bob Kauflin
(Based on The Valley of Vision prayer “Regeneration”)

1, 2, 3, 4 Boring Yet Current Facts About My Life

1.  Tomorrow I am going to the doctor's.  blah.  I hate going to the doctor's.  I'm also have a CBC done so hopefully everything will come back normal.

2.  I'm reading Anna Karenina (by Leo Tolstoy) right now.  I've been wanting to read it for a while now, but I haven't gotten around to it until now.  So far it has been interesting, but I am only about 50 pages in.

3.  We are straddling homes right now.  We sleep at our current (rental) house and spend most days at the new house, trying to get all of the work done before we move in  It's strange...I've never moved like this before.  Half of my belongings in one house and half in the other for over a week at a time.  Happy News!!  Today I unpacked ALL of my books.  They have been packed up since we first found out that we were moving from Michigan (several years ago).  It was such a lovely, enchanting feeling to get them out of the boxes and place them on the shelves.  I have such a romantic view of books and hadn't realized how much I missed my overflowing bookshelf filled with texts.  They are all in perfect alphabetical order and just waiting to be grabbed off the shelf and read with relished delight.

4.  I am so, so ready to begin my penultimate year at Cedarville.

Thankful

I cried.

And was reminded of the incredible sacrifices made by our military families.

Let's remember to be thankful for their sacrificial work.

Ella

This girl is just precious!

I love being an aunt!

pleasure writing

I am taking a short break to update my blog for some well-needed pleasure writing.  For the past three hours I have been furiously working on a research paper.  My brain is tired of thinking analytically, my eyes weary from squinting at the computer screen.  My fingers longed to fly quickly over the keys, pouring out my thoughts.

15 days.  Can I make it?  I have SO much to do before the end of the semester.  Just thinking about it overwhelms me!  Thankfully, I have made lists, lots and lots of lists.  There is a list for each week that details what exactly I need to work on each day.  That way no projects or exams have the chance to sneak up on me (hopefully!!).  My planner contains the list of what is due each day.  And I have a list of absolutely everything to do by the end of the semester.  And once something is finished I use a big, think Sharpie to cross it out!  Each time I mark something off it's exciting!  : )

15 days.

350 hours.

21,000 minutes.

:sigh:

I can make it.

one month.

If you've been on Facebook lately you might have noticed my status.  It said that I would be off Facebook for approximately a month.  That was Monday.

Recently I was challenged (through a book that I am reading) to really consider the influence of the media.  Not just the messages that media gives, but also the amount of time I spend watching movies, etc.  This author shared that their family decided to give up most movies for a while and take that time and spend it with the Lord.  We watch movies to "veg" and escape and relax.  But spending time with the Lord should really be the most refreshing thing of all.  I really, really, REALLY did not want to give up Facebook, movies and TV shows for a month - and that was exactly why I knew that I needed to do it!  : )

Please, please don't misunderstand me.  I am NOT saying that it is wrong to watch movies or have Facebook.  Not at all!  I simply was convicted that I was spending too much time on Facebook and that I was going to movies to relax and being refreshed.  Also, this is the last month of school so any extra time that I am not spending with the Lord should really be put towards studying!!!

I am not going to say that it has been particularly easy or that it has been particularly good.  Already there have been several (okay, many) times when I have wanted to look someone or something up, only to realize that I couldn't do it without Facebook.  And yeah, the newest Amazing Race is online and I haven't watched it.  THAT takes self-control!  ; )  (PLEASE don't tell me what is happening on the show!!!!)

On a more positive note, I found a bunch of Pastor Rob's sermons that had been archived on the podcast and downloaded (or is it uploaded??  I always get those two confused!) ones that sounded particularly good.  I look forward to listening to those soon.

It's late.  I'm tired.

Before I go to bed, let me just check my Facebo........

Oh.  

Never mind.  ; )