(This is a mulfi-day post, so the dates don't line up...)
This post contains no photos. And not because the Blogger app is a real pain when it comes to adding them, but because I didnt take any today. I'll explain why. Just stay with me.
Before Sara was born, I was a huge advocate of purposeful parenting. I still am. But parenting an only child allows for a little....no, a lot of wiggle room. In fact, at one point, we were almost bored when it was just the two of us. So checking my phone and running lists of things to do through my mind was no big deal. I possessed extra time galore. Then Sara came. And she wasn't easy. She was hard. Really hard. So I was adjusting to having two children and basically feeling like a new parent at the same time-returning to babyhood, but this time with a hard baby.
But it was worth it. The whole journey-over the last year. The best part is, God used her to change me.
I've been feeling convicted of many things lately. One of them being that I don't always feel present during life. There are so many distractions. My phone dings with another text. My Facebook says I have 8 notifications. And I'm waiting on an email from an AHG Mom, so I need to make sure to keep checking for that. On top of that, there are so many things I need to keep track of, just running them through my head while I drive. I can't even tell you how many times I have been cleaning while hearing my Husband call from the other room, "Babe, come keep me company while I shower." And literally, that is what he means. He just wants me to sit and talk to him. But I'm picking up toys off the floor, yelling that I'll be in there in 5 minutes. By then, he is getting ready to get out.
So I have been reading this book called "Hands Free Mama." It is Christian based, but not a Bible study. The first chapter is about the cost of what we miss when we are always paying attention to our phones. So for a few weeks now, I have challenged myself to live more for those moments and less for my phone. That means having "Hands Free time" where my phone stays on silent, and I'm totally focused on the blessings in front of me. (Let me tell you-the Fall colors look more beautiful than ever this year!) It means choosing to play with S or cuddle and watch a movie rather than surf the web on my phone. It means making myself delay checking texts so I can learn not to be a slave to the endless dings. It means putting things that I call priorities (God, the kids, my husband)....first, instead of putting my phone above what matters. And then of course it means putting those priorities above things like laundry, dishes, and phone calls. But the phone was my main focus this week.
Here is what I could have missed if I had my let myself be distracted like usual:
-Singing and Dancing with My Girls-That was fun! Big S loves to make up songs and Little S loves to dance. Actually, while I was reading "Hands Free Mama," Big S was playing MagnaTiles and signing. This was my chance to put living in the moment to action. My phone was going off like crazy and I just shoved it under a pillow and put it on silent while we were just signing and dancing away. I was able to be fully present in that moment and it was great.
Walking-While doing laundry, Little S kept trying to walk while holding her sister's hand. I could have let it be, but my mind said, "Be present. The laundry will get done." So I listened. And we spent the next 10 minutes helping Little S try to walk until she lost interest. She didn't walk, but it made for good memories. And the laundry was right where I left it.
Parodies-The car is where I usually turn my list of to do over in my head, but Big S started spontaneously making up parodies of songs, and I couldn't help but join her. For over 20 minutes we made our car ride interesting by making up silly words about being in our pajamas drinking hot chocolate.
Nursing-This is where my heart breaks. In the beginning, all I wanted to do was nurse my baby! Then she nursed a LOT, and I lost appreciation for the connection that is nursing. And I used that time to check my email, read my book, or even balance the checkbook. I would watch her and smile and talk to her, but only for a few minutes. Then it was back to business. A year is closing in quickly and I don't know how much longer she will want to nurse. There is a sense of urgency. Time is running out. So for the first time in a long time, I watched her from start to finish. I talked to her and stroked her hair. She smiled and grabbed my finger. And finally, she fell asleep. I didn't touch my phone. I didn't read. I basked in the moment. And in that moment, I think I gave her more love than ever before.
As for my Husband, I have made me changes for him, sparked by a Bible study called "The Beautiful Wife."That is a post for another day.
Now back to those photos. I have lived many of S's early years on the other side of the camera lense, capturing the memories I wanted so badly to remember when she is grown and the house is empty. Taking a few photos at the beginning of the Pumpkin Patch trip or on vacation is no big deal, but I was picking up the camera when J and Big S were dancing or cuddling or when Big S and Little S were doing anything sweet. Now there are many moments I will never get back to just live in and completely and totally immerse myself in. So I chose to resist the urge. To write it down later. And to just stare and adore when Little S returns her big sister's hug or when J sweeps Big S off her feet and tickles her.
So to two more of life's lessons...
A picture may say a thousand words, but no picture at all can produce memories a thousand times greater.
And
It is better to live life fully present than to simply be present during life.
This post contains no photos. And not because the Blogger app is a real pain when it comes to adding them, but because I didnt take any today. I'll explain why. Just stay with me.
Before Sara was born, I was a huge advocate of purposeful parenting. I still am. But parenting an only child allows for a little....no, a lot of wiggle room. In fact, at one point, we were almost bored when it was just the two of us. So checking my phone and running lists of things to do through my mind was no big deal. I possessed extra time galore. Then Sara came. And she wasn't easy. She was hard. Really hard. So I was adjusting to having two children and basically feeling like a new parent at the same time-returning to babyhood, but this time with a hard baby.
But it was worth it. The whole journey-over the last year. The best part is, God used her to change me.
I've been feeling convicted of many things lately. One of them being that I don't always feel present during life. There are so many distractions. My phone dings with another text. My Facebook says I have 8 notifications. And I'm waiting on an email from an AHG Mom, so I need to make sure to keep checking for that. On top of that, there are so many things I need to keep track of, just running them through my head while I drive. I can't even tell you how many times I have been cleaning while hearing my Husband call from the other room, "Babe, come keep me company while I shower." And literally, that is what he means. He just wants me to sit and talk to him. But I'm picking up toys off the floor, yelling that I'll be in there in 5 minutes. By then, he is getting ready to get out.
So I have been reading this book called "Hands Free Mama." It is Christian based, but not a Bible study. The first chapter is about the cost of what we miss when we are always paying attention to our phones. So for a few weeks now, I have challenged myself to live more for those moments and less for my phone. That means having "Hands Free time" where my phone stays on silent, and I'm totally focused on the blessings in front of me. (Let me tell you-the Fall colors look more beautiful than ever this year!) It means choosing to play with S or cuddle and watch a movie rather than surf the web on my phone. It means making myself delay checking texts so I can learn not to be a slave to the endless dings. It means putting things that I call priorities (God, the kids, my husband)....first, instead of putting my phone above what matters. And then of course it means putting those priorities above things like laundry, dishes, and phone calls. But the phone was my main focus this week.
Here is what I could have missed if I had my let myself be distracted like usual:
-Singing and Dancing with My Girls-That was fun! Big S loves to make up songs and Little S loves to dance. Actually, while I was reading "Hands Free Mama," Big S was playing MagnaTiles and signing. This was my chance to put living in the moment to action. My phone was going off like crazy and I just shoved it under a pillow and put it on silent while we were just signing and dancing away. I was able to be fully present in that moment and it was great.
Walking-While doing laundry, Little S kept trying to walk while holding her sister's hand. I could have let it be, but my mind said, "Be present. The laundry will get done." So I listened. And we spent the next 10 minutes helping Little S try to walk until she lost interest. She didn't walk, but it made for good memories. And the laundry was right where I left it.
Parodies-The car is where I usually turn my list of to do over in my head, but Big S started spontaneously making up parodies of songs, and I couldn't help but join her. For over 20 minutes we made our car ride interesting by making up silly words about being in our pajamas drinking hot chocolate.
Nursing-This is where my heart breaks. In the beginning, all I wanted to do was nurse my baby! Then she nursed a LOT, and I lost appreciation for the connection that is nursing. And I used that time to check my email, read my book, or even balance the checkbook. I would watch her and smile and talk to her, but only for a few minutes. Then it was back to business. A year is closing in quickly and I don't know how much longer she will want to nurse. There is a sense of urgency. Time is running out. So for the first time in a long time, I watched her from start to finish. I talked to her and stroked her hair. She smiled and grabbed my finger. And finally, she fell asleep. I didn't touch my phone. I didn't read. I basked in the moment. And in that moment, I think I gave her more love than ever before.
As for my Husband, I have made me changes for him, sparked by a Bible study called "The Beautiful Wife."That is a post for another day.
Now back to those photos. I have lived many of S's early years on the other side of the camera lense, capturing the memories I wanted so badly to remember when she is grown and the house is empty. Taking a few photos at the beginning of the Pumpkin Patch trip or on vacation is no big deal, but I was picking up the camera when J and Big S were dancing or cuddling or when Big S and Little S were doing anything sweet. Now there are many moments I will never get back to just live in and completely and totally immerse myself in. So I chose to resist the urge. To write it down later. And to just stare and adore when Little S returns her big sister's hug or when J sweeps Big S off her feet and tickles her.
So to two more of life's lessons...
A picture may say a thousand words, but no picture at all can produce memories a thousand times greater.
And
It is better to live life fully present than to simply be present during life.
Comments
Post a Comment