*Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Read about Months 1 and 2 on the topics of “Quiet” and “Mornings” HERE.
Read about Months 3, 4, and 5 on the topics of “Dates,” “Health,” and “Adventure” HERE.
Read about Months 6, 7, and 8 on the topics of “Home Organization,” “Creativity,” and “Meals” HERE.
I’m really enjoyed (affiliate link) Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall. I too often let life happen right around me, but I know myself and I know I need time to process all the things. I’ve had some good times of reflecting on the topics and the questions presented at the end of each month’s experiment. As I go through my own experiments this year through this site/blog, I hope to embrace my imperfections, work to be a better mom, and be a good steward of the gifts God has given me to serve others.
Month 9 of Alexandra’s experiment is focused on “Passions.”
I honestly and truly enjoyed digging into this book, and looking forward to really slowing down enough to get some “takeaways” from each of the books I read this year. I’ve always been one to consume the books so I can get to the next one…because there are just so many wonderful books out there! But I think they are so much more wonderful when we can marinate in the truth and beauty of the author’s words.
I’m using the “Questions for Reflection” at the end of the chapter to reflect 😉 but I’m share more in bullet point form otherwise I am a pretty wordy mama.
Month 9: Passions
– The process of choosing between two good things is a challenge, but I think when I took a look at my priorities, it made it easier to decide. Prayer and discussing with others is helpful in making the ultimate choice.
– Only I can be my husband’s wife and my children’s mom.
– The decisions I can make to move toward become the person I want and the person God wants is how to prioritize my time and see where there is intersection of different life areas.
Some quotable quotes:
It’s about something bigger than here and now. It’s about possibilities. And it’s about what we are each driven to work toward.
It’s small moment after small moment that makes up the hours of our days. Yes, these are the ones I need to pay attention to. (And give myself a little grace when they don’t go exactly as I planned.)
This is my passion. This life that I am living here and now. If I measure passion by what I feel strongly about, I will say the right here and now is it. these people under my roof, under my care. I am called to love them well. Today.
God has given us this choice-making ability to say yes to this and no to that. Perhaps when stuck with two good options another question to ask is, God, which choice will better propel me toward being the person I want to become? That you want me to become?
What I do know is that God knows the working out better than I do. So I go back to him with the question, Lord, what do you have for me today?
Conclusion
– Noticing helps me to see what I do have instead of what I do not have.
– My actions are connected to my immediate quality of life, and I need to remind myself of this because my next step can create big changes.
– I see God’s covering in my relationships. He has surrounded me with people of grace who always love and forgive.
Some quotable quotes:
It turns out the schedule rules. If I put something on my schedule it is more likely to happen. This is not revolutionary, I realize. But is a discipline.
If my life is at capacity, I must cut something to add something else.
But in the fails I learned some things about how I operate, what is realistic in my life today with my circumstances.
With our Creator hearing our prayers, knowing our heart churnings, feeling our feelings right along with us. It is here in our innermost places that we relish that we are made as image bearers and we live out of that creative genius. It is here that we make our mark on the world – one conversation, one help, one prayer at a time.
There is no show here. Just an earnest desire to be my best and live my best so God will say I used this one life well.
Your turn: Do you make time for doing things that you are passionate about? How does that help you through the challenges of motherhood?
P.S. In February I will be reading Clutter Free by Kathi Lipp. Join me!
P.S.S. You can check out My 2017 Book List (specifically curated for the Work-in-Progress Mom) and read along with me this year.
*Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a tiny percentage if you make a purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.