On the days when school isn't  exactly what anyone has in mind, we've been finding ways to make it fun.

A recent visit to this zoo was a huge thrill. Our bird-loving girl was so excited to feed these friendly birds.

This time of year we fit in as many getaways as we can to head south and warm up!

At Miss A's request we have begun a once a week "family night"…where we all purposefully spend the evening together. The theme for our last one was winter art. I just love the results!

Getting in as much sun and exercise as we can…helps stave off the desire to curl up and hibernate until spring.

What have you been up to lately?

On the evening of New Year's Day we walked up and down our street, inviting our neighbors to a "get to know you" BBQ. It's something we've talked about doing for a long time. But there was always some logistical reason that made it feel impractical. Finally, fueled by an impulsive moment, we did it. 

And people actually came. That was the part that blew me away. I had myself pretty convinced that no one would show up. But they did.

There was some fun conversation, and some not so fun conversation. Unavoidable in such a mixed group of people. But the moment that made it feel like a good thing was when an elderly woman who lives at the other end of the street said, "I'm so glad you did this. I've lived here twelve years and never met anybody!"

That lady brought pretty pink flowers that are still brightening my kitchen weeks later.

Another lady brought shells and bouncy balls as a gift for our girls. She lives around the corner. She told us she has to move out of her home because she can't afford the $400 a month rent anymore. So she is renting a bedroom in the house of the people who live behind her instead.

It made me sad to realize the needs that surround us. But then I became hopeful as I realized now that we know we can pray! And maybe even sometimes help.

Inviting these people into my home was a real stretch for me. I find a little discomfort and a lot of fear in the idea of reaching out to a bunch of people I don't know. But in spite of that I've had this burden on my heart to do it anyway, and I'm hoping this was just the beginning.

I haven't been sharing a whole lot of my own writing around here lately.

But just to clarify, that's not because I haven't wanted to write.

The issue is not desire or interest, but time. 

I'm sure you can relate.

There is SO much I want to do every day. So many good things, and they all feel so necessary. But the reality is that there is just not time for them all.

I have been reassessing my routines. Particularly in regards to school; working to establish a new plan for now. In regards to our home-schooling, every time I think I've got a routine down and it's the perfect fit for us, something changes and all of the sudden it just doesn't fit at all anymore. I've found that my pattern is to spend a week or two trying to make it fit anyway, then at least a week in "I give up" mode. Then finally I come around to, "Okay, how can we change things to work better for us now?".

I think we're finding a good groove in that regard (though of course who knows how long it will last?).

In the meantime, I'm working at trying to make the routine a habit. And trying to make sure other things don't get neglected. I feel like it's very fitting to describe the whole of my days as a never-ending feat of juggling.

Oh, and in the midst of all that, I've decided to (for now anyway) give up computer time at night. As a girl who often wakes in the morning exhausted by the busy-ness of her dreams, this felt like the most obvious prescription to try.

The problem with that is: nighttime was for the most part my only time on the computer. You wouldn't believe how much random screen-necessitating tasks have become backed up as I eliminated that time. 

I have yet to find another ideal time to squeeze the computer in, so for now I'm just getting to it in bits and pieces here and there throughout my days, trying to make sure I get to the essential stuff first. On the bright side it has definitely brought about a deep evaluation of how I spend my time on the computer.

So that's where I'm at. In a state of flux when it comes to how I spend each moment of my day. My brain piling up with thoughts I want to share here, but so little time to do it in. 

I'm not giving up though. I'll keep praying and paring down the unnecessary expenditures of time in my day. I want to spend all the precious time I'm given on things I love, not blow it in waste. 

How are your days going lately?

Let us beware of rebellion against the Lord. Circumstances are of His choosing, because He wants to bless us, to lead us (even through the wilderness) out of Egypt, that is, out of ourselves.
Settle the complaint with God; and it will settle other things.

Elisabeth Elliot
A Lamp Unto My Feet