Peace Over Perfection

Yesterday I did a small thing that I later realized was a big thing for me.
The act was small, how I did it was big.

Ok, I'll tell you what it was.
I made a meal for a family who recently welcomed a new baby into their home.
See, I told you, a small thing.
Here's the big part: the meal was simple- a pasta dish and salad.

I'm sure by now, you're confused,
What is so big about a simple meal for a friend, right?!
Well, I don't get to do this very often anymore.
Most of my friends are done bringing new life into the world.
And so I don't find myself helping others in this way.

But when I used to, I went over the top.
I would try to think of EVERYTHING to make my meal a blessing to the receiver.
Time was spent not only cooking the meal
But also making side dishes and definitely dessert.
Then there were the napkins to throw in and paper plates-
So no one had to worry about dishes afterwards.
I could go on and on about the particulars, but you get the idea.

So, yesterday I found myself planning this meal
And thinking, oh, I should makes cookies, too.
After preparing I noticed the time.
I wanted to sit down for a few minutes,
To rest just a bit from the fullness of the day.

And then I remembered the cookies.
If I pushed through I might have just enough time to get them baked.
But... I didn't get out the ingredients.
I didn't pull out my mixer.
I didn't turn on the oven.

Instead, I rested.
I sat down for a few minutes at my desk.
I pulled out the book I've been reading,
And I read a few pages, enjoying the peace of the moment.

This was big for me.
In the past this would not have been allowed.
I would have pushed through,
Creating what I deemed the perfect meal to present to a friend.

And I would have exchanged rest for work.
I would have left time to breathe for anxious hustle.
I would have traded peace for perfection.

Now, don't get me wrong.
There is nothing necessarily wrong with presenting a beautiful meal,
Filled with all the extras to make it special.
What was wrong, for me,
Was that I created stress, not just for me, but for those around me.
I traded peace for perfection.

For quite some time I anxiously yearned for peace in this busy season of life.
I wrestled with the concept of breathing still in the midst of a full schedule.
Could I find rest while managing a large family?
Was there room for margins in my planner?

I'm finding the answer is, yes.
Thankfully, the answer is, yes.
But sometimes it's the choice between perfection or peace.
And so my prayer is this:
Lord, help me see where I can serve, yet rest,
Where I can give and still receive.

May you continue in your areas of service to others
And still allow for times of rest.

Are We Doing Too Much?

As I sat discussing schedules with a group of moms,
I kept hearing, "we school well into the afternoon."
Why, I thought, would these moms be schooling for so long
when their children are all still so small?

This puzzled me so I asked more questions
In hopes of helping them find solutions to a shorter school day.
It was from their answers that I discovered something:
These mamas are busy...
With extra-curricular activities.

Between swimming lessons, and women's Bible studies,
These sweet mamas were not able to find time to rest during the day.
Activities pulled them away in the morning,
Causing them to be schooling during nap time or well into the afternoon.

Now, please don't get me wrong,
Extra-curricular activities can be great.
There are so many wonderful opportunities available.
I also don't want anyone to feel she needs to follow my schedule.

But here are a few thoughts to consider.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads: to every thing there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Swimming lessons are beneficial.
Bible studies are encouraging.
But are we being spread too thin as we attempt to fit it all in?

May I ask you to slow down and reconsider your schedule?
There are so many good opportunities out there.
But what is best for you and your family right now?
Sometimes when we choose more we loose what we really want:
Peace, rest, time.

God is so faithful to direct us, even with our schedules. 
Seek Him.
Listen to His still, small voice directing you.
And walk confidently into your day
Knowing you walk in the plan He has given you.

Could less be more?
I think it just may be.

Eunora

"Personal Time"- Can It Be Found?

I get asked some great questions.
Questions from moms seeking ways to do their best.

Recently I was asked, "How do you find "me/personal" time?
Life places so many demands on us as moms.
For those of us who have chosen to homeschool,
We get to be with our kiddos all. day. long.
So, is it possible to get some alone time?

I think so but first this:
The personal time many of us desire usually won't be found,
It must be made.

Creating this kind of space for yourself 
Will once again look different for everyone
But I will share with you where I have made space throughout my day.

First, I encourage you to share your need with your spouse.
I say this for two reasons:
The two of you can brainstorm solutions that you will both be excited about.
And, you will support each other in implementing the ideas.

Here are a few ways that worked for me over the years:

Specific wake-up times and bed times.
By setting a time for my children to wake up
I was then able to rise before them and know 
I had that time before I would be needed.
If a child woke sooner, I simply told him,
"It's not morning yet," and taught him to stay in bed.
Easier said than done, right?!
But once learned, worth it!

The same is true for bedtime.
My husband and I set a time for bed
And our kiddos were taught they needed to 
Stay in bed and be quiet.
This took much training and consistency at first
But again was TOTALLY worth it.

Nap time/quiet rest time.
After lunch, around 1:00, I would read to my boys.
This was the start to nap time 
Or what later grew to quiet rest time.
This was a time for us all to rest from interaction.
I have used this space for naps myself, reading, 
Exercising, making appointments etc.

For specific ways to include exercise, 
I have also done many ideas.
- schedule PE into the week's activities 
- adjust the school schedule to include gym time
- put on a video for the kids while working out in another room

These windows of time change with the seasons of life we find ourselves in.
But I do believe, when prioritized and planned for, they can be made.
As much as I think we can create space for ourselves,
I do think there can be a big obstacle.
So next time when I write, I will ask, 
Are you involved in too much?

Let me know if these ideas could work for you.
Do you have different ideas that you could add?
Are you faced with circumstances that prevent these ideas from working for you?
Please feel free to contact me and we can brainstorm together. =)

Eunora

I Don't Have It All Together!

I'm gonna say it again,
I don't have it all together.

Some of you have seen what I have done over the years.
You've seen my IG pictures and FB posts.

Yes, I've run a marathon.
I've even gutted out an ultra-marathon.
I've used cloth diapers.
And made my own laundry detergent.

I thought baking my own bread was no big deal,
And so for awhile I did that, too.
I cooked my own baby food,
And mixed up our cleaning products.

I loved DIY projects, 
And filled my days creating, all while homeschooling.

Back then, others put me on a pedestal.
I knew how others viewed me.
And so I tried to balance up there,
Doing all I could to maintain that image
And be the perfect little housewife.

And then I crashed.
It's hard to teeter up there on that pedestal. 
I even believe the health issues I later discovered
Came because of these unrealistic expectations I put upon myself.

And so I come to you now in what I hope is a much more humble position.
I stand among you,
Not above you.
I will continue to share my experiences with you.
But I am still learning SO. Much. Myself.

I don't have every room completely organized.
I don't have everything labeled and color-coordinated.
My schedule doesn't always work.
I now buy my laundry detergent
And our bread, too.

My kids don't always obey cheerfully on the first time.
I (more often than I like to admit) loose my patience.
I get frustrated.
I am frail.
And, at times, I cry.

But through all of this I am learning.
This, my friends, is what the Cross is for.
I won't be able to do it all.
I will fail.
But because of His grace, 
I will pick myself up.
Over. And over. And over again.
I will cling tightly to my Savior's hand.

And I will remember,
I don't have to have every closet organized,
Or teach the perfect school year. 
I just need to be obedient to what He calls me to do.
And rely on His strength to do it.

Eunora

5 Dinners In 1 Hour

OK busy mamas, I've got something a little exciting to share with you all.
Dinner. The meal we all need to eat every. single. day.
And someone needs to prepare this meal.
This isn't a complaint, just an observation.
I think many of us are in a busy season of life right now.
Raising our kiddos, some of us schooling them,
Driving to sports practice and a host of other things the Lord brings our way.
Because of my full life, I was excited to find a little help.
Wanna know what it is?!?

5 dinners -in- 1hour (this is a link- click on it to be sent to their web-site)

So what is this?

It's a website offering you a deal.

$15 for a 3 month subscription will get you this:

Every month you receive a 5-day-a-week/4 week meal plan.

The plan includes: the menu, a grocery shopping list, and 

Instructions on how to prep all the meals for the week in 1 hour!

What did I have to loose?

For just over $1 a week, I was willing to try it.

I timed myself the first week and sure enough 

Had my meals prepped in the time promised.

I loved opening my fridge to see all my meals prepped and ready to go.

Doesn't this picture excite you?! 

The center shelve houses my week's meals! I love it!

Ok, maybe I'm a little crazy. =)

So there you have it.

I couldn't keep something like this all to myself.

Hope this can help someone out there 

Who may feel a little overwhelmed by all life brings our way.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

May I Love Like This-

Source: mallorycaitlynkutch.blogspot.com via Ansley on Pinterest

This is the love that the Lord has for us.

This is the kind of love that I want to give to those closest to me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

Eunora

It's Hard, But It's OK!

When it comes to home schooling, mothering, and even marriage,

I find myself tense up and feel discouraged when it becomes hard.

When my children fail to understand concepts in school, it's hard.

When I realize I need to invest more in character building, it's hard.

When I run up against strain in my marriage, it's hard.

Hard, in these areas, has always felt negative, discouraging, overwhelming.

But, recently the Lord brought these hard things to mind.

Is it not hard for a runner to train for a marathon?

Yes, it takes planning, dedication, determination,

Even at times, blood (blisters), sweat (running in the heat),

And tears (trying to work training into an already full life schedule).

Is it not hard for a student studying for a college degree?

Yes, it also takes planning, dedication and determination.

Is it not hard for a mountain climber to scale a mountain?

Or a gardener to reap a harvest?

Or a carpenter to build a house?

Or an author to write a book?

I hope you can clearly see that to all these questions,

The answer is most certainly, YES!

But when I look at these tasks and goals,

I think the hard in each one as fun,

Adventuresome, exciting, impressive.

Hard, in other words, does not have to be negative.

Hard, is part of a process I am journeying through.

Hard means I'm going somewhere.

Hard means I'm working on something.

Hard means I'm affecting someone.

Dear friends, when life gets hard, it's OK!

Remember your calling.

Remember your goal.

Hard comes with the task,

But the results will be worth it!

Press on and work hard on those hard issues.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Linking up today:

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Fresh Apple Juice: A Fall Treat

We are having a beautiful

change from Summer to Fall.

Cool, crisp mornings.

Warm, sunny afternoons.

And apples, thick on their branches.

This is what we did with our recent collection.

So yummy!!

Happy Juicing,

Eunora