Down Time

Lately, I've been enjoying a very un-busy August. And it's splendid. There's still work to do, but it's not urgent. There's nowhere I have to be. I don't allow myself to think anymore about the fact that it's a month where my business brings in almost no money. (I remind myself, "Remember, it's like this every year in January, February, July, and August -- at least. And you prepared for this. It's all good!") Pushing all that aside that fear (that all who are self employed can relate to) gives me time to not only work on "big picture" projects (which I enjoy), but also gives me time to just enjoy being. More housework gets done. I spend more time with the kids. I've read three -- almost four -- books in the past week. It's so nice. I'm doing my very best to enjoy it before the busy season arrives -- where nearly every weekend is spoken for from late September to mid-November. As I get older, I'm learning to accept (even enjoy) the ebb and flow of life, to take the seasons as they come...

Ecclesiastes 3 

 1   There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Abby's Baptism

Sunday was a very happy day. Abby made the decision several months ago (though she's really been talking about it for a lot longer than that) to give her life to God, and this week she was baptized! Not only was it a very cool event on it's own, but Aaron was the one who got to baptize her, and it was so special and meaningful.

After church, the grandparents came over and we celebrated with cupcakes! We were so glad they all got to be a part of Abby's special day.

Abby reverted to her one year old self and dug into her cake! Ha ha!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Life Simpler

I'm a big fan of things, habits, and practices that make life simpler. Who couldn't use more of that, huh?
I feel like I've been on the journey of trying to become more efficient and organized for years, and I'll probably never really get there, but this week, three things I believe got me closer!

1. Laundry Chute
Aaron and I saw a house with a laundry chute a couple of years ago when we were looking at houses to buy. We thought it was so cool and tucked it away in our brains until a couple of weeks ago, when it was mentioned again. Well this weekend, Aaron and my dad cut a big hole in the floor of our closet and in the ceiling of our laundry room, and then Aaron built the chute, complete with door. Now my kids fight over who gets "dirty clothes duty". So far no one has jumped through, though I did see a pair of Carson feet dangling into the laundry room yesterday.

2. Roomba 
My mom picked up this fabulous wonder-machine at a garage sale for $15 and gave it to us. I adore it. I use it every day. I sit on the couch and read magazines as it vacuums my floors and under my furniture. It's glorious.

3. Get Rid of Stuff
I've filled up my trunk twice now with stuff to donate and give away. Much of it, I'd been piling up for months, and I just decided it was time  to clear it all out. I also went through my closet and got rid of a lot of the stuff that I never wear. I was inspired by the blog Small Notebook that my friend, Amanda, told me about. It feels GOOD.

I'd love to hear about any of the things that help you simplify, organize, or be more efficient!