After Harlow was born, life slowed down a bit.
We said “no thank you” to events because we loved being home as a family.
I wasn’t used to packing a bag full of necessities, only to still run out of something, so the easier thing was to commit to less.
Andy + I would say to each other
Let’s remember this simplicity. When we get comfortable with one child, two, three, etc. Let’s remember how life is those few days after. Let’s take time to be together. Let’s take time to slow down.
Then I became a pro at doing all things with a baby toddler on my hip + I think I grew a hand somehow too – because things just get done.
But with the comfort level, the speed gradually quickened. Our pace increased. + soon I realized we’d gradually lost everything simple about life.
Like putting on weight slowly.
Like realizing that each day your child is changing + growing up, but in seeing him/her daily, it’s not as obvious.
It’s so simple…
…to start spinning faster.
…to pick up + juggle more.
…to increase the pace, a little at a time.
So simple to lose that simplicity. So simple…
until you simply can’t keep it all up anymore.
+ that’s sort of where we’re at. And part of the difficulty? So much of it is so good.
So Andy + I have been chatting about priorities + commitments. Family + work. Time + memories.
And I’m no expert. Not even close. But I’ll share with y’all as we prune. And we will give Him the glory as more fruit, better fruit, has the chance to grow.
Because the pace has slowed. And there is enough air + time + nourishment to go around.
How are you slowing down?
Any bits of advice on choosing great from good?
So thankful for everyone of you: those I have + haven’t met. And if you’re headed to the Influence Conference this October …. make sure you link up for our meet + greet!! And be sure to check out the Influence Conference blog all week for their current series of posts!
xoxo
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your authenticity of sharing what you’re learning. I’m excited to learn from/with ya!
So true! I often wish I could stop time and make the world stand still while I just breathe in my family. Thank you for this post. I think it was just what I needed to do some prioritizing of my own. Because life really is too short when you think about it.
Xoxo
We are totally pruning too…not necessarily with the “doing” but definitely with the “stuff.” It’s amazing what you can make room for when you aren’t so bogged down. Excited to glean from your deaccelerating.
Im not going to the conference but I BETTER get to see you…. Or ELSE! Hehe
This has sooo been on my heart lately. We are about to embark on a marathon of travel and out-out-of-the-house-ness and while it’s all good and we’re excited for our trips, I’m really looking forward to getting home and settling back in to the routine we want. I’m hoping to USE some of that time away as a family to decide what’s been working and what hasn’t, and what adjustments we need to try to make.
This hits me right in the heart. I feel like I let my busy-ness get the better of me. I’m excited to see what you have in store in this journey.
My hubby and I are moving into an Airstream trailer for a year, with our little 17 m/o daughter…hoping to re-prioritize and see what God has in store for our little family. I’ll be checking back for sure to see what articles you write about slowing down and choosing great from good.
We struggle with this, mostly because my hubs thinks that part of life is just picking up and going and living where I am all about structure and enjoying what is in front of us. We see it differently, so that’s why we struggle. I have been praying about it though, and I am hoping that God shows us each how to do better.
I don’t have any advice, but I do give this a hearty Amen. We’ve been simplifying, slowly purging stuff we don’t need (physical stuff and commitment stuff). We have a long way to go but it feels good to move in the right direction. Less stuff tends to slow me down in a good way, make me feel less frantic. I’m ready to rediscover the art of doing one thing at a time, and sometimes – drumroll, please – NOTHING AT ALL. Craziness, I know.
xoxo
God has quietly been whispering the same to me the last few days. I have taken on way more than i have in a long time and I’m completely panicking. Even if there is nothing to really say ‘no’ to right now, I know that God has promised to strengthen me and build me up to handle whatever comes my way. It’s certainly a big lesson in trust and the dreaded word… patience. In the midst of all this, just taking a few moments to just be still has been more than enough.