Stress Day 1: Prayer - It's Not Just For Night time

I loved this chapter!  In fact, it has been my absolute favorite in the 7 book so far.  The food and the clothing chapters both helped me to be mindful of how much we have and how much we eat.  Existing on seven foods and with seven pieces of clothing for longer than a week with five kids is not sustainable for me (It wasn't for Hatmaker, either).

This chapter on stress, specifically on prayer and on keeping the Sabbath is a keeper.  Hatmaker saved the best for last in my opinion.  In the beginning of the chapter she discusses the need for the Sabbath and how keeping the Sabbath is not for God's benefit, but it is for our own.  How often I forget that.  I have Sunday down as a day of rest but I end up going grocery shopping or after church, coming in here to the office to create my schedule for the week, to grade reflections, to get a head start on the week's assignments.  Then I wonder why I am exhausted on Monday!

Hatmaker lists Hebrews 4:9-11 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  (Heb. 4:9-11).

I know with every fiber of my being come Friday that my body needs rest.  I also  know with a look around me at every room in my house that on Saturday laundry needs to be done, along with dishes, and grocery shopping, and cleaning, and of course, some time to run and play and be free!!!!!

Come Sunday, it is time for rest; time for reflection; time for us to stop and take measure of the week He has blessed us with.  Time to rest and be still and know that He is God.  I have a canvas I bought several years ago that I keep above my desk in the office that says, "Be Still and Know That I Am God."  When I am busy typing, reading, writing, researching, planning on the laptop I can look directly up and be reminded who I am in Christ, and who I serve.

Scripture says if we love God we will keep His commandments.  Christ teaches us that every commandment was given because He loves us.  Rest is a good thing.  The older I get the more I am convinced that a nap, that a quiet walk, or a peaceful porch swing rest are just about as close to heaven as you can get on earth.

I want to rededicate in my life and in the life of my family the sacredness of the Sabbath.  Please join me tomorrow as I share with you my journey through the different prayer times that Hatmaker suggests.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Explanation of the Out of Order Blog Posts

This summer has been a gift for Heather and for me, both individually and collectively.  Heather recently finished an inspirational three day bike ride to Charleston in ridiculous heat to raise money for a worthy cause.  This bike ride was the culminating event for a season of training to prepare her body for riding major miles three days straight.

For me, I spent June at the Spartanburg Writing Project, which for fourteen years has been a blessing professionally and personally and I pray each summer that I am able to give the best I have to the teachers who join us.  In July the Mitchell family had our first major vacation. It was epic!  Fifteen days out west to Yellowstone and to the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead.  It changed me.  It changed us.  It was a powerful time for self reflection and for time together.  I know I am a better parent and a better person for it.

Together, Heather and I embarked the first week of June on the book study, Seven by Jenn Hatmaker.  For the few of you who have followed us on the blog, you know the ways this book has challenged us to live what we truly believe, and to live less of what the world offers.  It has changed me.

With two teachers who have less than two weeks before our students come to class, we knew we were short on time but long on the desire to finish 7 strong.  For that reason, we decided to skip the chapters on Waste and Spending.  One, I married an Environmental Engineer and we don't waste much.  Two - Heather and Frac live in the country as well and grow a garden too, and work minimize their carbon footprint.

We skipped spending, not because we don't need to grow in this area - it's just that with back to school coming we are both spending money preparing our classrooms and on our own children's back to school.  I definitely was mindful not to over-indulge but the teacher salary scale helps to reduce a lot of overspending in that area.

We wanted to end our summer and begin our teaching careers this year reading the chapter on stress.  We thought it was appropriate.

Sincerely,
Dawn and Heather

Stress: Day 1 - Exhale

I always had this ideal image of what a true, hardcore, Christian prayer warrior looked like. - a black suit and tie (wearing his best for God, ya know), a massive ten-pound Bible nearby for reference, and either pacing back and forth shouting loudly to the sky, or kneeling by the bed with hands clasped tightly together in complete silence.

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit; but the point is that I've never looked in the mirror and seen a mighty intercessor looking back at me. Prayer has always been my weak spot. I love reading the Bible and Christian commentaries on the Bible. I love reading about the history of Bible times and the meanings and symbols of Scripture. I enjoy reflecting on holy words and their applications. I feel like I'm good at that sort of stuff. I enjoy praying too, but... I often forget to do it. Or when I do, it doesn't feel like it's good enough, long enough, strong enough, etc. etc. etc. 

This is the final week for Seven. Due to pre-planned vacations, bike rides, and other assorted life events, Dawn and I kind of flubbed through chapters 6 and 7 together ("Waste" and "Spending" - good topics!). However, we agreed that chapter seven on "Stress" was of the utmost importance to us both, especially the week before school goes back into full swing.
It would take a really long time to explain the whole chapter in detail (seriously, just go read the amazing book yourself!), but I will try to sum it up for you.
Hatmaker points out all the important facets of rest that are illustrated in the Bible. Suffice to say that if God, who never sleeps, rested on the seventh day of creation, then we need to rest too. But it isn't just about the Sabbath. Hatmaker references the importance of prayer throughout each day to focus us, ground us, and redirect us to the Prince of Peace. In so doing, we keep stress at bay, refusing it a foothold in our day. She based her seventh month on a work called Seven Sacred Pauses by Marine Wiederkehr. I haven't read that one, so I'm just going to take Hatmaker's word for it and follow her example. The title basically explains itself. The day is to be broken into seven prayerful pauses, each with its own specific purpose:

The Night Watch (midnight)
The Awakening Hour (dawn)
The Blessing Hour (midmorning)
The Hour of Illumination (noon)
The Wisdom Hour (midafternoon)
The Twilight Hour (early evening)
The Great Silence (bedtime)

I began the week today with The Great Silence, around 9:00 pm. It was just me, God, the great outdoors, and Psalm 23. And it was beautiful. Peaceful. Restorative. And so quiet. I didn't pray long - maybe ten minutes - but as I finished by reading the 23rd Psalm out loud, I saw things in a new light. THIS was the image of a prayer warrior - flip-flops,  jeans, and a tshirt surrounded by lightning bugs and mosquitos, humbly approaching His throne via the front porch steps, a crumpled Bible,  and a hunger for more.

I'm looking forward to this week of prayer and a heavenly focus because I so desperately need to get my focus off myself.

Now I just have to see if I can make it to midnight...

-Heather

Dawn's Post for Week 5: Staying Green

After reading month five titled, "Waste" that encouraged readers to become Greene through growing gardens, reducing waste, and recycling I realized that we've been green for awhile. We definitely can be greener but I feel pretty good about where I am with this one and after talking with Heather she and I felt that we could read, reflect, and consider ways to reduce our carbon footprint. We both have gardens. We expanded ours this year to include tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, corn, okra, eggplant, bell peppers, jalepenos, banana peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, blackberries, blueberries, green beans, Lima beans, and crowder peas. It's a lot of work but I really do love it for many reasons. One it gives us a family work project. Everyone helps. The girls help weed and water. Eli loves to pick the vegetables and check on their progress every day.  We eat what we pick fresh and what's left we can, putting up salsa and tomatoes, pickles, and jam lines up in jars on our shelves in the garage. We freeze gallon bags of corn, squash, and zucchini as well as bags of strawberries we pick at a farm right up he road. We have nine chickens we keep in a coop in the backyard we call the ladies parlor that yields fresh eggs each day and free fertilizer. We give what we don't keep away to neighbors and friends and family and are grateful for the fruit and the harvest. I married an environmental engineer who loves the outdoors so we rinse out and recycle as much paper, plastic, and aluminum that we can. I have to say there are times that I forget or get lazy and toss and I feel guilty for it. I'm working on not taking the blessings of convenience for granted.

In Hatmaker's book 7 she quotes a passage from a text that convicted her titled, Green Mama by Tracey Bianchi.  It convicted me too. It reads:  "there are a limited number of resources in the world, and when we take more than we need, simply put, we are stealing from others.  By pillaging the earth for more than our share, we break the 8th commandment. To my dismay, I realize that even in my own, sort of green-world , I was stealing from people, present and future. Turns out I constantly steal from my kids in years. I'm static goodies like clean air and water while millions of families clamor for a drink and struggle with disease.  I'm throwing away excess paper and packaging for rain forest disappear. I am a kleptomaniac. But I am determined to address my failings."

I am too. I don't want to waste my time feeling proud of what little I am doing for the environment. I want to proactively look for ways I can continue to reduce. Less of me, more of Christ. Less waste, more to enjoy His creation.

I know we are in the middle of a two week vacation but we are trying to apply good stewardship out here too.
On our trip west we opted for real dishes that we wash by hand in a bucket of sudsy water at the campsite instead of easier paper plates. This may be a little too crunchy for some, but my girls love it and have made a game of pretending to be Mary and Laura off of Little House who wash their dishes outside on the prairie too.
While we can certainly do better and live greener my hope is that we will stay green, going outdoors for our road trips both near and far, choosing to spend time in some of what nature offers us that may not be here forever, to admire God's handiwork, and most of all, to spend as much time as possible together as a family.

Media: Day 5 - "Take my advice..."

As I mentioned previously, I am thankful that my parents helped me realize at a young age that TV wasn't everything and kept it from scrambling my young mind. In that same vein, I'd like to mention some advice my aunt offered me on our recent family trip. She said, in regards to Rowan and with much experience under her belt, "Don't get him started on video games... They were a great babysitter, but now I regret it." (My paraphrase)
Spoken from a mom who has been there, who has seen the deleterious effects of "too much" on her child. She wishes she had been more firm in that area .

With the bombardment of screens of all shapes and sizes EVERYWHERE, it will be hard to keep Rowan away from it all the time;  but I shall take her advice and my parents' example to heart, and try my best to shield Rowan from all the time-suckers and mind-numbers. After all, discipline begins at home.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Media: Day 4 - Throw Away the Key

I am obviously very far behind here, but I will try to catch up.
My parents, sister, nephew, husband, son, and I went to Virginia over the weekend. We went to see all of my extended family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins - whom I hadn't seen in several years, and most of whom hadn't yet met Rowan. Aside from an annoying cold-like illness attacking my own little family, we had a wonderful time seeing everyone and catching up.

It is inevitable, on family trips like these, to look back and remember childhood memories. One such memory in regards to media resurfaced. Once upon a time my parents realized how much TV my sisters and I were watching and how it was affecting our chores, our attitudes, our schoolwork - you name it. So, they decided to take what my childhood self would consider drastic measures. Somehow my dad rigged our TV to only turn on with a key.
Yes, a key.
That fits in a lock.
I have no idea how he did it, but I do remember that magical key having a blue and gold Blockbuster key chain.

Once they fitted the television with a key, there was no way we could watch it without our parents knowing.  There was no way we could watch it without that darn key. My parents then proceeded to tell us we would only be allotted a certain amount of time each week to watch TV. We could choose to blow it all at once, or we could spread it out over the week, or we could simply choose not to watch it at all (yeah, right). Of course, our decision on when to watch was still subject to whether or not our parents would give us the key. It was ultimately their decision.
Being a first born and typically a rule-follower, I didn't struggle quite as much as my sisters in budgeting my TV time. I knew what and when my favorite shows were, so I saved my time for them. However, I learned some valuable lessons from that time too:
1) My parents are brilliant.
(Though the key trick probably wouldn't work on today's televisions)
2) A little patience goes a long way.
If I thought my favorite TV shows were really worth watching, then they were worth waiting for. This lesson has easily extended to all the important events in my later life, like money, marriage, children, career, faith, etc.
3) TV is a waste of time.
When constant screen time was taken away from me, it no longer held me hostage and it became more of a special treat rather than a "need." It's kind of like only having ice cream every once in awhile rather than every day. It makes it that much sweeter!

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all of the 'key' lessons you taught me through the years. :D

Day 6 and 7 of Social Media - Pattern Change

As I reflect on the last two days of the social media challenge issued by Jen Hatmaker's book, 7 I felt that this one has hit the closet to home for me out of all of the first four weeks of this challenge.  I knew that I spent too much time scrolling and was craving more meaningful time spent especially with my children and with my husband.  It was moments of conviction but not enough time thoughtfully spent seeking a solution.

This past week with the reading of the chapter, consulting scripture, and the Holy Spirit's conviction on my heart I was able to move beyond conviction to repentance to turn from the mindless habit and turn my full attention towards things that mattered the most.

I couldn't quit cold turkey against all social media.  So much good comes out of being able to call a friend, send a prayer request, share in a productive way what Christ is doing in our lives... What I was called to do was to deeply consider the time spent, the purpose of the activity online, and the outcome...was it honoring God, was it productive, was it the Best Yes of my time and the time I spent away from those who depend on me?

If it was a no, it meant the phone had a place that wasn't attached to my hand, my mouth, or my body...it went in the basket.  This allowed me freedom from the pings of messages, emails unread, updates from news apps and target sales.  Freedom to think uninterrupted, to serve uninterrupted, to worship, and to live uninterrupted.  Funny thing was all that was breaking news, and a current urgent message survived the three to four hours I was away from the phone and it was in the basket.  I learned it will keep!

I am hoping these lessons learned this week will keep too.  I read awhile ago that it takes awhile for a new behavior to become a pattern and for a pattern to become a habit.  I've developed new behaviors with the basket and with boundaries and have kept the pattern for these last few days.  I'm praying now for a habit to form and my heart to be changed for the better.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Day 4 and 5 of Social Media - Making a Life Full of Meaning

These last two days have been spent loving my three children up and planning and preparing for Eli's 5th birthday party.  As a teacher I teach all year and during the month of June teach as an adjunct with the Spartanburg Writing Project at USC Upstate.  This makes July one of the sweetest months of the year.  Because it is short we work so hard to soak it up.  We make a summer bucket list every year of what we want to do when July and our summer arrives.

In one short week we 've caught fireflies and spent time at the water park.  We've slept in and snuggled together holding on tight to the sweet time between waking up and getting up that is one of summer's greatest gifts for moms and kids alike.  We've gone to the library and read books.  We've gone to eat at Chick Fil A and played on the playground.  We've worked together to pick the garden and make salsa and jam.  We've loved each other and this summer life with all we've had.

I know that there are weeks during the school year when the week flies by and I miss so much because I am doing so much - school, homework, driving to dance, baseball, piano.  There is time for a quick read aloud before bed, tuck in, and lights out.  We live for more than this.  Every July and December I am so thankful for the opportunity to consciously make a life full of meaning.  We live a lifetime in these weeks and by praying over our summer bucket list and consciously making decisions for how to make this time meaningful with what we want to do most and what matters most we enjoy it the most.

With this week focusing on social media I've been more and more convicted and convinced that we don't need more, we need a vision of what is best.

So thankful for this week!

Sincerely,
Dawn

Day 3 of Social Media - Boundaries Make Life Better!

I have been convinced these last three days that having boundaries on social media have not only helped me become mindful of the time that I spend checking email, scrolling through facebook, and online in general but it has also help me to fully enjoy the life I am currently living.  Boundaries make life better!

I shared with you how when I am at home I put the phone in the basket until the most important tasks are done and quality time is spent with the people that matter the most in my life.  A periodic check in throughout the day to see is much quicker than having the phone tied to me and scrolling through every five minutes when a ping rolls in.

Today when I was at the water park with my friend, Laurin and our children I enjoyed spending time with her, engaged in conversation, catching up on what we missed. Spending that time with her in the present was a gift.

Heather and I both enjoyed time together like this just this past week and other than a random mermaid video Lily wanted me to watch both of us enjoyed spending time together, not separately on our phones, but living presently in the moment we both chose to share.

That to me is a big societal change that is needed.  All around us at restaurants, at sporting events, at the playgrounds, on dates I see people together but not together - on their phones.  I am embarrassed to say that I have been the mother who has been at Chick Fil A where all three children were playing on the play ground and I sat happily and quietly for a few minutes outside of the plexi glass drinking my sweet tea and scrolling on my phone, having some peace.

Here's the problem, that isn't the only time we are on our phones - it is all the time.  Yesterday I talked about wanting to be a producer in the world instead of just a consumer.  I don't want to ban social media from my life, I want to use it as an outlet to produce kindness, to spread some joy, to share my testimony and a life that chooses to be different.  I can't do that if I am living on facebook and not living in real life.  Boundaries of time in which I am on facebook and boundaries of what I am doing on there I believe can help me lead a fuller life.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Media: Day 3 - Woah

Today I...
1. Wrote a blog and read my Bible
2. Rode 32 miles on my bicycle
3. Emptied and reloaded the dishwasher
4. Washed a load of clothes
5. Folded a load of clothes
6. Played with my son
7. Cleaned the kitchen counters
8. Cleaned the toilets, sinks, floors, and bathtubs of both bathrooms
9. Washed the shower curtains
10. Cleaned the windows and doors in the kitchen and living room
11. Dusted the living room
12. Washed three trash cans
13. Watched Baby Einstein with my little guy
14. Swept the kitchen floor
15. Took a load of clothes to a Goodwill drop off
16. Fed and bathed the little guy
17. Played with books, Noahs ark animals, puzzles, and plastic Pepsi bottles, then put the little guy to bed
18. Folded another load of clothes
19. Washed another load of clothes
20. Washed one car, inside and out
21. Cleaned out the litter box
22. Made fruit fly traps
23. Completed my 7 minute workout
25. Ate supper and wrote this blog while treating myself to 30 minutes of American Ninja Warrior

I think this must have been how the pioneer people felt. They worked from sun up until sun down because they needed to in order to survive. Music, books, letters, and parties or celebrations were treats to be enjoyed in their rare spare moments.  I think I would like to return to that simpler way of life. Not that I necessarily want to work my fingers to the bone all day every day; but there is something to be said for hard work. When the day is done, you feel accomplished and don't have to wonder where all the hours went. Plus, hard work helps you sleep better than staring at a computer screen/phone screen/TV does.

To sum up - it was a good day. :)

-Heather.

Media: Day 2 - Turkish Delight

My most favorite book of all time is The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I try to read it to my students every year, and there's no telling how many times I've read it personally. Since the Hollywood industry also made a movie out of it, there's a good chance you've either seen it or read it, so I'll spare you the details of the plot. In one part, though, the young boy named Edmund is being baited by the White Witch by a dessert called Turkish Delight. It is apparently a delicious little cake-like treat that only makes his mouth water for more once he's eaten it. The Witch refuses to give him more then, but bribes him to follow her with the promise of a castle full of Turkish Delight later. (She is, of course, lying. She's a witch after all.)
After the movie came out, some Christian artists compiled a cd of new songs based on the movie. One of them is called "Turkish Delight" by the David Crowder Band and I was listening to it the other day. One of the recurring lines says (in reference to Turkish Delight) "The more I have, the more I want." How perfect?!

The more I have, the more I want. This could be the motto for our American culture or my own selfish spirit. It certainly reiterates the themes of Seven. And it perfectly describes our media problem.

In this age we literally have the world at our fingertips. Our smartphones now can do more than any computer from my childhood could ever do. (Plus, they fit in our pockets!) We can look up anything, anytime, anywhere. This sounds like a technological miracle, and it kind of is. But too much of a good thing often ruins us, and it often leaves us wanting more. I think this has happened to most of
us, even if we refuse to admit it.
I read a study a couple years ago that stated our attachment to our phones has become personal, emotional, and almost intimate. We are in love with our phones. Think about it - we take it with us wherever we go and feel utterly lost without it. It is often the first thing we look at in the morning and the last thing we look at before bed. We talk and confide in it more than actual people (I.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, texting...). We use it to pacify our children. We use it to wake us up each day, to remind us of our appointments, to order gifts for our real - life friends,  to... Well, the list goes on and on. We have gotten to the point where we think we can't live without it and we keep it close by at all times. With the exception of the pronoun "it" instead of "he" or "she," doesn't our phone sound more like a spouse than an inanimate object?

But we love it! It runs our lives! (Funny how just adding an "i" to run could make ruin...) And we want more. We want more apps, more space, more information, more convenience. We don't even want phones anymore, we want to put all of this stuff into watches and eyeglasses. I shudder to think of the day we will decide to implant these things into our bodies. You know it's coming.

The more I have, the more I want. Well, I'm sick of it. Really, I am. When will I let enough be enough? I'm praying to break this never-ending spiral of technology/media addiction this week. I want more of God, not the world.

-Heather

Day 2 of Social Media Fasting - Consumers vs. Producers

It's Day 2 of Social Media Fasting and in addition to more time I am realizing the benefit of boundaries.  Yesterday I shared that having a boundary set for time on social media is allowing me to be aware of the time I am "on" my phone and to set aside, to protect, the time I am not on it so that I can be fully present with those more important than what is pinging or notifying me in the digital world via email, facebook, and twitter.

Today after church and after lunch I checked my notifications and saw where I had four notifications - one from work, one from a friend who had recently gotten engaged, one from church, and one from a colleague inviting me on a poetry share for the next four days.  Here's what I discovered in that moment.  Knowing that I am on a facebook fast and that Heather and I agreed that we would check email and facebook for work and for church and family - get on and get off basically- kept me accountable for my time spent on my phone.  I knew that I was not going to spend time mindlessly scrolling through my facebook feed consuming large quantities of random posts that amazingly can drain endless amounts of time that could be spent engaged in much more meaningful time and tasks.

I chose in that moment to be a producer.  To mindfully read what pertained to me, to thoughtfully respond, to contribute and then to get off.  What we post needs to be a contribution to our friends, our family, to the world.  Our messages build our reputations.  It is important that we are mindful in the mundane, in the every day because that shows our friends, our family, our colleagues and co-workers, and the world who we are.

My boundaries for being a producer are below - it should be honest, it should be helpful, it should be positive, and it should have a purpose beyond portraying "my best self."  It should contribute.

Media: Day 1 - The Sounds of Silence

This week is media week. That means no TV, no Facebook, no video games (sorry, Mario), no Pinterest, no internet, no nothing.

Except music.

Dawn and I agreed that the radio and our exercise playlists are not time-suckers or life - wasters and therefore will not be banned. In the event, though, that our music becomes an idol distracting us from God and the purpose of this chapter, then it too shall be forbidden.

I've been eagerly and fearfully waiting for this week. I am aware that my incessant Facebook stalking has become an addiction and needs to be stopped. Cold turkey. I realized today, the first day, how often I want to post clever, witty sayings on Facebook, or cute pictures of my son, or even my bicycle workout of the day. (I mean really, who is dying to know how many miles I cover on my bike each day?) So it obviously must stop. I can't whine that I don't have time for a personal bible study when I know I spend several 5-minute periods throughout the day listlessly scrolling through the FB news feed on my phone.

Well not today! And not this week! May the addiction recovery commence!

-Heather

Social Media - Day 1 Intervention is Needed

So I knew this week would be tough for me not because of t.v. or because of internet surfing or online shopping but because of not having boundaries with work email and with facebook and twitter.  Before smart phones I checked my cell phone before and after school, whenever I hopped in the car and saw my purse and wanted to check to see if anyone called and of course before I went to bed.  There were no instant messages or pings and definitely no facebook or twitter notifications.

Fast forward just five years since the first blackberry and I find myself periodically checking my phone throughout the day to see if there is new email, a text message, and to check notifications on both facebook and twitter.  I read the news on my phone, I keep up with friends and family, many work tasks are accomplished via iphone, and my playlist, my workout programs, my grocery list to name a few are all there.

I knew that I needed an intervention before now, I just didn't quite know how to do it until I found a basket for the kitchen that during family time and dinner I could put the phone in the basket and walk away until dinner and school work is accomplished.  I am excited about this.

It worked today for the most part.  I did have to clear a facebook post I did from my laptop this morning related to Eli's 5th birthday party coming up on Friday.  I created the invitation and needed to send it out through facebook so people would know the details before they received their mailed invitation sometime this week.

The rest of the day the phone was in the basket.  It stayed there while I cleaned up breakfast, while Eli and I went to pick up his birthday cake my cousin made, and while I canned several jars of peach jam, jalapeno salsa, and froze corn.  I checked it after lunch and I checked it again after dinner.

There were several times I had the urge to post a picture of the kids hauling in a huge basket of our first big harvest of corn in the rain.  I had the urge to post a picture of the garden goodness canned on the counter, and the peach pie the girls and I made.  Then I thought about why I wanted to post it.  I wanted to post it so I would remember it, not necessarily to show the world what I'd accomplished. I have so many pictures from work and from school I find that if I post it then it archives it for me when I am ready to print then I can save and print from facebook.  I need a better way.

I am thankful for more time I had with my family today.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Posessions: Day 7 - Take the Time

Dawn keeps talking about the gift of time - a priceless resource, indeed, that can be easily squandered. As we all recognize how precious time is, it is often humbling for both the giver and the recipient when it is given as a present. Both sides realize how valuable a sacrifice time can be.

Yesterday I was drying dishes and reloading our dishwasher in the early evening as my son and I waited for our favorite guy to come home from work. The sun was shining brightly outside, but it was also raining. As my little one played with Tupperware and I was reorganizing my cabinets, I heard a quiet suggestion in my mind say "Go take him outside to play." My immediate thought-reply was "In the rain??"
"Take him outside to play. "
"Hmmm... okay, sure. Right after I finish these dishes.
"No take him now. You will never get this moment back. Go now."

I looked at my sweet boy happily stacking plastic dishes on the floor and considered the dialogue in my head. Was I going to become the mom whose to-do list was sacred and must be completed first and foremost, at all costs? Or would I be the mom who recognizes the small meaningful opportunities that show up, and grab them before they become the past?

So, we went outside and played in the rain. I watched him splash in the puddles, get his feet dirty in the grass,  run around investigating pine cones, trees, and dirt, and watched his excited, surprised expression every time he heard a loud bird singing. It was worth my "sacrifice" of time, and I hope that I will not forget that it is the one thing my child needs most from me.

-Heather

Praises for Revival and Restoration

Praises for His Word this morning.  I have been reading through 1st and 2nd Samuel these last few months with my thematic Bible reading and have remembered the life lessons David had.  This study also correlates different chapters and books of the Bible based on theme so this morning when I read about David and Uriah and Bathsheba I also read Psalm 51.  It is beautiful.  It also correlates so well with what we have been reading about in our study this week on possessions and how important it is through this entire study to seek God's heart and to seek restoration and revival.

"A Prayer for Restoration"

Be gracious to me God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant
compassion,
blot out my rebellion,
Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You - You alone-
I have sinned
and done this evil in Your sight.
So You are right
when You pass sentence;
You are blameless when You judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother
conceived me."

Surely You desire integrity
in the inner self,
and You teach me wisdom from deep within.
Purify me with hyssop,
and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
Turn Your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.

God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit
within me.
Do not banish me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit
from me.
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach the rebellious
Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed,
God
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing
of Your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
You do not want a sacrifice,
or I would give it.
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken
and humbled heart.

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion
to prosper;
build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You will delight
in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar."

I pray for the same  revival and restoration that David prays for, for me, for my family, for our church, for our state, and for our nation.  

Possessions Day 5 and 6 - Garden Gifts and More Time

As Heather shared with you we have been inspired by the way's Jen Hatmaker and her friends were able to use their pooled possessions and resources to help meet the needs of others as they arose.  I have thought a lot lately about how I can make the give away objects meaningful and one of my biggest goals is that they would truly serve others and serve the Lord not just serve to help me get rid of items that I no longer need.  This was difficult after Day 1 when I was only thinking about material objects.  Like Heather after I cleaned out my closet and thought about needs of people around me I began panicking about finding someone with a need that I could give a possession to.

I was thinking too small and once I began to think of how I could use valuable possessions of time and acts of service as well I began to have more possibilities and being able to prayerfully ask God to use all I have and all of me to serve.

This led yesterday and today to some garden gifts.  We were able to give away some fresh veggies we picked through a facebook post to friends and neighbors.

Monday afternoon I gave time and coffee to two new colleagues that were hired who wanted to discuss some ideas for this coming school year. This was mutually beneficial and meaningful because I was able to provide encouragement and answer questions while also building solid working relationships with both.

This afternoon I was able to feed four of my Furman graduates who I supervised last year who just secured teaching positions for the fall.  They are all currently in graduate courses and I thought fajitas and chance to celebrate their year and also provide some support for preparing their classrooms and their plans would be helpful.  This was also mutually beneficial.  My children enjoyed helping me prepare the meal and enjoyed having a group of very talented teachers over.

I was also able to take time this morning to send an email to a teacher who is taking my class this summer who needed a reference for a job opening.  I know that there have been and will be times when I need someone to take time for me and I want to make time always to help others when I can.

I know that all of these are minor things, and they are not really worth much in terms of monetary value.  I do have things I can give away, but like Heather I want to be able to give them graciously and generously to fill a need, not to just cross off a list and drop off somewhere.

Being mindful of meeting needs that He puts in front of me and consciously asking Him to open my eyes to see needs that I miss out of habit.  Heather and I may be out of the box with this week, but I feel that we are getting closer and closer out of our comfort zones and are seeking to be more and more mindful of His will for our lives and how we can serve others each day.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Possessions: Days 4-6 - Not My Best

I'll admit that I haven't done particularly well with this week. All I've really accomplished is dropping off two out of my five closet bags at Goodwill. There wasn't much to it. I still have three other bags yet to give. I'm considering taking them, along with a few baby toys to the Middle Tyger Community Center because I know they serve a large community of young women with young babies. I only want to make sure this stuff is given away, with no strings attached, instead of being resold.

I can understand why Jen Hatmaker took a month to grasp this area. I enjoyed reading about her and her friends' endeavors to furnish refugees' apartments, feed the local homeless community, help establish a home for a working single-mom,  and generally give away much of the extra clutter in their homes. It would be difficult to accomplish all that in a week. So, I suppose in that regard I have failed this week. However, I have become much more aware of what I do have. I've decided to hold on to my "stuff" more loosely. People, relationships, life - these are so much more important than "things."

My prayers this week are to let go of whatever I may be hoarding or holding too tightly, and to seek and find opportunities to help others.

-Heather

Possessions Day 3 and 4 - Time Take 2

After writing Friday's post I spent the weekend in a whirlwind of tasks and events.  Let me just list the itenirary and then I will reflect on what the quiet time tonight has taught me.

Saturday morning:
Breakfast with our family and playing with Beanie Boos on the carpet with Eli & Hannah 8:00 - 9:00
Picking, cutting, and canning four jars of hot peppers from the garden 9:00 - 10:00
Picking, slicing, and freezing twelve bags of squash and zucchini from the garden 10:00 - 11:00
Picking, slicing, pickling, and canning three jars of pickles from the garden 11:00 - 12:00
Defrosting the outside freezer because it froze over, moving the entire contents from this freezer across the street to my Dad's 12:00 - 12:30
Cleaning up the kitchen and cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, and moping, and washing sheets with the girls and Eli 12:30 - 2:30
Eating a snack with the kids, taking a quick shower and heading to a wedding at church for our sweet friends, Alex and Myles (2:30 - 3:30)
Wedding at church (4:00 - 8:15)
Father's Day Ice Cream at Afternoon Delight in Reidville with my dad and my twin brother, his wife, and two children 8:15 - 9:30
Doing laundry, watering flowers and plants, and putting sheets on the beds 9:30 - 10:30 pm
Reading with Eli 10:30 - 10:45
Sleep 10:45 -

Sunday morning:
Woke up at 8:00 am
Dressed for church, got girls dressed for church, read Bible, and headed out the door 8:00 - 9:15
Ate breakfast at Bojangles on the way to Pop Pop's church in Anderson
Church with Pop Pop on Father's Day 10:30 - 12:15
Lunch with Mimi and Pop Pop, Pop Pop's brother, Randolph and Greg's sister, Chrissy and Jake and their two boys 12:30-4:00
Headed home 4:00 - 4:45
Unloaded dryer and folded up clothes, unloaded dish washer 4:45 - 5:30
Dropped off my Dad's father's day present across the street 5:30 - 6:00
Watered flowers and helped Greg with the garden 6:00- 7:00
Began reviewing writing homework from the teachers in the class, reading their submissions and providing revision suggestions 7:00 - 9:00
Created schedule for tomorrow, answered email from the week, planned my teaching demonstrations for tomorrow's class 9:00 - 10:00
Read to Eli and the girls, put them to bed 10:00 - 10:20
Thought for 5 minutes about what I learned from this weekend 10:30 until 10:40

I wish I could say that my life isn't usually this busy because of a wedding and Father's Day but here lately it has been.  With three children who are blessings, a job that I consider a calling, a church family and a large extended family and friends we care about we are constantly busy working, serving, and going.
When I do have some down time I usually like to spend it running.  Go figure!  This week is supposed to be about giving possessions away.  I did not have any time to think about what I wanted to give away much less actually give it but in thinking about this weekend I did spend my most valuable possession of time and here's the 7 big ways I gave it away.

1.) Breakfast and Play Time - 1 hour on Saturday .  This is a Saturday morning ritual at our house.  Greg cooks the same breakfast every time - bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes with berries or chocolate chips.  It is a feast.  We sleep in and stay in our pajamas while he cooks playing on the carpet, drinking coffee, or reading the paper.  He gives me this meal once a week and I give him my unconditional love for the rest of our lives!

2.) Gardening with Greg and Canning / Freezing with the Kids - 3 hours of Saturday - an investment in the pantry but also time with them that I thought was pretty wholesome.  I enjoyed it.

3.) Wedding with Alex and Myles - 30 minutes of Saturday - loved seeing one of my church family members I've known since she was in middle school grow up into a beautiful bride.

4.) Wedding Reception for Alex and Myles at Church - 3 hours of Saturday - I saw several parents of the kids I taught my first year because her husband, Myles is from the area I taught in.  Sweet!  I also danced with the girls and with Greg and spent time with my church family in ways that we don't normally spend time doing such as dancing, eating, celebrating.  Even sweeter!

5.) Ice Cream with Dad and Mom and Shawn - 1 hour of Saturday A sweet way to end the day.  Shawn surprised Daddy with framing his fire dept. badges as a retirement gift.

6.) Church with Pop Pop - 1.5 hours of Sunday.  We loved spending time listening to Pop Pop Preach - we normally only get to hear him preach on special occasions and this was a blessing because he gave some valuable advice about raising our kids.

7.)Time with Greg's Family - 3 hours of Sunday. It is usually once a month, sometimes longer before we get to ride down to Anderson to spend time with Greg's parents and his sister and her family.  We had a great time letting the boys play and spending time with them.

While this weekend was enjoyable it was jam packed and even with it jam packed some things were missing.  Like Rest....Like Running.  Like Reading my two books I've been reading this summer - 7 and The Best Yes and most of all, spending time with Heather.

We're on week 3 and haven't had a chance to actually lay eyes on each other.  We've talked through texting and through our blog but it is not the same thing as actually talking with someone in person.  That is a priority but it has been pushed out with the teaching schedule and with the problem of only 24 hours in the day.

I am going to spend tonight's prayer time seeking His will for the schedule and a better balance so that rest along with other equally good things have a space.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Possessions: Day 3 -Die to Self

I just reread the Seven chapter on possessions. I'm enjoying the fact that we are setting aside a week for each chapter - it allows me to digest it fully and let every truth slowly and purposefully soak in.

I shall be honest and say I haven't actually given anything away yet this week. It isn't because I'm being selfish or a hoarder.  I'm still waiting to hear what God needs from me and where He wants it. What I HAVE been doing is seeking God and watching Him break my heart. Jen Hatmaker describes our current situation beautifully in days 25 and 30 in this chapter. She points out that the standard American church as it is today looks nothing like Jesus' ministry. We dress up once a week (sometimes twice) to go sing some hymns/songs, pray for issues that are important to us and our circle of friends, greet our fellow well-dressed believers, then go home. Yes, sometimes we take up food for the hungry, sometimes we gather supplies for those in need, sometimes we take part in a special service project in the community; but those cases are few and far between. We (I) look much more like the Pharisees than Jesus. Jesus walked around feeding people's stomachs and souls, healing them, loving them right where they were. He didn't sit in the temple and just take up a collection. He reached out to the very people we often shy away from. And when I say "we," I really mean "I."
I am guilty.
I am guilty of sitting at home in my own self-created temple doing nothing. I am failing my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Don't worry, I will give my stuff away eventually; but I think first God wants to open my eyes and see the world as He does. I think He wants to break my heart for the people hurting right outside my door. I must be able to see the need before I can try to fill it.

I have to give myself away first.

"The fertile soil of death is where the gospel forms roots and actually bears fruit." -Jen Hatmaker

Possessions Day 2 - Time is Powerful Possession

Since Thursday afternoon when I first found out about the Charleston shooting,  I have been deeply upset.  I was convicted about how many of us, myself included have let tragedies happen and if they did not impact us or our immediate families and friends we pause briefly, maybe talk about it with those we come into contact with.  For me I have felt that as believers we are called to be Christ's hands and feet.  Too many times I have been convicted over an issue and instead of responding in love, responding with truth, I haven't responded at all.

After a texting conversation with Heather after Day 1 of possessions we both agreed that some of our most valuable possessions are not objects purchased with money but possessions that are very valuable because you cannot get them back.  Time is a valuable possession and it is limited to only 24 hours each day.  How we spend our time builds not only our lives, but our testimonies.

Given the events of the Charleston shooting I felt compelled and convicted to spend my time in prayer.  I prayed for the shooting victims, I prayed for Charleston as a city, I prayed for our state, I prayed for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the blood and life that unites us all at the foot of the cross be not divided by acts of hate.  After praying I chose to use my time to speak out in love and to ask others to join me in prayer.

Thursday's Posts:  I am burdened that when we were sitting on our church pews last night, gathering together as a body of believers with our church family praying, our brothers and sisters in Charleston were gathered together praying too. Like us they welcome everyone believing there is room at the cross for all of us. I'm burdened and broken over this but I refuse to believe that there is not power in prayer. Please join with me in praying for healing, for hope, for unity to prevail and for the power of love to overcome this one act of senseless evil.

They were fathers and mothers, state leaders and librarians, speech pathologists and Sunday school teachers. Their faith, their professions, their families, their lives were ended on earth because one man only saw them as black?! Nope it doesn't end like that! Those nine left praying to Jesus and then got to meet Him. The rest of us here in our state and all over the world get to honor them by showing with the work of our hands and hearts that all lives matter. All lives are beautiful. All lives are worthy of love.‪#‎itdoesntendlikethat‬

Friday's Post:  As a South Carolinian and a Christian I believe we cannot clutch both the cross and still cling to the Confederate flag knowing the hurt it continues to cause. Scripture says we cannot serve two masters. I know many believe the flag symbolizes the heritage of southern states' rights. I believe human rights, civil rights, and just doing the right thing trumps those. We have a choice this day to determine what defines us as a people of this state. Let's choose courage. Let's choose kindness. #WhileIBreatheIHope

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/06/19/southern-baptists-russell-moore-its-time-to-take-down-the-confederate-flag/

While my thoughts may not be the thoughts of others.  I felt led to use my most powerful possession of time yesterday to seek Christ, to pray, and to speak what was laid on my heart to others in love and in the spirit of uniting Christians in our state.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Possessions: Day 2 - Green with Envy

Greed and jealousy are sibling sins that always seem to go hand in hand. We want stuff because we see that someone else already has it. Obviously we have to keep up with our neighbors, the Joneses,  because as American culture would have us believe, we are all entitled to the biggest, the best, and the most stuff whether we worked for it or not. This attitude has slowly seeped into Christian circles as well, including my own heart (unfortunately).

I took one of my nephews out for ice cream yesterday to celebrate his birthday. We also went by Target, per his request, so he could use some of his birthday money to buy new "Hex Bugs." He was very excited that he had enough money to buy three of them, and couldn't wait to get home and show them to his big brother. However, when big brother saw that little brother had three new bugs, he was immediately jealous and strongly suggested that his little brother give him one of the new ones. To keep. He found it unfair that someone else had something he didn't and he wasn't excited about his little brother's forthcoming birthday party sure to be fraught with fun and exciting gifts that aren't going to be his.

I share that to note that we are born selfish. It is an embarrassingly innate quality that we have to be taught to push aside for the betterment of others. (Even my one-year-old tries to push other children out of HIS Grammy's lap in the church nursery. Grammy entitlement.) Fortunately, my nephews have patient, understanding parents who know that sympathy and empathy will not be learned overnight. They persevere daily to teach their children to put others first, and I am certain that they will reap future benevolent sons (and daughter) from their efforts now. 

But am I that much different from my sweet nephew?  I may be older and more mature on the outside, but don't I still desire more, more, more without really even taking time to appreciate what I already have? All of this came to a head today as I prayed,  "Lord, what can I give? What do You want me to give away?" I sat in a spiritual shock after I uttered those words because I realized it was the first time I had ever done so with a truly sincere heart.

-Heather

Possessions: Day 1 - You Gotta Give It Away

Last week was much easier than the first week! After only wearing 7 articles of clothing for a week, it became blatantly obvious that my closet was WAY too full. Like Dawn, I'm not a big shopper, but I have a hard time resisting a clearance deal or a 30% off Kohl's coupon. Thus, my closet is stocked with amazing deals, clearance items, and gifts from family and friends.
We are supposed to give away seven possessions a day each day this week, so I decided to start my week there.  I tried very hard to be objective in picking through my attire. If I hadn't worn it more than twice in the last school year, or if it was primarily from my pre-baby era, it had to go. After fifteen minutes and some brutal self-honesty,  my closet was reduced to about half of its original content. And there are still some more storage boxes to go.  It actually feels much better having less! It's like a breath of fresh air or the sunshine after the rain. Less isn't a bad thing!

I haven't yet decided to whom or where I shall give these clothes. They are set aside, though, and I shall pray the Lord leads me to the right person or charity who needs it most.

Possessions Day 1: Bring It On!

I have been excited about this challenge given by Jen Hatmaker in her book, 7.  I love to give and also fight in the house for organization and de-cluttering so periodically (usually every season) we go through closets and attic spaces and clean out and try to find purposes and people for the items.  The challenge to myself is to make time to make this meaningful.

Here is my list so far today:

1.)  A set of three pumpkin spice LED candles given to Mrs. Anna Ballard a guidance counselor and grandmother who is taking my SWP writing project class.  She has a grandson with autism who loves scented candles.  She was excited about this gift she could give to him.  They were brand new given to me and I know that they would bless her and her grandson more than me this fall.

2.)  Giant bag of work clothes to Landrum Thrift Barn to sell where proceeds go to Hospice- Dropped these off today on my way home from Connemara.  Praying that someone else in the size ten range who can use some lined dress pants will benefit.

3.) Speedo Life Vest - Eli has a really nice speedo life vest that he loved but has just about outgrown.  We gave this to little two year old, JP who is swimming now and whose mom is currently expecting his baby brother.  He loves to swim at his great grandmother's pool and so we are hoping this awesome life vest will keep her worry free at the side of the pool.

4.) Books - I chose three books to give to my first year teacher class at their pre-service professional development class in August.  I made a stack for these in the office.

5.). Sony running earphones - I received an awesome pair of  blue sony running headphones for my birthday. My husband loved them and asked for a pair for Father's Day. I had planned before reading seven to buy a second pair for him. After reading this chapter I've realized we don't need a second pair. I have five regular iPhone ones I can use so I have him these.

6.). Home Depot gift card - I received this from a teacher this past spring and was planning on using it to buy a new indoor house plant for the dining room because the one I have isn't looking too good. I'm going to give it to Greg's dad, Pop Pop to use for supplies for his word working shop.

7.). Nature box snacks - I love these!  They are covered in our house and cd once a month. I had great joy in taking the blueberry coated almonds, the pistachio power clusters, and the cherry vanilla granola to my class picnic at Connemara for them to eat.

Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7English Standard Version (ESV)

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I do receive a blessing from giving to others.  I can rarely wait to give a gift at the particular date so it is exciting to know that I will get to give seven items away each day .   

Day 7 - Cothes Don't Make the Man or Woman

I'm one day late on this post because of several unexpected circumstances including my daughter Hannah's undetected ear infection that resulted in a ruptured ear drum yesterday evening.  This additional time has given me an opportunity to really reflect on what I've learned from wearing seven (for me 8) pieces of clothing for 7 days.

At first I thought it would be really hard professionally.  In my work as an educator I have set an expectation for myself for dressing professionally which for me, usually includes a dress, skirt and top, or dress pants.  Knowing that I would be picking out 7 items that would have to do double duty for weekend beach trip as well as professional presenting and teaching at the Spartanburg Writing Project I was worried.

Would people notice if I wore the same dress twice?

Would wearing more casual sundresses and sleeveless, shorter dresses work for church and for work and be comfortable in high heat weather at the beach?

What would people think about me?

Would I be viewed as less professional?

Would judgement be questioned?

After seven days I've realized that clothes do not make the man.  It really didn't matter.  People did not question me and if they did, I didn't know.  After leaving the anxiety behind in the closet I was too worried about the current demands of each part of the day to even think about or remember what I had on.  This matches what scripture tells us.

Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Sincerely,

Dawn

Clothes Day 6 - The Struggle is Real

As Heather shared in her blog post yesterday, we receive mixed messages as American believers.  We know that Christ called us to lose ourselves and our possessions so that we could find Him and have everlasting life.  Throughout the gospels there are parables and stories about how it is impossible to serve two masters and for a rich man to enter into the gates of heaven.  Heather is right in naming that by the world's standards we are unfathomably rich, but by the standards of the culture we live in, we are middle class.  We are making it, but it is through the grace of God.  One catastrophe and we are in trouble, but for God.  I know that is how it should be.  If we rely on ourselves we tend to think we don't need God.  Knowing that everything we have is from His hands, not only keeps us humble but makes us focused on how we can serve others. This makes sense and it is the desire of our hearts, but here is the reality.  We have also been told that it is important to make sure that you have health and life insurance, that we do our best to save in the event of an emergency so that we can provide for our families and for others in need.

Our parents taught us to save and to work hard.  We have retirement accounts and insurance policies, and college funds for our children.  This is a natural, normal, encouraged thing to do in our society.  In order to do this it requires steady, gainful employment and a focus on where your income goes.  Not a bad thing in and of itself, but definitely a focus.

Before this study I thought we were doing okay with our current lifestyle.  Blessed, thankful, and working hard to honor God with all of it through tithing, time, and talents.  In reading the study I am conflicted as well.  I have much more than I realized compared to my believers in the rest of the world.  As I am becoming more and more mindful of the needs of others and the abundance in my life, it is calling me to re-evaluate to re-consider what I really have and what I do every day and why?  This self-assessment can be both uncomfortable and convicting but I have learned this is where the best introspection and growth comes from.  Scripture asks us to allow God to search our hearts and to try us...This is so we can grow in Christ.  I don't know the answers or the outcome but I serve a Savior who does. The searching isn't easy but the growing closer in our walk will be worth it.  Less of me, more of Him.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Clothes: Day 7 - What To Do

Now I am torn.
This study has me realizing how much I have as a middle-class American. Right now as I write this, I have clothes on my back (the same ones I wore yesterday, incidentally), my belly is full from supper, our home's AC unit is warding off the oppressive summer heat, and I'm drinking a comforting cup of decaf coffee in an attempt to relieve my raw, sickly throat. Am I blessed? Undoubtedly! Do I live a luxurious life? On an international scale, yes.
However, on an American scale, no. My husband and I both have to work to make ends meet. Today I had to stretch our budget to cover two weeks of food for my small family until the next paycheck comes. Our cars are paid for, thankfully, but one of them is on its last leg. So we're scraping together our nickels and dimes each month to save for a replacement soon.

I am not saying all of that to complain. I'm really not. My life is better than most, and God has given me every blessing and every luxury I claim. And as a thoroughly blessed believer, I am called to give and to share my resources with the less fortunate, with the widows and orphans, with friends and family as they need it. How many times did Jesus say say to drop everything and follow Him; sell your possessions and give them away?
So here is where I am torn. What is this supposed to look like for a middle-class American? Can I continue to follow Dave Ramsey's plan for financial freedom and still be an obedient and wise steward of God's blessings? Or do I have to leave my American heritage, family, and friends behind to move to an impoverished country to truly serve the Lord? I get that I have excess.  I get that I have more than enough to live and thrive on, especially compared to other countries.

I get it.

My American dollar can probably feed a family of four somewhere else, but here in America I can barely buy a can of vegetables with it.
I realize these are all "first-world problems." And I know that I sound stuck up, arrogant, and entitled. I'm only trying to sort out my convictions and my realizations. I am convicted by all the "stuff" I have. I am convicted by the food I let go to waste. I am convicted by my freedom to worship and my lack of discipline and enthusiasm to do so. Most of all, I am convicted that all these things are preventing me from allowing God to be in total control of my life.

I am sorry for the confusing ramblings. To sum up, God is working on me, speaking to me, slowly wooing my spirit to inch closer to His will and his Love.

-Heather

Clothes Day 5 - Temptation of a 30% off Kohls Coupon

Okay, I know how petty this post will sound, but I also know how many people are in the same boat with me and I promised myself that the writing of this blog would be transparent.  I would write honestly and then engage in some self reflection in order to grow.  So here it is...

Upon arriving back from a quick trip to the beach I begin washing the pile of dirty clothes that our family of five creates and decided to sort through the mail stack later.  That came this morning over coffee.  I saw the familiar Kohl's advertisement and like always, peeled off the green sticker to see what the percentage off coupon for these next two weeks would be.

I don't know about ya'll, but I don't even bother driving over there unless it is at least a 20% off coupon. If you combine a 20% off coupon with a clearance rack item, that is some significant savings.  A 30% off coupon is coveted because they are rare - I get them maybe twice a year- and you are able to stock up on the clothing and home stuff that you normally don't buy unless they are reduced.

My husband has never understood this infatuation with the 30% off.  He says, "Dawn you get so excited about how much money you saved, but look you had to spend this much (points to bottom line amount on the receipt) to save that.  What if you just let the offer pass you by?"  Now, I don't consider myself to be a big shopper, but with five of us there is usually something somebody needs or could use when that 30% coupon rolls around.  I have been known to buy khaki pants for Greg in bulk when I have a coupon on top of a sale because I know he will eventually need them. (I know, I need intervention!)

Well, intervention came through 7.  This morning after almost a week wearing the same 7 clothes (except for the one pair of cheat pants on the way home that helped the sunburn that I am embarrassed happened) I have discovered that I really can and should let a 30% coupon pass me by.  I don't need half of what I think I need, and definitely not even a quarter of what I buy.  I peeled that coupon off and instead of calling my mom and my friends to ask who wants to go on a Kohls run, I put it in recycling and chose to give thanks for what I already had hanging in our closets.

Now I know this isn't much to be thankful for, but it is a huge step in the right direction for me as this book study applied to my real life shines areas that need less.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Clothes: Day 4 Worship

Today as I was getting ready for church, it was super easy to figure out what I was going to wear because of 7.  I had already picked out two dresses and the first one hadn't been washed from the beach, so I was set.  My little guy, Eli had different problems.
First, he came down the stairs in jeans that had grass stains and holes in the knees.  His Daddy sent him back up for round 2.  He came back down in a pair of camo shorts - clean thank goodness and a different pattern camo shirt and flip flops.
I sent him back up not for the camo but because he struggles to keep the flip flops on.  He huffed and puffed back up the stairs and said, I like church but I don't like getting ready for it."

Now, you should know the back story on this guy.  He's almost five.  When he was almost three he hated putting on Sunday clothes.  We have a closet full (courtesy of his older cousin and my nephew) really nice boy clothes.  Polo shirts, khaki pants, more than he could possibly wear.  On the weekdays he typically chose from about five shirts that he really liked and camo pants.  He had just gotten these John Deere camo overalls and was begging to wear them.  I tried to explain to him that God wants us to wear our best on Sunday out of respect for Him.  He said, "MOM!  These camo overalls are MY best!  Look at the pockets right here!  Look at the deer picture!  This is what I want to wear but you make me wear these clothes I don't even like.  I don't think Jesus cares what you wear!"

Wow!  I had to stop and do a heart check right here.  After telling Eli I was going to pray about it and talking to his Dad while we got ready and drank coffee we both realized he was right.  As long as it was clean and it was his best, he should choose what he wears.  So for the last two years, Eli has happily chosen a wardrobe with way less than 7 and every Sunday morning he picks out his best.

I am learning that it really can be that easy.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Clothes: Day 3 - Raw

Once, in my teenage years, I questioned the validity of a certain leader in our church whose actions did not align with his words. I voiced my concerns to my dad who (wisely) replied, "Well... God used a donkey, so He can certainly use whoever or whatever He wants to get His point across." I'm sure He said this with a certain degree of tongue - in - cheek, but that nugget of truth has never left me. God is God. He uses the weak to defeat the strong.  He uses the simple to confound the wise. He used a donkey to speak to a stubborn man and open his spiritual eyes.

I say all this to point out that this one book, based on one woman's effort to strip away the excess from her life, is starting to rock my own life. When I try to explain it to others, my words and explanations always fall short. I only sound like a Christian stuck on the most recent trend, doing crazy things like eating seven foods and wearing seven pieces of clothing.  On the surface it doesn't sound like anything that would be groundbreaking, or spirit-lifting,  or life-changing. As I describe it to others, it sounds more like a diet or organizing fad than a real spiritual journey.

But that's just it - it IS a spiritual journey. I have studied and reflected more deeply on the Word these past two weeks than I have in the last year (which I partially blame on the bewilderment of new motherhood... but that's really no excuse).
My spirit is raw right now. I can feel myself, my faith being stretched. This simple study is reaching beyond conventional wisdom and my own understanding, and bringing me to my knees. It is not what I am doing, but who I am trying to do it for that is changing my heart. Slowly, but assuredly, He is chipping away the pride and selfishness that I have allowed to encase my heart. It is a painful process; but it is freeing.

-Heather

Cltohes Day 3: Sunburn and other First World Problems

Okay, on clothes Day 3 major problems.  Sunburn and dirty laundry together combine for a major malfunction in my seven plan.  I am ashamed to say that the shorts I bought would not fit without excruciating pain on my burned belly.  I am a 36 year old fair skinned, fair-haired mother of three and somehow even with spf 70 managed to get myself toasted the nice ripe shade of tomato red.  I reapplied to all three of the kids while we were doing our back and forth routine from pool to beach during the 9 hours we were outside while Greg was at his conference and somehow thought if I was under an umbrella in between chasing after them I was okay.  Sadly, I was not.  I had carefully chosen my 7 items in advance not anticipating sunburn or thinking of no washing machine.  I wore baggy pants home.  Even those pants scraped tender red flesh and had me wincing anytime the seat belt moved the wrong way.  I consciously broke my 7 clothes rule to keep from the car ride home being unbearable.
On the ride home n I was convicted of my first world problems.  Not having a washing machine caused me inconvenience.  Having a sunburn caused me inconvenience.  Having the luxury of going on a vacation where I could have recreational time in the sun to even get a sunburn to the severity I did is not something most of the world's population can do, much less worry about.  Not having a washing machine is something most do not think about because they've never had one.  They have bigger problems like food, shelter, access to clean water, health care that is accessible, much less affordable.  I broke my own seven clothing rule because of a 4 hour ride home in an air conditioned vehicle would hurt.  To say I was convicted is an understatement.
I knew that this study would grow me, I didn't know it would break me.  Before this study I thought I was living pretty modestly, definitely middle class and working on finding ways to give more.  I have realized through just these one and a half weeks how much I have and how much I take for granted.  Praying that the humility and conviction I am feeling will grow me in ways that I need it most.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Clothes: Day 2 - Dressless

Wednesday was the first day of our second week. I had to go to a teaching class all morning, so I wore my jeans knowing I would be in the air conditioning for much of the day. I joined two of my teacher friends at Cracker Barrel for lunch. Much of the lunch conversation centered on shopping, clothes, and budgets, specifically blowing one's budget on clothes shopping. As I listened, I had to chuckle to myself, for it was the very thing I would be concentrating on NOT doing throughout the week.

I feel as if God is testing my commitment to this week's challenge in a first - world sort of way. I picked my shorts and tshirt combo for the day and went along my way to VBS. I spent the morning teaching, singing, eating, and playing outside with a small group of 3rd and 4th graders. By the time I got home, I was dirty and smelly, but I couldn't afford a change of clothes. So I just kept on keeping on.
Later, I took my son to get his hair cut. He sat on my lap and played with my phone while his golden curls fell on my arms, in my lap, in my mouth (?), and covered my shirt. If you've ever gotten a haircut, you know how itchy all that stray hair on your skin can be. Any person in his or her right mind would have changed clothes. I even changed Rowan's clothes! However,  I would be the crazy person who kept my sweaty, itchy clothes on all day AND through the night because to do otherwise would be cheating.

...Now that I look at what I wrote, it sounds so trite. I'm applauding myself on keeping one outfit on all day?? I've had and seen students who wear the same thing three times in one week.
God, forgive me for praising my own feigned humility. Don't stop softening my heart and bending my attitude to mold me into Your perfect jar of clay.

Do Clothes Really Make the Man?- Clothes Day Two

You know when I chose the clothes I would wear for the next seven and I thought it would be really easy. I thought I knew myself well enough to know that clothes are not high up on my priority list. They aren't but I underestimated how much we consider other peoples' perspectives when we choose what to serape what not to wear. We are at the beach with Greg for a few days while he is at the engineering conference. I didn't think not having a washer and dryer would be a big deal. It has been. We are seafood last night and one sundress has melted butter and sweet tea Eli accidentally spilled in me. The dress I wore on the way down has coffee I spilled on myself. (Bless!  We are not gifted in physical grace so we try to make up for it in spiritual grace). That has left me with shorts until I get home. Not too bad but I chose to run in a pair last night and so I have own pair left that now has ranch dressing on them from lunch. No one knows how that got there!  In the past on trips I've always over packed for myself and for all three kids because I know how we are with condiments and because we've lived in abundance of clothes of lots of stuff. I have been convicted of that each time I chose to wear the stained item for the rest of the day. Kids asked just change your shorts mom!  It was tempting. I may not always be stylish but I have prided myself and my kids for the most part on being clean when in public. I've had the thoughts of what will people think when they see this big stain. Really I know from multiple experiences such as dancing on the pier at the beach, doing cannonballs in the pool with your kids as an adult, and getting way too excited about a putt putt game that people are too wrapped up in themselves to really notice others. I also know that because it has been up until this week that I've noticed how much of a luxury an extra pair of clothes is. I'm mindful now that when we do happen to notice others we need to be mindful of not making judgment calls based on their cleanliness or work ethic or style because that outfit they are wearing may be the only one they have.

Clothes Day 1: Downsized

This week Heather and I are taking the same challenge we did last week with food to the closer with clothes. I have never been one to obsess over clothes  but after cleaning out my closet last week I realized how much I had that wasn't used. After cleaning out three bags of all kinds of clothes and shoes I felt more convicted of the abundance all of us have. I've never been a designer clothes shopper or a boutique girl but have gone a little crazy at a clearance rack or when I found a store that carried my size jeans in a long length I've been known to splurge. In downsizing the closet this week  hoping to exist in the thankfulness for what I have and to be more aware than ever of what others need.  My list includes a dress, two pairs of shorts, two shirts, a pair of sandals, and a sundress. I can teach in the dresses and the shorts will work. I will be at the beach for two days so the bathing suit I'm not counting.

Clothes: Day 1 - Dress for Less

This week's focus is on clothes. Dawn and I, following Hatmaker's example, have picked seven articles of clothing that we will wear for the week.
Yes, we can wash the clothes.
No, undergarments don't count toward the seven.
Shoes count as one item.

I naively thought this week would be easy-cheesy for me since I'm not a big clothing fanatic anyway, and fortunately it's summer so I don't have to wear anything professional for teaching.

But wow! For someone who is not a fashionista, I sure have a closet full of clothes! And shoes!  I had a much harder time picking out only seven things than I figured I would. I finally settled on one pair of jeans, 2 pair of shorts,  3 short sleeve shirts, and flip flops. In theory, this means I can wear each combination at least twice and one of them three times. See? Easy!

Except it isn't.

What about pajamas? Nope, I have to sleep in my clothes.
What about exercise attire? I guess I will have to channel my inner nine-year-old and go for a run in jeans. (Dawn did allow me to make an exception for cycling attire though.)
Okay sure,  but what about the drool/milk/cookies/dirt/boogers/goldfish that my young son inevitably wipes all over me each day? Um, ew. Welcome to motherhood.

I'm praying that God will continue to speak to me this week through less laundry and less wardrobe distractions. I'm going to try to keep my heart open and sensitive to His commands.

Aw man. I just got mustard on my shirt.

Food: Day 7 - To Put it Simply...

Yesterday we had a rough thunderstorm pass through our area in the early evening.  When it ended, the sun's weaning light left the landscape bathed in a strange, almost eerie yellow-green hue.  It was intriguing, so I went out on my porch to observe it further.  The atmosphere of the outdoors following the storm was calm.  The birds were singing praises to their Creator, lightning bugs (or fireflies, if you prefer) were making my yard glisten with their intermittent beauty, and the breeze sweetly ruffled my hair and filled my lungs with its peace.  In two words, it was beautifully simple.

As I silently pondered the stillness and serenity surrounding me, I found my place.  I thought about how this must have been what the Garden of Eden was like... to an extent.  Psalm 46:10 - one of my favorites (and in my favorite version) - came to mind: "Cease striving and know that I am God." (NCV)  I think that all of us, deep down, want to live a simpler life.  We really and truly want our daily bread, our humble abode, the clothes on our back to be enough.  This is what I want.  I want to cease striving.  I want to be still.  I want to get out of the American rat race for more money, more power, more space, more food, more clothes, more stuff, more more more!  I want more of God.  He is the only One who will satisfy.

I am thankful that God led us to this study.  I am thankful for the chance to simplify my life and let God be in charge again.  I am thankful He led me to my sweet friend who is willing to sludge through the trenches with me and share the ups and downs throughout the daily grind.  As Dawn said, this feels like only the beginning. I am praying for continued lessening of myself and continued strengthening of my walk and relationship with my God and, subsequently, my family and friends.