Rhythm

While I was sweeping and mopping the floors this morning, I realized I sweep/mop in a rhythm.  And then I realized my life in general is a rhythm, predictable (most of the time) and I know what to expect each day.  Most people would probably find my life rather boring, mundane, not exciting.  However, I see so many little blessings each day, I never know what to expect, each day is like a little present being unwrapped for the first time.  While nothing in other people's eyes happened today that was "exciting" God's given me so many little blessings!  Cooking a big breakfast for my family, and seeing my husband and daughter enjoy my "special" scrambled eggs....because nobody cooks them like how I make them!  (And I learned the special touch from my own mother)  My husband playing with my daughter for 20 minutes so I can deep clean the bathroom it desperately needed 2 weeks ago.  Or my husband willingly taking my daughter with him to "Mimi and Papas house" so I can have 45 minutes of no little feet under my feet.  I was able to get done a typical 1 1/2 hours worth of cleaning in 45 minutes since nobody needed "Mommy's attention".  Drinking a warm cup of coffee on a slightly chilly day, taking 10 minutes out of my "rhythm" to write a simple blog post.  Hugs, kisses, and "I love you's" from my daughter.  A surprise "jab" in my belly, reminding me there's a wee one growing in the womb.  Those and so much more are the blessings I get to experience during the daily rhythm of my life.   

A New Year!!

One of my favorite times is New Years.  And this was BEFORE my daughter was born on New Years.  Yes, she entered this world on January 1, 2010.  Maybe she knew it was one of my favorite times! =)  

I love that feeling of a fresh start, a blank slate.  Just how when Christ forgives us, giving a fresh start and blank slate.  I'm not one for "New Years resolutions", but I like to make goals for the New Year.  My husband and I began discussing this and we both had a common goal: Be Healthy!  

Our family was very very sick from mid November almost up until the New Year.  It would go from one person to the next, and I don't think I have ever been so drained!!  Not to mention, being in my first trimester of pregnancy just sucks the life out of you, let alone put sickness on top of that!  We were miserable, and really losing our spirit.  Oh yeah, we are expecting a baby in July!  We are beyond thrilled and excited.  My brother and sister in law are due in May so my side of the family is going to have lots of new babies =)  

Anyways, back to the point.  Yes, winter brings "illness" but it was just beyond that.  I believe a lot of being sick, or more how quickly you get over being sick, is how you eat and treat your body.  We were seriously lacking eating healthy.  So, that is a huge goal this year is to eat better.  I have started by eating fresh spinach salad, oh like 5+ days a week!  

Other than that, I feel like last years focus was the farm/homestead getting projects done.  We were just so overwhelmed and didn't have a good focus.  This year, I'm not too worried about the land.  I feel that things will develop when they develop and come together.  I want to focus on

1) Lord has given me a huge craving for His word.  Studying it word for word. 

2) Focus on my marriage.  Marriage should come before family/children.  There is always room to strengthen your marriage, which then pours down to your children and makes you better parents.

3) Being an intentional parent.  Everything I do with Natalie and the new baby, I want purpose and intention behind it.  As I add on more parenting years (I'm still a newbie, Natalie is 2) I have become more focused, and want to continue that.  The Lord has blessed us to be parents, and I will not take that lightly.  

4) Health-as I had mentioned before 

Those are my 4 main focuses for this year.  I feel that if I stay focused on the 4 most important aspects of life, everything will fall in to place.  We have a lot of uncertainties in our life, jobs, finances, etc.  When we loose our focus, that's when things fall apart.  If I can keep my eyes on those four things, then I know everything else will fall into its place.