As May draws to a close, it's a good time to reflect on insight received. I've noticed if I don't write things down, I tend to forget. I'm in a habit of reflecting each Friday of the good things that happened, since I participate in Friday's Fave Five, the brainchild of Susanne of Living to Tell the Story.
However, not only the good things, but lessons learned need to be dwelt upon as well. I'm joining Emily Freeman in writing down What We Learned in May. Go here if you'd like to participate also.
Since I have a love of listing, I will jot down things I want to remember about May - in the order my bullet journal lists them, not particularly in order of importance.
1. For example, my first item is a frivolous one - not all skinny jeans look good rolled up. Isn't it weird how the same size jean is so different from each manufacturer?
2. A day spent in the sunshine is healing. I'm not a person who "lays out" to try to get a tan, but sometimes just sitting in the sun brings rest and healing - especially in May, I've discovered. Perhaps it is because of just having went through the long winter, then rainy spring days, but a day filled with May sunshine just really makes me feel good!
3. May is the month of refrigerator disaster for us. Our 4 year old french door refrigerator had to be replaced. This time, we chose a side by side, and I discovered I feel so "Suzy Homemaker," when my fridge is all clean and organized. I really need to work on maintaining that feeling and not wait until things pile up - as usually happens.
4. In May, I learned to think of an inbox as a paper hamper. I saw this concept of having a place for papers to go until there is time to deal with it on the blog, "Mary Organizes." It is a game-changer for me, especially since I modified it to suit my needs. I have two inboxes now in my home office, one for personal mail, and one for my church work (my second job). One thing, though: that paper hamper must be cleaned out frequently!
5. One of my churches is having a trial membership of RightNow Media that gives its members access to all kinds of Christian media. I've been feasting, and here are a few thoughts to meditate on:
"Let's not live like this world's our home." - David Platt
"Our suffering might be inevitable, but our mission is unstoppable." David Platt
"You can't be unclean enough to mess Jesus up! ... and ... "He came so He could be touchable," ... from Beth Moore's 2012 Passion Conference speech, "To Be Made Clean."
6. I've been doing my usual, which is reading one of Max Lucado's books before bedtime - a great way to have nuggets for your sub-conscious to chew on throughout the night. In May, I've been reading his "Fearless." Here's a great quote:
"Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner. And for heaven's sake, don't offer it a bed for the night!" - Max Lucado
This reminds me of Jim's grandma's saying: "Bad thoughts are like birds that fly at your head. You can't stop them from coming but don't let them build a nest in your hair."
Thoughts are going to come but you don't have to dwell on them.
7. Some great links to share:
- In the Internet but Not Of It - "You are more than what you do," Keven Kaiser
- Find God’s Grace in the Midst of Disgrace -"How can people taste salt if they can’t see it? Instead of being salt-hiders, we have another option, we can be salt-makers with God." Kelly Balorie
- How to be a Revolutionary Mother - "... how to be an army of love warriors, who know your first tour of duty is always a tour of listening." Ann Voskamp
- The One Question That Can Also Be An Answer - "How can I help?" - Hands Free Mama
8. I learned - all over again - how hard it is to adjust to losing a co-worker. I'd worked alongside Kaj for 7 years and now he and his family have moved to another state. These last couple of weeks of coming into an empty building each morning have been sad.
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| May 2015 Road Trip - Pinecrest Azalea Farm |
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| Mother's Day 2015 |
This is nice to lay out the month like this for what you have learned. One thing I've done here since we moved is not let paper accumulate, LOL. I try to go through it when it comes in the mail and then dispose of it if I don't need it or put it some place if I need it like a bill. I'm still trying to get all the bills set up that they come electronic. We definitely have less paper since we moved :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures from May too!
I think the only thing I can remember that I learned from May is that it went by too incredibly fast!
betty
This was so inspiring to read about your month and what things you have learned and come away with as you look back over the past weeks. I so enjoyed the quotes you shared, and your husband's grandmother's saying is so brilliant and wise. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think on how you can live through a month or a whole year or even just a week and not think about what you learned until you look back at the pieces and parts that made up that time and what you were able to glean from your experiences within it. That is amazing.
Enjoyed your beautiful photos also! What perfect mother's day photos, looks like such a blessed one.
Blessings on you and your week♥
Hugs,
Jazzmin