Refresh my joy

"Isn't it here? The wonder? Why do I spend so much of my living hours struggling to see it? Do we truly stumble so blind that we must be affronted with blinding magnificence for our blurry soul-sight to recognise grandeur? The very same surging magnificence that cascades over our every day here. Who has time or eyes to notice?" - Ann Voskamp

1. My daughter's thick hair
2. Zeb kissing my saggy belly
3. That I cannot remember off hand my favourite pancake recipe, so every Saturday morning I have to flick through my beautiful 'Apples for Jam' cookbook to find it

4. How India asks for 'lemon and pepper' on her pancakes

5. A fresh washed babe in a bath towel

I have begun a journal of one thousand gifts. 

A recording of the graces God gives.

Yes, those ones that I often overlook, in my desire for a fuller life.

It won't make the holes (the cravings, the memories, the unmet requirements) close over or disappear.

It will allow the holes and turn them into seeing-through-to-God places.  

And I believe that will return some joy to my tired life.

It's Ann Voskamp's thanksgiving project.

You can join or read about it here.

Refresh their night time routine

"Can't you just lie in my bed for 2 minutes?"

I'm so tired from the day that I forget how meaningful this time is, to a child. 

It's the saying goodbye time.

Then the alone in my bed time.

And the waiting till 'good morning' time.

While their sleeping bodies are protected by our home and our presence in it, their minds and hearts are open. 

Open to thoughts. Open to worries. Open to loneliness.   

I want to refresh my night time routine with them. 

After dinner we clean teeth.

The girls each choose a book to be read to them on the couch.

Then into beds.

Blankets on.

Cups filled with water.

Kisses and Cuddles.

A prayer.

"I love you"s.

Lights off.

All this is fairly normal on a good night. I want to add two more things: a silent prayer for all, asking for dreams of God's kingdom and plans for their lives; and a silent prayer for each (for Elara: rest, for India: peace, and for Zeb: health).

Refresh my morning routine

Fluffy hair, dry skin and now wrinkles (let's say 'laugh lines')?

Even in my pre-children days I've never been someone who puts much time into their appearance. I guess I have just always had things I preferred to spend my time on. But I knew, at least, that I could look nice if I put in the effort. 

And I occasionally did.

Fast forward ten years and it is much harder to get to that place.

Perhaps I'm out of practice?

Perhaps there are so many 'wonder' products that I'm just overwhelmed?

Perhaps I'm just ten years older and three kids saggier?

My second 'refresh' resolution is to choose some skin/hair products, and to take ten minutes every morning to use them. And since that is about nine minutes more than I currently spend, I'm going to have to plunder that time from somewhere else. 

I may have to leave the dishes till later.

I may have to require that the girls make their own toast.

I may have to arrive at school a few minutes later than usual.

It won't make the wrinkles go away.

But I think I'll feel good and confident when it I have established it as part of my routine.

Refresh my song

The hope of achievement wasn't there at the beginning.

Last year I started my 2011 blog year by sharing my hopes, dreams and goals for the coming year. They were all about embracing things which I wanted to make more important in my life: outdoors; discipline; dinner; crafting for charity; and photos with my kids. 

At the close of the year I reflected on my success. 

And I started to stress. 

Did I achieve them? 

Did I do enough?

Did I absolutely reach all my goals?  

But then I remembered. 

These were just things to set my eyes to.

To look to.

To look forward to.

To focus a small amount of time on and enjoy in the rhythm of life.

Because simply trying harder only results in tiredness and bitterness for me.

Which brings me to this year, 2012.

I want to refresh some tired aspects of my life.

First on my list: time to sing some new songs, literally!

It's been a long time since I invested in new music, and my ipod selection is old and uninspiring. So each month, I'd like to discover a new artist or buy a new cd.

Please I'd love some suggestions!