Well, it’s been several busy, hectic and crazy but good weeks here.  I’m not quite ready to be back to full speed blogging, but hopefully, I’m a lot closer.

In the last several weeks, we moved house.  We love our new house!  There’s a fully fenced area in the back to play.

Yard outside the fence for a garden.

And lots of flowers.

It was a gorgeous day for moving and for playing with grandparents.

Right after the move, we drove 9 hours to TN for a family reunion.  I lie.  It was a 9 hour drive, but with two bouts of car sickness and some other stops, it took 12.  We had a great time with cousins and family.  When we came home, we got to bring the other set of grandparents with us.  The next week was spent putting the house together.

Building beds.

Sleeping in a big girl bed.

Playing games.

Trying new foods (sardines).

This week, we’ve been catching up on projects and observing the wildlife.

Have you had a good May?  What’s on the books for this coming week?

This Monday morning marks the last Monday we will wake up in this apartment!  We are so excited and thankful for the home that God has provided.  We’re looking forward to spreading out a little bit, and not having to worry about neighbors hearing all our noises.

We move on Saturday, so the rest of this week will be spent cleaning, packing and trying to get ahead on the laundry.

Monday, we head out for a family reunion in TN.  I think I have all my baking done for that, but there are still a few bits to be done, so I’ll be working on that as well.  When we return from TN next weekend, my parents and sister will be coming for a long overdue visit.  They’ll be staying a week now, and a week at the end of May.  We’re very much looking forward to this time.  Since they live in NZ, we don’t get to see them much more than once a year.

On top of all that, I have a couple Etsy orders I’m working on, as well as some other various sewing projects.  With all these exciting life events, I’m afraid I may not be able to post regularly over the next month.  I have some fun things in the works to show you, but for now, check back when you can, and I’ll see you when I see you.:)

I have come to the conclusion, that even though structure and routine are important, they have to be moderately flexible as well.  As the needs of your family changes, the routine that you institute will have to adapt as well.

I’ve been feeling this most pointedly in the area of my time reading the Bible and praying.  I’ve pretty much thought that the best time for that is first thing in the morning, and I was making that my goal and priority.  However, something about getting two kids dressed and fed, getting a lunch packed and trying to keep the kids content so they didn’t hinder daddy getting ready for work was not conducive to a quiet time.  I wasn’t profiting from it, and I certainly wasn’t portraying an attitude of joy in the Lord to my children.

So, I decided to experiment with something new.  I tried to think of a time during the day when I had the fewest immediate demands, and I realized that was nap time.  So, I tried it.  As soon as the kids go down for a nap, I start praying while I get some of those “mindless” chores out of the way.  Tidy up the dishes, sweep the floor, maybe fold laundry.  Somehow, I find it easier to keep my mind focused and engaged if my hands are doing something.

Then, I read my Bible.  Right now, I’m reading in Romans and Ecclesiastes.  For Romans, I read each chapter for about 2 weeks before I move to the next chapter.  In Ecclesiastes, I’m just moving through a chapter a day.

Finally, I work on some memory work.  I’ve been quite convicted about my lack of memory over the years.  While we were in grade school, we did a lot, but I got slack. It was hard for me to determine which verses to learn individually, so I decided to just start with a book.   Almost three years ago, when my daughter was born, I did the first chapter of Titus.  In the past 5 months or so, since I’ve re-routined and created a sharper focus of my devotions, I’ve been able to finish the last two chapters of Titus, as well as Philemon.  Which, Philemon by the way, have you ever taken time to look at it carefully?? It’s a beautiful book.  That’s a whole different post I think.  Now, I’m trying to decide if I want to do Romans or James next.

Please, please don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not saying all this to show you what a super spiritual person I am.  I’m not.  There are days when I don’t really feel like following this plan.  There are days when I find myself wondering, as I’m reading, how fast I’ll be done so I can do something else. Instead, I want to share what I found helpful to encourage you.  If you feel like you’re just not having consistent devotions, or your current time of devotions is not working for you, don’t be afraid to experiment.  Work hard to find a time and system that works for you.  Secondly, don’t hold fast to that system as absolutely infallible.  Realise that it may have to change.  When my daughter stops taking naps (hopefully in about 5 years) I’ll have to find a different time.

Now, maybe you can help me.  What times and systems have you found that work for you in your devotions?  How do you stay focused as you pray?  What does your memory system look like?