Patience

Today was one of those days at work where everything was a blur. I ran from one commitment to the next, with no time to reflect. 

Now that I am home, as I am waiting on the phone to speak to a representative (20 minutes and counting), I have been given the gift of time that I did not have earlier in the day. For that, I am grateful. 

Fasting

"What are you giving up?" asked a group of seventh graders. 

"Social media." I replied. 

Dead silence, then a long "ohhhhh".

What I didn't explain to them was that I have an exception.  I need to go to Twitter once a day to post my slice of life challenge.  Nothing more, no scrolling, no searching, no checking, no liking, no retweeting, no comments. 

In the meantime, after the "ohhhhh", they nodded their heads, considering if they too can fast from social media. 

Seed planted. 

Fat Tuesday

Pancakes, 

blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, 

and bananas.

Breakfast of champions.

Pasta, more fruit, and cake for lunch, 

with a late afternoon round of more cake, 

topped with a bowl of cheez its

and a bag of potato chips. 

Ending my day with a bowl of tomato stoup. 

After looking at my day, I can see were my waistline begins to expand, 

right in the middle.

Time squeeze

Can I squeeze anymore time out of my day? 

After a full day of work, I came home from work and began helping my husband sort through his thoughts as he was writing a speech.  Two hours helping him type and write were then followed by a video call. 

I hadn't allotted anytime for dinner, so I began the video call trying to scarf down my dinner.  I got creative with eating, by holding the book we were talking about in front of my face so I could chew.  

As I sit here, with four hours until the clock strikes midnight, I am contemplating how I can get my nightly gratitude walk in, meet my daily challenge of taking 29 minutes to tackle a spot in my house, and do a load of laundry.  

Time to try to squeeze as much as I can out of the remainder of the night. 

Sunday mornings

Sunday mornings 

begin with a before the sunrise walk with Smalls, 

listening as the birds begin to awaken from their slumber. 

Then it is off to church,

arriving early to pray,

fellowship, 

serve in ministry

and experience Mass. 

Upon returning home, 

I am greeted by family 

and drawn into an ever-evolving conversation. 

Today it's all things about Grace.

Usually a healthy breakfast is waiting. 

Today's breakfast-Rainbow Chip cake, tea, milk, and water.

Multiple conversations occurring simultaneously until everyone is full.

I set the timer for 29 minutes to tackle a space in the house.

The alarm singals that it is time to pause, and

prepare for Yin and 

as I travel to class, I reflect on my full heart 

and the time spent before class, 

grateful and pleased for a productive morning, 

 

Birthday Girl

Today is my baby girl's birthday. 

Well actually, my baby is no longer a baby and my students think she is my sister. 

As I drove her to brunch, listening to her and her friends chat about their lives, I commented that they should write down these moments. 

Why? 

Because the stories they were telling were not only entertaining, they shed light as to who each of them were at their core.  I was blessed today to hear their stories as they celebrated my baby girl's birthday.

Slice of Life Challenge

Quests, challenges, streaks. 

Manageable changes for periods of time-

Some short,

I can do anything for 29 days, 

to longer stretches, 

months, 

years, 

becoming lifelong threads 

of the fabric of me. 

Juggling two challenges, 

a quest, 

and two streaks. 

Challenge 1- Taking 29 minutes each day, 

For 29 days,

To completely give myself over to my house

And tackle a spot. 

Right now my closet has been the spot for the past three nights. 

Challenge 2- slice of life challenge for the month of March. 

In January I successfully wrote a post every day about a significant moment.  

Maybe the month of March entries will focus on moments well spent. 

Continuing into year 2 of my quest of 

No Clothes Shopping!  

Streaks I never want to end...

Writing in my spiritual journal every morning, 

Starting the day with and intention walk, 

And ending the day with my nightly gratitude walk. 

Quests, challenges, and streaks, 

slices of my life.