White Space

We're finding our rhythm of the new year.  The cold that bogged me down seems to be gone.  Classes are in full swing.  Basketball and volleyball games are weekly occurrences.  Homeschool is this inexplicable joy and sadness all at the same time as I realize we are halfway through the year.  I am choosing to enjoy every. Single. Second.  Because this is it.  I won't get this time back. Never.

Speaking of time, the second week of the month is always jam packed.  As I looked at our calendar, I knew something had to give.  Four nights out of five, one or both of us would be gone.  There is good stuff going on.  Stuff we enjoy and look forward to, but we cherish our home time more--we had to make the call to skip something this week.  So, we didn't attend our marriage ministry last night.  We had dinner together and then E and I snuck away for a walk.  Just the two of us, out in nature, enjoying the cool, crisp air.  It wasn't at the church with our group, but it was intentional, and it happened on our time line, and allowed us to be where we wanted to be.

Sometimes even the good stuff can be too much.  There is too much writing in the boxes of our calendared lives and it gets messy to cross things off or say no.  But if we don't intentionally create that white space, then the spaces in our soul will be stifled and barren.  I don't know about you, but I don't want that.

I've had to look at the margins of my life lately and I'm seeing a need for some change.  My book club that I've had for the last two years is two meetings away from finishing our book, and it's time to pass the torch. It has been good.  But it's time has come for me.  In order for me to pour into our church MOMS group, I need some room on my plate and unlike the past, I'm giving myself permission to let go.  It has been a really good thing for me.  But sometimes even the good things need to shift in order to create more white space.

White space.  Calm. Peace. Freedom.  Joy.  Ultimately, we decide what takes up our time.  Choose wisely.