Sometimes all the beautiful celebrations of life come in packaged clusters.
In these moments, you have no choice but to ride out the crazy schedule, throwing sanity to the wind and sleep for another day. For it's time to celebrate!
My latest overabundant cluster lasted all of three weeks. It began with the joyous celebration of a sister's wedding. Then the fun of hosting my little sister and showing her life in China (i.e. the mundane beauty of motherhood). Next came a party that celebrated the fact that Dave and I have a thriving one year old (i.e. we survived as parents for 365+ days!). Soon after, we were welcoming a brand new baby cousin into the Evans family!
As each event morphed into the next and was sometimes fogged by jet lag, I didn't have the time or linear thought to reflect. And if I tried, it just came out like this:
But now I sit here back in my house with no visitors, no itinerary, and no parties to plan and I take in this quiet. I take in the quiet realizing that this is my chance to build routine again and revisit the stacks that have been piled, moldy food left in the fridge, or unpacked suitcases sprawled in my bedroom.
I read this recently and was reminded that in all the busyness, our hearts are vulnerable to the most sacrifice. That is...if we refuse to acknowledge Him in the crazy. I can say I'm tired, but not burnt out. Craving routine, but not hopelessly lost on where to start again. I think the only difference to other times of busyness is gratitude. While I really only had the mental ability to muster "Well that just happened", those few seconds were enough for me to feel overwhelmed with His blessings of family, new birth, proud completion, and community. I wonder if living a life fully acknowledging Him could change that quote to: An overwhelmed soul has joy in an overwhelmed schedule.
Try as we may to seek out simplicity, there are seasons of life that we just can't help but be busy. Let Him be there...glorified in your crazy schedule.
In these moments, you have no choice but to ride out the crazy schedule, throwing sanity to the wind and sleep for another day. For it's time to celebrate!
My latest overabundant cluster lasted all of three weeks. It began with the joyous celebration of a sister's wedding. Then the fun of hosting my little sister and showing her life in China (i.e. the mundane beauty of motherhood). Next came a party that celebrated the fact that Dave and I have a thriving one year old (i.e. we survived as parents for 365+ days!). Soon after, we were welcoming a brand new baby cousin into the Evans family!
As each event morphed into the next and was sometimes fogged by jet lag, I didn't have the time or linear thought to reflect. And if I tried, it just came out like this:
"Well that just happened."
And then move along I went. But now I sit here back in my house with no visitors, no itinerary, and no parties to plan and I take in this quiet. I take in the quiet realizing that this is my chance to build routine again and revisit the stacks that have been piled, moldy food left in the fridge, or unpacked suitcases sprawled in my bedroom.
"An overwhelmed schedule means an underwhelmed soul".
-Lysa Terkeurst
I read this recently and was reminded that in all the busyness, our hearts are vulnerable to the most sacrifice. That is...if we refuse to acknowledge Him in the crazy. I can say I'm tired, but not burnt out. Craving routine, but not hopelessly lost on where to start again. I think the only difference to other times of busyness is gratitude. While I really only had the mental ability to muster "Well that just happened", those few seconds were enough for me to feel overwhelmed with His blessings of family, new birth, proud completion, and community. I wonder if living a life fully acknowledging Him could change that quote to: An overwhelmed soul has joy in an overwhelmed schedule.
Try as we may to seek out simplicity, there are seasons of life that we just can't help but be busy. Let Him be there...glorified in your crazy schedule.
