Asking questions.

Sometimes I forget that if you ask a question. You get a really good answer.

Like, when I asked a painter friend of mine (whose children are now grown), "How did you keep creative when your children were small?" She answered, something so surprising. She said, "I think, perhaps, that I was more dedicated. I was working on small textiles and I would take five minutes to sit down, glue a piece and then move on."

And later she said, "Or I'd sketch in the car. Since the scenery was always moving, I'd take a few moments to view it, draw it. You have to work quickly that way and it keeps your eye engaged, in shape."

Something for me to take away for today.

And how do you stay creative with little time? I'd love to hear how you keep your creative eye, engaged? In shape?

40 Days of Diligence: Soul Filled Moments

I've been thinking about what is soul filing lately. And what is nurturing.

I found that snuggling a little lady who can't sleep is soul-filling. Having a little man spring into my arms and lay his head on my shoulder is so soul-filling.

Walking the garden and dreaming what will be into existence is nurturing. Making coffee, boiling eggs, preparing lunches, filling stomachs with goodness. This is nurturing.

Let's look at how we can nurture and be nurtured. And let's throw off anything else. Good idea? I think so.

40 Days of Diligence: What We've Been Up to

Phew.

Good Morning! It's been a while, hasn't it?

Well, I should tell you practicing diligence has not brought me here every Thursday as planned. I've been practicing being fully engaged, mindful and in the moment. I've practiced "seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14).  But I didn't realize that our life would take me so far from ths space, but it has. And I feel refreshed to come back and tell you the things I've been experiencing. And the grace that I've been given in these things. This is just a short list but an important one.

I was in New Mexico to visit my best and her new baby

Em, Autumn and I went to WHITE SANDS!

I watched the sunset in an airplane over salt lake city and took about 300 pictures

Tea Party with Trubey, Izzo and Lamby!

I introduced the kids to Lambchop (thank you youtube)

We tried new recipes

Made our own shampoo

I did a few projects (photography + graphic design) for a few friends

We milked some goats

We planned our garden

Parent Teacher Confrences

Kindergarten round up

Girl Scout cookies sale ended

Dinners with Friends, Book Study, Good Conversations

Muddy shoes!

Spring started Springing.... grass is getting green

Sweet Tea!

Acquired 6 chickens and a new coop

Read a few books

Purged the playroom and the kids book shelf

Started Daily Reading and Journaling
Eric and I went on a date

New magazine in the mail

What have you been doing while you've been practicing diligence?

40 Days of Diligence: Resources

We got nine inches of snow yesterday. Nine. Needless to say I finally got to use my Christmas-given snowshoes. So awesome!

I was crunching along from my work the 1.4 miles gave me a little time to think and process my day. Earlier in the afternoon I had been traveling down a set of stairs in the knee deep snow and I took a hard fall. But here I was hours later in waist deep snow in some places gliding above it. The only difference was the equipment. I was fully equipt-- the regular coat, hat, gloves, boots. But added to that snow pants, head lamp, face mask, snowshoes. With all the proper equiptment I was warm and I could journey on towards home with ease.

And that got me thinking about Lent. It waas so much easier to journey thorugh nearly impassable snow with the right fittings. Shouldn't I be practicing diligence with some resources too? With some encouragement from Henri Nowen, Richard Rohr and Ann Voskamp, among others.

Just like we wouldn't venture into deep snow with out equiptment. Or into freezing temperatures without warm clothing. Let's not go into lent without a guide book.

 Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience has an Easter Devotional download. 

Praying Lent with Creighton University

Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent by Richard Rohr


Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri Nowen

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On Being Diligent

This year for lent, I decided to give a few things up. And like I have for the last few years, I am trying to refocus and hone in priorities. This year my mantra is Be Diligent.

Whether that is at home, with my husband, at work, with friends... and the list goes on.

Be Diligent. Do well.

And lately, even when I make the smallest decision, I've added Be Diligent to the end of my thoughts and they magically transform into asking the question, is this best?

Does diligence mean I'll leave my clothes on the bathroom floor? Or do I move them to the laundry room? Does diligence sleep in instead of getting in some quiet reading alone? Does diligence mean that I'll make a choice that feels more inline with our family values than the easier option?

The question has come up so often, sometimes I have to choose what to be diligent towards and there in lies my priorities. So after writing my own mission statement of sorts, I'm now moving forward to see what that looks like.

I have taken small steps since then. I've made big changes in a few areas of my life. And they all point me towards being diligent to my priorities.

Then I thought, this is going to be tough. Perhaps we as a community could do it together? 


Will you join me? Let's be diligent and see what things may come. Every Thursday let's link up together and see where this life of diligence is taking us. You can choose things that you personally feel you need to be more diligent at or you can take a whole life approach too. Whatever feels best to you!

I've made a little button you can grab for your own posts/blog. Email me so I have a list of those who join and I'll put you in my side bar-- theyellowdoorpaperie {at} gmail {dot} com. And you don't have to have a blog to join. I'd love to hear from you in the comments if you feel so lead. We can be stronger together!

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