Whoops

It comes as no surprise to me that I commit to blogging every day during the season of Lent and I have not blogged in a SOLID WEEK. Wow.  Hello humanity. Hello life. Hello ridiculous business.  I hate that word but I'm pretty sure I've blogged about it before...busy gets in the way, busy takes over, busy consumes, busy distracts...I want to steer as far away from "busy" as I can -- but that is an entire lifestyle change for most of us, right?

On that same note - I have started to slowly try to rule out "busyness" in my life...little by little.  Lately I have been extremely intentional about me time - time to reflect - time to just cuddle up and rest in His spirit and peace.

One of my most memorable times with the King was in college - throw back to Sophmore year on BSU Leadership retreat: we were all challenged to go outside (we were staying at this house out in the country on some land, GORGEOUS and wide open) find a place just to ourselves, take our Bible and our journal (no electronics) and spend 2 or 3 hours (i cant exactly remember)  in solitude with our Maker.  I remember when she challenged us with this thinking - there is NO way I can spend that much time in complete silence all alone - there is NO way - I will at least need some music!! But off we all went out on to the property to "claim our spots" -- I remember mine like yesterday, nestled beneath a gigantic oak tree, warm sun trickling through the branches and warming my skin - i opened my Bible, pretty much lost as to what to do next...I threw open the cover of my journal and simply began to write a prayer to God....before I knew it people were making their way back to the house - - I HAD SURVIVED! And I was thirsty for more, I didn't want this intimate time to end...

See, I think we sometimes get so busy that we don't even recognize the hunger within us.  Kinda like this: have you ever had a chaotic day at the office...you bounce from meeting to meeting, deadline to deadline - answering calls, tending to needs - whatever your job may look like - and at the end of the day you sit down and realize you are STARVING!? Like physically famished because you have not had a drop of food all day, and those hunger pains begin to literally eat you alive!?

So take that feeling and apply it to your spiritual life -- we run run run - go go go - and when we finally stop to sit down and take in all that He is and all that He has for us, we immediately are in tune with how starving for His word and Spirit we are.  That's how it works for me anyway. 

So lately - it's all about new lifestyles around my house and in my life. Setting aside time to meet with Him, to really engage in what He has for me, intentional time in worship and prayer - and I feel great, I'm exhausted from the "to dos" of life, but the more I cut out the silly busyness the more alive and free I feel.  Hallelujah!

J and I have also really jumped hard on the eat clean band wagon and can I just say how much better I feel? Cutting out all of the processed mess we used to eat, lean proteins, fresh veggies, lots of water - I feel more alert during the day, I have more energy, I even sleep better at night! It started out as a "wedding diet" of sorts but we both feel so much better that we are wanting to hold on to it and turn it into our lifestyle....now don't get me wrong, we still totally VEG OUT on things that aren't so clean from to time (one of those times being tonight...HEYO Double Date To Our Favorite Burger Place) but the cleaner we eat the better we feel. 

I know it's not much today, but I knew I needed to jump back in and get into the rhythm of things once again - sorry for the sabbatical - it was good for my health though.

Happy Friday Friends :)