AWAKING WONDER - CHAPTERS 9-10

AWAKING WONDER - CHAPTERS 9-10

Today's thoughts are going to be a mix of reflection and some questions for you that I am pondering myself.

1. If you have older children -What cultural activity (history, holiday, art, music, etc) that you shared with your children was the most influential in their lives? How about your own?

If you have younger children - What is something that you look forward to sharing with your children?

2. Have you ever had the awakening thought that God is not American? To help us understand the character and creativity of God we can study and appreciate the depth and range of people and cultures! Isn't that beautiful?

3. In thinking about "trails" being left behind by people, what type of trail are you leaving behind as you travel through life?

Chapter 10 really resonated with me! Often times I feel like Michelangelo looked. Did you not love the Skin Horses words to the Velveteen Rabbit? Bit by bit I give myself away to my family and others to hopefully bless them in some way. I think of my grandparents and parents. How blessed I am because of them! It is my turn to further that inheritance.

On the idea of home - We live in a tucked back-in place. (This is not for everybody!) When we bought this land I looked at it as a respite from the world. I always tell people I love to go out and visit, but then I'm ready to go home. Although there is bickering, I have encouraged my kids to support each other. There's enough emotional beat up that goes on in the world that it is not needed here! "Home provides a place of belonging in an isolationist world." We all know people that are on the hunt to belong anywhere they can and often times there is a huge price tag for that. Can we see what God created to fill that need for belonging? Family!

4. How have you been intentional in how you have set up the flow of your home?

I am sure that we can all see a list of areas that need work in this area. Don't despair! Pick one thing and work on it! Then add one more!

5. What is the biggest area that was your learning curve in your homemaking, homeschooling, or balancing work into the equation for some of us?

6. Do you believe that children are the most valuable resource of a country? If so, what are you doing to protect, grow, and value that resource?

Last section I'm going to hit on is self-care. I love my kids completely. I love having them with me. I wish I could run non-stop with them for every minute of the day. I learned the hard way that I cannot. I can feel it when I am pushing myself too hard. I recognize when it's time for a break! I purposefully build wiggle room in whatever I am doing now. I take on big projects, but I make sure there is a spot of breathing room in it. I no longer pack the schedule tight. I am putting space in for moms to get together in my area. I am putting space in for reading for myself or a quiet break. So-

7. What are you doing for self care?