Sunday, March 5, 2017

Slowing Down....

     The hits just keep coming here at Casa Predmore.  We found out this week that Jim will need to have surgery sometime in the next few months on both of his hands.  He has been dealing with pain for a long time, and finally has a reason for the pain...severe carpal tunnel.  Sometime this spring he will have surgery on one hand, and then in three to four months, he will have the other hand done.  He would love to have both hands done at the same time, but there are just somethings that I just don't see myself doing for him.  On the positive side, we are glad to have a plan that will hopefully give him relief from his constant pain.

     I have two friends who are amazing prayer warriors in my life.  I admire them both so much, so when they both said the same thing to me, I tend to think that God is giving me a pretty clear message.  They both said that sometimes we are given things in life that will force us to slow down.  I feel like Jim and I  are on the go constantly...and not for things that are fun.  Between work, care-taking, and just the normal day to day things, we are pulled in so many ways.  We need to find a way to slow down and just be.  What better time to focus on just being than Lent.

     Jim and I have missed devotion time, but we have been spending time alone and talking more.  Today we took a nap on the living room floor while watching TV.  And yes, our backs are not thanking us for it now...we are not as young as we used to be!  Delainey and I have actually stayed on task with our devotion time.  It is a little easier with her since I am usually the one home at bedtime.  It has been nice to focus on a quiet time together with her.  We had hoped to go hiking together as family today, but instead spent time napping.  We did take a trip to the local ice cream parlor and then spent some time practicing our basketball skills.  I can still make a lay-up, but I am not so good with the free throws any more.

     Yesterday Delainey and I went grocery shopping.  We bought some food to make some freezer meals.  We have 4 crock pot dinners ready to go for the upcoming weeks.  It feels good to have a plan for the upcoming days.  I spent some time meal planning and getting things ready for the upcoming week.  I have built some time into the week so that I am able to slow down!  I hope that this will make the week better and less stressful for all of us.

     I also talked to a friend this morning and told her that we are going to have to pull back from some of the commitments that we have made.  Jim and I hate to do this, but we haven't planned for several of the things that have happened this year.  We certainly didn't plan on the illnesses that we have had, nor did we realize the extent of care we would need to do with his parents.  Work has also been more than either of us have anticipated this year.  We have had to prioritize and decide what we really need to focus on going forward.  It isn't easy, but we need to slow down and scale back on things.

     Tonight I am in a better place.  I have peace that I am where I need to be right now.  I have a plan to slow down.  Tomorrow, I hope that I will still have the peace and calm that I have right now, but honestly, it changes moment by moment.  I am trusting that there is a plan in place, that what we are going through has a purpose.  My prayer, which is stolen from one of my prayer warrior friends, is for comfort and grace to get through this season of our life.  If you want to join me in this prayer for my family and I, we would appreciate it!  In the meantime, I am going to go watch April the giraffe get ready to have her baby while I practice slowing down.

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