Friday, October 02, 2015

Quieting Fall


Where, oh where, has the month of September gone? I can hardly believe that the month flew by so quickly. Yet, I think that fact alone speaks volumes on how busy our September has been. In spite of desiring to slow and making conscious decisions to not over plan - life has swept us up in a swirl of full and washed me up on shore feeling breathless and struggling.

At the end of a very busy week, I remember the lovely weeks Crystal used to host called Make Your Home a Haven. I loved those weeks. I look back at the pictures and memories from those weeks and just sort of sigh with contentment at the beauty of those days. Here is a link to my very first post following along with MYHAH.

I love this time of year and I don't want it to fly by in a blur - I want to savor it and enjoy. I'll admit that I'm worn out, burned out, tired out, and overwhelmed just in keeping up with homeschooling and managing a home and family.


Lately, I have been considering this idea of quieting - so the idea came of quieting our home, schedule and hearts for a week to bring refreshment and rest, healing and encouragement. Do you need a little quieting in your Fall as well? Want to join me?

Each day next week, I will post about Quieting Fall - we'll focus on a different aspect each day and I will provide suggestions and a glimpse into my day.

The inspiration for this idea came largely on a slow Saturday. I woke up early and needed to run to the store where I found the lovely sunflowers. This motivated me to finally stop on the side of the road and cut some of the lovely wildflowers I've been eyeing for weeks! And, I finally designated a pair of scissors to keep in my glove box so I can stop anytime and cut roadside beauty.

I was also looking for a pie sized pumpkin. I'd checked two grocery stores with no success. After Samuel's flag football game and lunch, I loaded up the bag of books and my little readers and headed to the library. I've been wanting to make the switch to a more out-of-town library {no parking meter, no traffic, quiet and slower drive, more peaceful library experience} and on our way we stopped at an adorable produce stand that I've passed a zillion times and maybe never stopped at?!


This reminds me of years ago, I think before any of our children were born, David and I were on our way to or from somewhere and he stopped at a road side stand and bought me a pumpkin for our porch. That memory still makes me smile to think of it!

Anyway, I found a pie pumpkin! This simple pleasure brought a peaceful homey feeling. Then we had an extremely quiet and restorative visit to the library. I made Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies when we came home and watched a movie with my sweets.

At the end of the day, I'm amazed at how much better and more relaxed I feel already. I am eager to implement this quieting for an entire week and grateful for the benefits I know that will come for both myself and my family. Because as you know, when mama is relaxed, the chances are much better that everyone else is too.





Hope you'll join me next week for Quieting Fall:
Monday: Quieting Your Heart
Tuesday: Quieting Your Home
Wednesday: Quieting Your Schedule
Thursday: Sharing Your Quieting
Friday: Quiet Weekend Beauty

16 comments:

Lisa said...

YES!!!! This is exactly what I need. I hope we can all be encouraged together. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Looks like a good series!:)
Christina

Lisa said...

Thank you for all of your posts. You inspire me to be better for my family. Looking forward to reading next week. Have a blessed weekend. Lisa

Leanne said...

I would love to join you in this challenge.... I want to savor the sweetness of October...I try to remind myself that as the leaves change, they are the most beautiful as they die-- just like us--as we die to self-- a quieted heart can help us die to self! love this idea!!!

Wendi said...

"worn out, burned out, tired out, and overwhelmed" Are you sure you aren't living my life!? Chuck and I were talking about so many things you mentioned last night when we went to bed. Life seems to be out of control for me at the moment. The weekend is jam packed with things that will take us from home. I told my family that we need to clear the calendar starting next week and slow things down. I don't do well with stress and being away from home too often. Slow and quiet sounds wonderful to me!

Mom said...

Lovely! :)

Mrs. Chrissy T said...

I am so excited about next week. I also can't seem to wrap up how fast September went. I use to love those days, Making Your Home Have. Those were the good ole blog days. Things in the blogosphere have changed so much. I haven't even felt a struggle to continue to blog. I will lay off for a while but my heart always calls back. I wander why?

Blessings,

Have a AMAZING BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND

Anonymous said...

I think this is a lovely idea. I'll join in. Thank you and I so appreciate you and your blog.
Jo

Tina Leigh said...

I love the way everything looks at your house. I love quiet &slow & I need it so that I don't turn into a category 6 hurricane! I'm about a cat 3-4 now. Fall is my favorite season. I think that is what Fall does, beckon slow & quiet. But for me & my family, the harvest makes us run like marathoners here. I look forward to your posts. They always encourage me.

Ellie said...

I love this idea! I am looking forward to your posts!

Shelby said...

Love you friend and feel tired, grumpy, so can't wait for next week.

Simply Quaint said...

what a wonderful post... I just thought that the other day how I enjoy Quiet time... I am a empty nester, but do believe that when I say my life is now just as busy as it was being a mom of four, I work at home, I keep a home, hubby and I both are constancy working and doing something, he works full time still, I help with the grand's so I know exactly how you feel, I love to stop along the road and cut fresh wildflowers, which is indeed what I need to do as well keep scissors in glove box, I go to quiet little libraries not the large in town one, I stop at the amish veggie stands along the road for produce, etc... so I am excited to see what you have to offer next week in Quieting for October.. great blog.....

Blessings
Rhonda

Kelli said...

I am looking forward to your posts next week. I too am amazed at how fast the month flew by even though I strived to slow down as much as possible. Last week I was feeling stressed and burnt out so we decided to take the kids out of their soccer games for the weekend and get away. It was wonderful and much needed.

jen medeiros said...

Thank you for your sweet blog! I am always encouraged when I read your posts. What a blessing you!
I am looking forward to reading your posts on "quieting".....I will be joining you this week.
I am homeschooling my 12 year old son and I find such inspiration from your blog. Thank yo for being obedient to our Lord as you serve so many through your writings.

Blessings

Aimee said...

You're speaking my language. Quieting is the only thing that keeps me remotely sane in this homeschooling teens + toddlers lifestyle. It's unfortunately the first thing that goes out of my schedule, but the thing that actually needs to remain a priority.

angie said...

I printed your devotional and quiet word study. It was a busy week and I didn't get a chance to read them until Saturday afternoon. It was truly a moment and location arranged by God. I was at a women's retreat and was gifted an hour of quiet time in between sessions and seminars. I found a wooden step on a bank surrounded by ivy and ferns with a small stream at the bottom. Even though I could barely see the water, I could hear its bubbling. "He leads me beside quiet waters..." Thank you for the time you invested in gathering these scriptures and your thoughts--a gift to me poured out from a gifting you've been given from God. If you'd like to see photos of this wondrous retreat center, go to mounthermon.org