So I've been trying a new experiment for my "year of connection." I started with a renovation of my daily rhythm (which happens every so often as the little ones get older and present different needs) and the result has blessed my life immensely.
My morning rhythm is much the same...my personal getting ready time, personal scripture study, family prayer, getting Patrick and Easton out the door, breakfast, getting the 2 little ones ready for the day, cleaning the house, and doing the laundry. Then I set in "liquid stone" time to have preschool and playtime with Tate. I call it liquid stone because it's set in stone, but the liquid stone is kind of like corn starch...it can be hard or soft. Therefore, if something comes up on a given day, liquid stone will allow me to be flexible. (It's just an image for my mind to process consistency with flexibility).
After we pick up Easton from the bus stop, we make lunch, eat, and clean up. Then the boys have their playtime together while I play with Maylie (for roughly 30 minutes) {This is also set in liquid stone. In fact the whole afternoon is...}. Afterwards, we read stories together (another 30+ minutes) and then we put Maylie down for her nap. The boys and I have Mommy Playtime and we switch off doing activities that they choose with ones that I choose (usually super easy and fun ones that I've found on Pinterest). After that they get their free time to either watch a movie or play a game on the Wii or iPod. Then we do a quick pick-up of the house and make dinner.
During dinner we have family scripture study (which is a great way at this stage in our lives to combine the daily bread with the living bread). Afterwards is clean-up, the boys get ready for bed, and then they get to have special time with Daddy. They switch off the things they do each day. Some days they wrestle, or play the Wii, read stories, or play board games. While they have time together, I finish up any chores or tasks I didn't get finished during the day, or relax for a few minutes.
This rhythm has been the most successful one yet. It's as if a light finally went on and every day is a celebration! Celebrating my children, celebrating every season, celebrating their talents and interests, celebrating learning, celebrating fun, and most of all, just celebrating us!
After two weeks of implementing our new rhythm, I read a quote from my Simple Abundance book that summed up exactly what was happening:
"Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune. When somehow we're able to strike the right chord--to balance the expectations of our families and our responsibilities in the world on the one hand with our inner needs for spiritual growth and personal expression on the other." --Sarah Ban Breathnach
I now have a word for the feeling that has descended on my heart--it's harmony. And though the times and seasons will inevitably change, I know that with the Lord's help, we can achieve harmony with every change.
2 comments:
You're right! :)
I've always wondered what your daily rhythm is like, so I really enjoyed this post :)
It usually takes me months after we move to a new place to regain that harmony. And many times we are only in a place for a few months, so this is something I feel like I am always trying to get back. Reading about someone else's harmonic rhythm is so encouraging, and it's helped motivate me to get back into one here in my home! :)
So here's my question - what time do you wake up and go to bed every day?
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