May Week 3: Slow Down
I have pondered on what to do with this part of the blog. I wanted to blog about our day to day life to keep some sort of diary for my kids down the line. I thought about just doing a normal day in the life blog, but decided to go a different route. I remembered a podcast I listened to a while back where with each chapter they looked at it through a different lens each chapter. For example, Love, Dedication, Disappointment, etc. They read the chapter with a specific thing in mind and tried to pick out those themes in each chapter.
So I decided to do that with my life. To see if I can see my life through more lenses and do more reflection. I did decided sometimes I may do more than just one word, I may try to apply phrases, and try to see my week through that theme.
The theme I chose for my first week is SLOW DOWN. I decided this phrase because I found myself caught up trying to do too many things, I was biting off more than I could chew. So I wanted to remind myself to slow down. My girls are only young once and I want to enjoy it, I work from home something I have dreamt of but I felt like I was not present as much as I would like. Without further ado, here is my week through the lens of slowing down. (Now I decided this mid week so this week will be shorter than the rest.)
Thursday 12th, 2022
Today started out fairly normal, waking up and having breakfast with the girls. We played on the living room floor and read some books. I noticed that it was only 9:30and super hot, so I decided to fill up our kiddy pool with water so the girls could splash around. Both girls love water so much, so this was a winning activity. Lucy spent most the time washing sticks she found in the lawn while Lyra just sat and splashed around. They both were giggling so much, it was then that I realized I needed to slow down. My girls were having the time of their life and I was sitting there just mentally adding things to my to-do list. Why? Giving myself more on my plate for what? I wanted to work from home to spend more time with the girls but here I was sitting with them and sitting about how I should be doing more work.
Silly right? So it was there when I decided I wanted to add different lenses to my weeks to help further myself and help me see more in my life. Anyway, after about an hour they were done. I wrapped them up in some nice warm towels and rocked them both in the sun. Lucy asked me to sing some songs, so I sang lullabies while rocking them in our patio swing. The sun felt so amazing. What a perfect moment. One I wanted to live in for the rest of my life.
If I could go back and live that moment over and over, I would. Again I was reminded to slow down. I love feeling the promptings of the Holy Ghost especially when I know it will change the way I think about my life. Momma your to-do list can wait, your babies won’t. They grow before you even know it. It reminded me too of Inside Out (if you haven’t go watch it, it is so cute) I had just made a core memory.
Eventually Lucy wanted to go back into the pool. I laid Lyra down for a nap then let Lucy back into the pool. I sat on the back porch where I could hear Lyra wake up and I could see Lucy in the pool. While I sat there I had some work calls. What a beautiful day, I got to rock my babies in the sun, enjoy my day at home, and get some work done. I also got all my chores done. God truly is so good. I am thankful for these perfect simple days.
Friday 13th, 2022
Today I reflected on myself a lot. There comes moments in your life that change everything. Everyone has them and it is beautiful to be in those moments and realize it. I sat and cuddled my girls again today and remembered oh how wonderful those sweet but quick moments are. Soon they will want to go explore more and not need me as much. I want my kids to experience life but I also do not want these snuggly moments to end. So while they’re happening I’ll soak them up.
My girls have taught me that it is okay to pause. It is okay to take a break, go on a walk, cuddle your babies, or read a book. Do anything you enjoy but do it slowly. Understand why you’re doing it. Why do you like it? Why it matters?
We later went to a graduation party, it was fun to celebrate with family and enjoy the moments.
Saturday 14th, 2022
Today I was struggling this morning to remember to slow down. Lucy and Lyra woke up early so I did not do my normal routine. I also ran out of milk, so I could not make the breakfast that Lucy wanted so badly. So at 6:30 we all loaded up into the car and headed to the store.
I knew I needed to slow down but my to-do list was so long and my mind kept adding more and more. It was becoming hard to put it all away. But I knew Lyra got cranky and I knew she was thirsty. So I put my tasks away and nursed her. What a blessing being able to breastfeed. Stopping to feed Lyra helped me stop and take another look. Slow down. Lyra is almost 1, how many times I get to nurse her is limited. One day it will be the last time I nurse her. I want to enjoy every single time I have the opportunity. While I was writing this all down Lyra began to cry and I went and nursed her while I rocked her.
Again a good sweet moment that helped me slow down. I have had the song Vienna stuck in my head. What a comforting message from the Lord. Slow down you’re doing fine. You can't be everything you want to be before your time.
The meaning behind those lyrics have really hit this week as I try to slow down. We can not be our true and best selves with out giving ourselves some space to grow. We need to enjoy the little things and don’t bite off more than we can chew.
I am so happy that I have my girls, oh how they have slowed down my life. They are such a blessing. To be able to soak in those core moments.
Sunday 15th, 2022
As a child my mom had different rules on Sunday only music and movies that embodied Christ-liked values. She wanted this to be a day of rest and to focus on the Lord. When I was younger, I did not see or care about the importance of this lesson. I am forever grateful my mom set this example for me. Sunday is a day of the Lord and rest. Now that I am a mom. I still hold those values. We have no screen time on Sunday and I strive for more quiet and restful tie. My girls are 2 and 10 months. So a restful day is truly a pipe dream. But as a mom, it needs to start with me. The example is to be set by me. I want our Sundays to embody the phrase slow down. I want my girls to see that mom values the Lord and the day of rest. Just as I know my mother did. I am so happy that the first week of my new exercise is to slow down.
I hope that slowing down is not lost on any momma. Time is our most valuable currency. So lets spend it on God and our families. My girls are such a delightful example of slowing down and enjoying the simple things. They could spend forever playing with dirt and measuring cups. There is no hurry or need to play with the newest and greatest toy. For them it is really the simple things in life. I am indebted to the Lord for sending them to me. They already have taught me a life times worth of lessons, and I am sure I will learn more invaluable lessons along the way.
Well that has been my week and my thoughts on my week through the lens of slowing down. I hope that you remember to slow down and enjoy your sweet babies.