Hello again readers!

In case you didn’t notice, I took a month break from blogging and writing.  Originally, the plan was for 2 weeks, but I extended this due to circumstances needing my attention.  I’m easing back into routine and wanted to offer a few reflections – even if just for myself. 🙂

Thank you SO much for emails and messages asking if all was okay, I appreciate your concern and communication.

I know there are steady readers here, but it was nice to get reminders.  Plus, my teen daughter kept urging me to get back in the game – so sweet!

I’m back to writing more frequently, and here are things I learned in the last month….

REST is a Gift – it will refresh and refocus.

Yes, I know this deep down and even wrote an ebook on it.

But when I actually stepped back and spent some time in solitude, room was made for REST to do its work of refreshing my spirit.  Choosing to yield to a pause will always benefit me more in the long run.

REST is good.

I don’t live my life to BLOG about it

I knew this too, but what a refreshing reminder!  Sure, there were many, many times I thought ‘this would make a great post’ and even jotted down notes.

But I wasn’t doing an activity with the kids, trying a new food or recipe, or organizing a part of my home just so I could write about it here in this space.

My writing is an overflow of life lived.

It’s not always perfect (the writing or the life),  but it’s not a show to impress others.  It’s just my life.

Time for FAMILY is precious – so very precious.

In this month, I said NO to two big writing opportunities and projects, one of which I’ll need to wait at least another year before considering again.  Yes, it stung a bit to lay these down, it honestly did.

But, I would do it again.

There’s only so much energy in the day, so much time, so much focus.  To reserve as much as possible for tending to the needs around me was critical; and also for personally enjoying the rest I described above.

This job isn’t finished of course, my family will always need me and I will often need to sabbath.  Yet, writing is my calling too and it’s time to ease back in.

I don’t regret one bit pausing this vision for the sake of family.  Not at all.

Many other thoughts crossed my mind in the last month, and while I paused from typing, I rekindled my love for journaling — you know, by hand? 🙂

So, some thoughts live there.

All in all, the extended rest breathed fresh life into my spirit and I hope, will produce fresh life in my writing!  Looking forward to connecting with you here…

GRACE.