How to Live the Little Way: 8.19

Welcome to How to Live the Little Way. A weekly post here at The Littlest Way where I gather all the ordinary things that happen or are happening in my day to day. Things like what I’m reading or listening to, eating, cleaning, and learning. These are the small moments that make up my blessed daily life and I want to remember them. My prompts may change depending on season and circumstance.

Thanking God for…
::a new year
::slow and easy holidays
::almost all of us home
::47 years!
::spending my birthday at *GW Boutique with Bridget (our name for Goodwill)
::sunshine
::goals and dreams
::a new bull that we named Jeremiah Johnson because he’s red and furry

Praying…
Did I tell you we started another round of the 63-day Rosary Novena? Whew. Sometimes prayer is hard work, right? When I mentioned this to Chris the other night he said I must be doing it wrong. Say what?!? He said he just prays and lets God do the work.

Pondering…
I’m wondering why we…I, am so afraid to put some big, scary goals and dreams in black and white–on paper and on my blog. If in a years time or five years time I don’t make them, I don’t make them. I know that’s no big deal. It won’t change anything about who I am. Instead, I walk around with them in my head, taking up valuable space by the way, and guess what, I never hit them anyway!! So I get the same outcome as what I’m afraid of!! Should I do it? I mean I know I should write them down. But should I share here?

Listening to…
I’m listening to the space heater in the office. I am so tired of being cold. I used to love the cold weather. NOT ANYMORE. I’m done and over cold weather. I think it has to do with age?

I’ve been listening to the talks from Seek 2019. OH.MY.GOODNESS!!!!! These talks, meant primarily for college-age kids who are Focus Missionaries have totally reignited my faith!! You know who spoke my love language, Deacon Oney. Jesus, the Bible, affirmations, etc. Find his Seek 2019 talk and listen to it. Be ready to make some out-loud declarations!

Reading…
Bible in a Year
This is my “quantity” Bible to make sure I get the Word inside me each and every day.

Catholic Journaling Bible or Inspire Catholic Journaling Bible
This is my study and journaling Bible. Here’s a post comparing the two.

* I’ve written an ebook to guide you through the whys and hows to get started with Bible Journaling, Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission, and to encourage and inspire you in your Bible journaling!

Bible Journaling…
I still need to take some pictures of my verse mapping in Luke Chapter 1. The sun is out today so hopefully today.

Around the House…
The tree is down and the decorations are put away. I’m not a day after Christmas person or even a January 1st person. But somewhere between January 1st and the Epiphany, I’m done with a 7-foot-tall tree in the middle of my living room.

Our main bathroom has the bathtub in it. The caulk around the edge is looking awful so Chris is scraping it out and getting ready to re-caulk it. Our house was built in 1984 and raised one family of both parents and 3 daughters. For the past 15 years, we’ve lived in it and it’s raising both parents and 7 children. This sweet baby house is showing wear and tear. But so is Chris’ old 1995 old truck. Patience Jenny. Patience.

In the Kitchen…
I eat horribly without a plan and pre-made snacks to just shove into my mouth when I’ve waited too long to eat. I have got to, must change that, like yesterday. I’m pretty good with and consistent with dinner; breakfast and lunch and snacks are my total downfall.

I also have got to crush our grocery budget. We spend so much money on food it’s crazy! Crazy I tell you.

In other news, I have loved Cherry Limeades my entire life. Seriously, my entire life. Once I realized how bad sugar was for my body, I stopped drinking them, about 4 years ago. Well, guess what mommas! I recently discovered Bai Bubbles, Sparkling Water, Bolivia Black Cherry and two drops of Lime essential oil taste so close to the real thing, they are now my real thing!!!

Use this link to receive $10 off your first Online Walmart Grocery order.

Self Care
I started back in with my walking and lifting hand weights at home. Please, when I seem to be struggling in life will someone check-in on me and ask if I’m walking and lifting? I have no idea why I stop.

And my essential oils…each evening before I go to bed I list the oils we’ve used for the day on my Facebook page. Using essential oils has now become such an essential (get it) part of our daily routine. And even in case of emergency. You all know the hard work I have put in through the years to heal and nourish my mind. It doesn’t mean I still don’t have blips–especially when I’m eating and sleeping off schedule or plan and not working out. There have been a couple of times in the last few weeks where I could feel a full-blown anxiety attack trying to get started. I pressed a drop of Young Living Frankincense to the roof of my mouth and it stopped the anxiety from rising.

And while I’m talking all about me…I’ve been dealing with something digestive since September–well, before then, September was just the latest. I think my Gallbladder might be trying to be upset. But, I also have some indications of IBS. In November I started using Digize essential oils and Rosemary on my tummy. In December I started drinking Ningxia. My tummy feels so much better! I’m still figuring out a few things, like why it hurt so bad last night, but I am so encouraged by the progress I’ve already made.

There’s a Facebook class tonight on Gut Health and Hormones for anyone who doesn’t already belong to another Young Living family. Message me on Facebook if you’d like an invite. I won’t be able to make the class live since it’s at the same time as our Online Bible Study Community Facebook Live but I’ll catch the replay.

(I used to purchase my essential oils from Amazon or Edens Garden instead of a distributor. You can read my thoughts on why here, “Where I’m From…” I’ve since decided I don’t have the time or resources to properly educate myself on using the oils to their fullest potential. That’s why I sign up with Young Living under a former Family Practice Physician.)

The Littlest Way
Tell me, what would you like to see more of here this year? What encouraged you, blessed you or convicted you here last year?

Our Domestic Church…
I love that the Church began her New Year the First Sunday of Advent. Then not everything seems like the brand new, big changes January 1 brings. It’s like making a big move sleeping in your own bed with your own pillow and lovey that first night. At least to me.

Saving Money…
Must kill the current grocery budget-no budget.

Captured…

 

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We live on a small farm with various sized pens and pastures. It all seems rather elaborate to me but my kids and husband can sit around and talk about pen number 1 or 3 like it ain’t no thing.⠀ ⠀ The smaller pens have gates, and fences, and even no-crawl fencing along the side that runs against the larger pastures. The fencing is necessary to keep everybody safe, healthy, and happy. Except the Coyotes, they’re frustrated by the no-crawl fencing. And even the larger pastures have fencing, mostly barbed wire.⠀ ⠀ The point of all this fence talk? We need boundaries. We need guards in place to keep ourselves safe. Not only do the fences keep the predators out, it also keeps the animals in them from wandering away into danger.⠀ ⠀ I made a note recently that while reading the story of Noah and the Ark it specifically mentioned that once Noah, family, and animals were in the ark, God closed the door.⠀ ⠀ Part of my reflection was that God didn’t close the door on Noah as punishment! The exact opposite! God closed the door on Noah to keep him safe. ⠀ ⠀ Maybe this shift in perspective will help you like it did me when we’re met with one more closed door or boundary we think is cruel and unnecessary. ⠀ ⠀ It also gave me pause to think back on the times when a door was closed and I went around the back way, or slipped under the fence because “I knew better!” And it turned out, I didn’t.

A post shared by Jenny (@thelittlestway) on Jan 4, 2019 at 6:11am PST