Nourish

Nourish is my word.  My"one word" Word for the year.  I often ask my Campfire ladies (current Bible study) if they are having any "word sightings" or how is their word showing up?  I had to stop the other day and think about my word.  Something very practical we have been doing which pleases my soul is going through the house and taking a room a month to clean, purge, and organize.  That is good but is it "soul food?"  Maybe.  But I believe there is more.

I have thought of myself as a disciplined/determined person.  I ran a marathon training by myself when I had two kiddos, I gave birth to 3 kiddos without drugs, I regularly set goals that I try to carry through.  But the other morning I woke up and felt discouraged at the choices I keep making that I don't want to make, namely in the areas of sleep and weight/eating.  Maybe in certain areas I am determined and so discipline must follow.  But, these two areas that feel like they keep slipping out of my grasp seem to ring true under the word, Nourish.

Sleep.  This is tough because I get so little time to myself at this point and those hours after 9:00 when all are asleep (or at least trying to get there) is mostly my time.  The problem comes when I am pushing to get into bed before the clock strikes 12.  And I wake up a bit tired and need to not have any irritability in my being to teach three.  I also believe if I could get to bed sooner and wake earlier our school day would be enhanced.  We all do better earlier in the day.  Still need to come to terms with losing some evening hours on this one.

Weight & Eating.  This is tough because at almost 47 (yikes that seems old-but I don't feel that old), it is hard to lose baby weight!  I just want to eat normal with a few treats here and there.  But my body is not responding to going back quite so easily.  I keep making new vows in eating but when it comes down to the moment, I just don't want to care that much or I can't make a plan stick.  I can't even write down my food for more than 2 days.  I just don't seem to have the energy for it.

So I go back to that word of Nourish.  What does it mean to nourish myself and my family.  I know I have such a long way to go in the feeding of my family.  I have come to think that many moms probably choose what their focus will be in tending.  It is hard to do it all equally well.  I tend to focus on a teaching my kids, having a clean house, and making some time for me to regroup.  Unfortunately, meal planning and executing does not come easily and being in the kitchen for long periods of time is usually not my first pick.  But my family is my first pick and one of my goals of the year was to nourish them with good food.  I don't feel I am doing great at that right now.  And nourishing them with my sleep so I can rise and be a blessing is not always happening.

I hope to have my word sightings in these areas in the days ahead.  I know there is good in being kind to ourselves and patient.  I also want to be on the lookout for creative ways I can accomplish these goals.  And I just would love to see movement in these areas.  I see there is good that my word is coming to me in these ways and I want to answer back.