Enjoying my regular, everyday life!

I really enjoy the life that God has given me. Period.

Is it because I have all that I want right now? No. Is it because I have achieved all of my goals already? Nope. Is it due to the fact that my life is devoid of struggles and challenges? Not at all!

There are still things that are undone, things that I am still striving for, tasks that I am still in the midst of. We are in the middle of rearing 3 amazing kids who have their own uniquenesses and things which they are overcoming. I have walked through the sudden loss of a parent, a season of lingering physical fatigue, and I have homeschooled our brood for over 11 years. My husband and I pastor a church, AND he works a 9-5 at our local university. There is a lot going on in my life, and, as you know in your own life, it tends not to be smooth sailing all of the time!

So what is it that keeps me enjoying this precious life that I live, that I have been given, even when I hit the bumps and go through the valleys?

In my teens and twenties, I really liked the idea of living from one mountaintop experience to the next. I really didn't like the valleys of life, and surely I didn't want to think that I would have any. Nevertheless, I did, and I needed to learn how to navigate them without losing my joy. Now that I am in my early 40s, I see things a bit differently, and I feel more seasoned and better equipped to handle the viccistudes of life (thank you for that cool word, Bishop Jakes!) here are some of the things that keep me even keeled and able to enjoy my regular life:

Walking with the Father, spending time hearing from Him. The Lord is my everything and my life, and time with Him is precious and time well-spent. He can speak to my heart in ways that only He can, and one whisper from Him changes me completely!

Making memories with people I love. Whether I am at my favorite place in the world (Disney World, if you don't already know) with my family, or simply puttering around the house on a rainy day, I am learning that there are memories to be made! Doing someone goofy together, making up jokes, cooking a meal, or watching a fun movie with each other...these all have potential to bond us together in unforgettable ways. I am always up for a special memory!

Savoring those memories through pictures. In my tender 43 years, I am learning the great value of capturing life on film. I love having a camera in my phone because I can catch a moment that may otherwise pass me by.

Knowing that God has good stuff ahead for me. Even when things feel a bit humdrum in my life, I take comfort AND confidence in knowing that the best in my life is yet to come! Gods Word tells me (in Jeremiah 29:11) that God thinks good thoughts about me and wants to give me a future and a hope. He wants to prosper me and not harm me. Those words remind me that my life has direction and purpose in His hands...exciting!

Seeking to be prepared. The peaks and valleys of my life are coordinated in God's hands to prepare me for His purposes, His delights. The dry times and the fertile times can both be appreciated as things that are moving me forward in my destiny, so I don't have to get frightened or unsure about my life...He's got me.

My life is good - great really - and it's not because everything is perfect. God has taught/is teaching me how to navigate the fluctuations, and I am grateful. And that is what helps to make my regular, everyday life anything but!