Showing posts with label Relationship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relationship. Show all posts

2.13.2014

Intentional.


The house is still. Felix is down for the night, Willow is snuggled up next to me and Josh is spending some time out with friends.

Life has been exquisite. There is a predictable rise and fall of our mornings, afternoons and evenings. Our little family of three gracefully dancing together with comfort and familiarity. Serving one another. Loving one another. Even studying one another and learning how each one of us tick. What our individual, likes, desires and passions are. Watching and learning to see how the calling that God placed on each of us emerges in our daily choices, emotions and fascinations.

Josh, for instance, really loves it when I give him my full attention during conversations. No phones, no dishes, no folding laundry. I'm working on that, and can already see a difference in our relationship. Felix really loves to be held and involved in our work in the kitchen. Whenever possible I pull up a chair and let him hold a few plastic cups under the running water while I do the dishes, or that 22 lb boy is balanced on my hip trying to see what i'm pulling out of the fridge or what the cream looks like going into the coffee.

I've even been learning about myself. I feel my best when I get a shower, some alone time to create AND some time with friends. So going out of my way to meet up for coffee, working out, strumming my guitar, or play dates are vital water to my soul. I also really love the moments when all three of us are together. In the morning laying side by side with Felix leaning back on his Daddy resting for a few minutes before we rise into the bustle of a new day. In the evenings when we eat a meal together and then play on the living room floor before bath and nighttime prayers. And even sometimes a special afternoon get together, like we had today. 

We took advantage of the warmer temperature and had a snack at a park near Josh's work. Felix was so happy. He laughed and screamed as he explored the outdoors with fresh eyes after weeks cooped up inside. No one else was at the park, so we let him wander pretty far from us, but still within eye sight. Every now and then he would stop and pick a little stick up off the ground, or smack the side of the slide just to see what would happen. A child's discovery of life is a wonder to behold.

And then Josh called for him and our little man shrieked happily and ran to us in these tiny baby steps that almost made it seem like he was running in place. Laughing and squealing the whole way back to our bench swing. I honestly couldn't help but tear up a little at the beauty that is our little family.

Anyway, I know that's sappy, but life has been good and purposefully taking time to learn about each other has been fruitful. I have found that unless I willfully pour into Josh and Felix then those relationships end up just floating by aimlessly. I will go through the motions and not truly find the joy in the special bond I have with each of them. And these are THE most important relationships I have.

I guess the moral of the story is rhythm is good. Predictability is good. There is an intimacy that comes with the simple steady flow of the everyday. But, the comforting cadence of daily life shines best when paired with a melody of intentionality.

3.02.2009

Wired That Way

Yesterday I went to the Vineyard women's book club meeting. I wasn't all that pumped about going because I hadn't read the book, but like my previous post said, I can't stand being home alone for more than 12 hours at a time. It starts to wear on my nerves. So I went.

The book that the women had read is called Wired that Way by Marita Littauer. It is a non-fiction book about the 4 different personality types, their strengths and weaknesses as well as how to relate to and please the other personality types that aren't your own. Not gunna lie, I was very intreigued. I was the only strong "Popular Sanguine" personality type out of the 15-20 women who were present. In reality I am a combo of "Popular Sanguine" and "Powerful Choleric."

As christians reading the book we are challenged to figure out our personallity type, realize what weaknesses we have and try to work on those issues that may offend or hurt others. It was funny reading through the personality types and realizing how accurate they were in the strengths and weaknesses that I posess. Here are just a few of the Sanguine/Choleric Strenghs and weaknesses that I relate to.

Sanguine Strenghs I feel I have
  • Talkative storyteller
  • good sense of humor
  • emontional and dmonstrative
  • expressive
  • curious
  • good on stage
  • lives in the present
  • volunteers for jobs
  • Charms others to work/join
  • starts in a flashy way
  • Seems exciting
  • Loves people
  • Thrives on compliments
Sanguine Weaknesses I have
  • Compulsive talker
  • Exaggerates
  • has a loud voice and laugh
  • scares some people off
  • gets angry easily
  • Controlled by circumstances
  • Complains
  • Undisciplined
  • easily distracted
  • hates to be alone (see yesterday's post)
  • interrupts and doesn't listen
  • answers for others
  • Wants to be opular
  • Wants to be center stage
Choleric Stregths I have
  • Leader
  • Strong-willed and decisive
  • independent
  • sees the whole picture
  • moves quickly to action
  • stimulates activity
  • Will lead and organize
Choleric Weaknesses I have
  • Impatient
  • Quick tempered
  • Comes on too strong
  • Little tolerance for mistakes
  • Make rash decisions
  • May be rude or tactless
  • decides for others
I think knowing more what I am helps me to understand why sometimes other people just rub me the wrong way. After the book-club meeting I asked around to see if I could borrow someones book. I am so excited to read it and figure out what Josh and my family/friends are so I can learn to relate to them in a better way.

3.01.2009

Silent House

After a weekend of non-stop movement and people filling our house I sit on a Sunday afternoon in a quite and empty condo. Josh has gone to Indianapolis for the day and Nathan, Joanna, and Ayla are at church/Jo's parents for the day.

I spent the morning slowly waking up, cleaning from the previous night's festivities, catching up on the best TV show ever (LOST), doing yoga, and wrapping up the mound of laundry that needed to be done. A leisurely morning doesn't happen often around here. I really enjoy it from time to time, but after a while it starts to feel odd....where is everyone? I wish they were home so I could at least be typing this blog next to someone I love. Even if Josh were just in the other room working on ESL Basics or if Jo were upstairs feeding the Ayla I would at least be surrounded by the ones I care about.

It is hard for me to picture myself living alone ever again. When the condo is empty it starts to feel cold and stale...that could have something to do with the snow that came last night or it could be that humans are made to be in community. God made us as relational beings and even if it's hard to find a moments peace and quite when the house is full...I much prefer it that way. :)