Let Summer Vacation 2019 Begin

The birds are singing and brilliance of color fills the view from any window I look. It's a joy and blessing to know the alarm won't need to be set for bit. It wasn't until last night when I deleted all my notifications that I realized I was exhausted and needed a break. Once again my family saw it before I did. I slept in until 6 a.m. this morning, which is an hour and half later than normal.

I contemplated grabbing my Bible and sitting on the deck yet the insurmountable piles of disorganization and chaos surrounding me in every room I walked motivated me to get-r-done. I know myself too well, I would not focus on my reading, the birds singing, or the beauty around me until I have control of the interior of our home. Although I've never watched "Hoarders", our house isn't as bad as episodes my friends have talked about BUT it's the worst I've ever let it go. Hubby doesn't mind but my mother and grandmother would be mortified, this is bad, even for the relaxed in spirit and mind. I've got some work to do before enjoying the deck.

---

We have enjoyed the deck the past few evenings. Our trusty little grills works great yet thanks to my Dad, a sweet grill will be taking it's place. We're keeping this one for traveling and such because there isn't anything wrong with it.

An added joy of our deck is the opportunity to sit, technology free, and visit with family and friends. With the size and ease of today's cellular devices and assorted technological devices, it is difficult to get away. Our deck is the tech-free-get-away. I look forward to regaining our "home" inside so I can chillax outside with no worries and lists on the inside. 

---

Some people are gifted to forget about the piles within the house and simply enjoy the beauty and serenity of the deck. I have never been wired this way yet I've grown in the sense that prior to January 2019, I would have chosen sleep deprivation over the messy house. 

As I focus on "renewal" of my spiritual, physical, and emotional health...letting things go and prioritizing are necessary. As I type this I realize it is nearly hypocritical as I should have sat on the deck this morning instead of tackling the piles yet organizing at least one area inside allowed me to enjoy ten minutes outside that I couldn't have thinking about the magnitude of things to do. Life is learning the balance, understanding who we are, how we are wired, and accepting these things. We can't change who we are. If you accept the way you are made and wired, it's easy to keep the important things above the line while letting the not-so-important go. Give it a try.

---

I'm a planner, there are always lists. As I look forward to the short summer, there are things I'd like to do. They will uplift my spirits, renew my spiritual health, continue a healthier life style, and relaxation of both body and mind.

Here are a few things:
*Walk outside 4x a week
*Continue eating healthy
*Finish weeding the gardens at home
*Finish weeding the rock walkway in our backyard
*Weed the Heidi Allen Remembrance Garden 
*Attend a week long writers' conference
*Rebrand so the blog, podcast, writing, & speaking mesh 
*Update the budget
*Purge stuff we don't use or need
*Clean, I mean CLEAN the house (including the windows, lol)

---

What are your plans for the summer?