A Quiet Writing Place for Mama

"Writing is a way of slowing us down and opening our eyes to see what we do not otherwise see."

~John Piper

 

 

This is my week to give attention to ordering my home.  It has been a very full summer of events and fellowship--which has been wonderful, if at times a bit breathless!  So now my house needs some TLC as we start to look toward the school year.  I'm really not so ready for that yet.  I'd rather spend time savoring the summer while it lasts.  But a little planning is necessary to get where we are aiming.  And it cannot be all done at once.  A little here, a little there.

 

I was inspired to de-clutter, re-organize, and spend a little time locating some specific furnishings to help me reach my goal.  As I had a little bit of birthday money, I took Country Girl and Young Warrior on an outing to our favorite local antique store.  After getting a little sidetracked by a costume store on the way, (going through racks of Civil War gowns, officers' uniforms, Victorian and Colonial dresses!), we arrived at our destination and the browsing began.

 

I found a couple of things I was looking for at reasonable prices.  Today I will highlight my new little writing desk corner.  I had wanted one of these little secretary desks for quite awhile.  I love to write and I suppose I have this romantic sort of vision of ladies in history (or BBC movies set in England?) sitting at their writing desks to pen precious letters to loved ones.  So when I spotted this one, it seemed like the perfect size, color and price!  I love its simplicity.  And this old Victorian chair goes so nicely with it. 

 

After a little bit of furniture rearrangement, I found just the right corner for it.  Though ideally I would probably like this in my bedroom, right now it does not fit so well.  I think its location in one of our main living areas will be suitable.  My main challenge here might be that it is not always so quiet.  But the children know that this is Mama's quiet corner and not a place for them to play.

 

 

I also found the painting and the lamp at the same antique mall, and they add just the right touch!

 

I added the little chalkboard frame which I created for a baby shower that I hosted last week.  I plan to use it to highlight verses I am studying and want to consider and meditate on for a longer time.

 

 

It has been a delight to have this space for my quiet times and Bible study!  I am so thankful for the Lord's provision of this desk.  It is truly a little writing haven for Mama.  A place of beauty, and a place to minister from (and be ministered to as well).

 

And now....I am surely hoping to be inspired in my correspondence.  I have many thank-you notes to catch up on.  I look forward to moments of writing good old-fashioned handwritten notes and letters to dear friends and family, near and far.

"I know not how the light is shed,

Nor understand this lens.

I only know that there are eyes

In pencils and in pens."

 

~John Piper

 

 

 

Time Well Spent

 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

~Ephesians 5:15-17, ESV

I appreciate messages, books, and sermons in the month of January that remind me to take time to evaluate and plan.  I do want to make the most of my time---or rather, His time, which I am a steward of.  I LOVE planning and thinking and I never seem to think there is enough time for it.  As much as I thrive on it, there are times and seasons where I feel like I just can't squeeze it in to busy days and I try to tell myself it will be okay.  But my spirit gets cluttered and pretty soon everything is out-of-focus and my vision is blurry.  I really need to preserve time for planning and evaluating--in order to hear from the Lord, prioritize, be renewed in vision and spirit so that I can joyfully keep on giving.  At the beginning of a new year I am considering how to spend our time and days this year.  I am reading a delightful little book, Shopping for Time, by Carolyn Mahaney and daughters.  I'm finding it such a helpful little read from this wise woman as she has discipled her daughters in how to look carefully, evaluate, and redeem the time.

One of their tips is to "Sit and Plan."  In other words, to take a planning retreat--be it a night or weekend away, or just a few hours.  Sally Clarkson often talks about this as well.  I have heard her "voice" reminding me that I need to do what is necessary for me to keep on going.  I need to protect that vision and joy so that I will persevere and not give up on my ideals or become complacent (or just plain not very fun to be around).  I cannot do anything in my own strength and this becomes readily apparent when I start operating without taking time to be still--to sit and plan.

"...so we can't afford to put off charting a course for life's seasons because we are too busy.  The pressures of life are, in fact, the very reason we need to sit and plan."

~Carolyn Mahaney, Shopping for Time

The authors remind us that Jesus withdrew from ministry at set times to pray and discern the Father's will (Luke 5:15-16).  I like to think of it this way:

To advance in the battle we need times of retreat 

I took such an opportunity this week as Warrior and all children, except baby, headed to the mountains for some snow play.  Oh, it was delightful to enjoy a quiet house and I could feel myself being filled up!  Thoughts started flowing as I read, considered the Word, and listened (and wasn't interrupted).  I finished putting my planner together, being content to put together my own this year in a format that works for me.  It was all just so encouraging and so fruitful, for just the few short hours they were.

I am hoping to preserve more consistent planning retreats this year--on a weekly basis would be nice.  I have heard the following quote repeatedly for the past several years (and again in the January sermon I was privileged to hear recently), an find it to be true and helpful:

Write down what you believe to be the will of God in a place where you can see it in time to take obedient action.

~Gregg Harris 

This is really the only way I can see any progress on my goals.  Otherwise, they end up buried in "my brain" (aka personal planner) and I easily forget them.

May you be encouraged to take some time to sit and plan at the Master's feet.  I believe you will be refreshed and rewarded with joy and perseverance to live out your days well by glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

A Perfect Bookshelf Solution

In the early fall, as school preparations were in full swing, I noticed this grand idea in a few places around the internet.  I tucked it away as something I thought would be perfect for my Princesses' bunk bed.  You see, we are a little bookish around here (rather, A LOT bookish to be sure)!  And as a result, we have this problem.  Books all over the bed, stacked at the foot of the bed.

I also believe in each child having their own spot to display a few of their own things.  So when I saw it, I fell in love with the idea.  What is it, you ask?  A bookshelf made of a vinyl rain gutter!  And if I had the space, I might just line an entire wall with these because I think they display books in such an attractive and winsome manner.  Just like when you go to a library or bookstore and you see the faces of books looking right at you and they beg you to pick them up and open the pages.

But not only do they hold books.  They also hold a few of a child's beloved treasures, like dolls and stuffed animals in our case.  And I love how they hold the books upright.  No more trying to find bookends to hold up the stack of books that wants to keep falling over.

I thought this was a grand way to make the most of the limited space a bunk bed has.  It was a great father-son project for my Warriors.  And it was easy!  Delightful and lovely and my Princesses are happy.  Mama is also happy for organization and no more book piles on the bed.  Maybe I should put some of these next to my bed?  I have a hard time containing my own pile of books!

For a tutorial on how to make these, visit here .