I havn't posted for a few weeks. We've been sick here and winter has hit in it's fury. Even today, we are still recovering from weeks of sickness. But I had this post started and I am hoping to finish it today. I apologize for the delay.
I've mused a lot about what I want to change, but how exactly am I working all of this into a rhythm for our life?
Here are the changes I've made so far. I don't expect them to be cast in iron, I expect them to be flexible so that they change as our life changes.
We are following a morning and evening rhythm. We get up with the sun and go to bed with it also. Now as the seasons change, the times here will change slightly as well. JJ always needs about 11-12 hours of sleep and I always need 8. So as the seasons change, we will have to adjust our sleeping a little bit, but I hope to keep them as close to what we have now as we can. Bedtime is 7:30 for JJ and 9:30 for me (or earlier if I so desire). Our morning begins at 6:30.
Our morning routine includes getting up and ready for the day and chores. Before breakfast we have prayer and blessing, and after breakfast our school time begins. Previously I have always scheduled in "times" for everything - Bible at 9:00, Math at 9:30, etc. Now my schedule has no times on it. Our day is a pattern. We flow from one class to the next, incorporating in free time and meals. I still have an order to our day (Bible, Math, Language Arts, free time, etc), but I do not set times for these things.
This will be a little harder for JJ to get used to, but I think it will be easier for him once he gets the hang of it. There are enough free times scheduled in so that if he dawdles, his free time dwindles. There are items on our outline that we can eliminate if we have doctor appointments or even field trips. The evenings are left to quietness. Computer is very limited and must be earned, ditto television. I am encouraging things such as reading, playing with toys, building with blocks, K-NEX, or outdoor time during free play. Today for example JJ rode his bike during one free time, and chose to read for his other. On other days we will go for a walk or maybe play board games together.
And beginning this Saturday we go back to resting on Saturday (morning and evening). Worship, on the other hand will be Sunday or Wednesday evening as we see fit. I won't be shackled with any "have to's" right now. I believe worshipping with other believers is extremely important. Unfortunately we have not yet, after trying dozens of churches, found one that really fits my idea of worshipping TOGETHER (being the operative word). We live in an area of mega churches. You know no one. Not the person sitting next to you, not the person teaching Sunday School, and you really don't get to know anyone unless you join in the idea of programs offered. Things like "small groups" are becoming the norm while church is a huge congregation of 2000 people. I'm still a firm believer of a neighborhood church. Some still exist, and we'll find the right one eventually. God will guide us. For now I've been rather convicted to slow down and not "try" to fit into the classic Christian idea of what is "right". That doesn't mean I make my own rules, it means I turn to God's Word, to prayer, and try to listen to that "still, small voice".
There have already been some major changes in our daily life from my reevaluation. I am definitely looking forward to seeing if these changes help myself but especially my ADHDer to find some rhythm - Godly rhythm.
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