The multiple fish fry: Living a Life of Expectancy

So here I find myself, walking a new journey beyond the Looking Glass, saying yes to things I would have cringed at and worried about before.  I am trying desperately to walk this new path with a peace in my step and a calm in my heart. And most of all with expectancy for the things to come. Mostly I am succeeding by constant reminders from the Lord that He is right beside me and has opened up these new opportunities for me in my cry for help.  I have to be honest though, underlying it all, I have a nervousness about me.  Will it all prove to be too much? Can I trust that His yoke is easy and His burden light?  Will all these new items on the menu, prove to get overcooked, underdone or worse still burned?  Or will I trust His timing and His plan for the meal?

I am still frying up all the same main dishes as before.  Kids schedules on one burner, husbands needs on another one, household duties on another... these are the old familiar ones that tend to burn without constant stirring.  They need to be salted to keep tasty, and need my engagement and action to keep the boiling going.  The fun part is now I have several more burners going with a few extra side dishes... I'm writing more, speaking to women more, recently I have contributed my voice to a new choral group, I may be using my acting skills again (this one is a secret which I'll share if it pans out), I have been making props with my artistic side for my daughter's play, and on the side enjoy my new craft room making cards for friends or trying out new techniques. I am also taking a Beth Moore Bible Study which is challenging me and growing me....Whew... feels like a lot of fish to fry.  All of them are just beginning to cook, and if I stop and really think I feel a bit overwhelmed.

So will the new Alice please stand up!  The one with all her "muchness".  I have already grown and shrunk over and over in the last few months.  I seem and feel my own height again. You'd think all the stretching would make all of this seem normal almost a relief. Yet I find myself with new questions. Can and will I walk in the confidence of Christ?  Can and will I chose to keep Him as the main author of my time, my passions and my hopes?  He is the Prince of Peace after all.  I just have to keep Him as Prince over it ALL...Let Him turn up the flame over these new ventures, and turn down the ones that He doesn't have in mind for me now. Let Him be the author and perfecter of my faith. Let Him be the ruler.  It is then that He is the Prince of Peace for my life!!

Being "MUCH" but staying disciplined!

So I have recently discovered a new contrast in life. Discipline brings freedom.  Now that I have returned to being a person of passion.  Now that I am feeling alive again.  A new truism has dominated my landscape.... I must stay focused and disciplined even in the face of new ideas, new opportunities and new dreams.  I cannot in my passion for living lose sight of the basics. Yes, the newfound 'muchness' has made me busy.... ok 'busy' is not quite the right word, 'full' is a better one.  As my neighbor said to me one day... "your dance card is full"  Its a perfect description 'cuz boy am I dancing but boy is life 'full'.  Maybe because I am a mom or maybe it is part of feeling determined and passionate about what is important to me, but I find the more I stay focused and disciplined about all the do-overs in my life...the more I am sure to exercise, get proper rest, eat right, keep the house tidy, and spend quality time with my family....then the more I find freedom to do the things I am passionate about doing. I can say it has taken courage to step out into new opportunities.  Courage to keep at it and try some new things outside my comfort zone. But it has also required real discipline.  I have a lot of people relying on me. I can't let my new hobbies or ideas or current fads rule the roost around here.  I can and do have the space for it, but only if I stick to it, keep to my schedule, get proper sleep and exercise, and not let anxiousness about tomorrow rob me from today.

No worries...gals... I am not attempting to be SUPERMOM....I don't think she exists but if she does she is definitely not me. All I am saying is as hard as I have worked to bring this discipline into my life... I am realizing my zest for life can co-exist in that realm as well. Spontaneous, alive, and giggly Kelly can thrive in a world with order and regiment.  Hmmmm.... discipline brings freedom.... not at all what I expected to learn in life!!!