LIVE WELL
Visit Carol Showalter's new blog, "Lighten Up!" where she explores how to live well and keep things in balance with joy and humor.
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Carol's Monthly Message
Sometimes we think that summer is the time we live well . . .
travel, vacation, no school, family visits, more relaxed schedules. But guess what? Most of us are ready for fall in more ways than one. So often our lives tend to be more "out of control" when there is no schedule. We want to believe we were meant for more space, more time and more travel - but reality comes crashing in! When I was raising five children I remember coming home from vacation totally exhausted! It seemed like I did everything I usually did, but with a lot less convenience. I cooked, I did laundry, I made meals. Friends at church would say, "Did you have a great vacation?" or "Are you refreshed and ready for the new church year?" I didn't want to complain or be negative, so I just smiled and jumped right into the busy fall season.
Stop for a few minutes now and breathe in the fresh fall air. Thank God for your summer and the fun things that you did, but also thank him that every fall is a new opportunity to get back on track. It is time to set the alarm, get up early, have some quiet time with God, and plan each day and each week with a little more discipline. Think about the creative things you want to accomplish this fall . . . knitting some Christmas items, framing some pictures, entertaining some friends over a cup of tea. Let your life blossom with new color just as the trees will blossom all around you - and expect the beauty of God to fulfill your life in new ways.
Happy Fall!
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