Days with the Dearmans: June 2013

It's summertime and we are loving it! We're getting into our "summer schedule" and adjusting to life with me being home again. The school year ended and here we are already a week into June. Since June is my birthday month and anniversary month, there's a lot to celebrate. I had a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating my birthday all week. I've felt so loved!

One thing about the summertime in south Louisiana is it is HOT and very HUMID! But that is why we spend a lot of time at the pool, inside, or staying outside for only a little while. We've actually had more visits to the pool already and we're loving it!

Something I've been wanting to challenge myself in is being content. For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to know- what's next? What can I do to stay busy today? What can I get for the house? What new clothes do I need (or nowadays, what new clothes does baby girl "need")? Anything to keep me going or having something to do with my time. I came across this blog, nancyrayphotography.com. On the blog(which is like ten times cooler than mine, by the way), she shares about a challenge she's doing called "The Contentment Challenge." As I read about it, I thought, "no way, this would be too hard for me." But as I started to really think about it and especially in the summer with more time on my hands, I knew I needed to do this right now. I prayed about it and I knew God was leading me to take on this challenge. Go ahead and look at the blog if you're interested in all the details and guidelines. The challenge is to "give up shopping for clothes, accessories, household decor, and "stuff" for 3 months to focus our hearts and minds on the root of true contentment. You actively pursue fulfilling activities that will replace your addiction to material things."(Nancy Ray)

So I'm not putting this on here to say, "look at me, watch me do this because I'm so awesome." By far, I'm putting it on here so that I can have accountability and maybe even encourage you to try it as well if you're struggling with this. It is to pursue something greater and something that has eternal fulfillment instead of temporary joy. Because usually when I buy that new item that I didn't need, it's only a temporary joy. The challenge is to help me gain perspective on the things that really matter and have eternal value. It is to help me to spend time resting, being more intentional with my time and ultimately being content. I'm doing it for the months of June and July.

My goals for June are to read the book "7" by Jen Hatmaker, get rid of clothes and stuff we don't use, learn some basics of sewing (got a sewing machine for my birthday), cook at least 4 times a week, and have/maintain a healthy lifestyle (eating, exercising, etc). Now, some of these are just basic goals and some have to do with the contentment challenge, but either way, there they are. I get a little nervous putting them here because that means you know what I'm working towards. But that is something else I really want for myself is to be more authentic, to not pretend I have it all together in front of other people. Because I DON'T and I desperately need Jesus. So, ultimately, I hope that's what you see, is my need for HIM in every aspect of my life. And this challenge is something I hope He uses to make me more like Him.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world." 1 Timothy 6:6-7