-ing

¹  a suffix of nouns formed from verbs, expressing the action of the verb or its result

Since I have been off on my year long sabbatical, I have run into many an acquaintance who have asked me the million dollar question:

  What have you been doing now that you are not working?

And, each time, I stand there puzzled as to how I could properly answer the question of the year.

So, in attempt to come up with a reasonable response I thought I would make an -ing list. 

A list of everything I am do-ing, during this amazing season that I have been blessed with.

Reading {Books} 

For the record, this is what I was most excited about, but, just as before, the days often whisk by and my eyes fall fast asleep before I can read more than a page.

Waking the Dead: the Glory of a heart fully alive: I have been reading this book since I attended Mars Hill's Pursuit of Wholeness Retreat in September.  I find John Eldridge to be absolutely captivating.  The way in which he uses words to speak truth fascinates me.  Page by page I learn more about my heart and what God designed it for, and although I pick up the book at random times, I am in awe of the timeliness of God's message each time I reach for it.

The Bible : Katie invited me on this journey in August.  Our original plan was to read through the Bible in 90 days.  Life happened, however, and we have given ourselves grace and the goal to finish it in one year, cover to cover.  I am currently stuck in Jeremiah and not ashamed to say that any prayers that I would get out of Jeremiah would be appreciated. Although I have enjoyed most of the Bible,  I look forward to the new testament, and I am still wondering why so many people name their sons Jacob.  I was not impressed with the whole Rachel and Leah thing.

Reading {Blogs} 

I can't help it.  There is some good stuff out there.

Bleeding Out Loud : Brad Nelson, a pastor at our church, is the author of this blog, and I find it to be challenging and full of truth.  In this season of my life the words written here have impacted me profoundly.

Shauna Niequist : What can I say? She's real. She's authentic. She drinks wine. What's not to love?

Under the Sycamore : I stumbled upon this blog via Pinterest, discovered she is adopting a baby from China, and I have been hooked ever since.  She just wrote an amazing post on having a voice {something near and dear to my heart lately} that you should definitely check out.  And. She's creative to boot!

Watching

  

Friday Night Lights : Exceptional writing paired with Matthew Saracen, {I always root for the underdog/nice guy} Tim Riggins, {and eventually the bad boy grows on me too} and Coach Taylor have left me no other choice than to be secretly watching episodes, so as  not to reveal my addiction.  And, Tammi Taylor. Oh, how I've always wanted to be the wise, strong, no bull s*!# woman behind her man.

Hallmark Countdown to Christmas : I know.....  Not so great writing paired with unknown, awful actors...but there is always a story of redemption, and oh how I love even a horribly written story of redemption.

Cooking  

I know! Who knew? 

Clean Eating Fried Rice : Oh. my. delicious. I have made it several times over and it is a hit every time.

Taco Rice Bowl  : More rice, I know, but it almost makes me feel like I am eating at Wow Bao in Chicago.   So, I eat lots of it to feel the pseudo euphoria of being on a fun weekend getaway.

Quinoa Burgers : Quinoa is my discovery of the year! A grain, that you can throw in anything, and it's good for you.  It had me from Hello.

  

Eating

I won't waste your time on the nitty gritty details on this one, but I have eaten some really good food lately! 

My new favorite, just discovered today, is Caribbean Coconut gelato. I ate the whole thing. By. Myself.

Listening 

Mat Kearny : We fell in love in Chicago and I haven't been the same since.

Need to Breathe : This one snuck up on be, but when my heart heard soul in their music it hit me like a ton of bricks. Simply amazing.

Moving

After 1 year filled with 5 workouts a week, I am still moving.  And, the only reason I am moving is because I am surrounded by amazing friends who have made me want to be a better woman. {Kt, Kmac & B, you know I'm talking about you} I love these girls so much that I agreed to run the 25k with them this spring... even though I would rather give birth without an epidural than run that thing... I know... love.


Living

I have simply been living life the way I have longed to live it for a long time, in community.  I am spending quality time in conversation with friends, taking in the small moments that I would have otherwise missed, and enjoying all of the friends and family that surround me. I am truly blessed.

Creating 

This has been one of my favorite parts of this season in my life.  A courage I have never known has been emerging as I have been able to express my creativity in ways I never dared before.  For the first time in my life I am looking for ways to create beauty, instead of waiting for someone else to do it for me.  It has been freeing, absolutely, freeing.

Enjoying 

I had to save the best for last, because, it truly sums up my doings.  I have simply been enjoying the simple pleasures of staying home. 

Each morning I get to walk Gibson to the bus, give him a hug and wave to him as he goes to school.  I then get to spend the rest of the day with my Elliott, setting off on any adventure we choose for the day.  

When the school day is done, I stand in the doorway, waiting to welcome Gibson off of the bus.  Each day he runs up to the to me with his signature smile and tells me how awesome his day was.

He and Elliott reunite and play for the rest of the evening.

As they run off to the basement, I often stand in awe, enjoying, the blessing of the time that I have been given to spend with my boys.

And, at the end of the day, and at the end of this year, if enjoying is my sole answer to the burning question of how I spent my time, I would have to say that it was a year well spent.