We just finished up one week of spring break and are starting down the road of spring break number two, and I am ready for a vacation! I mean, I’m ready for a vacation from this vacation. Do you ever feel like that? I think much of it for me is largely because I’m an introvert. Being around a lot of people is draining for me, and I need my personal space to be able to recharge. The first few days of spring break #1 were especially challenging. We were all adjusting to having everyone here or an extended period, and I think we were all wearing on each other’s nerves. While we give a lot of grace during the transitions, it is still exhausting!! I felt like my space was being invaded constantly. I could not find space to just be alone!
Ultimately, we had a family pow wow after dinner one night, and really talked through things as a family. Expectations were recalibrated and clearly communicated. We still heard “but it’s not fair,” mostly from my two kiddos. It is hard to see your step siblings enjoying vacation while you’re still having to go to school and do homework. Even though we reminded them that they would have this week off while the other kids were in school, they pointed out “but they don’t have to see it!” Touché. While there is nothing we can do to change the different school schedules, at least this gave us a glimpse into how they think and process some of the situations that happen in blended families. I’m reminded that they did not choose this situation. The kids did not choose for their parents to be divorced, nor did they choose for us to be remarried. It is not reasonable to expect them to instantly be ok with whatever comes their way. They have to process through things, just as we adults do. I am grateful that the week turned around for DJ and his kids; I enjoyed hearing about their day when I got home from work.
One thing we did finish up the first week of spring break was my garden fencing! We have been making investments in our garden each year. This is our third summer garden, and I am so excited about it. We let our chickens free range as much as possible, but their favorite place to be is in my garden beds!! We finally had to invest in some fencing to keep them out of it, as much as possible. I was so excited when we finished it because this garden is my little piece of “me” space. The kids don’t usually want to be out there helping me, and it gives me a time and space to unwind from the day. I can’t say I’m the best gardener, but gardening has become something that I really enjoy doing. Minus the turkeys gobbling and the dogs barking at the chickens, it is a respite area for me to recharge.
I have been blessed this week to spend time with other small group leaders and a women’s ministry group. We have really felt as if our household has been under spiritual warfare since we began this blended family ministry just over a year ago. The last few weeks, it seems to have reached a whole other level of chaos, and we are getting weary. But, through these meetings, I have felt refreshed and rejuvenated knowing that we have people praying alongside us and walking this path with us. I have been reminded of the power of prayer and the authority that has been given to us.
“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”
Luke 10:19 NLT
One of the songs from our HUGS meeting last night was “This Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham. The verse that stuck out to me the most and is very fitting for our lives right now was this one:
I don’t know why I’m always surprised when I hear a song that just speaks so much to what is going on in my life. Our life has been chaotic for some time now. Starting and growing a business, stresses at our normal jobs, legal battles galore, struggles with the kids, trying to figure out how to best help our family as we adjust to this blended family life, financial battles, feelings of fatigue and weariness, uncertainty in where God is leading us. It. Is. Exhausting. But God is doing something. We know He is moving in us and in our family. But we are in a battle against the enemy who wants to steal our joy and steal our dreams. He might’ve even been winning there for a bit. But we are taking a stand against him and God will be victorious. There will be a testimony at the end of all of this.
In order to take that stand, I believe that prayer is going to be the greatest weapon we have to fight with. Creating a prayer space in our home has been something I have wanted to do since the first time I saw War Room. Our house is functional, but doesn’t have a lot of extra space in it. Because our bathroom gets used by the kids too, even our bedroom isn’t a sacred space for me to get away from everything. (We really need to get a sign on the door saying “knock first please.”) My project for this second half of spring break has been to create a prayer corner inside our bedroom closet. It’s not finished, and it’s not really ideal. However, it’s what I can do for now, and I don’t think God cares where we pray, just that we pray. This gives me a space to close off the outside world and focus on what God is telling me to do.
We still have activities planned for the rest of the week, but I am looking forward to taking time out of each day to pray over our family, over our household, over our business and finances. Know that we do pray over each of our families in our ministry group, and for everyone who reads this blog. If you would like specific prayer, please reach out to me: livinglifeblended@gmail.com. We would appreciate prayers for our sanity on week two of spring break. 