How To Make The Most of Your 30’s.

As the world dresses in their finest and heads out for a night on the town with parties and fancy drinks my night looks slightly different, and exactly right for me. I’m snuggled up at home in my cozy jammies with a fire burning. 4 sleeping babies that aren’t so baby anymore are tucked in their beds. An obnoxious dog is snoring on the couch and my husband is desperately trying to stay awake by my side.

I’m entering the last year of my 30’s and I find myself a little extra reflective of late. I couldn’t have imagined my 30’s. I had two of four of my children in my 30’s (wait!! I have 4- FOUR!!!- children!! I was either nursing or pregnant for 6 of those 10 years!!). I survived a 7.0 earthquake in one of the poorest countries in the world, fell in love with that country and its people visiting another half a dozen times. I moved houses and sent my babies to school (The baby starts in September!!). I started working at the church part-time, to full time and then the process of believing and pursuign my ordination. I made some beautiful new friends, mostly all by accident. I traveled to Texas for a Women’s writing and speaking conference, which was part of rediscovering (still am) myself and my voice. I wrestled into a much deeper love with my husband than I could have possibly imagined (wrestled because love isn’t a walk in the park, but is so worth it). I struggled through some rough sicknesses and a seriously busted up limb… and so much more than I can remember really.

I have much to learn, but I’m determined headed into the last year of my 30’s to make the most of it, by practicing the 30’s. 30 minutes a day in the simple things I’ve learned over the last 38 years that I don’t necessarily do, but make all the difference.

1. 30 Minutes of Quiet with my Maker. Not busy quiet, where I’m doing for God with a devotional plan or preparing something for work, but just sitting and being with God, quietly.
2. 30 Minutes of Moving. Not high intensity work out plans and commitments that I will fail at after 3 days, just moving my body to get it healthy.
3. 30 Minutes of Writing. I find my voice and sort out my thoughts through writing. Whether letter writing/journaling to God, writing a blog post or maybe even putting that book to paper, I need to write for me.
4. 30 Minutes of Food Prep. I don’t eat well or healthy on the fly. I feel better when I eat better. I need to prep for the next day.

Where am I, oh full time working Mom of 4, going to find this extra 2 hours a day? Hmmm, I know this is the tricky part.

Quiet and Writing happen best for me after the house settles, so I’m thinking that’s going to have to be my 9-10PM routine.

Is it possible for me to work food prep into supper clean up and bath time? Maybe… Maybe I’d best try to prep a week on Saturday? This will be a challenge and demand some shifts in my Saturday’s…

Movement- this always seems so selfish, but I’m thinking it’s going to have to be on the way home from work- somehow…

What does this mean? It means if these things that I know make all the difference are going to happen in my life I’ve got to put some healthier parameters on my work time and be more intentional with my family time, while prioritizing my 30’s.

Yeah, I’m nervous about 2019, what I know is coming, what I can’t even anticipate is coming, but I also know that if I prioritize my 30’s regularly, it makes all the difference.

So, from my cozy spot tonight on the couch in my flannels- To the 30’s!