I've been thinking a bunch about spiritual creation lately.
What, in Heaven's name, is "spiritual creation" you may ask? I think Max, as a missionary, had the best answer between some letters when we were discussing it a while back: "The importance of letting God know what our hopes are...telling Him what we are going to do and our goals, and asking for his help." When we do this sincerely, we are so much more likely to listen to little promptings or nudges I believe God is trying to send and fulfill our days (and weeks and months) as He wants us to.
I figured I'd talk about my latest thoughts here since I just came across this picture from the end of the Bear Lake reunion with Noah and Kristi holding up the "spiritual creation" award that my brother Tal gives out to new awardees at the end of the reunion each year. 
Yes, it's written on a paper plate (it is every year). But it's a pretty big honor in our family because all of us believe in the power of spiritual creation (I think our parents have engraved it's importance on our hearts through the years). Oh man I love those two up there...and oh boy are they ever "spiritually creating" these days, with a big move and starting a new company and raising six kids in such beautiful ways (Lucy still talks about how she joined their family for a little "devotional" before the reunion last year and how because of that very devotional she memorized the special scripture Grammie challenged them to memorize.) Yeah, they deserve that award, well placed, Tal :)
But I didn't want to post that picture in the jumble of other reunion pictures because the whole spiritual creation thing has been on my mind a lot lately, and I figured it deserved it's own post.
It's been on my mind partly because I'm telling you what, being up at that place at Bear Lake you can't help but think about spiritual creation. I love the goals and vision my parents had so long ago to "spiritually create" a place like that where we can be together over the years. Makes me and Dave ponder and discuss our own "thin place" we want to spiritually create for our own family. We've decided California for now (we can drive there relatively quickly and easily), but we'll see...still a work in progress. Just so glad that they created that vision not only for Eyres, but for Dave and I too. (yes, we're Eyres too, but you know what I mean?)
But I think most pressing right at this moment, I'm thinking of spiritual creation because the school year has begun and I'm feeling a need to spiritually create my time.
Why is it that it feels like I've come to a standstill of productivity now that I finally have a minute to breathe as my kids are in school all day? Of course, I'm productive with the things that I need to be, the fridge gets filled, meals get cooked, the house gets cleaned, house projects are in the process of getting crossed off, I've set some good goals and have started working in earnest on them, and I've worked through issues of all types (bad and good) with my children and husband. (The problems and issues keep getting bigger and more complicated as kids grow older, just as my wise mother let me know they would.)
Why is it that it feels like I've come to a standstill of productivity now that I finally have a minute to breathe as my kids are in school all day? Of course, I'm productive with the things that I need to be, the fridge gets filled, meals get cooked, the house gets cleaned, house projects are in the process of getting crossed off, I've set some good goals and have started working in earnest on them, and I've worked through issues of all types (bad and good) with my children and husband. (The problems and issues keep getting bigger and more complicated as kids grow older, just as my wise mother let me know they would.)
But in addition to the regulars, I'm just in that stage of having too many goals. I've put big projects on hold for the summer and now that we're here with school in session and I should have a moment to think, I want to get going on them and I find myself paralyzed. Because I feel like I should just be able to do them ALL. Right NOW! Which of course, does not work.
At the top of my priority list right now:
At the top of my priority list right now:
1) Figure out how to print out this blog. It's always a worry in the back of my mind that I have ten years of LIFE here that could somehow accidentally get deleted. Scares me but I'm paralyzed as to how to deal with it. My sister in law created a book for the 2006 year but that was a gift (one of the best ever...see it back HERE), and she's too expensive to do the rest :)
2) figure out how to revamp our family eating. Oh, I am ok at this. And I've talked about it incessantly on this blog (sorry). We work hard and most of the time we are all pretty dedicated to easing up on the sugar and trying all kinds of new recipes...after-school healthy snacks, healthy lunches, etc. (So many ideas have been shared here on this blog through readers and so many of them have been incorporated and fallen in love with...thank you!) But I wish I could realistically figure out something that would last, something to help our whole family, but specifically Lucy. My heart is ACHING that I can't seem to help at least the weight part of what she deals with. I know it takes determination, and I'm determined. But it also takes a malleable soul, and malleable is not something that Lucy is right now. She's more strong-willed and opinionated than ever before and it's like I'm walking on a mine-field to try to help her in any way these days. Her hormones are raging and you honestly never know when she is going to fall apart.
I took her in for her sixth grade shots and well check this morning. The doctor showed me her growth chart (that made me want to cry), and suggested perhaps we should limit juices and sugary food (which made me almost laugh...and cry too...he was new and didn't realize she's got some strikes going against her). I always try to will time to just stop for a minute so I can figure out this puzzle, but it just keeps going...pieces out of reach in the air, and it's overwhelming.
3) Get an on-going organizational system going. Like Mind organization for Moms, but something I can realistically do. All the time. Starting with my desk and moving out to everything else including emails and this blog and texts and papers...I need to get it all under control.
Those are just the tip of the iceberg.
So, why am I bringing this all up here?
Well, first of all: accountability. I'm hoping to come back later and tell you how I have taken some steps in the right direction on this stuff.
But second, I'm writing this here because I think we all have those goals of things we want to do looming in front of us, and all of them take a little spiritual creation, right? I don't think there's anyone out there who is reading this and thinking, "hmmm...weird...she doesn't have life in control...should be easy." If you are, please share your secrets! I think it's safe to say we all have things we're working on, and I love having the reminder that we can ask for God's help and direction.
In order to spiritually create these and other projects, I keep thinking about this talk (which I talked about back HERE), and I'm working on reining in the power of "spiritually creating" our days with a morning prayer. I'm telling you, my days go better when I start off connecting with God through prayer and listening for promptings throughout the day. I'm not saying it happens all the time, but I sure try because life and mothering keep getting more complicated and I need that connection to try to figure things out. Here's to hoping I can get some help from above for all the projects and motherhood work I want to do.
There you go, rambling thoughts on spiritual creation, one of the things on my mind these days.