bliss...

On Sunday, I celebrated my 27th birthday. In a past post, I discussed a bit of anxiety I was having over becoming a 27 year old.

The update:

I never thought it would feel this good

Its as though overnight, I became an adult. I became sure of myself...sure of the future, no matter how uncertain. I'm happy, optimistic...and that post seems silly in retrospect. 27 seems to have turned over a new leaf for me. I'm making decisions...decisions about what kind of wife I will be, what kind of mother I will be. I'm making decisions about what I do with my time, how I take care of myself. I'm making decisions to be grateful, to be still, to listen. I'm making decisions about being a Godly woman, about surrendering. I'm prioritizing.

I have a great peace, as though someone cut the strings of my past and gave me a blank book to start writing in. As cheesy as it sounds, there is no better way of describing it. Its bliss.

change of scenery

Not only have a changed things up with my blog, but there may be a change in scenery in our life too. Tonight, we put in an offer on a home. Its location in the Chicagoland area is perfect...within walking distance from a downtown area, the metra and an amazing park. Its a small three bedroom with so much potential, we can't lose.

I'm not going to say much more about it until things progress a little farther. For those of you who pray, please pray for us and this home that may potentially be ours. ITS VERY EXCITING...but extremely stressful all the same :)

kill your television

Yesterday, Jon put away our television.

We've made this decision for a variety of reasons, most importantly that its been interfering with our time together. How easy it is to put on the TV when you are bored...nothing seems better than to sit and be brainless for a few hours. But in the midst of the simple act, things in our home have been sacrificed. When Alivia plays in the living room, she'll stop any time the TV is on, regardless of what is on, and watch. It is a constant disturbance of her playtime...something I dread will cause her to become one of those LAZY kids.

Then there are our beloved weekday evenings together. We don't have many in the Lindstrom home...and every single night we spend our time staring at the TV, making little interaction with one another that is at all meaningful, when really, we would both prefer something meaningful. We eat dinner in front of the TV, we spend all free time in front of the TV...it is ruining our home.

Both Jon and I dream of a life full of books, magazines, articles, long conversations, walks every evening, finding events in the area to do together, visits to Chicago, using our time to honor God...all these things taking the place of brainless activity.

I have a dear college friend named Leanne. I absolutely adore her blog and the way she lives her life. She is so creative, always thinking up something new, taking day trips I'd never even think of and just living. Her blog is full of her adventures and ventures and I always look forward to reading it with hopes that it will inspire me to do the same. Finally, without mindless distraction eating away every free moment of my life...I hope to do much of what she does with her days :)

I have no doubt this change will take some effort. I'm already having a little withdrawal...but I know its for the good. I know this will be one less thing keeping me from living my life, from living our life. Most importantly, I have faith that this act will improve our marriage, improve us as parents, improve our quality of life and bring us closer to the truth of God's purpose for us here. I'm sincerely looking forward to it.

missing my friends...

College was one of the best times in my life. I have the best memories, and I definitely met the BEST friends. Now we are all scattered across these great states, and well I'm blessed to have a few still close by...there are many I wish lived closer.

What would life be like if we all still lived together :)