Welcome to my weekly Sunday post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
****Why This Post is Late****
I’m late in getting today’s post up — for a very good reason! I spent the last two days almost completely offline just soaking up special one-on-one time with Kaitlynn attending the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
One of the big things I’m saying yes to during my #YearofYes is more one-on-one fun and adventures with my kids. As you probably know, I’m not naturally a spontaneous mom who chases fun.
But as my kids are getting older (Kathrynne turns 12 this week!!), I’m realizing more & more how fleeting these years are and how important it is that I take time to really listen to my kids, care about what they care about, and to step into their worlds with them.
So that’s why Kathrynne and I are having weekly dates (quality time is her love language), why I’m watching football with Silas (he loves, loves to explain all the plays and the positions to me and have me get all excited about the game!), and why I just spent the last two days in Kansas City with Kaitlynn taking in our first U.S. Figure Skating Championship together (I didn’t know it was possible to be so intensely passionate about something when you’re 9 years old. But this girl lives and breathes skating!)
I want to be more than just a spectator in my kids’ world. I want to make their world my world — even if their interests (hello, football!) aren’t naturally “my thing”. And thanks for your patience when real life trumps blogging! 🙂
What I’m Watching
We watched some of the Inauguration on Friday. Not all of it like we would have wanted to, because we were traveling a lot of the day, but we caught some parts of it and have had some lively political and worldview discussions as a result. It was such a good opportunity for so many important conversations with our kids.
I didn’t do much other watching this week except for hours and hours and hours of live figure skating! It was incredibly inspiring to see such talent on the ice and to see the determination and grit of skaters when they would fall and get right back up again. It was also so fun to get to be there live and in person to cheer the skaters on.
At the championships, there were so many new-to-me skaters I fell in love with and skaters I’ve long admired that I loved getting to see perform in person. Best of all, we actually had the opportunity to meet and interact with a number of the skaters either through the autograph signings or through just finding them out and about during the event.
Of all the skaters we met, I’d have to say that Jason Brown is the one who most impressed me. He was incredibly kind, genuine, and gracious… and Kaitlynn and I talked later about how much we can learn from his example.
What I’m Reading
I finished two books this week: Time Well Spent and A Trip Around the Sun. Both were very inspiring to me.
I read Time Well Spent while running on the treadmill (I figured out a way I can keep a good pace and still get in some reading on my phone!!) and thought it was packed with valuable insight. I ended up ending some of my workouts with hurriedly writing down notes because I was learning so much from it and wanted to get my thoughts onto paper before I lost them!
As someone who has loved everyone Mark Batterson book I have read, it’s not surprising that I also enjoyed A Trip Around the Sun. He co-authored it with one of his mentors and I loved reading more about their relationship in the book and getting the perspective of someone who was 70+ years! If you are looking for some encouragement to live a life of more adventure and excitement and want to glorify God in all you do, I’d heartily recommend this book!
This week, I’m reading: Answers to Prayer (an old Christian reprint), Be Real (a spiritually encouraging book), Settle for More (a story-driven book), and Thirty Chic Days (a book on life improvement).
I’m hoping to finish Settle for More and Thirty Chic Days. I’ll let you know how that goes next week! {See my Reading Goals for 2017. Also, see the 8 books I’ve read so far in 2017 here.}
What I’m Pondering
I woke up feeling discouraged and inadequate one morning earlier this week. I had a really long to do list. I had a number of must-do projects. And I was tired and worn out from a few really full days and some discouraging situations.
I felt like snapping at everyone about silly things, I felt frustrated that I was behind on projects, and I felt stressed about everything I felt I needed to cram into that day.
I then remembered the words of our pastor last Sunday, “God has an abundant supply of everything you need — if only you will but ask.”
Talk about a truth bomb!! I felt Him prompt me to trust Him with my to do list, release my stress and discouragement to Him, and literally rest in Him by going back to bed for 30 minutes.
Guess what?! When I woke up, I felt like a different woman! And He was so faithful to carry me through the rest of the day, provide enough time to do what needed to get done, shower me with unexpected encouragement, and to even give me some extra breathing room.
How often I miss these opportunities to see God show up and show His love for me because I’m trying to do things in my own strength — which only results in stress and frustration. His strength is definitely so much better than mine!
In Case You Missed It
My Posts This Week:
- How to Beat Winter Colds With Essential Oils
- 10 Simple Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill by $50 This Week
- How I Drink a Gallon of Water Every Day
- How to Actually Stick With Your Grocery Budget
My YouTube Videos This Week:
What are you watching, reading, or pondering this week? Leave a comment and let me know!
Melissa says
Fun fact: Stephen Reynolds (pictured above) used to be my girls violin teacher! We only had to find a new one because he needed more time to focus on skating and our schedule is really all over the place. But he ans Elicia are just as nice as they seem! And wicked talented. Do you know their back story of training themselves?
april says
I love the part at the end about relying on God for your direction and your to-do list. That’s a breath of fresh air. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Suzanne Challacombe says
Crystal,
I have been following you for 8 years, and have been inspired by your passions in many areas of your life.
My son, actually all our sons, (3) live in the Kansas City area, but one of them was able to secure tickets for us all to go to the performance Friday night. Soooo enjoyed it. I wish that I would have known that you were there, so I could of met you and your family.
This was my first time to see a live performance, and, of course, when I returned to my home, we watched the performances Saturday and Sunday, What a thrill!!
Enjoy your children…. they grow WAAAAAAY to fast!!!
Suzanne
Crystal Paine says
Oh!! It would have been fun to meet you all!
Rosanna says
I love that you are spending time with your kids. What a good reminder! I homeschool my kids, but it isn’t always easy to get one on one time with each one. I also relate to not being a very spontaneous Mom. That’s one thing I worked on a little last year, but want to continue to do more this year.
Hannah says
I found myself thinking of some of the lyrics to In Christ Alone today. “When fears are stilled, when strivings cease”. I find myself wrapped up in doing things in my own strength some days. Then the Lord reminds me I don’t have to strive. In His strength, with His will in mind and for His honor the piled up dishes, sick babies, school lessons and over due shopping trips don’t seem like too much. That old flesh sure likes to creep back up at us though. May the Lord continue to bless you!
Crystal Paine says
I love this! Thank you for sharing!
Amy says
That is so cool!! I was obsessed with figure skating from age 7-19, but I didn’t get to realy take lessons until I was 16 and able to pay for it myself. I did a lot of research for a book I was writing about Junior pairs figure skaters (LOVED the flexibility of home-schooling for my writing and my skating! :)) so I can relate to her living and breathing that world. 🙂 I attended several regional and sectional competitions and got to volunteer when my club hosted Midwesterns and the Junior Olympics (at the time it was Nationals for Juvenile and Intermediate but I know skating has changed a lot since I was in high school!) ; that was SO fun. Never attended full-on Nationals though; what an awesome experience and how special for you two to attend that together! Thank you for inspiring me as a mom! (I have two boys and we don’t have a lot of inherent shared interests. ;))
Crystal Paine says
Yes!! Figure skating is SO inspirational!
Christine says
Your lucky your kids enjoy spending time with you. Mine are the opposite and have no interest in spending time with me. One year I gave them “dinner out with mom” coupons in their stockings. They were never redeemed 🙁 I’ve read the 5 Love Languages of Children and have yet to figure out their languages. I just know it is not quality time with mom.
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
How fun that you were able to go to the Figure Skating Championships! What a great experience!
Kelly Hess says
My boys are 8 and 11 and I make a conscience effort to watch NBA games with them. We are from Cleveland and big Cavs fans! I am amazed how much they know about the game and players. We all stayed up way too late on Saturday watching the Cavs and Spurs in overtime. Great time with my boys and husband!
Crystal Paine says
I love it!!
Nikki says
I am grateful this post is late, as it reminds me that I too need to spend more one on one time with my children. By far, my marriage and family are always listed as my “top” priorities after a relationship with my heavenly Father and Lord Savior, but I feel sometimes life just get’s in the way. I re-read an old post you made about a time budget, and I used that over the weekend to “schedule” in an hour each day to spend with my girls (3&7), and an hour with my husband. You inspire me to remember to put our really important priorities first. Thank you for making this post late!
Mrs U says
Love that you figured out your children’s love languages and are loving them like they need!!! My oldest definitely is a quality time person…. weekly dates is an excellent idea!!!
You amaze me with all the books you read! My goal is one a month! ?
His
Shari
Crystal Paine says
Ha! Well, I’m sure there are many other things you do that I don’t. So be encouraged!
Aimee Hadden says
“I want to be more than just a spectator in my kids’ world. I want to make their world my world” – wow. This really captures what I desire in my relationship wit h my 3 children. It’s definitely something I struggle with since I am very task-oriented. Thanks for sharing <3
Crystal Paine says
You are so welcome!