Refreshing (a repost from a friend)

*** I'd actually been thinking about this very topic when I read my friend's blog.She puts it so eloquently so I decided to "steal" her post :) I'd love to hear what you do to "refresh" yourself !! In the meantime,I think there's a pond about a 1/2 mile from me calling my name :) ****



Refreshing April 16, 2009
Filed under: Laura — Laura @ 10:54 pm
Tags: Danny & Laura

Refreshing…we all need it sometimes. Typically we think of a dip in the pool or a cold coke (at least in my family) on a warm afternoon,coca-cola-mom-and-daughter when we think of things that are refreshing. And those things are physically refreshing, but just like we have days where we need something cool to refresh us physically, we also have days where we need more of a combination of emotional, spiritual, and physical refreshing.

I personally have been discovering (in some cases rediscovering) what provides the refreshing I need to live life vibrantly. Our life, as you know, has undergone many changes over the past month and will continue to as we work toward getting settled in our new community. With those changes I’ve found that the type of refreshing I need changes. I’ve had more time on my hands in some areas and less in others, providing for new needs and opportunities for refreshing. So I thought I would share what some of those have been, and maybe you will find some new ideas or be able to say “amen!” to the ones you’ve also found refreshing for you emotionally, spiritually, and physically, or even share some things I haven’t mentioned. Like I said, a new season of life has brought new needs for/means of refreshing so my ideas may not fit you now or ever, and vice versa, but then again they may be helpful. And of course, they are not all inclusive!

Recent “refreshments” in my life:

* Getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night (going to be early or sleeping in later)
* Spending time reading various Psalms in the bible and meditating on them.
* Going to a coffee shop to hang out for a few hours.
* Taking walks around the neighborhood with my husband in the evenings.
* Crocheting…having a crafty project I can pick up and put down easily, and transport without a hassle (often to the coffee shop).
* Reading, for the sake of relaxing and/or learning, just because I can.
* Sitting on a bench and watching the boats go by on the Intracoastal Waterway in the evenings with Danny.
* Volunteering at church/serving alongside Danny…putting up bulletin boards and helping him lead chapel for the preschool. Simple, yet needed.
* Occasionally taking Sadie (my family’s dog) for an afternoon walk…this is refreshing when there aren’t other dogs out because she tends to want to eat them…or at least it sounds like she does (hence walking in the afternoon)