time to simplify.

Over the last couple of days I've spent the latest hours of the night sitting in bed just thinking. In the quiet. 

Well actually, it's not too quiet around here. We live off a four-lane road, about 3 miles as the crow flies from Dobbins Air Force Base, and directly across the street from a fire station. Do the math, but I suppose it never really is completely quiet. We're in the city of Atlanta, save about 100 yards, in the thick of it, and outside of apartment living, I don't suppose you can get to living much more on top of each other than being able to hear your next door neighbors' bed banging up against the wall while they're having sex next door. 

But there I go on another tangent. Surprised? If you've been around long you wouldn't be. 

Anyways... two weeks ago I started working four days a week. This is good for us. The money is great. I couldn't have a better place/staff to work with than I do and couldn't be more proud of where I work. In a nutshell, it's worth being away from my kids four nights a week for what it is. Jason and I are in a groove now with him working regularly, bringing in real tangible income, and also being able to pursue something he is passionate about that long term will net some income. Our schedule has pretty much become consistent. I am home Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays all day, and till 3PM every other day of the week. I work weekends. 

This means my time with my children is limited. My time to do everything else is even MORE limited. My priorities have just been shaken up and are beginning to fall where they ought to... and this means change. This means change that just a month ago might not have even been fathomable or even achievable. It means simplification and re-prioritization. It means it's time to simplify. Big time. 

I'm working on a list... this is a fluid and changing list, but one I have been formulating over the last few days.  I want to share it with you, not only because it keeps me accountable but it also remains a great place to document things and look back on them to see if I did what I said I would do... and the result. 

So here it goes.

Blogging. It has to take a back seat. The hours I once spent in front of the computer in the mornings writing and editing photos must now be replaced with babies, chores and errands. I'm not quitting. It just means that this place has to be even more of a reflection of my reality. It sustains itself out of love for y'all and a love for writing and a love for connecting. I won't have time for doing anything other than sharing those things that I need to share. You know what I mean. This blog has grown quite a bit in the last six months, but not without a major time and financial investment. I am not about to throw that away. I am just not sure what my "niche" is, except to write and share my life. I still hope that it grows. I still pray for influence; that God would bless me with the ability to take a fledgling business or ministry or blog desperate for their "big break" and make that happen for them. I pray for influence that is meaningful. So I trust if this is the avenue that that is supposed to happen by, then HE will make it happen, because my priorities are in their rightful place... This is what I pray for, and he knows my heart.

Clementine & Nellie. When the heck am I going to be able to take care of this baby? Ha! I am still trying to figure that out. My sales have picked up but I just don't see this as a long term big source of income. It'll probably be more of a hobby, unless we have an infusion of cash, in which case, watch out baby because I am gonna go nuts buying inventory! I love vintage and always will... and I am always on a treasure hunt. I don't suppose that will ever stop. Maybe I'll have a big sale or something here soon. 

My husband. We are like ships passing in the night right now. God, I love him. I talk about him when he's not around and I still get googly eyed. But when we're around each other, it's easy to fall into routine and forget about the fact that we need to be investing in our marriage... So now this means no phones or computers after I get home from work, and just minimizing or cutting out media distractions altogether unless we've negotiated that (for instance, right now he is showering while I write this post... and then it's caput) beforehand. Maximizing the quality time, and being intentional about being together... Life is hard and we have our problems and issues. But we have a strong foundation and deep affection for one another that can be perpetuated but it takes work. We've been together for eight years. It's going to take some work to make it happen and that means simplification. Minimizing distractions. "That's the deal" as Shiloh says.

All the crap we have. It needs to be like, cut in half. There is no freakin' reason that I should have as many clothes, shoes, bags, and all the other crap that I have. If it has not seen the light of day for a year, it needs to go. I am tired of piles, tired of shoes overflowing out of the closet, tired of no room to put crap away. It just needs to go. Time to do a major purge. For reals. I don't have time to clean it up, put it away, keep it neat, photograph it, post it, sell it, ship it, fold it up... I am just OVER it. I want it gone. I suppose I hate the process of purging. But it will have to go down like this: no selling crap, no nothing. Just put it in a contractor bag and realize that someone else will be glad to buy it at Goodwill. Get it out of the house. The end.

My kids. This is easy. Less TV. More snuggle time. Less of me. More of them. 

Our money. Since the income has become somewhat consistent, it's time to do the budget and get back on Dave Ramsey's plan and WORK HARD to get onto the next phase of our life. How far and hard and we willing to go and work for that next phase? I don't want to live in this town house forever. I don't care if I rent a little house on a acre. I just want a yard and a legitimate garden ASAP. Next year would be preferable. Sooner is even better. Sacrifice will get us there. I'm ready. It's time. Time to be done with this season. Time to be disciplined and get on with it!! 

My time. There are just a few things that should consume my time. Marriage, children, home/garden and work... managing household chores with discipline and intention and avoiding time suckers like the internet. The internet and all it's time sucking ability has to take a back seat. My family needs me. They need healthy meals to eat. They need to have memories of playing with me, not finding me in front of a screen. And when we can play, we will play where we want to play - in the mountains, in the woods, climbing rocks or hiking trails. Visiting the farmer's market or the playground. We have to be intentional and avoid the many distractions that are taking away quality of life. Simplification in this area is not that complicated. 

So, now my husband is out of the shower. We have a bottle of wine open and the night to ourselves. It's time to put these ideas into practice and shut 'er down, folks, for tonight. 

I hope this inspires you... and I know it'll help me stay focused too. 

Until next time... 

Brooke