All My Systems Out of Whack

All My Systems Out of Whack

I realized a couple of months ago why our first year in Brazil was so taxing in so many ways when I re-read a couple of articles I had written a year or so before we left America about organizing your life.  In my articles, I was advocating having a system for everything, so that it doesn't take so much time or mental energy to get stuff done. When you have a system for your daily duties, it becomes automatic and far less stressful. You become more productive, using less time, and have more brain energy left over for doing other things you enjoy, like spending time with your husband and children. My motto was “A system for everything, and everything in its system” - for cooking, doing laudry, cleaning, putting things away, homeschooling, shopping, etc. 

Smattering of January in Pictures

I haven't been taking my camera out and about with us much, so this post is mostly just from around the house. :)

I am ever trying to get the kids in contact with nature, to learn about God's great big world and observe all we can, as up close as possible. :) Joshua was able to catch a pretty big bullfrog the other day. We had never seen one before, around here, but we hear them loud and clear all night long. I like it! :)

The Refridgerator Saga

When we first moved into our own home last July, there were many things we needed - basic household goods, appliances and furniture. Things like a refrigerator. We couldn't possibly go out and buy it all at once. The church loaned us this refrigerator, a spare used only for events, until further notice.

Living Life on Purpose

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about living life on purpose. It has been 14 months since Fabio and I left the States, and nearly a year since we first arrived in Camboriú, here in southern Brazil.

We know we won't be here for long. This is a season in our lives. For another year? Or two? Or five? We aren't sure. However, it is SO good that the Lord has told us that it is not a permanent arrangement.

Why? Because we want to leave, when that day comes, with no regrets. If our time here is short, we want to make it worthwhile to have been here. We want to fulfill all of the purposes for which the Lord brought us here. We want to touch as many people as we can with God's love and the message of Jesus!

Since this is the case, we have this always in the forefront of our minds. Every trip to the bread shop is an opportunity to meet someone. When we go to the grocery store, we try to be purposeful. If we had a nice conversation with a cashier once, we go back to her aisle on purpose, even if the line is longer, to follow up. We want to make sure ALL of our neighbors have heard, know we are here, and where they can go if they need to talk, need prayer, or want to find out more about our Jesus. When we "just happen" to run into someone we talked to once before, we make sure to make the most of that opportunity. We try to turn every conversation to eternal matters. We are here with a purpose!

However, are we not ALL in that same category? Maybe you still live in the same town you were born in, and maybe you will die there in that same place. But even still, we all have very little time on this earth, and we ALL have a purpose to fulfill in this short time that the Lord has granted us here. So, wherever we happen to find ourselves, let's live our lives on purpose... for the glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom!!

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.... Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:1,15-16