Thanks for the comments and tips yesterday.  I really do have fabulous readers who, I must say, I dearly love.  I was struck with something this morning as I read them – I am pretty serious about maintaining a healthy lifestyle for my body. What about my house?

For example:  Yesterday I took the children to the waterpark, where I applied sunscreen vigorously.  I had a banana and green tea for a snack.  Then I ran two miles and ate my dinner (whole grain noodles with bell pepper, onion, cucumber, garlic and olive oil).  I drank lots of water.  I took a warm shower.  I slept for eight hours (minus one child needing a drink of water at 2 am) and then for breakfast I made a smoothie with peach, mango, strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, rhubarb, spinach, banana, flax seed, and almond milk.  These are all things I didn’t think much about – I just keep the tools nearby and plan ahead to make sure they happen.  How can I do that with the other important thing in my life?

What healthy habits do I have for my house, my other job (the farm bookwork), my writing?  As I look back over my adult life, I can see the good habits that have formed in these areas.  And my sister-in-law is SO on the money when she said that a crisis really helps put things in order.  It’s time to capitalize on a crisis and use it to set some more good habits in my life.  We can grow and change every day!

And how about my children?  What healthy habits do I need to put in place with them?  How about more effort to complimenting good behavior instead of only focusing on correcting less desirable behavior?  How about focused, connected alone time with each child?  Too many days pass where I’m cocentrating wholly on all my other responsibilities and time is lost that can never be bought back to build a lifetime relationship with these amazing people.

How about no yelling.  Period.

What healthy  habits can I form in regard to maintaining the most important relationship in my daily life: my marriage?  What are the poor habits I can let go of that don’t show love?  What are life-giving habits I can cultivate that are love in action?

I know it’s easy to set yourself up for failure when you want to take on more than you can handle, but I remember my post about priorities and I still feel that way.  The more order I put in my life, the more organized I become, I find it is easier to be able to follow those priorities.  I am not expecting this all to work right away, and I’m not thinking I can reduce what is in my house by 50% in a week.  But I think I could do it in a year.

If there is one thing this journey with my husband’s mother has taught me, it’s the weight of a moment.  Each situation is an opportunity.  She has been absolutely incredible – pragmatic, calm, and full of strength.  My sister told me that she hopes to be half as amazing as my mother-in-law if she ever faces a similar situation.  I agree.

And I know it seems, well, insulting to talk about keeping house when really we are talking about the courage to face cancer for a second time.  But I think my mother-in-law would disagree.  What we are talking about is life.  Managing life.  Meeting responsibilities and learning each day new ways to create time and space for others.

What new habits are working for you right now?  What have you done for your body, your loved ones, or your house that make you feel full of love and satisfied?