OH:

As I plan out the next few weeks, which are prep to return for the final weeks at the parish, I'm thinking how to be sure to hold my space/schedule when a 2nd person is added here 24/7. It went well during vacay and I'm looking forward to building on thar base.

It's a struggle for me to keep my own wellbeing central, and this is a great time to fall in love all over again-- without the constant demand to put 300+ other people first which defines ministry. Greg's skills in that department outshine mine (he had much longer practice). I think I have a better shot now at keeping my own balance in this simpler house surrounded by actual fun things to do.

So one thing I did was adding into my personal schedule those evening things that I've been doing, and looking forward to doing as a couple. It will help keep my rhythm focused outside the house.

We never dated when we met-- instead we worked together in each other's spheres of leadership. It was only after the kids moved out 4 years later that we started date nights and for a long time we both sucked at date planning! Neither of us are spontaneous Funmeisters, but eventually we learned how to find fun and of course how to make our own fun. This area we're retiring to is LOADED with cheap date options. So I plugged in time for those, and we won't just end up couch-potatoing.

It's structure, not rules. It allows for a lot of flexing.

I'm also getting set for these next 2 last week's of agency help before I go. It may change considerably in 2019, and so I'm thinking ahead on using the time and help well, including closing the house for a month and loading the car.

~S~