*Yesterday, I wrote a post for Ashley called Peace in the Process, and I’d love it if you would go over there and read it to see how we’ve found peace on this little year-long journey to contentment.
I had a small little series within this series planned to start today all about finding white space in the Christmas season. But my trusty Macbook gave me the “white screen of death” this morning, so let’s all say a little prayer that it’s just a “white screen of rest.” Maybe my laptop needed some white space, too. (Thank goodness we have another machine around here that I could use.)
So the Christmas posts will have to wait.
And, golly, I have so much to say, still! We’re on Day 18 of this white space journey, and I am curious to know how many of you are living this with me? And living this with Whitney? And anyone else who has done this and lived it and wanted to jump in and encourage.
If you want to catch up on the past 18 days, here are all of the posts of 31 Days of Creating White Space. But I would love to hear from you. Community and relationship is the whole idea behind creating white space for me. I’m creating space for God to move and space to see the good and space to foster community.
Day Two: My Need for White Space
Day Four: Who stole my white space?
Day Five: White space & the weekend
Day Seven: the wardrobe & white space
Day Eight: goals to create white space
Day Nine: your home is your story
Day Eleven: planning an organized home
Day Twelve: white space & the weekend (2)
Day Thirteen: resting in what was good this week
Day Fourteen: but what if it’s good stuff?
Day Fifteen: the great toy purge: white space for the kids
Day Sixteen: the great toy purge part II (what happened to the toys)
Day Seventeen: life happens in the white space
This is day 18 in 31 Days of Creating White Space.
I am creating white space this fall. My daughter’s cheerleading season is ending and everyone wants to know what she’s doing next. I simply said we are just going to enjoy being together as a family and cheering on her little brother in basketball from our seats. No need to immediately start another activity to fill the white space. My hope is that we get to enjoy family time during this upcoming holiday season without being pulled in so many different directions. I pledge to only do things that wont cause our schedules to be overloaded. Enjoy the quality time now not later.
Oh how funny! Last night, our Apple TV started getting cranky … and long story short, the little light started flashing furiously, and when I looked it up online to see how to fix it, the first thing I saw was “Apple TV flashing light of death” … and I immediately knew that this was not a Katie-fixable issue. So I am cracking up about this post. Solidarity! :o)
And yes, I am with you on making very conscious efforts to create more white space for my family. I am determined to create/protect more time for all of us with much less noise! (And so, perhaps for me, the Apple TV incident is a blessing in disguise. ;o)
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time, since ’07 or ’08. This is the best post(s) you’ve ever done. I am following along, especially with the closet purge.
I also had a “white space wake up call” today. A friend reached out and said she thought I seemed stressed and asked what she could do to help me. I thought to myself “I’m not stressed”, but the more I thought about it, I must be, if I’m exuding stress to my friends. Another reminder to increase the white space!
Thank you for this wonderful series. It has caused me to stop and really look at my life and all that’s in it. I try to clean out my closet every so often, but I finally did it today. After all these posts, I really felt the need to purge my closet of some of those meaningless pieces that are taking up valuable space. Thanks again, Erin. You truly inspire me to want to be a better mom, wife, and Christian!!!
I have really been enjoying this series and make sure I get to read it whenever you post. I’m usually drawn to posts with lots of pictures and not many words, but I know you have something good to say, so I always come back. I love it Erin!
I am loving this series so much! I think no matter where we are in life – kids, single, old, young, etc. – we can all relate to the need of freeing up some areas in our lives to create more white space. Thank you for using your gift of writing to lead us with this message!
I love this series. I’ve found the need for white space, and love the tips how to find it. With a toddler and a home more than 2,000 square feet larger than our last I keep trying to fill space – when it’s already overflowing. Thanks for the reminders of the only ‘thing’ we need.