Today turned out to be a very. lazy. day. And I enjoyed every single minute of doing nothing.
You see, I've had this ongoing "to do" list that I wanted to accomplish before returning to work from my Christmas vacation. I was off for about a week and a half, which I figured would provide me with sufficient time to cross every little item off that list. Nolan and I only went home to Georgia for 4 of those days, but otherwise, we have just been here around the house. I think what happened is that I had set my goals too high, my hopes of cleaning a little too ambitious. While we were ultra productive on Monday and Tuesday of this past week taking down the Christmas decorations and beginning the seemingly never-ending process called organization, it all seemed to come to an immediate halt after he returned to work on Wednesday. My mom came up Wednesday and we went shopping, returning and exchanging some wedding and Christmas gifts, only to purchase more things that now need a place to be "organized" and neatly tucked away. Thursday was New Year's, and mom and I busily prepared for the small gathering of friends that came over that night to celebrate the arrival of 2010. After cleaning up the aftermath of Thursday's festivities, Friday became a bum-around-the-house day, filled with reading and cat-naps.
So I took a few days off, I thought to myself. So what?? No biggie. Nolan was leaving on Saturday to head down to Atlanta for a bachelor party and I figured that would give me sufficient time to tear the house apart and clean and organize from one end to the other before his return on Sunday. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, I feel that I am far from being able to say that I accomplished a whole lot of anything while he was gone. While I did manage to do a few loads of laundry and change the sheets on our bed, I spent a majority of the day reading, setting up the blog, and watching two movies that I knew he wouldn't want to watch had he been here. (Not that he doesn't ever watch things I enjoy, but I feel there are only so many "chick flicks" that I can subject him to within a certain period of time.) So I felt a little guilty last night when I went to bed, thinking how I should probably get up early today to get a head start on all that cleaning and organizing before Nolan came back home.
But as I sit here tonight, boxes remain scattered throughout the house. There are still 2-3 loads of laundry to be done. Only one bathroom managed to get cleaned. Our "office," though much cleaner than last week (you can now see floor space), remains a force to be reckoned with, with the most random assortment of "things" splayed about the floor and desk. And I am okay with all of this.
Because you see, I did accomplish something...it's just not something that can be crossed off of the list. When Nolan came home today, instead of cleaning and busting it to get the house "ready for the week," we relaxed together and enjoyed each others company. We watched "Fireproof" together, and as I watched the movie, I realized that my entire "to do" list can wait. It can wait until tomorrow. It can wait until next weekend. Or maybe even the next. But what can't and shouldn't wait is spending quality time with the ones you love. We are a little under 2 months of marriage, but I don't think it's ever too soon to start "fireproofing" our marriage. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend watching it. It's a movie based on the Christian covenants that define a marriage and what God intended a marriage to be. While the couple in this movie is on the brink of divorce, I feel that the messages that it sends are applicable to all couples. I might watch it again. I liked it. And I loved watching it while spending time with Nolan.
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new work week for many of us who were lucky enough to have a "Christmas vacation." Boo. But as life picks back up again and we get back into the swing of things with our daily routines, my hopes and prayers are that I will constantly remember to "fireproof" my marriage, placing first (and most important) things and people first. That "to do" list can definitely wait.
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I totally agree...to do lists can wait. :) In fact, once you accomplish everything on that list, it only starts all over. For example, our house is "organized," but we're having to do some massive sorting, purging, and re-organizing to accomodate baby...it never ends! :) But it's all good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd, no, it's NEVER the wrong time to "fireproof" your marriage. Marriage isn't easy, but it's the kind of work that brings you great joy and happiness despite life around you...
Loveyou!
Love this post!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to what you are saying on sooo many levels. Being newly married, I also understand how overwhelming it can be to get all of the wonderful new presents in their places (as well as discarding the old). It's like a constantly moving pile of stuff all over the place! I feel a little guilty since James and I have been living together for much longer...we should be done with that "get the house organized once and for all" list. Much to the contrary, every day brings a new project to light. Just like Katy said...it never ends. It really just becomes a new list for a different day. But let's be honest, we do love lists, right? Sometimes I make lists just to check things off. It makes me feel accomplished and important in a way. It's so satisfying to know that I AM making progress, despite the way my house may look to a stranger! :)
To fireproof a marriage...this is an awesome concept.
It's interesting...with James working what seems like ALL of the time, I miss him so much and I hate that we don't see each other more often. But, his schedule in some ways becomes a blessing. We really don't know how to do anything but make our face time together a quality experience. And more than that, we try to make every phone call a "special time" too. I'm not saying James never calls and 2 seconds into the conversation says, "Hey babe, let me call you back..." (Actually that happens quite often); however, when we get the chance to talk for 5...10 minutes I stop what I am doing at home and really listen and talk back. It's so easy to get distracted with the television, computer, cooking, cleaning, laundry...but as you said, it can all wait. Part of the way we are making an effort to "fireproof" our marriage is by making the most of all the time we have to spend! It may be that brief phone call, while I'm getting ready for work early in the morning, late at night when James gets home and crawls into bed...it is any time really.
I commend you and encourage you to continue to forget the "list" and spend every moment that you have with Nolan...not just being in the same place, but truly spending quality time together. As you know, there is a HUGE difference between time and quality time…I think that also means learning how to make things like house projects quality as well. As nice as it would be, I guess we can’t always kick up our feet and relax together…but running errands, grocery shopping, and cleaning can be quality too…you just have to get creative! Ha! It's refreshing and encouraging to know that my friends value that time as much as I do.
Love you bunches! Miss you too!
Love your posts...I'm trying to go back and read some of them! I got a little bit behind on your ponderings Mrs. Peevy :( You and Nolan should do the 40 dares that go with Fireproof. We tried to start it while we were in school...didn't work so well for reasons I'm sure you understand! We are going to try again this year!!! I agree it's a very good movie!!
ReplyDeleteI miss you Mrs. Peevy...can you please come visit your old PT friends soon!
Ps...I bet you miss seeing all of my exclamation points all the time! Haha! Maybe I'll start a blog and half of it can consist of exclamation points ;)