M3/D1 Possessions

Clothing.

Shoes. 

Movies.

Music.

Books.

Games.

Tools.

Electronics.

Cups.

Dishes.

Tupperware.

Oy vey. The list goes on.

Things laying around. Piled up. Stacked high. Collecting dust. Maybe they are items being used, but we have 4 of them. 

The point? Excess. 

We all have excess. All. Of. Us. 

Whether you gather items out of an addiction to buying. Lack of contentment. Need. Want. Jealousy for what the Jones' have. Whatever your reasons... We all have excess. 

Excess is defined as 'going beyond what is customary or proper', 'immoderate indulgence', 'more than or what is necessary, usual or specified'. Synonyms (similar meaning words) are plethora, indulgence, debauchery, overflow, surplus. 

As we have been preparing for this project, I was most excited for this month. Getting rid of my excess. Cleaning out the garage. Clearing the closets. Sprucing things up. It's been long overdue. We have decided to have a garage sale to raise some money to donate to a couple people. The rest will be donated to a charity. 

So, as the month starts, we were wide eyed and wondering how we would come up with 8 items per person per day. Yes. You read right. 8 items per person per day.

8 items

X 30 days

=240 items each

240 items 

X 3 people

=720 total items

So how in the world do we come up with that much stuff? 

Well.... Today is Day 1 and we already have 408 items ready to sell/donate. Wowsers!! Well on our way! 

Still have 29 days...

So off to bed I go. Happy to know we are more aware of our excess. More aware of our needs vs wants. More aware of the many ways to bless others. 

Pray you are being made aware, whether through the nutty Smiths doing that crazy project. Or through your own type of journey. 

Remember one thing... He will supply your every need! Maybe not all your wants, but for sure your needs!! 

With love, 

The nutty Smiths :)

M2/Media Wrap Up

Media month was great. Rough. Easy. Inspiring. Turbulent. Full of quality time. 

Depends on who you ask.

In the beginning, it was not easy. You get used to having the tv or radio on, now it's not. You get used to checking Facebook often. Now you can't. Shouldn't. 

Mid month, it becomes the new standard to have quiet time. Family time. Game nights. Yard work. You can get a lot of stuff done, just by turning the tv off. Putting the computer away. 

Would we do it again? Yes. For a month? No. 

But. The one thing we took away from it, among other things, is that taking true quality time with the family, is so much more important, full of worth and meaning, than a 30 minute show. A Facebook status. A radio program. A computer game. 

Taking the time for our family. That's our goal. Less excess of time wasted. Less excess of family times missed. Less excess period. 

What about you? You have times you could turn the tv off? Shut the computer? Do it. 

It's so worth it! 

M2/D6- Media

The dreaded month of NO MEDIA is upon us. Raychel is loving it. Ok, not really. Not at all.

The good news: 6 days down.
The bad news: 25 to go.

I've found that I enjoy this more than I thought I would. Don't get me wrong. I miss faceook. Texting willy-nilly whomever I want, whenever I want. BUT I LOVE THE QUIET. There. I said it. I especially love the new found family time- complete with a LOAD of added laughter. If you don't know our family (why would you be reading this if you didn't) but we LOVE to laugh. What a true blessing to have so many laughs with our little family during times that would otherwise be time sitting in front of the (as Bryan calls it and makes Raychel giggle every time) boob tube. Cute, Raychel. Had to explain it was a TV. :)

FAMILY TIME ROCKS.

Sure we had family time before, but this is different. No TV in the background for noise. No radio on in the car. We actually have to talk to each other. Boy is that weird. In all seriousness, it's really nice. Quality. True entertainment.

Now as you can imagine, we have had both sides of the spectrum comment on our media hiatus. while few truly seems to fully grasp the 'why', we have several people who give us 'well wishes' and support. Encouraging us and lifting us in prayer as we journey through to 'better'. 'Better' is what we are striving for.

The beauty of this project is that even though we have some general ideas, guidelines if you will, we can make our own rules. And we have. More good news? We don't live our lives in legalism. If we break a rule- for whatever reason- it's ok. If we take a minute to peruse facebook to look at Bryan's brothers family trip to Florida- it's ok. If we text someone because it's quicker than calling- it's ok.

The rules and guidelines we have in place to help in cutting down and cutting out the EXCESS tv, facebook, text, email, games, radio, etc time that could otherwise be spent as a family. Spent in prayer. Spent reading the Word. Spent listening to the Lord.

All in all, No Media month is going well. Really well.

Recap of the good news?
6 days down... :)

Stacia

M2/Start- Media

Well, Raychel's worst nightmare favorite month is here. No media. Why?

Let's recap. This is a link to the first blog post, explaining what and why. (http://smiths98.blogspot.com/2013/03/m1d1-stress.html) We, as a family, have decided to work on living with less excess. Learning to think about others first. Truly taking the phrase 'treat others as yourself' to heart. Bringing it to life. Putting it into practice.

What is media (for us)?
-facebook/twitter
-email
-phone apps
-texting
-tv
-radio
-internet
-ipads/tablets

NONE OF IT. Cold Turkey. Done. ONE MONTH.

Bryan and I are actually really excited about it. Excited for the additional family time. Quality time. Sitting and enjoying each other.

What, if any, exceptions are there?
-Bryan and I have computer things we need for work
-We can all use our phones (just not texting) for verbal voice calls
-Occasionally I will be blogging to keep you updated. It will be on here and NOT facebook linked. If you want to know how the month is going, you will have to call or check this blog often.

God has prepared our family for this project. Even though Raychel is sad about doing without her media, she will in turn be thankful for the family time. One day, she will look back and see how fabulous this time is/was for her. She just might not admit it right away. :)

You can pray with our little family. Pray that we will grow as a family. Pray that we will learn more about each other. Pray that our time will not be wasted.

May 1st through May 31st. Smith Family. No media.
Here we go...

M1/Done Stress

Month One. Done. Over. Finished.

How did we do? Not great. However, we did more than we were doing before. We all wished we would have been more vigilant in our four times a day. However, I think we all feel much better after a month of praying for others. Focusing our prayers on others. And for taking time to just be thankful. I mean, seriously. Praying only in thanksgiving? Yikes. That is rough. Don't get me wrong, I am eternally thankful for so many things. But I have grown so accustomed- and I'm ashamed to say it- but so accustomed to asking for stuff. But turning my focus to praying in only thanks has been a nice change.

A welcome change.

Shifting my focus to Him. His blessings. His faithfulness. I have seen more things to be thankful for in just a month. More than the usual things. More than fresh air, clothes on my back, food to eat, my family and friends.

Beyond the things I am thankful for, I'm glad to have the focus of our family turn to something more better than we have had in the past. Yes, I said it. More better. Thoughts of others. Helping others. Reaching out to others. Finding ways to bless others. Being more aware.

How many times does God cross your paths with someone who needs help, but we keep walking. Keep driving. Tune out. One of our prayers was to be open to hear and see the opportunities that God provides. Be aware. Be the one. The one to listen. Hear. See. Hug. Give. Whatever God brings you. Me. People are all around us needing help.

I recently wrote a blog on my other page, about Being the one. You can read that one, here. (http://staciasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/09/be-one.html)

As we wrap up month one of our Project 8, I have to once again thank the Lord for bringing Jen Hatmaker's book into my life. That woman has been a true blessing in my/our life. I feel like I have known her forever, and I've never me her.

Now we prepare for Month Two: Media. Yikes. NO MEDIA?? Whatever will we do? :)

Interested in joining us for Month Two? Let me know!
Interested in learning more about the whole Project 8? We would love to share our hearts with you.

With love,
Bryan, Stacia and Raychel

M1/D25- Stress

As our first month begins the final descent into the end of month one,

I thought I would reflect on a couple things of note.

 

1. Setting a time is a must.

Trust me, you will NEED a timer to remind you to pray.

A timer set to remind you of what you are praying for.

A timer just to remind you.

 

2. Just because it's a month of stress and prayer,

doesn't mean you have to stop praying at months end.

There are many things to pray about before, during and after the month.

What's important to remember, is why you are praying and for who. 

 

 

3. Saying a prayer of THANKSGIVING ONLY is really hard.

Seriously, it is really hard to just pray with thanksgiving in your heart.

Without asking for something.

Without needing something.

 

4. Involve your children.

They need to learn the importance of prayer.

They will enjoy praying for others.

AND you will enjoy hearing their tender hearts praying for others.

Trust me.

 

5. Rest is important.

Jen Hatmaker suggests a time of Sabbath.

While I believe that is truly important, with all this school work it isn't quite possible.

At least not a full day or rest.

 

We will continue our prayer time, even after April 15th.

We will try really hard to incorporate more rest time in the coming weeks.

 

I don't know how many of your are along on this journey with us,

bur Project 8 has really been eye opening to our family.

Eye opening to the needs around us, those hurting, the things we are thankful for.

 

 

I pray you are learning and growing along with us.

With love,  

 

M1/D14 Stress

Here we are. About half way through our first month: prayer/stress, on Project 8.

 

How have things gone, you ask?

(Thanks for asking by the way. I like some interaction...)

 

Things are going well. Could be better. Seriously.. I have a great memory,

and I still need a reminder to say my 4 prayers. And they are fairly normal times.

Breakfast hour, Lunch hour, Dinner hour, and Bedtime. Normal, right?

 

Well, Bryan and I have been trying to pray most of them together,

but that is hard when we are in two different places.

 

No matter how many prayers I have or haven't prayed, I have noticed one thing.

My stress level has been lowered. Honestly.

This week, we had a ton of school work due, again.

Here I am. Day of the deadline and I'm calm as can be.

Even took a nap today.

When two or three weeks ago, before starting this project,

I was a mess. So was Bryan.

 

God is doing things in our lives and it is exciting to see the changes.

 

As we head in to the last half of month one...

I pray we can pray more. Is that sentence legit?

I want the routine to become so routine that reminders aren't needed.

 

One thing I will tell you... involve your children.

Raychel has been doing this with us.

Although, this week she has been in Missouri.

Said she has remembered a few times.

 

But let me tell you...

I have always thought there is NOTHING sweeter than hearing your child pray.

But in added bonus?

It is OUT OF THIS WORLD to hear your child pray to serve others.

To reach others for Christ.

To lift up others burdens.

To pray for the people of darkness.

 

When I hear her pray, I believe God must hear the same song in His ears...

'It is well with my soul'.

 

There is still time to take the Project 8 journey with us.

Are you in?

 

 



M1/D4 Stress

Four days in to month one. So far... so great!

We have had a great weekend of stress free family fun. Wish it could last longer, but as the Good Book says, 'If a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat.' :) And we like to eat.

So what have we learned in four days?

1. Designated pauses every day for prayer, are a great way to involve the family. Raychel loves praying 4 times a day. A couple times Bryan has said 'what are we praying about this time?' and Raychel will tell the theme. Then she grins because she is quite proud that she remembered.

2. It has been fun to involve others in our times of prayer. Explaining the reason for our prayer times/themes has been quite interesting. We get a variety of responses. But to raise awareness for excess and prayer... we are ok with the variety of responses.

3. Being thankful only? HARD. Our prayer time at dinner is to be thankful. For everything. Anything. WITHOUT asking for anything. Without needing anything. Without seeming like Bob Wiley on 'What About Bob'. You can see the clip here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztNCJy-GXI)

So as we put the wraps on day 4, let me ask you. Can you or have you designated a time of prayer to be thankful and not ask for one thing? Nothing. Nada. It's harder than we thought it would be.

Still time to join us.
With love,

M1/D1 Stress

Month One/Day 1 Stress/Prayer Month

 

So the Smith family is taking on the challenge that Jen Hatmaker sent out in her book '7: Experimental Mutiny Against Excess'. We have explained this book and the theme of it with several people. We seem to either get the 'deer in the headlights' look or the 'I'm in. Where do I sign up?' look. Neither are wrong. In fact, we would love for others to journey with us through our Project 8.

 

What is Project 8? We are glad you asked.

 

Hatmaker discusses in her book that as a society, we live in excess. Excess clothing, food, money, possessions, electronics, stress. She came up with 7 areas in her life (food, clothing, possessions, media, waste, spending, stress) that needed an overhaul. Areas that God brought to her attention as being in excess. So she took an idea that her friend, Susanna, had called 'Pick Five Project'. Susanna was only going to eat 5 specific foods for that month. Hatmaker took the idea of only 5, to make it 7 since she had 7 areas. For example, for the month of food, they picked 7 foods and only ate those foods. For Media, they picked 7 things to do without (tv, facebook, texting, etc.) For Spending, they found that they were spending money at over 66 places PER MONTH and narrowed it down to only spending at 7 places for the month.

 

Sure, this project is a bit extreme in part. However, when we see how many 'things' we have in our homes that are extra, things not even being used, things just taking up space, we have a lot of excess. Come look at my garage and you will see we have a LOT of excess. :)

 

Hatmaker's theme in her book also includes doing more for others. They have taken the verse 'treat your neighbor as yourself' to the max. They believe that if we are truly going to treat our neighbor as ourself, we shouldn't buy ourselves top of the line stuff, but only give those in need our garbage. It's ok to have nice things, but her point is that there are so many people around us in need, we need to be doing more. She refers to the homeless a lot, because she is in Dallas, Texas area and they are everywhere. Closer to home, we can help out the single mothers, families with deployed parents, homeless, families that are just barely making it. Everyone has a need. We don't have to have a ton of money to meet that need. Maybe they just need a hug or someone to listen.

 

Lord, give us your eyes and ears to listen for those hurting and in need of help.

 

So Project 8.

 

We have decided we are going to add a month. We will go through the same 7 areas Hatmaker did, with some variations to the order of the months, what we do each month, etc. But we are adding a month of Random Acts of Kindness.

 

Today starts Month 1, Day 1. This month is Stress/Prayer.

 

Why stress and prayer?

-finding more time for Christ

-refreshing our relationship with Him

-Our lives are hectic and we need those purposed times to press pause

-He wants to renew our strength

 

We, as a family, will have 4 times of prayer. Dedicated times. For specific things.

 

Our focus will be:

Breakfast time- Philippians 4:4-6, with an emphasis on verse 8. A time to renew our thoughts, pray the 'whatsoevers',

 

Lunch time- a time to thank Him for His service to us and turning it into ways we can serve others.

 

Dinner time- thankfulness for everything. Filling our 'gratitude rooms' to overflowing for His many blessings, gifts, and beyond. No 'gimme gimme gimme, I need, I need' like from 'What About Bob'. No asking for things during this time- just being thankful.

 

Bed time- praying for the lonely, abused, abandoned, hurting, our prayer wall requests, and those in darkness.

 

We will be blogging through the Project. If you would like to follow us, send me your email and you can get the updates.

 

Below, I have some additional verses that we read today, as a family. Verses that are helping us to get the right mindset, have the right heart, and to learn about resting in His presence.

 

Are you up for the challenge? Have questions? PLEASE ASK.

 

Project 8 starts now.

 

With love,

Bryan, Stacia and Raychel

Thoughts:
Philippians 4:8

Meditate:
Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:117, Psalm 19:14, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 27:4

 

Stress

Psalm 139:23, Phil 4:6