Every now and then I like to write a blog post on things that are currently adding value to my life, whatever they are. I stole this idea from Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius) who stole the thought from Barbara Brown Taylor. So, here we go!

Walk don’t Run

I know, I know, I waxed lyrical about the joy of running not that long ago on this blog (in fact, you can read it here), but hear me out. A lot of what I said in that post still holds true, I still love running and I would still love to reach the goal I set myself at the beginning of the year. However, I have also been hit with injuries, illness and exhaustion that has made running difficult. Furthermore, I was finding that, as enjoyable as the run was, I would then find the rest of the day more difficult with the children as I had expended so much energy on my run. Learning that my energy is not limitless has revealed the importance of conserving my energy, of learning what uses up my energy and what gives me energy. As a result, I have pivoted to walking. The girls’ preschool has been fundraising this month with a group of us aiming to walk/run 1,200 miles in April. This has encouraged me to go on long walks throughout the month and it’s doing wonders for my mental health. I’ve walked 27.6 miles so far this month (but real props need to go to my friend Lucy who ran just shy of that in a matter of hours in the London Marathon yesterday. Go Lucy!) Being out in nature and listening to music, an audiobook or a podcast without feeling I might die has been a positive change. I love running and it’s wonderful in certain seasons of life, but right now so much of my energy is consumed with the kids that walking is my preference.

Finding a Bible resource that works for me

I feel like I’ve been looking for the right resource to help me with my Bible reading in this season for ever. I want something more in depth than a devotional that has a verse and a bit of application but less than the huge chunks something that Bible in a Year gets you to do. Thankfully, I have found The 5-Minute Bible Study Journal for Women by Annie Tipton. It sets you a short passage to read followed by questions to help you think about it and a short paragraph on how to apply it to your life, then finishes with a prayer. You can get it just as a book but since I love writing and find it helps me process my thoughts, I was thrilled to find the journal version. Before you ask, yes there is one for men by David Sandford. Now, each morning as I eat my breakfast, I sit down and actually read my Bible, which I haven’t done in a really long time. The twins will actually point at my journal and ask if I’m going to do it now, which will hopefully motivate me even more. I’d love for it to become a normal thing for them to see their parents reading God’s Word. Here are some photos so you can get an idea of what it’s like.

Our air fryer

Need I say more? If you have not yet been converted to the wonders of an air fryer, it has helped us (tsk, my husband, Sam, I shouldn’t claim to do any cooking) cook quick and easy meals in a cheaper way. It’s been really convenient and we now get what all the fuss is about.

Getting the kids scooters

Our kids are 5.5 and 3 years old, so they’re probably older than a lot of kids getting scooters for the first time. But anyway, they’ve played with scooters at preschool and school and since the weather’s been picking up (lol), we thought it was time they had their own. Of course, the twins had to have exactly the same Peppa Pig ones because Peppa Pig is Life. Now every single day they want to go out on their scooters. One of the plus points about where we live is that we have a huge drive so a big, safe area for them to scoot around. It’s really helping us rack up our 1,000 hours outside (another very ambitious goal for this year) and is definitely making that stretch between home from school time and dinner time less painful.

So there you have it! What’s saving your life right now? I’d love to know so please share!