We’re just a few days shy of the two week mark of Lent and this only checking into Facebook once a day an only seeing a handful of photos on Instagram when I post is going alright I guess. It’s hard I’ll admit.

I feel like I’m missing out on the lives of my friends and family. But I know deep down I’m not missing too much.  Or at least I tell myself that for now. I’m not seeing what people eat for lunch or hear about the cute things the kids say.  And I don’t mind missing the complaining or articles that make me angry. Luckily I didn’t miss out on a birth and engagement announcement  from two good high school friends – they happened to be in the feed during a quick check.  Whew.

What’s hardest is the need to fill my mind with something semi-stimulating while I’m at home with two little ones.  Yes, I have more focused time with them without the scroll scroll scrolling always happening and that is good.  But I don’t interact with other adults much.  So Facebook was my interaction.  Sad. Yes. I’ll admit it. But at least my brain was doing something other than watching my children play.  Because here in my house the girls play great if I’m in the room.  When I step away to accomplish something the whining and screaming begins.

So my mind has been filled with more Bible reading and prayer (the point of Lent I suppose), but I’ve also turned to books.

I’ve finished three books in the last 8 days.

Nick laughed at me last night and said, “You spent THAT much time on Facebook?!”

Well….maybe?  It was also Pinterest and Instagram too.  But because Nick’s given up TV and Netflix for Lent, I have a lot of extra time in the evenings to add to reading time. And when we’re spending time together I actually have something to talk about other than what the girls did this week and re-hashing all the Facebook drama because I’ve filled my mind with words from smart people.

And what I’ve read is challenging me.  Making me dream and think and grow.  More.  Because all this dreaming business has been going on for quite some time. And it’s good.  Really good.  To sit without all the online noise and think and dream and pray and process and talk it over with Nick.  And who knows, maybe at the end of this 40 days I might have a little more clarity for these dreams.  Because right now they’re all a little foggy. But I’m starting to see  a few things come into the light.

My three books are ones I want to recommend….

Restless: Because You Were Made for More by Jennie Allen

This is my most recent read and one I’m passing on to a friend and will recommend to everyone.  It’s about “calling”.  Finding purpose in life.  Those sorts of books my heart happy anyway, but this one was just what I needed.

Missional Communities

Woah. I kept saying “YES!  YES! YES!” to everything in this book. It’s about the church shifting from inward focus to outward focus.  And not just an outward focus to bring more people to the church, but an outward focus to love on those outside of the church.  Where they are.  Being friends and setting an example of Christ.  Because let’s face it – not everyone wants to set foot inside our church buildings.  (Who can blame them?)   This book spoke to my heart in too many ways to put into words right now.  I’m not sure what to do with it just yet, but I’m not the same anymore.

Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World by Tsh Oxenreider

I guzzled this book like water – which I believe is a phrase Tsh actually used to describe a book she once read. Tsh was an expat for several years (an American living in another country) and was unexpectedly forced to live back in the United States.  She describes how she’s carved out a life that reflects their deepest desires and values right here in America even though they still long to live elsewhere.

The weeks before reading this book I’d been on the hunt for the perfect city or country to live in.  I’d made a list of all the things I wanted in my “perfect location” and was trying to find out how we could get out of this horrible cold and arctic land. (Barcelona seems to have all the items on my list and NYC was a close second.) But reading this book helped me to be at peace with staying and living a full life here where we are now. At least for a few more years.  I’m still hoping we can move someday.

As always, when I read books I want to talk to someone about them.  You know, a little book club.  So if you read them.  Tell me.  Talk to me.  I wanna hear your perspectives. Just don’t tell me on Facebook – I won’t be there for awhile.