Last Week at Ramsey Farms!

For week ending May 17...Finally written on May 20, 2014...

I can't recall minute details of this past week, but I can without a shadow of doubt tell you I watched the sun set every night. (Except the one thunderstorm day, but I tried!)

Do you ever feel like you're finally about to "catch up" when suddenly a new influx of plans and preparations begin? It's a vicious cycle!

Last week was a time I had marked for refocusing and that truly was the primary factor and function of the week. If I don't take time to care for myself and take care of my own needs, how am I supposed to successfully take care of my children, enjoy spending time with my kids, properly serve my clients, genuinely connect with friends, tend my garden, prepare meals, bake bread, and deal with the ordinary day to day? It's my oxygen mask analogy many of my friends have heard me say before - you must first put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others with their own mask. You'll do no one else any good if you pass out due to lack of oxygen because you ran around putting your own needs at the bottom of your priority list day after day.

"Lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking for boats to save, they just stand there...shining." ~ Anne Lamott

I saw the sun set every night, I read, intentionally turned off the computer and netflix, baked a lot of bread, cooked chicken n' dumplin's, hemmed a new dinner napkin by hand, made new batches of sunscreen, lotion, and hand soap, finished reading Walden, played ball in the backyard, walked in the shade of old trees, visited with friends, gave away salad to visitors, ate bunches of salad (lettuces, carrots, radishes, sweet peas) with homemade dressing, baked breakfast granola bars, made & drank wine slushies, did my beautiful daughter's hair and makeup for her first school dance, and...the house was shown again! (There was more, but you'd get bored through the litany.)

It was still a busy week but I intentionally set boundaries, said no, and re-prioritized. Reviewing goals, organizing the to-do list and calendars, and prioritizing is integral to helping simplify but re-evaluating the differences between wants and needs can be dramatically life changing.

There are still ten bajazallion things on my to-do lists, agendas, and all those metaphorical plates I'm spinning. But I intentionally (I keep using that word - it's important)...I intentionally refocused, reprioritized, re-evaluated, and rejuvenated myself so that this week I'm balanced and refreshed and able to give my best to all I do and everyone. What do you do to relax and re-balance your life?

Have a great week! Live in the present - we can't go backwards and tomorrow will be here soon enough. ~Ramsey

Don't forget to check out the Garden Pics, Cold Frame, and the recent Andy's Lotions & Potions post!