March 2, 2026

Every year, I try to focus on a word and its meaning. Intentional has been one I’ve used frequently but this year I decided “savor” was going to be my word. I have said in the past how my youngest blessing has taught me throughout life to slow down and smell the roses. I have learned much from each of my children but learning to slow down was a huge one. Why? Because I don’t like slowing down. I am active and like to keep my days full. I like to be productive.

Through the years, I have learned the important of having a sabbath day once a week. A do nothing kind of day which really does prepare a person for the rest of the week. Try it. You can pick any day of the week. I usually have Monday as my down day. The first time I really had to slow down was when I had h1n1 in 2009 and then again in 2020. Then at the end of that year, I had a tumor removed on my foot and had to slow down again because I could not walk for months. A year later I was in the same kind of boat but with the other foot.

I had this epiphany, if you will, during those years: I’m a bit of a control enthusiast. Whenever someone took the reins of my wheelchair during outings, you’d find my hands glued to the wheels at times, because hey, I wasn’t done sightseeing or shopping! In the hospital, my impatience hit an all-time high waiting for transport, so I decided to become my own chauffeur. Even when my speedometer read “turtle,” and people offered help, I stubbornly chugged along. I have since, developed some very good upper body strength. 

“I am not who I want to be but I thank God I am not who I use to be”

Now, in this latest non-walking chapter of life, I see how these wheeled adventures have taught me invaluable lessons. No do-overs necessary, thank you — but I’m grateful because they’ve shaped the quirky masterpiece that is me today! The biggest take away: you can be productive while on your butt. This time, I was intentional to prepare and went all-out, turning my room into a creativity hub! Everything’s within arm’s reach—perfect for making even more time to talk to people from all over the globe, spreading the word about Jesus as well as blogging, journaling, and whipping up any design people need for their projects. I am being productive and I absolutely love it! The biggest thing I do miss is workout with my buddies and going out to see all the animals but soon enough that will all happen again.

During my time in Africa, I noticed a striking difference in lifestyle while strolling through the village with my translators. We would meander from one hut to another, and I grew to truly appreciate this more relaxed pace of life. Yet, I also observed the locals’ impressive work ethic; when they were engaged in their tasks, they approached them with steadfast dedication. This contrasts sharply with the fast-food paced lifestyle common in America.

In the United States, it appears that many people struggle to simply wait in line or at a restaurant waiting for their food without turning to their phones for distraction. I have seen this even happen while people are out with others which is so rude. I have found myself doing the same and have had to make a conscious to not do it. The best answer for my blessings and I have been to leave the phone in the glove box.

It begs the question: why do attention deficit disorders seem so widespread, even among adults in the U.S.? I believe this trend is tied to our dependence on devices and an unrelenting craving for entertainment. I often ponder the lives of those who endlessly scroll through their feeds—are they trying to escape their reality, or do they find their daily existence so dull that they resort to this behavior?

More and more people are returning to “dumb phones,” and I think that’s a fantastic idea. Anyone who knows me understands that I dislike spending time on my phone. I used to be on it for work 20-40 hours a week, and it’s interesting how many individuals who did this for work as well also choose not to use their phones during their leisure time.

In my typical nerdy fashion, I wanted to be intentional about where my time was going so I’ve monitored my actual phone usage, and not surprising, I found that I spend an average of just two minutes talking on the phone each week! I currently have 14 contacts saved in my phone, which might be considered by some to be a small number, but these are the people who are my closest blessings – they are my “tribe”.

Not only am I thankful I was able to relish the wonders of Africa, but since then, I have been basking in my mandated downtime, which has turned out to be a surprisingly transformative experience. My mission? To dive deep into each moment, soaking up the joy of every connection and every project that comes my way. This time around, I’m all about hitting the pause button and savoring this chapter of life. And surprisingly, whenever I exit through my living room and kitchen, the clutter tries to greet me with open arms, but I just smile and move on, no anxiety or feeling the need to do anything about it. It’s liberating to realize that I can choose joy over the chaos that can surround me.

We’ve even had company over, and they aren’t here to visit a museum but the people who live here, reveling in the warmth of shared laughter and good food. Thankfully, over the years, I’ve cracked the code: I can only control myself, not the circumstances or people around me. Life’s too short for dusting! (Seriously, I wave the white flag at dust bunnies… always.) I like things kinda tidy and having a spot for everything, but for now, who cares? That’s totally fine by me as I focus on nurturing relationships and living in the moment. I adore how my blessings pitch in when they can between their busy schedules, showing their support and sharing their time, making life richer in ways I couldn’t have planned. Truly, I’m blessed to infinity and beyond!

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Blessings,
Jennifer