Our Challenge

This week we started a new challenge. We're trying to come up with a great name for it, so if you have any ideas let us know!

Lounging by candlelight

We all wrote ideas on slips of paper and put them in a basket of things to give up, simplify or do for a week at a time and we'll draw one out every Friday night or Saturday morning (not sure which, just before we get groceries anyway). Our challenge this week was to not use electricity after supper. We discussed and refined it to be 7 pm to 7 am and we'd try to minimize flashlight use, leave the fridge on but try not to get into it, turn off clocks and computer. Oh, and children are exempt! We can't lose those nightlights after all. Even though it's a little warmer out, our heat is still on and runs some, but since it's gas we aren't turning it off. The water heater is also gas so that stays on as well.

So far it's going well. We're getting to bed a bit earlier and we're having fun in the candlelight, telling stories and playing cards. We don't know what these challenges will teach us or whether the habits we learn will stick. I'm sure some will and some won't. But we're sure to learn a few things about what we can do along the way!

We decided to share about the challenge in church and invited everyone to do it with us if they'd like. We'll share each week what we drew and they can join us or just pray for us and keep us accountable. We'll also be sure to share here what our weekly challenge is.

The Bucket List
As we were talking about our new challenge and ideas to throw in the basket, we suddenly realized that it's March. MARCH! We have just three and a half months left here together! March has snuck up on us like, well, sort of like Tara likes to sneak up on Christina - quickly and stealthily!

In response to our sudden revelation we composed a "bucket list" of things we need to do, see, try and experience before we part. Most things are not "big" or places to go, so we should be able to get a lot of them checked off. We'll keep you posted on that as well! Hopefully our list will also help us to remain present here with each other as the adventurer's are looking ahead and planning for what happens next after Service Adventure.