Embracing the Shutdown: The Need for Rest
The first three days of being at home were a blur. Once I finished my final day at the office, my mind and body immediately shifted into ‘shutdown’ mode. I tried playing a computer game, but found I couldn’t concentrate on it at all. In the end, I just lay down and scrolled YouTube Reels; I couldn’t even handle the long form YouTube content.
That evening I did the bare minimum, but that is what my body needed and sometimes you just need to listen to your body.
Day 1 and Day 2 were filled with running errands, catching up on laundry and detoxing.
Seeking Direction: A New Season of Stewardship
Day 3 (Saturday, 20 June 2026) I had my first proper sit down with a Journal and Bible. It was time to ask God what His plans are for the next season. I have already had an inkling towards the direction, but I really wanted to sit down and let Him direct my plans.
Over the past few days, while doing housework and errands, lots of ideas have come into my mind. Some of them were terrible ideas, others are good ideas but the timing is wrong, and still others are things I really feel drawn towards. I felt the still small voice tell me “Write them all down. Then count the cost.” So I did.
Counting the Cost of My Ideas
I won’t go through all the ideas that came to mind, but I will give an example from each category.
One of the ideas I rejected immediately after “counting the cost” was to cook meals to order for the elderly. Firstly, I’m not a nutritionist and have no interest in becoming one. And while I love cooking, I also don’t want the extra stress of needing an up-to-code kitchen and washing up all the dishes afterwards.
One of the ideas that I would like to do, but don’t feel the time is right for, is to make and sell stuff at the local farmers market. I’m not ruling this out completely, but I feel the timing isn’t right for this yet. God also showed me that this is a practice reserved for times of abundance; when we have more than we need, we can share that excess with others.
Then I’d like to talk about this blog, it is one of the things I have felt drawn to for the next season, but in a different way to what you might think. I realized that I need to write this blog for myself. Sort of like a homemaking binder or journal. Anything extra that comes from it is a bonus. I want to help other women, but I need to help myself first and from helping myself it will overflow into helping others.
That still brings the question of what are God’s plans for the next season of my life. During my quiet time, He has been reminding me that everything is connected and everything causes a butterfly effect.
He has reminded me that staying in alignment with Jesus is the key. It is the entry point and is more important than anything else.
My Primary Focus: Supporting, Educating, and Managing
The primary focus for this season is supporting Mark in his endeavours, educating our children and being a house manager. Everything I do that supports these tasks will build the steps up the mountain and bring blessings into my life and into our family.
There are things I must take control over and things I must support Mark in as he does them.
The tasks that I must be in control of are food, clothing, housekeeping, the social media side of Mark’s business, childcare and the children’s education.
The "Play House" Mindset
While packing away the dishes a few nights ago, I was reminded of playing house as a small child. I often see my own daughter playing house or playing with her dolls. The remarkable thing about playing house is that it was never work. I would make the beds, wash dishes, cook meals, wash the dolls’ clothes, dust and sweep. It never got old or felt like a chore, it was play. The still small voice in my head said to me “Play house like a little girl. Take joy in the actions.”
This really hit home, and I think this is the motto for this season:
My home is my mission, my family my joy. I serve with willing hands and a worshipful heart - supporting, tending, observing, anchored in God's will.
That brings me to the following affirmations:
Today I will:
- Play house like a little girl.
- Take care of the tasks of daily life so Mark doesn’t need to.
- Support Mark in his work and pleasures.
- Educate and train our children.
- Worship while I work.
Spreading Our Abundance: The Butterfly Effect
I believe that God has called me to this for the next season, and I believe that by doing these things with a joyful heart, it is going to bring a butterfly effect into our lives. And through our home, our family, the butterfly effect will flow out into the world.
I love this quote from Hello Dolly:
Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow.
But this is true of so many things, not just money. If someone lacks money, they may have an abundance of another sort. Abundance is not worth having unless it’s spread around, encouraging young things to grow.
And that is the focus of the next season, sharing our abundance with our home and our world.
