Tuesday 4 ~ Time

 Time

Time again for our Tuesday 4 Meme of just four questions weekly...in memory of our blogging friend Toni Taddeo.

Our hostess is Annie from Cottage by the Sea.  Thank you, Annie, for coming up with these questions each week!  It takes a lot of "time" to do this, and we appreciate you!  Here is what Annie has written for us to respond to and then my replies:

"Time flies and weeks just seem to fall by the way side faster and faster. We all have time on our hands at some point and we all find that time gets away from us at other times. It takes a lot of work to manage your time because it seems to be at odds with freedom and creativity in some ways."

Perhaps we might talk about time and how we use it.

1. Early to bed, early to rise? Do you have usual times to go to bed and get up in the morning? How do they work out for you?

Even though we are retired, we still tend to keep to a regular schedule for bedtime and time to get up. We normally are in bed by 10:00 p.m. and up at 6:00 a.m.  I find that I do much better when I stay on a schedule like this.  I am a morning person, and I love being awake in time to see the sunrise and all the activity out on Still Waters Pond early in the morning.

We proudly put the American Flag out each morning at sunrise, and sometimes I stand on the porch and sing, 

Oh, say, can you see

By the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hail'd

At the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars

Through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watch'd

Were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare

The bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was still there

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free

And the home of the brave?

I know our neighbors must think I'm a bit crazy, but then again, they just might wish they could sing along! LOL. They'd certainly be welcome to do so.

Usually the only "neighbors" awake at that time are the birds, and they are busily singing their praises to their Creator as well!

2. Ecclesiastes says "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

How much time is devoted to work, housework, hobbies? What about religious pursuits like study, prayer, services? In other words, how is your time apportioned?

Well, let's see...I am retired, so no "real job", but we do volunteer at our family store, Dixie Cottage, at least 4 mornings a week. 

Housework? Oh, well, isn't that something that just never seems to end? I am not a real dedicated houseworker person...but I get it done as needed. That is one area I could use some "help", literally. Hubby does help with the floors, but keeping the bathrooms cleaned and dusting done and laundry, cooking, etc., is pretty much left up to me. Quite frankly, if I could afford a housekeeper to come in every other week and take care of some of this I would be thrilled.

  

Hobbies?  Hmmm, I think writing this blog is my main hobby, and taking pictures of whatever I see out there that is deemed picture worthy.  Blogging and keeping up with all of you does take some time. I usually try to do this in the early morning (like right now), and then again in the evening hours after all the supper dishes are done, etc. Some weeks I just don't have the time like I'd like to keep up, but I do the best I can.  

Religious pursuits, etc.: We have our Bible reading/devotional time in the morning before breakfast. Praying is kind of an ongoing thing throughout the day, before meals and bedtime and as needed when I hear of special requests. Church services and activities: We attend church regularly. My hubby teaches our adult Sunday School class and the Men's Bible Study. I attend our Ladies' Bible Study and Choir practice (and sing in the choir on Sunday). I try to participate in the Women's monthly fellowship, but it conflicts with the time we are at Dixie Cottage, so I haven't been able to participate as much lately. I am hoping that can be changed in the future as I miss being able to spend that time with the ladies of our church.  Our church activities are a major part of our lives and always have been, especially since we were in the pastoral ministry for the majority of our working years. Thankfully, since we retired, we are no longer "on call" 24/7 as we were before, but then again, as Christians we are always "on call" if Jesus calls us to duty.  

Our church and fellowship hall

3. Do you think you manage your time well or would you like to improve? How would you improve?

There is always room for improvement.  I find that I am not physically as able as I used to be to keep up with things like I would like to. I definitely do need to be more consistent in my time management at home, but it is what it is. 

4. Do you think time travel is possible? Why or why not?

Now that's an interesting question.  No, I really don't believe that "time travel" is possible, except for in our minds.  I can "imagine" going back in time to a less stressful and more peaceful time, and then when I really stop and think about it I realize that we have always had stresses and issues that are not so peaceful, no matter what era it may be.  So I am thankful to be living right here and now and wouldn't want to tamper with what God has done in placing me here right now. One thing I know for certain, God's timing is always perfect, and I prefer to stay in His time that He has chosen for me.  

King Solomon summed up time the best:

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

 1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

And with that I will close as I have run out of time for writing this morning. LOL.  Must stay on schedule!  Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends...and most of all, make time for enjoying this day...spend time with God in His beautiful Creation around you...listen to the birds singing, look for signs of spring, hug someone you love...or even hug someone who just needs a hug...maybe a stranger! Make time for others and share the Love of Jesus wherever you go.

Okay, let's go see what others are writing about today at Tuesday 4.  Bye bye for now.