One thought from me:

Last week, this 1-2-3 email was about how we never have enough time to do all the things we think are important. Out time is limited.
​

This week we're asking, how do we live once we recognise that our time here is finite? How do we step into this limited life? Here are three things I think help:
​

1. Spend less time doing what doesn't matter.

Facebook scrolling, Netflix scrolling, online store scrolling—how many minutes of scrolling become hours in each of our precious weeks? It's not always easy to avoid the hype, but we can certainly become aware of the things that distract us and be intentional about how we limit them.

​

2. Spend more time doing what does matter.

Work for the good of others, cultivate generosity and be there for the people God has placed in your life. In most cases, the things that matter most are right in front of us. In many cases, they're the people leaving biscuit crumbs in your car.

​

3. Spend time in the natural world.

We've spent the best part of this last week on the NSW Mid-North Coast, staying just beside Arakoon National Park. A week spent amongst granite cliffs and clear blue water reminds me that ancient landscapes have a way of working on our souls. In the presence of creation we see that we are only one small part of the story, one thread woven into the great tapestry.
​

Time in nature, even when it's distributed in small doses, is always restorative. There are invitations everywhere, in the cool afternoon breeze that blows through an open window, in the vase of cut flowers on the kitchen table, in the hour spent staring at the sky, invitations to rest in the goodness of what surrounds us.

​

A quote from someone else:

​

Grace is everywhere, like lenses that go unnoticed because you are looking through them.

― Phillip Yancy, What's So Amazing About Grace.

​

And a few things I think you will love:

​

If you are looking to reduce distractions and spend more time doing what matters most then I highly recommend reading some of Laura Vanderkan's work. I loved her latest book Tranquility by Tuesday, but her 2016 book I Know How She Does it: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time is also excellent.

​

My Insta-friend Patti Andrews was featured in the latest Lunch Lady Mag (Edition #29). As well as sharing a little about her work/life/family juggle, she shares some simple dinner recipes that the whole family will love. I loved the look of her recipes for Corn Burgers (p 75), which her family eats from a lunch box at the beach on summer evenings, perfect.
​

Last year, Mum of two Larissa Jones and her family went 12 months without buying anything new. Her story is written up on the Baptist World Aid blog this week and it's well worth a read. Larissa shares that over the year the project, to buy nothing new, saved her family about $11,000. I wonder too, how many extra hours they saved without shopping at all, how much more time they had for what really mattered. Imagine a year without a minute wasted in the aisles of Kmart.

​

As always,

I'm grateful you're here.

Hannah Alexander x

​

​

Let's seek a deeper connection and a brighter life.

​

Each week, I share A thought from me, a quote from someone else and some things I hope you will love. I'd love to hear back from you, so hit reply with any questions or thoughts. I read every email reply I get, I just can't promise I'll write back every time. I have three kids aged between 3 and 10, so it's possible I'll be at the beach with them, or if not, probably folding socks.

I am, however, so very grateful for the words you do send through and for you being here.

​

If you don't yet receive this email weekly and you'd like to, you can sign up here.

​

​