TTFN, and a Summer Show & Tell

There must be something about this time of year. This week it hit me that I need to spend time away from this screen for a while. I try other methods (giving myself certain amount of time online, or try to only visit certain sites), but end up frustrated or it just doesn't "stick"... just shutting it off for awhile works better (for me). I've learned that if I do this every so often, I neither overestimate the importance of online activities, nor underestimate the resources, wisdom, and comraderie available here. And if I do this every so often, I don't end up shutting down my blog, only to realize that communicating by writing is a part of how God built me and that I need to get back to it.

Time away helps me to rightly value what's here, and rightly value what's NOT here.

So I'm taking some time away, not sure how long. About six weeks from now, our family is going to Cairo for our family vacation (we found a good deal and quickly snatched it up--YAY, I can't wait to see the Pyramids!!!), so it may be even after that, something like 2 months. We'll just see. And I reserve the right to hop back on, without shame, if there's something that I feel prodded to write about. :) But regardless, I hope you have a delightful summer- full of knowing Christ more, and joyfully loving family and the people around you.


As a parting gift, here are the links I've been storing up since the last Show & Tell (and I'll decorate them with recent pics of my kids):

FEATURED ARTICLE:
  • KNOW YOUR BIBLE! Randy Alcorn warns that not knowing the Word of God is a monumental problem in the modern church... and I agree.

CAUSE IT'S INTERESTING:

RELATIONSHIPS:

LIFE WITH KIDS:

HOMESCHOOLING:

GOOD FOR A LAUGH:








15 comments:

Deborah said...

I'm sure you'll love Cairo! My husband and I are posted to Cairo (he works for the U.S. Department of State), and we absolutely love living here. The pyramids are amazing. If you have a chance, I think you'd also enjoy seeing the cave churches at Mokattum--you have to drive through one of the worst slums to get there, so be prepared for your heart to break, but the churches are worth it. If you have any questions or if I can help in any way while you're here, feel free to email me at reflectionsfrommaadi@gmail.com.

Diane Shiffer said...

I find that I need to do this too, from time to time. Enjoy your vacation... in the meantime, we'll enjoy the links you've shared. And miss you too!

Krista said...

Jess,
I've really enjoyed reading your blog since learning about it 6 months ago. My husband and I, along with our 3 kids (almost 3 year old girl and 5 month old twin boys) live in Alexandria - a 2 1/2 hour train ride from Cairo. Don't know how long you'll be in Egypt, but if you'd like to make it up to the coast on the Mediterranean Sea we'd love to meet your family and show you around Alex. If you have questions or need anything while in Egypt, plaese feel free to email me: krista@pobox.com.

Hope you guys have a super vacation and you come back to the blogging world refreshed. You minister to many with your giftings and writing talent!

{Life Is Good} said...

I am so glad that you are able to find balance-get a way for a while and come back to us!
I feel the same way and have to take "breaks" every now and then. But like you have said before my quality of life would decline if I did not have this outlet. I do take advantage of it from time to time, but thankfully God quickly gets me back on track.
Usually through my kids saying something like, "mom, when you get off the computer, or mom you are on the computer a lot!".
I posted something on my blog that I was going to email you about but I will put the link here and not add something to your to do list:
http://goodlifealways.blogspot.com/2009/06/zeal.html

Ruth said...

Jess,
My husband went to Cairo on business last year. The neat thing is that the kids and I had studied about Egypt and the pyramids in Mystery of History. My husband was able to bring back pictures of things we had studied. It will be such an awesome field trip for your family. Enjoy!

Ruth from Texas

Mom/Nana said...

Great post! I enjoyed a lot of the topics - on the Gossip one, a comment that was made that I thought was powerful . . . Dr. Laura said before you speak think: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Make sure the answer to all 3 is yes before you open your mouth. Great advice! I am also very excited about your trip! You have been interested in Egypt for years, and it's so neat to think that you will actually get to be there & see the Pyramids, etc. I'm so thrilled for you all!

Anonymous said...

Have a good summer! I have seen the pyramids, but we didn't get to go to the main museum in Cairo, because they were spraying it for cholera.

I feel really bad for Jenny Sanford and their kids. As awful as it would be to learn my husband was unfaithful, I could forgive him and I would certainly try to repair the marriage.

However, it would be very difficult to go forward with a husband who tells the whole world he can die knowing he met his "soulmate" (referring to the mistress) and that he is going to work hard to fall back in love with his wife. That would be so much more hurtful than "ordinary" infidelity.

Laurie B

Catie said...

Jess, have fun on vaca!!! I will very much miss your blog, however!! *sniff, sniff* :) God bless you!!!!

Catie

Leah said...

Thanks for the links Jess - have a blessed summer with your family...you continue to be a great inspiration!

Deborah said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and for the encouragement. It really means a lot.
Deborah

Jennifer C. Valerie said...

Enjoy your vacation!

Jessica said...

I'm fully expecting a pregnancy report on #5 when you return... it's about that time right? :) Silas is 16 months so that's your spacing.
Just kidding... sort of :)

Jess Connell said...

LOL, Jessica.

Well, you're not completely off... this is the longest we've gone between babies. 24 months apart has been the longest spacing so far (between our first 2). Silas is also the longest nurser yet (the longest before him was 14 & 1/2 months).

And just in case it will help give people accurate perceptions or comfort that they are not alone, the four children we have are four of seven pregnancies that we know about. When I was younger, I had no idea how relatively common it is to miscarry. Our fallen bodies are not infallible, and the three babies we've lost remind us of that.

Anyway. Just wanted to say that because at this point, we're much more cautious about announcing anything until we're a bit further along.

But at this point, I am completely unaware of any such development. :) But thanks for the joke-like speculation. I bet you're not alone in your guesses...
~Jess

Deborah said...

Hi Jess,
Thank you for the comment on my last post. Something you said struck a chord - that the waiting must be exhausting. I am so tired. I've wondered if it is the unknown, the not knowing, the cycle of anticipation, and then nothing. I feel better, now, since reading your comment. Thanks for checking in on us during your vacation. It means a lot.

Debbie said...

I am trying this out because I just signed up to google, so I want to see if this works. I also thought that 100 things to do in DC was neat! We did a lot of those things over the course of the time you guys lived there!