Sometimes I think we get so caught up in all we have to do, in our goals, our responsibilities, our roles in life, busyness, and work, that we forget to have fun. I know I’m guilty of it at times. I get so involved in the daily grind, that I forget to slow down and just have some fun.
I overheard someone recently say, “I don’t have time to have any fun. I have too much to do.” Oh, how I relate. I wanted to chime in, “I hear ya sista!” I really do believe though, that too much serious, too much busyness and work can lead to stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and mental breakdown. Having fun can come in all sorts of varieties.
I know my favorite way to unwind is to sit with my husband in our back yard at our little tiki hut. It’s a place he built where we’ve hung many memories from our lives. It’s nothing fancy, but from this spot, we can enjoy the outdoors, each others’ company, read a book, watch our kids and dogs play, or just relax. For me this is fun.
I also love spending time with my family where no distractions from the outside world are involved. This can be as simple as going on a hike or playing a game, or it can be something bigger like a vacation. For me this is fun.
Another favorite thing to do is hang out with girlfriends. Being goofy, sharing secrets, watching a movie, playing a game, going out to dinner, meeting for coffee, or even better, having a girls’ get away weekend together. For me this is fun.
I have found I can also enjoy time all by myself. I love to go to a near-by coffee shop/bookstore, where I can sit and read, write, or focus on the thought of my choice. For me this is fun.
We have been so involved with our latest Bible study, that I can understand how some may feel overwhelmed. I want to remind everyone, that our purpose in MTC is not to lose weight, be skinny, or even begin to exercise. Our purpose is to learn to go to God for everything. Our peace can never be found in our bodies, it can only be obtained through Jesus. There is only one week left in MTC, and I hope that if anything else, we can say that we want to find our peace in God, not anyone or anything else.
So, back to fun. Recently, I had the pleasure and privilege of hosting a few of our online Bible study team members in my home. Some of them were able to come in early and volunteer at the Proverbs 31 Office for a few days. It was awesome working in person with some of the ladies who make these online studies possible. I can’t do this by myself. The online Bible studies team works so hard behind the scenes and I am so grateful for each one who has served in this ministry since it began a little over a year ago. We work hard together, but this week, we also took a little break for some fun together.
Below is a short video clip of me and the team members who could make it. Right before this clip, we enjoyed some yummy food (permissible and beneficial I might add) then we played the Wii game, Just Dance. This was both fun and funny! I know they had to get a laugh out of watching my 45 year old body try to keep up with any of my “competitors.” I’ll just go ahead and admit, I didn’t win a single round! But, the night was not about winning, it was about fun. Take a look:
***If you cannot see the 2 videos below, click here.
And here’s just a peek at the fun that was had. Check out Stephanie and Veronica’s dance moves 
Hope you enjoyed that!
***Our winner of An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell is Jennifer, who posted February 14, 2012 at 9:35 pm. Jennifer, email me at Melissa@MelissaTaylor.org with your mailing information and I will send you your book!
If you are interested in signing up for our next study, An Untroubled Heart, Finding a Faith That’s Stronger Than All My Fears, you can do so in the right hand column of my blog .
Finally, a big thank you and super hugs to the Online Bible Studies Leadership Team and the Made to Crave Facebook Prayer Group Leaders. I love you, I thank you for your service for the time you were with us, and I am honored to call you all my friends.
Prayer Group Leaders for MTC on Facebook:
Pamela Vandervoort
Kristi Seat
Wilma Hill
Robin Packer
Kelley Murphy
Kandace Poindexter
Charlotte Bowers
Kim Goldstein
Tabitha Wells
Lisa Kramp
Veronica Herzing
Lynne Koch
Patti Muzik
Megan Smidt
Tricia Davis
Donna Bostick
Heather Bleier
Sheena Wilson
Leadership Team
Stephanie Clayton
Heather Bleier
Lisa Kramp
Veronica Herzing
Donna Bostick
Angie Combs
Big Blessings! One week left, let’s finish strong!
Love,
Melissa
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing and introducing us to all these incredible ladies!
It was a great time – loved meeting everyone in person, hearing the stories of the other ladies was so great!!!!!
great ideas for down time
but you need a husband and or a friend
having neither of these makes it hard and alone time is great for a while but not as a steady diet
Praying for you! I am single and have moved in the past year to a city where I knew few people. These online studies and a new church home have brought some wonderful caring people into my life. I know that God is surrounding you with His love every day. I pray that He will bring some earthly angels into your life. Life can be lonely at times-I know that all too well-but I am thankful that God is with me even in the darkest moments. I pray that you will feel the same peace.
Both my kids left home two years ago and then we left our church home this time last year, so it was a little difficult to “refind” myself…what I found joy in and what my purpose is. I only have a few people I would call friends, and we occasionally do go out for coffee, but have found that everyone is just so busy these days that they don’t have time for relationships. This study has helped me in 1) my walk with the LORD, 2) my loneliness (I can rely on him and NOT others…and definitely NOT food anymore), and 3) my “downtime”. I work in an elementary school, so I’m finding it’s very nice now to have some quiet.
I am now asking God to show me people throughout my day that He might want me to impact. We have a four day weekend, and yesterday, everyone I knew was already busy, so I spent the day by myself. I went shopping in another town and my “assignment” was an Amish gal working behind the counter; an older gentleman she was checking out was on his cell-phone using the LORD’s name in vain. It not only offended me and scared me, but I found it scared her as well.
So VERY thankful for this study and can’t wait for your next one, Melissa!!
Cute video, Dancing will certainly make ya sweat. With all my studies I must remember to take time for fun. There’s only so much my brain can take in. I don’t have a lot of friends I can call just to do stuff with so I spend a lot of time alone with myself and God. Hope y’all finish strong with MTC. I fizzled at Ch 5. But will work on it a little at a time and get it complete before April.
I want to say that I am a little behind again. But I really related to the emotional eating chapter as this is where I have some serious problems. I also want to say that since I stopped recording the nutrition facts that I haven’t done so good on the trying to lose weight. Although I had made some healthier choices, I find myself leaning again towards sweets and junk food.
As for fun, my time management skills are pretty bad so I bounce from having no fun, to spending too much time on hobbies and not enough time on reading the word or on my blog, or the many other things I should be doing.
Fun is essential, I am learning this…but finding the time for fun and creativity, takes being seriously intentional about life and really making a plan and sticking to it, which is not my strong point. But I am working on it, and like all things it is a work in progress.
I AM BEHIND ALSO BUT I WILL FINSIH!!!!!!! LAST YEAR I DIDN’T BUT I WILL THIS YEAR. I AM ON CHAPTER 10. I LOVE THE BOOK AND LEARNING A LOT. I LOOK FORWARD EVERY MORNING GETTING UP AND DOING MY BIBLE STUDY. I THINK I HAVE BECOME A BIBLE STUDY GIRL AT 67. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU
Looks like you gals had fun. My main workout right now is the game Dance Praise. With the cold weather, all the construction by the rec center I go to and my busy schedule, finding time to go over there to work out can be hard. However, I find it easy to find 20-30 minutes three days a week to plug in the dance pad and fire up Dance Praise. The fact that all the songs to dance to in the game are by Christian artists is an added bonus because I am listening to God’s truth as I work on refining His temple.
Hi Melissa,
I am Cynthia and live in Gastonia, NC (not far from you Melissa!). I am so enjoying the MTC Bible study. I am single and use my food as my “pillow” or comfort. I never thought of the connection between what I eat and God. Not only am I seeing this connection in a great way, I am striving to only crave GOD!! To be near God and know how much He loves me is the only comfort I need. This Bible study has given me another way to understand God’s love for me, to REALLY understand. Thank you Melissa for your hard work. Thank you Lysa for writing about me in your book. You understand my thoughts and needs since we all must have the same needs. It is nice to know there are others like me in regard to thoughts and foods. Thank you for showing me the grand opportunity to crave God!! How exciting!!!! Bless you both!!