Lent in the Carter Household

The Lenten season is off to a great start in our house!  We've started visiting area churches (still haven't found the winner, but we know it's out there) and have given up and taken on some things in our daily routine.

I graduated with my MSW in 2010 and have been doing work in non-profit fundraising since then.  While I absolutely love what I do, I have recently felt called to begin the process of getting my license to practice clinically.  I have purchased all the necessary study tools and decided to incorporate studying into my daily routine.  I've always been told that studying was a muscle, but until I was two years out of Grad school, I never realized how true that is.  Mine was completely out of shape and it feels so so good to be exercising it again.

This routine couldn't have come at a better time because I chose to give up Facebook (and sweets) for Lent.  Crazy.  I know.  I realized that I was overlooking the daily devotional in my inbox and heading straight to Facebook each morning to see what everyone's up to.  Now, I grab my morning green tea, sit down at my desk and open up my daily devotional in the tab that would usually hold my Facebook news feed.  It has truly been a great past couple days.  It's definitely been eye opening as I've realized how often I clicked over to Facebook.  I feel so much less anxiety, not feeling like I need to know what's going on with everyone.  There's something very calming in having the freedom of not feeling guilty about not being connected 24/7.

Grant has made the personal choice to give up alcohol.  This decision came  a little before lent and isn't necessarily for lent, but it is certainly a sacrifice being made, as he has become a bit of a wine/craft beer enthusiast.  He's certainly refined that palette of his since his fraternity days in college.  :)  He has set his birthday as the date when he can break his no alcohol streak.  I know he misses his occasional glass of wine and am so proud of him for really following through on the sacrifice he's decided to make.

In our house, we've implemented a "swear jar."  I would like to think it's more for Grant, but if I'm being honest with myself, it's for both of us.  I figure we could work on our bad habits and have laundry money on hand at all times.  This will definitely be handy on those Sunday when we realize we have to do laundry because the hamper has exploded, but the banks aren't open and, I mean, come on, who carries cash these days?  My hope is that by the end of lent, it won't be necessary and we can toss it out.

We hope your Lent is off to a great start, and as you and your family prepare for Holy Week and for the Resurrection of our Lord, your hearts are full of joy and that you find yourself drawing nearer to God through the sacrifices you've decided to make or the new habits you've decided to pick up.