Checking texts, scrolling through Facebook, posting pictures, and typing emails are all part of our everyday lives – a big part. Think about how much time you spend on your phone, tablet, or computer each day. Thirty minutes? An hour? One report says that the average person spends about 90 minutes a day on their phone. Another says that number may be even higher, up to 4.7 hours a day. Even if we take the smaller statistic and add up those 90 minutes per day, it amounts to 23 days per year and almost 4 years of the average person’s life. We also check our phones an average of 85 times per day.

Most of us wouldn’t deny that we spend too much time on our phones. But we justify our constant typing, scrolling, and liking by saying that “it is just a part of life.” “That’s the way it is these days.” While it’s true, there is nothing inherently wrong with texting, emailing, and most social media sites, should that be our standard? Should we continue to spend hours upon hours on something just because there is nothing bad about it? While he probably didn’t know that it would apply to smart phones and iPads back in the day, Paul wrote a verse that is relevant to this very subject. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” In other words, just because checking our phones isn’t sinful, it is not doing anything to help draw us or those around us closer to God. Our phones are not bad in themselves, but when we are controlled by the need to check our messages or see how many likes our posts have gotten, we are brought under their power – and we are more focused on that than on our walk with the Lord.
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Set aside a day this week to put down your phones, close your laptops, and talk to the people around you, instead of those that pop up on your screens. For just one day, challenge your family to unplug and find something to do together, face to face. Explain to the kids that it is not a punishment, rather a way to talk and spend time together without the distractions of your emails or their snapchats. Spend time enjoying the people and places around you. At the end of the day, talk about what was hard about giving up the phone or computer, as well as what was beneficial. Build on those responses to come up with a plan to encourage the family to look up from their screens in the days, weeks, and months to come. It doesn’t have to be drastic, but a few simple changes can lead to a world of difference in the way your family members engage and interact with each other and with the world around them. 
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It always seems like spring break goes by a little faster than all the other weeks in the year. The kids love having the week off from school and we love being able to spend intentional time together as a family.  Though the week is supposed to be a little break from learning for the kids, we can’t help but reflect upon and share a few of the things we learned over spring break.
 

1. Be flexible with your plans- While trying to stick to a schedule is admirable and important, every now and then it is ok if something doesn’t work out. If staying up late for a family game night means having to skip an early morning workout once in a while, don’t sweat it. Memories of those spur of the moment activities will be much more important than perfectly adhering to your daily routine.
2. Stop trying to plan your next post – we’ve all done it. Planned an outfit or activity with an Instagram or Facebook post in mind. How sad is it that we find ourselves doing things just so that we can post a picture? That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with sharing photos of special memories, but we’ve realized that we sometimes need to think about why we are planning a trip or activity. If it is just so that we can show our friends a staged snapshot of our lives, it might not be a bad idea to spend a day or a week away from social media.
3. Time is flying; slow down and enjoy it- As quickly as this week came, it has passed. Before we know it, it will be summer and another year will have come and gone in what seems like the blink of an eye. We are often guilty of trying to pack in as many activities as possible, trying to schedule play-dates or lunch outings with everyone we know, and by the time we’ve done it all, the day is over and we feel like we have only seen our family in passing, on our way to the next event. Spring break has reminded us how important it is to slow down every once in a while and take advantage of days with no plans, rather than trying to fill them up.

 
We hope everyone enjoyed spring break. What lessons did you learn over the week? 

​As we head into spring, we look forward to the longer, warmer days ahead. Though we will probably wake up a little less rested this Sunday, the extra hour of sunlight that we enjoy in the spring and summer months is well worth it. One of the best ways to enjoy the warmer, longer days is to bring your workout outdoors – and bring the whole family with you too!
 
Working out outside has many benefits; it is a great way to explore new trails or hiking spots near your home and that Vitamin D helps your body absorb minerals, as well as aid in digestion. Oftentimes, games with the kids or an afternoon spend doing yard work as a family can serve as exercise you don’t even realize you’re getting! If you’re looking for some inspiration for how you can get active outdoors this week, here is a list of some of our favorite activities – just don’t forget the sun block and a water bottle!
 

1. Go for a run or a walk: Whether in your own neighborhood or on a trail you’ve never visited, running or walking is a great way to get active outside. Even if you are running down the streets you travel everyday, there is just something different about seeing them on foot, rather than from your car. Running and walking are easy, inexpensive ways to exercise as a family. You could even set a goal to train for a 5K together over several months!
2. Do a little landscaping: Mowing the yard, raking leaves, pulling weeds, and planting trees or flowers don’t usually come to mind when you think about working out, but they are a great and productive way to work up a sweat. You will use muscles you don’t normally target and are almost guaranteed to feel a little sore the next day.
3. Get a little friendly competition going: There is nothing like a family game of basketball or sand volleyball to bring out some family rivalry! Venture to a local park with the ball for the sport of your choosing, and may the best team win! You will feel like a kid again and will burn those calories without even realizing it as you duke it out with your loved ones. The kids will love getting to practice a new sport and may just find something they can beat mom and dad at!
4. Take a hike: For a quick day trip, search for local hiking trails, pack a picnic lunch, and take off for a day exploring nature somewhere new. You will walk miles and learn more about the region in which you live. If you’re like us, you love seeing the Texas wildflowers in bloom, along with all the other sights and sounds you can only get in the great outdoors!

 
Do you have a favorite outdoor family activity?  Show us how your family gets exercise outside by posting a photo on twitter and tagging us! We can’t wait to see what everyone is doing with their extra hour of sunlight!