• Home
  • About
    • My Favorite Things
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Request Form
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • Shop
    • Freebies
  • Contact
  • Blog

Andrea Fortenberry

White Space

November 20, 2014 By admin

20 Nov

In my college publication design class we learned about the importance of white space. If there’s too much text on a page and not enough white space, readers will skim or not read an article altogether. Too much text is intimidating. Designing the page with a healthy amount of white space makes it more appealing to the eyes of readers.
The principle of white space isn’t just for designing a page; we need white space in our lives. We need it in our schedules, in our homes and in our hearts.
Last year when Lila went to kindergarten I thought that I’d have so much extra time on my hands. But I quickly became over-scheduled and overextended. Why? Because I took on too much: being class mom, being a Girl Scout leader and Cookie Mom, attending Bible study, church ministry and MOPS. All of these things are good things, many of them great things. But too many awesome things at one time left me rushing and stressed because I didn’t have enough white space in my life.
White space allows spontaneity to happen. White space allows us to rest and refuel. White space encourages us to live in the present. When we have too much on the calendar we’re always thinking about the next thing instead of today.
We have to protect the white space in our lives. We have to make it a priority. We have to learn to say no, sometimes even when our heart says yes. We have to continually examine the amount of white space in our life.
This is hard for me because I never want to miss out on anything and if I’m honest, I love being busy and always have. But I know that my soul needs white space.
I’m learning to protect my family’s white space because we need it. One of my favorite things is when we have a Saturday that is both productive and restful. This usually only happens when the day is full of white space, with nothing planned or scheduled. We’ll usually tackle some home projects and have time for fun. When these wonderful Saturdays happen, Will and I both tell each other that we need more of them.
I’m trying to protect this school year to have time with my little guy. Next year he’ll be in preschool. On the one hand, I’ll enjoy some regular alone time, but on the other, things will never be the same. I realize that my time with him is precious and limited and I want to say yes to that. I want to have enough white space in my schedule so that I can enjoy him.
I’m learning to say no to things, a lot of them things I want to do. I so often have the heart to participate and the heart to help, but don’t always have the time. I realize that for now I must say no to some things. Maybe in a different season I’ll be able to say yes.
As we enter the holiday season, I’m going to make white space a priority. I love all of the invitations and happenings during this time of year. But I want to leave room for spontaneity and creativity, for rest and reflection on what truly matters.
Will you join me?
For a great read on making wise choices, I highly recommend Lysa TerKeurst’s newest book The Best Yes. I finished it a few weeks ago and have already turned back to it a few times when making decisions.
Disclosure of Material Connection: The link in the post above is an “affiliate link.” This means if you click on the post and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« Psalm 77
Christmas Countdown »

Comments

  1. Amber C says

    November 26, 2014 at 5:11 am

    I love this! I am so bad at over-scheduling and definitely feels the pressures and affects of taking on too much! I often need to remind myself to leave time for life to happen on it's own! And the Holidays are the perfect time to focus on this since this tends to be the busiest time of year! Thank you for the great reminder!

Meet Andrea


Hi! I’m Andrea Fortenberry. I write and speak on marriage, motherhood, friendship and faith. I love to help women seek and see God in their everyday life. Being a wife and mother of two gives me lots of material and teaches me oh so many things.

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

Join Andrea

Search this site

Recent Instagram Posts

Would you like some encouragement and advice on ma Would you like some encouragement and advice on making time to be in God’s Word? 🙋🏻‍♀️

In the latest episode of the podcast, I chat with author and speaker, Brittany Ann. She is the owner of EquippingGodlyWomen.com, where she challenges, encourages, and  equips Christian women to be "all in" in faith and family. 

She is about to release a book called Fall in Love with God’s Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women on February 1st.

We talk about Brittany Ann's story of reading the Bible, five misconceptions we have when it comes to reading the Bible, how busy moms can make time in their busy schedule to be in God's Word, and more!

Do you have questions about reading the Bible? We’d love to answer them here. 👇🏼
Saturday I had a revelation: I do too much for my Saturday I had a revelation: I do too much for my kids sometimes.
 
I’ve tried really hard to empower them to do things I was afraid of as a kid. Because of that, my daughter is a great swimmer. I make my son, who is shy, go to the counter at a restaurant and ask for ketchup or extra napkins.
 
Despite these efforts, there are times when it’s easier for me to do things for them, but in doing so, I’ve made it harder for myself and them in the long run.
 
Saturday after my son’s football game, we went to Subway. I ate a late breakfast and didn’t want anything, so I sat down while my husband and the kids ordered. The kids quickly ran back over to me and said, “Can you order for us?”
 
Long story short, they didn’t know what I normally order them at Subway. “We don’t know what we like here,” they said. They are 12 and 9.
 
“WHAT? You don’t know what you like on your own sandwich?!?” I couldn’t believe it. 😦
 
I had a moment of clarity: my children need to learn what they like on their own sandwich! If I’m not there or something happens to me, I want them to feel equipped for Subway. For speaking up for themselves. For school. For their faith. For journeying with God.
 
Sometimes putting our kids and ourselves in uncomfortable situations is better than taking the easy route. We all grow through the discomfort.
 
My husband and I decided that we’re making another trip to Subway this week so that the kids can be empowered to know what they like and order it for themselves. I’ll report back! 😉
Just a reminder for your Tuesday that feels like a Just a reminder for your Tuesday that feels like a Monday: HOPE is a choice. It’s not a feeling. 

We get to choose our response to the problems of the world. Will we despair or will we HOPE in our God who holds all things together? Even though we may not be able to control and change the entire world, we can make choices to improve our corner of it. We can inspire and spread HOPE to the people God places in our lives. 

Today, I choose HOPE. 💗
Could you use some hope as we wind down this week? Could you use some hope as we wind down this week? 

This week’s episode of The Perfectionist’s Guide to Mothering is all about daring to hope. 

I’ve received several messages from listeners saying this is just what they needed or that this has been their favorite episode so far. 💗 

I’m truly honored to spend time with you during these episodes. You can listen via the link in my bio or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Put up my verse for this year on my letter board. Put up my verse for this year on my letter board. I was one white y short. 😆 

If you ever come to my house, you’d see that besides family photos, I don’t have artwork of landscapes, abstract patterns or florals hanging on the walls. But I have many signs and decor with words, Bible verses and phrases that are meaningful to me. (Swipe over for a peek.) It’s important to put Scripture and inspiring, life-giving messages where we can see them. I hope my kids soak them in and take them to heart as they grow.

What kind of artwork, Bible verses or phrases do you have up at your house?
This has been my morning routine for a while and i This has been my morning routine for a while and it has made such a difference in my mood and my outlook on the world. 

We may not be able to control what’s going on outside our homes, but we can control our routines and what we allow inside our hearts and minds. I know that I can’t handle news and social media first thing in the morning before I do these five things. Settling my heart, mind, and body puts me in a much better position to intake news or scroll the polarizing opinions and loud voices on social media. 

I’ve heard @lysaterkeurst say, “We must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.” She’s so right. 💯

Do you want an accountability partner to check on you as you commit to these five steps this month? Give me a 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️ below and I’ll follow up with you. ❤️
I’m a processor and I’m usually slow to post s I’m a processor and I’m usually slow to post something. Not because I don’t have anything to say, but because I prefer to wrestle with my feelings, write, pray, and/or talk with a close few. I think it’s the introvert in me. (And also the recovering perfectionist.)

While my heart has been heavy this week, I am also filled with HOPE. God knew that needed to be my word this year and I’m so thankful. 

A very sweet friend sent me this verse via text Wednesday morning, hours before the events at the Capitol. How poignant these words are to us right now!

I am daring to HOPE because I know God is still at work. I know He is Immanuel, God with us. He isn’t shocked by our world and our sinfulness. Yet, He still offers us fresh mercy, comfort, and salvation in Jesus, our living HOPE. 

May we place our HOPE in the God of HOPE because He is trustworthy and true.

Leave a ❤️ if you’ll join me in daring to hope.
For the last few years, I’ve picked a word to fo For the last few years, I’ve picked a word to focus on for the year. I pray and ask God what my word should be. 

Saturday I jotted down words on a list and prayed that God would help me figure it out. I was out shopping later that night and He reminded me of Romans 15:13. Then at church on Sunday, we sang a worship song about HOPE. I knew it was my word! 

Even though turning the calendar to 2021 didn’t change much in the world, I am hopeful that great things are still to come! And even when those moments come when I’m not so sure, I’m choosing to HOPE in the God of HOPE. 

Do you pick a word of the year? I’d love to hear it👇🏼.
Follow on Instagram

Copyright© 2021 Andrea Fortenberry