Life without a cell phone...

Everyone has one -- if not clutched in their little hands, they have them strapped to their hips -- or at the very least, within reach at all times.

I lived without mine for 10 glorious days.

In orientation on the first day Janine asked us to please be there while we were there. Meaning, if at all possible don't worry about your families and calling them every day. She told us to "give them back to God." I wanted to make the most out of this experience, so I took that to heart. I knew if something happened to me, they would get a call and if something happened to them, I would get a call at the hotel. And internet was shoddy at best -- even though our hotel in Ezulwini had internet, I think it only worked 2 of the ten days we were there. So, we didn't have that, either.

So I had NO contact with the family. I'm kind of a control freak and want to know where my hubby and son are at all times. Even when I'm at work, I think of them all night -- like at 8 o'clock I'll think, "Izzy's going to bed about now." Giving up control of them and giving up worrying about them and knowing that they would be okay -- it was truly a spiritual experience for me. I wanted to be there in whole for the kids we would be loving that week. And I know that my Heavenly Father knew that and gave me the peace to know that everything would be just fine with them.

The first full day I was back and had my phone with me I was so irritated that everyone was calling me. And it was really only every couple of hours, but it was unnerving that my peace and thoughts were being disturbed.

I realized that I don't need my phone all the time -- or the internet. I don't have to be that connected. Being without them for only 10 days really made me appreciate the quiet and my own thoughts.

I've also realized that it's always important to be there when you're there. Too many times I've taken Izzy to the park and seen parents on the phone the whole time. Or at the restaurant where I work -- people can't even take out their bluetooth for dinner or stop texting long enough to have a conversation with the person they're with. It's sad, really.