When in doubt, BLOG

I actually typed the previous post one day before I actually posted it, but I didn't have time to spell-check it, so I just now posted it. I don't know why I felt like I needed to tell you that.

As I re-read the previous post, it occurred to me that it sounds like I'm complaining. I hate it when I complain about my life. I am so blessed. That was part of the point of starting this whole blog in the first place. I want to count my blessings every day, not complain about them!!

But the truth of the matter is, I have felt overwhelmed lately. And by lately I mean the past 9 weeks. I clearly remember thinking, "AS soon as school starts, I can get this house and myself more organized so I won't feel like everything is spinning out of control." Last week, the kids brought home their report cards and I realized right then that nothing has changed since way before school started!

I don't like it when my life feels like this. Way too busy. No time to just enjoy "being" . No time to unwind. No time to lie in bed with the kids and have "pillow talk." No time to talk about God's beautiful world. No time to thank Him for it.

Shameful.

Life has been busy and I've been fully aware that it's too busy but I haven't really known what to do about it. This is the first week in well over 9 weeks that I've been able to sit down and catch my breath.

I am so thankful for this week.

It has given me an oppportunity to reflect on my life my role as mother, wife, cook, cleaner, chauffeur, friend, sister, child of God, mediator, daughter, boo-boo kisser, blogger, crafter, seamstress. And I've realized that I am failing in each area. And it makes me sad.

So...time for change! Time for focus. Time to re-prioritize. I'm excited!!!

First things first. I made a chore chart. For any mommies out there, come back next week and I'll tell you what I'm doing. I have researched some "tried and true" methods out there and came up with what I think will be best for our family. We put it into practice today and I was so amazed at how smoothly it went! I see a light at the end of this tunnel!

I'm ashamed and embarrassed to admit this, but maybe someone else out there needs to know they aren't alone. So...here goes. I gave up my quiet time/prayer time/devotional time in the mornings so that I could do laundry. I am a morning person by nature. I'm up at 5 , or 5:30 at the latest, and I hit the ground running. When school started, I realized that I get more done during the hour before the kids wake up then I do the rest of the day. So that has become my ritual. I wake up and head to the laundry room. Then to the kitchen. I seriously spend over half an hour in the laundry room every single morning and I am never caught up!! I always have clothes in the washer, clothes in the dryer, clothes ON the dryer, clothes in the hamper, and clothes waiting to be folded in the laundry basket on the floor. And a basket of mis-matched socks somewhere in there.

After polling my sister and some of my Type A friends, I have come up with a solution for the laundry that will allow me to have my 30 minutes of quiet time AWAY from the laundry room. I need this. y'all. I need to start my day off with some type of devotional, prayer, and/or Bible time. It sets my tone/mood for the day. And this "break" from God that I seem to have taken has been noticeable! I have truly felt "spiritually dry" and although I have been aware of it, I have been stuck in this cycle and I have been unable to break it. Til now. So when I tell you I'm excited, I mean it!!

I seriously considered giving up the blog! It would be one less thing to do. But I love looking back at this past year on my blog! I want to remember these days! And I want my children to remember these days. And one thing that this blog has "forced" me to do is to carry my camera with me and record the everyday memories.

When I first started this blog, my intention was to be mindful of our everyday blessings - to thank God for our lives and for each other. Somehow during the last 9 weeks (and maybe even longer), I've "lost" that.

Are you still reading this?? If so, I'm sorry for this never-ending post. I'm getting there, I promise.

So with all this being said, I apologize to you if this blog has "lost it's focus." Don't worry...".I'm baaaa-aaack."

Thanking God for giving me this week to take a deep breath, reflect, and re-prioritize. I feel good things happening!