Training My Time: Limiting obligations to the important things

Blogger Bernice at The Stressed Mom challenged me this morning. 

First, her post 10 Habits for a Well Run Home. 

All the habits were most helpful.

But the 10th habit was thought provoking: 

Don't say yes immediately to new requests. 

And don't be afraid to say no immediately if you know you can't.

Wow!... Okay. 

That could help. 

Yeah! 

That could really help!

And then she added her post: Ten Ways to Stop Being So Busy.

And of course I clicked it!

There, she asked that you write down the 4-5 most important things to you, 

and let those guide you in evaluating your time. 

Brilliant!

Because I found that just writing these things down helped me orient myself, 

and gave me a bit of direction.

It's interesting that these thoughts were there all along. 

I just gave them voice which helped me bring them into focus.

So I'm hoping by sharing my list, 

I will encourage my friends in their own endeavors to balance life in a thoughtful way.

Give your desires a voice and see if it helps!

Here's to training your time into something beautiful, friends!

Why "Happy Holidays" Doesn't Offend Me

I couldn't shake the controversy over removing Christ from Christmas, today. And I started to think, it's not surprising that people would remove Christ from the American Christmas. And I'm not mad that they have, either. Actually it seems like a relief to me. I'm glad we can stop calling the America "Christmas" something it isn't. It isn't a celebration of Christ. Let's call it what it is, though! A wonderful celebration of light and hope at the darkest time of the year (December 20th is the shortest day all year! Booo!). HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I love light and hope too!

I think it's a natural human response to seek out light in darkness. In fact, if you look at our collective human history, we'v been doing just that for a long time. The Holidays aren't a bad thing. I love that Americans celebrate light and cheer when we could be consumed by the northern darkness. Dressing our houses and trees in light. Giving gifts to celebrate the relationships we're blessed with. Finding extra to give to those less fortunate. Carving out time to be with family. These are good things. And actually, it's like the world is acknowledging Christ without meaning to. He is so much the light and hope we all seek in the darkness. These things are pieces of him even if the world is unaware!

 I choose to see the person behind the "Happy Holidays" as someone creating light, hope, and love the best ways they can without lying about what they are celebrating. Not an enemy. Not an offense. Just an honest human being celebrating hope in a dark season. And I want to encourage and bless them in their celebration of this. I hope their holidays ARE happy.

BUT be encouraged friends! Christmas is a time to be at peace with humanity and not at odds with it. That's the true essence of our Christmas, isn't it!? Christ came all the way down to be human with us. And nothing will change that.  Be confident that you don't have to make the world own Christ or Christmas. Because it isn't us who own Christ. It's Christ who owns us. And this Christmas business is completely His! He will make it MERRY! I am confident of that!

So here's to excepting "Happy Holidays" with grace and faith! And to saying "Merry Christmas" to each other and celebrating Christ's humanity! Celebrating just how extraordinary it is that we are so loved, our creator would come all the way down to be human with us. And let's embrace the world He created in all it's beautiful humanity and holidays! Because I am confident he will complete the work He began as a baby in it!!

Waiting for Christ with you,
Chris

Why I Abandoned My Blog and Other Nonsense

What is good photojournalogging?

Good photojournalogging involves writing. 

Like frequently. Like on a weekly basis, at least. 

Writing AND posting pictures. 

Frequently.

And I've noticed that my blog is truly lacking in the frequently department.

I am disconcerted. 

I'm even making up words like photojournalogging to make myself feel better.

So I'm making myself sit here to type something, anything.

And I'm going to post it no matter how trashy it turns out.

Subject other people to my lack of lackingness.

And blatant making up of words.

It's like poetry.

... gone awry. :)

Which is oddly similar to my life.

I've decided to sum up the last 2 months of silence with a list:

Ten Reasons Why I Abandoned My Blog

1- I sold my home and had to move in two weeks.

2- At the end of the two weeks... My husband and I had no where to move our family.

3- A wonderful friend rescued us, and we moved in with her family.  There are eleven of us... Eleven. And somehow we manage, but I think it has something to do with a well timed coffee in the morning and beer in the evening! And her hot tub. Lots of late night hot tubbing.

4- Shopping for a home, haggling for a home, and financing a home? Are of the devil.

5- I sleep in a basement located directly below a kitchen. There is no "sleeping in" when you sleep under a kitchen. I've gotten so use to the sound of people's feet up there, I play a game with myself called "Whose Feet Are Those?" I'm getting really good.

6- I am a part time taxi driver, driving kids back and forth from Lee's Summit to Liberty for school. I spend 3+ hours in the van on Tuesdays and Thursdays! 

7- There has been a suspicious lack of chocolate in my life which I recently rectified at the grocery store. I have already consumed a ridiculous amount of it.  

8- I had been struggling with anxiety and depression until I finally called the doctor and said, "Please medicate me! I am seriously disturbed!" And Lexipro is divine. I'm not joking. I think God served up a big old dish of mercy for me in the form of a scientifically engineered miracle! I realize some of you will think this is horribly sacrilegious. :) But I think it's wonderful! Chocolate is also divine.

9-  Did I mention I live with seven kids?

10- Life in general has just squashed the creative fortitude right out of me. But I have to say, writing about my life and having fun with this post has definitely helped me laugh and enjoy myself a bit. Creativity will do that do those of us who find ourselves married to it. A balm for the creatively insane. :)

So here's to writing about running amok at its finest! I hope that you can find ways to cope with the craggier parts of your life too. Love you friends!

I love all your raggedy parts the best!

As a mom of three boys, I wanted to put this out there for other moms who are afraid to be honest. If I seem tired, I am. If it seems like being home with the boys is hard for me, it is. If I seem down some days, I am. If other people look like they are having more fun than me, they are. But I really feel like being a parent isn't about having fun, being happy or fulfilled. I do think it's about giving someone else life, the real gritty true kind, through our own sacrifices. And that despite our ragged state, we should be proud of that. We should be honest about that. I'm ragged, and tired, and unsure of myself. And I can be proud if it. Because out of this raggedy mom's sacrifices, somehow God makes life in my kids.

So here's to not sugar coating the truth with each other. 

Here's to being supportive of all momas everywhere who are trying their best. 

Here's to saying, somedays I wear sweats and don't shower and I'm still me under all this grime. 

Here's to saying motherhood isn't a contest, because we all need to win. 

Here's to saying motherhood isn't about being happy all the time, because family is messy and gritty and still totally worth it. 

And here's to the courage it takes for moms to admit that life with kids isn't perfect but it's worth it.

Here's to my mom friends! 

My gritty, messy, raggedy, completely beautiful, full of life and humor, mom friends!

I love all your raggedy parts the best!