The Balancing Act: Juggling Life

"So, what was your high today?"

Seems like such a simple question. But it is one that everyone in my family can understand and answer and it fosters discussion and intimacy. At dinner time, we go around the table and all four of us share our high and low for the day. 

Chris and I taught a breakout session at the marriage retreat this weekend on balancing work and home. We asked everyone in the session to introduce themselves and tell us why they had chosen this breakout session.

The answers were all very similar. 

"It is hard to juggle kid's activities, school, work, church,...."

"I am exhausted when I do come home and don't have anything left to give."

"We never get to spend much time together as a family."

You get the picture. Does your family struggle with the balancing act?

Well, we sure don't have all the answers. But we have tried very hard to maintain some priorities throughout the 20 years we have been married and the almost 13 years we have had children.

One of those priorities is having dinner as a family. At least once a week, and hopefully 3 - 4 times a week, we gather AT THE SAME TIME and SIT DOWN and SHARE A MEAL and SHARE OUR HEARTS. 

That doesn't sound like such a big deal. But it is! 

It is a big deal to make sure it happens...because lots of things will come up that will make this THIRTY minute commitment difficult. Soccer season. Drama practice. Working late. Meetings. You name it. 

It is also a big deal when it happens. The lines of communication open up and we are sharing with each other what is going on in our lives. In today's society when we are all going different directions for at least a third of our day, it is super important to know the highs and lows of our family members' days.

I want to encourage you to hold that table time sacred. Look at the calendar for the next month. Schedule onto that calendar at least one time a week where you will have dinner as a family. At home. At the same time. Around the table. No TV on. No electronics. Do not answer the phone. Just share a meal and share your hearts.

And the food...it can be pizza! But if you want to do something easy and yummy, try this... Angel Chicken...slow cooker  (P.S. The Crock Pot is your friend!) This is a tried and true recipe at my house. My kids love it and it is easy for me!

The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

How is today's society robbing you of your sacred time with your family? Or how do you implement this sacred time into your life? I'd love to hear. Please share in the comments!

Living for ONE,


Kelli

* I love my family! This is yet another installment of my love list. 


linking with Jen at Finding Heaven

and Courtney at Women Living Well

In Him We Live, Move, and Have our Being

I am sharing with you my love list during this month... a way for you to get to know me better and a way for me to be thankful for my many blessings!

One of my loves and great blessings is the opportunity I have had to travel internationally and share the gospel on various mission trips. Today I am sharing some pictures from one of my favorite places in the world...Greece. These photos were taken in September of 2009 and represent Athens, Sunion, and Corinth. As you look at the photos and read the Scripture, I would ask that you would say a prayer for Greece. The country that was once the birthing place for Christianity for the Gentile is now under great turmoil -- economically, emotionally, and spiritually. Pray for revival in the hearts of the people. Pray for God's mercy and grace. Pray for God to move.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.  Acts 17: 24 - 28 (Paul's appeal in Athens, Greece)

Living for ONE,

Kelli

When Night and Day Meet...

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

I knew the morning during our honeymoon when my hubby asked me why I didn't always put the top back on the toothpaste that we were a little different. Solution: Two separate toothpastes.

If you want to know at least TEN more funny ways we are different, go to Keepingitpersonal.com where I am a monthly blog contributor...and today is my day! You won't want to miss reading this list!

That was almost twenty years ago. We have discovered and concluded that we are as different as night and day. 

Sunion, Greece at sunset

I spoke at our church's marriage retreat last year on personalities. Yes, I am an expert. :)  At the end of the retreat, I had a friend tell me that she and her husband were as different as night and day as well. She told me that really bothered her until God gave her a picture. The vision was not how different night and day were, but instead what happens when night and day meet. When night meets day, a beautiful, breathtaking sunrise occurs. And what happens when day meets night? A mesmerizing, magnificent sunset takes place. 

I love that picture! And I can honestly say that despite our differences in personality, I love my man more today than I did the day I met him. (By the way, he is my #1 fan. He always reads my blog posts, even though he doesn't ever comment. I am not sure he would know how.)

God has a plan...and a sense of humor. I am convinced that God gives us people in our lives (especially our spouses) to soften our edges, to make us less self-centered, to learn to love.  God can actually use others to deliver us from ourselves and our selfishness! 

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” 1 Corinthians 13: 3 – 7 (MSG)"

Do you have someone in your life that is so very different from you? Perhaps God wants to use that relationship to create something beautiful in your life. I would love to hear your thoughts today. If you are reading by email, comment here.

This is a continuation of my love list today. Don't forget to acknowledge people that you love today as well!

Living for ONE,

Kelli

Linked with Jenn at 

and with Courtney at 

My Love List: Words with Friends

With all the blog evaluating I have been doing lately, I realize some things.

* My first real blog post last year was July 4 and I plunged in with intensity, aka serious stuff.

* I haven't really told you a lot about myself.

* You seem to enjoy posts which involve family stories, so maybe I will share more of them.

* I have some of the most faithful, supportive readers in the world. I AM SO THANKFUL.

So, I decided for the next few or so posts, in honor of the LOVE month, I would share with you my Love List. Because I can be random at times, my list is in random order as well.

I LOVE Words with Friends. And no, I am not talking about the addictive interactive game of word-building that you can upload on your Iphone. I am talking about sharing thoughts, encouragement, stories, truths, funny things, and inspiration with others.

My undergrad degree is in Communications...surprise, surprise. But long before that I developed a love for writing, speaking, conversing, and chatting. But, I don't love it if it is just one way communication. Contrary to what the guys on my church staff believe, I don't just talk for the sake of talking. I communicate to engage. I desire response...even if it is a challenging response. (With the exception of my children's backtalk .)

You see, I love to engage about lots of things. Ministry. Life Stories. Children. Theology. Recipes. Speaking. Pinterest. Parenting. Marriage. Social media. Music. Reality TV. Writing. Books. My man. Family. Shopping. The list goes on. (I would talk about just about anything...)

But my favorite "Words with Friends" center around THE WORD. Jesus. He trumps it all. He is worthy to be praised...and talked about. So no matter what I start to speak, write, or blog about, I will always end up talking about the ONE who gave me breath to speak. He is faithful and His love endures forever. He is the reason I speak and write or ever have anything to say.

No offense, but He is my favorite when it comes to friends. He knows me, understands me, and loves me. And He is ok with my being chatty. And our relationship is definitely not just one way. He and His Word provide constant engaging communication for me. That is, if I am willing to listen.

"He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." -- In the Garden, hymn

So what about you? What do you love to talk about? I would love to engage with you - through this blog, or on my Facebook ministry page, or on Twitter. Let's have Words with Friends... the kind that builds true relationship. (Don't be mad at me, WWF addicts.)

Living for ONE,

Kelli