Balancing Life Series: Priorities vs. Reality

At the risk of sounding very corny, I have composed some lyrics today for our blog time together.  I have either had too much coffee or not enough. 


In memory of Whitney Houston (one of my faves growing up), I would like for you to sing my lyrics to the tune of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" If you don't know the song, well, you should. Anyway, sing along:

photo credit

Where does all the time go?
Can it find its way home
Back to my calendar
of a month that's flying by?
And If I really need it
Won't it always be there?
I look at my time
and I know that it is all, up to me












Still reading? Whew. Thanks to the few of you who continued after that. I am continuing the Balancing Life Series. If you missed the first two posts,  you can read them here:

• The Balancing Act: Juggling Life
• First Things First

Seriously, we wonder where our time goes. We pause at the end of the day and think, "What did I really do today?" If you are like me and find yourself having these discussions with yourself often, we might need some intervention.


You have heard the old adage, "You can identify someone's priorities by looking at their checkbook and their calendar." I believe there is some truth to that statement. How we spend our time or our money does indeed show what or who is important to us. But maybe what we want to be important to us doesn't really line up with what is showing up on the calendar or in the checkbook. Time for CHANGE.


I want to issue a PRIORITY CHALLENGE. Yes, I want us to take this next week starting today and ending with next Wednesday and really look at what's important to us. 
What are we going to do?

• Make a list of priorities -- what we really WANT to be important in our lives.
• Take a blank calendar and actually write in what you did in thirty minute blocks. Include everything - eating, sleeping, family time, working, shopping, cooking, reading, etc. Need a blank calendar? (Find one here.)
• I know many of us already have calendars with appointments and such on them - you can use them to remember things, but not to actually record for this week.

What I have found by doing this is that my reality (what I actually do with my time) does not line up with my priorities (how I want to use my time.) If I want my family to know that they are important to me, I need to use my time in a way that truly reflects that.

I know life is crazy. Trust me...mine is too. (just read my post about my life on a mine train.) But this challenge is to help us both. The worst that could happen is for 2012 to fly by and we wonder...where did all the time go? Let's not wonder anymore...let's figure it out!

If you are in on this challenge, then just comment, I'm in! We'll check back in next Wednesday and I might just give away a prize! (Like a CD with me singing my new time lyrics to Whitney Houston's music.) And if you are reading by email...I love you and you can comment here.

I believe God wants us to be good stewards and managers of everything He has given us - including our time. Living for ONE means using our time in a way that ultimately glorifies Him.

Living for ONE,

Kelli

linking with Courtney at Women Living Well

Balancing Life Series: First Things First

photo credit

Funny how God works.  A few weeks ago I posted a blog about juggling life and how important it is to have a family dinner. If you haven't read it, here's another chance...


So then life got super crazy right after that. Whether the enemy wanted me to look like an idiot, or God was growing my character, I don't know. The bottom line is balancing my family along with everything else became almost impossible. How do I have a family meal when I am taking care of my mom, being the taxi to two kids that are going in opposite directions, and still trying to be a decent wife that washes laundry occasionally and doesn't have cereal as a meal every night? Oh, and I forgot to include MINISTRY. Wow.


Let's face it. Life can be overwhelming at times. And beware, if you ever do a blog post about juggling life, be assured that you will have the opportunity to do that juggling life act for all the world to see.


So, what did I do? I had to take a step back and look at life and ask the Lord, "What do I need to do and what do I not need to do?"  


First things first. I realized that without my time with the Lord, I could do nothing. I would be a pitiful juggler. But with Him, I am learning.


My time with the Lord is and must be a priority. First things first. In order to be able to do anything else He has called me to...be a wife, mom, minister, daughter, sister, friend,etc., I have to spend time with Him.


I have found that my time with the Lord cannot be one of the things that I try to juggle. He actually steadies my feet and gives me the coordination to juggle the other stuff. So, when your life gets crazy and you are dropping more balls than you are catching, you might try seeking God in these ways.

• Mornings. Whether I have ten minutes or forty, I savor it. I am reading Jesus Calling and the correlating Scripture. If I have more than ten minutes, I try to read some Old Testament and some New Testament. And then have some prayer time. I am not a morning person...but I am even less of one without some time with Jesus. So, maybe you are not a morning person either, but I can guarantee that you will be less snarky after some time with the Lord. 
• Moments. I have to grab them when I can with God. Like when I am sitting next to Mom in the chemo room and she has drifted off to sleep. Or when I am waiting to pick up my kids from an activity. Or when I am in-between appointments at the office. Moments of rejoicing. Moments of desperation. Moments of just thanking Him. Moments of dreaming with Him. Moments of quiet rest in Him. Moments of enjoying Him.
• Mundane. Sometimes our lives seem so ordinary. But God is always...yes, always wanting to bring some extra to that ordinary. Do we notice it when He does? I will never forget the day that I was taking the kids to school, running late, and a peacock crossed the road. But I will save that story for another day. ;) Or the time Jesus asked me out on a date. (You can read about that here.) And one of my favorite times when God spoke through my cell phone. So let's look for Him...He is always at work!

Let God steady you so you can juggle life a little easier this week. Seek Him in the mornings (if you dare!), in the moments, and in the mundane. And PLEASE share... we'd all like to give Him praise on your behalf! If you are following by email, then comment here!  And make it a priority to come back Wednesday when we will be discussing...priorities. 

I appreciate you. 

Living for ONE,

Kelli

linking with Jen at Finding Heaven Today and the SDG community

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