Living the List

Well, it happened this week. I lost the balance. I had to spend way too much time on work, the kids went berserk, the dishes and laundry piled up, and somehow my "me time" just got lost in the shuffle. Balance lost.

And, I'm not sure if it's the heat or the two kiddos ages 5 and under running around the house, but man-oh-man is summer LONG!

So, my solution as of the last few days (I'll let you how it goes) is to re-focus back on the basics. What are my priorities? It's so easy to make the list (don't we all have the list?) of what comes first, what comes second, etc., etc. But, why is it so hard to actually PUT the priorities in order in our lives?

Can we really live out our Priority Lists?

I spent some time over the weekend really thinking about this, and actually re-thinking what my priorities are, especially now that the kids are older, I'm working more, my parents are aging, my friends are more distant as we get more and more involved in our kid's activities and less involved in our long lost play groups together. Boy, do I miss the days of play groups - life was so simple then! Many of these priorities require a greater, or just a different, effort than they did even just a year or two ago.

So, it's come down to this for me. Each minute of each day I have to make choices. This morning, I chose to take 10 minutes to write in this blog. It's good for me (vital for me) to think, write, vent. On my list of priorities, "Me Time" comes about 5th down the list after God, Husband, Boy Child, Girl Child, then Me, then Work. (OK, let's face it - sometimes it's Work, then Me.) This order of priorities might not be ideal for some people, but it's what works for me right now in the life of our family.

The kids are playing pretend "airplane trip" while I'm writing, but in a few minutes I'll need to focus on them, play a game, dress a baby doll, replace some batteries. I'll make the choice at that moment to close my laptop lid, unplug myself and plug back into my kids. Then, a little while later, I'll need to plug myself into the sewing machine...

And so it goes, having a quick think about my priority list, making choices, performing to my very best potential in the role that is required for that very moment, and then choosing again.

I think I can do this, I know I can do this, I AM doing this.

I just need to do it again tomorrow.


"My help comes from the Lord..." Psalm 121:2

Chalk Talk: Use or Reuse?

So, I'm constantly seeing visions of where I can stick Chalkcloth - everywhere I look. I guess I think we can actually doodle on the entire world with chalk - (and then erase it, of couse!)

But, the more I think about it, my products are promoting at a very basic level the idea of REUSE. You know, buy something, use it again and again rather than buying something you can only use one time or for only one function. With this economy, who isn't into making the most of your investments?

Since I started selling my items on Etsy, I've really been prompted to think about my "shopping habits" - about what I'm buying (why I'm buying it) and who I'm buying it from. We all know that our "stuff" can quickly become overwhelming, so of course we choose our purchases carefully.

In fact, I read somewhere recently that every time you purchase an item, you are taking on a new responsibility. If that's the case, I definitely need to, as my five-year-old would say, "Have a Think" before purchasing anything, because the LAST thing I need these days is one more responsibility. I think you may know where I'm coming from, right Moms?

So, yes, I realize that something as small as my little concept only helps out a bit. You might buy a chalk mat to entertain your child rather than purchasing multiple copies of coloring books. Or, you might use a wipeable oilcloth tablecloth or splat mat for your party rather than using a throw-away one. Baby steps, at best.

But, who would have thought that something as simple as CHALK could make you sit and "Have a Think" for a minute about when you purchase items, where you choose to buy them, how you use them and IF you can can REUSE them? Now, we're getting somewhere.

You keep thinking. I'm going to get my chalk...

Sew or Swim?

Yeah, I have a ton of work to do. Yeah, I really need to sew, blog, update photos, list new items, email at least 20 people... But my 3-year-old just said, "Are you going swimming with us, Mommy?"

This is one of those moments when the idea of "balance" seems almost impossible to grasp. How do I love on my kids, support my husband, take care of myself and still have time to sew AND swim?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes%203&version=9;

The idea of seasons has been on my mind the past few days. For some reason, my kids have been completely obsessed with the Christmas "season" this week. Christmas in July 100% -complete with musings on the "Naughty List," multiple viewings of "Polar Express" and even the singing of "Jingle Bells" by little voices. Pretty cute.

So if there's a season for everything under Heaven, there must be a season for both swimming and sewing? But how do I know when it's time to do one - or the other - or both at the same time? (Hopefully not both at the same time!)

Goodness knows as hard as I try to seek and strike balance every day, most days I mostly, or sometimes completely, miss.

So, I'll continue to ask for help and try to enjoy the season that is today. And I'll sew tomorrow...(or at least after bedtime!)