Get It, Together!

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If you were hoping to read a post about how to get it together, you will be disappointed. This post is more about “getting it” together; an invitation to join me as I (once again!) embark on that journey. Let me explain!

Every so often, I really do feel that I have it all together. I’m sure you do too. You look around and find that your home is mostly in order, your to-do list is relatively small, your days have fallen into a routine, you’ve mostly figured out how to juggle all the responsibly you have. We do that, smiling to ourselves…and then **bang** a new ball is tossed our way. While we may have graduated from the beginners class at juggling school, this new ball throws us off.

I’m sure some of you are nodding right now. You know just what I am talking about! For those of you who are scratching your heads thinking, “she went to juggling school?” I didn’t really. It’s my sad attempt at an analogy.

Anyway, life is running smoothly and then you:

• Change jobs
• Move
• Get married
• Have a baby
• Experience a loss
• Move to a different phase in life
• Or your little (and not so little) ones move to a different phase in life
• You accept new responsibilities
• Your finances change
• and the list goes on…and on…and on..

Suddenly, (back to the juggling analogy) with that new ball thrown at you, you’ve either

1. Caught it no problem and are expertly managing just dandy or
2. You’ve dropped them all and are looking around, bewildered and wondering how to get back into the game or
3. You caught it but you’re precariously throwing the balls with no sense of rhythm and are in danger of dropping them all.

I’m number three. After John was born in the summer of 2008, it took me a while to get back into a routine and adjust to being a mom of two. I did find my groove though. As the little ones grew and I accepted different responsibilities and tasks, my routine changed as well and I embraced it. I’m not sure what happened in the past several weeks but suddenly I find myself with new opportunities, responsibilities and tasks but no routine, no plan and I’m starting to flounder…

Step One – STOP

Stop. Don’t run in circles, or paralyze yourself with defeating thoughts. Just stop. Breathe. Have a nap, go for a walk, eat some chocolate, pray, read your bible or a good book. If you have littles, utilize nap time for yourself or snuggle up with them and read.  When you get too busy, your calendar and to-do list too full, sometimes it is easy to become overwhelmed and defeated. Take a break. I’m not saying a long one but give yourself permission to just stop. Whether it is 10 minutes or a whole afternoon just do something nice.

Step Two – EMPTY YOUR HEAD

Brain Dump. No idea whose idea this was originally but it isn’t mine I’m sure. I think I heard it for the first time listening to the workshop tapes from Graceworks though I think it was called something else. Anyway, write a list of everything that is in your head. Write down your grocery store shopping list, upcoming doctor visits, birthdays, your daily household duties, the tasks your husband asked you to get done this week, the commitments you made for church…absolutely everything! Don’t worry about rhyme or reason. We’ll sort it out later. And keep that list handy and  running. Often as we go about our days, something else will come to mind. Add it to the list too!

Step Three – FILL YOUR HEART

When things get hectic and crazy, often devotions are the first thing on the chopping block because we (me!) don’t have time but the truth is we don’t have time not to! While we (I) will eventually share more of what my schedule will look like and how I will (Lord-willing!) get everything done that I need to, for now we want to empty our heads (step 2) and fill our hearts. The first thing to make sure is that I start my day with quiet time. Now I say start but my day always starts before I have quiet time, I just try not to let it move on too much before I sit, pray and read my bible. I am not one of those who can get up before my family to have my alone time with the Lord. It is something that I always aspired to and felt guilty about not accomplishing because that is what good Christian wives and mothers do isn’t it? Well, that may be what good Christians do but often real mothers just can’t get quiet time first. (Side note: Passionate Housewives Desperate for God is a must-read that talks about this!) Most times my quiet time isn’t as quiet as I would like or as long as I’d hoped or as alone as I’d like. But that is my season. God can (and does!) use every little bit of my time that I commit to him. A bonus? My little ones witness first hand their mommy spending time with the Lord. Some mornings I shower, get Chloe and I dressed and then have some QT but other mornings, depending on John, it may not be until after breakfast. I always most days try to get it in ASAP. As I seek to bring back the elusive order and routine, I will first seek Him!

That’s it for this week folks. Take a little break and make a list. Make the Lord a priority this week. We can do that can’t we? I’d love to hear how and when you have quiet time!

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Do you have a tune-up you are working on or completed? Link up (directly to your post) or share a comment! If you could mention TUT and link back so others can join in too, that would be appreciated!