Tired?

Having just returned from our first family holiday...which was soooooooo much fun......I have been reminded of the saying..."Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, Quit Quarterly and Abandon Annually." I'm not sure who said it first, but I do know Rick Warren said it was a good formula for surviving ministry.


I think it's a great formula for surviving life.

I don't know about you, but I have been feeling a little disaster fatigued lately.....every time I turn on the TV I am bombarded with terrible pictures of nuclear reactors melting down, people being shot in Libya, destroyed homes, farms and livelihoods and that's not to mention all the other snippets of 'good' news that gets beamed into our homes every evening.

I have also been feeling somewhat work fatigued. As the teachers out there know, it is a l-o-n-g term and with 3 weeks (4 for some) still ahead, it is difficult to maintain anywhere near that 'first week enthusiasm' we all had way back in January.

There's a little wife and Mummy fatigue in there too. Busy days and sleep interrupted nights.....housework, new house planning, yard work (that just doesn't seem to get a look in), numerous invitations and of course, the added challenge of preparing interesting baby meals all had me feeling like I needed a break.

Thank goodness my husband (who had been anti the idea of a holiday only a couple of months ago) came home a few weeks back and suggested we book a little break away. The anticipation of 'time out' proved to be almost as good as the real thing. And despite coming home to thick, long grass....mountains of washing (funny how that's the one constant in life!), steamy, warm weather and first days back at work, I do feel rested.

The TV news hasn't changed.....I still had to get up to a baby in the night.....and I am collecting student assignments from my class today....BUT I feel in a better head space. I guess that's one great advantage of a break.....you get to rest, relax, regroup.

And as I think about the "DD,WW,QQ,AA" idea mentioned above, I am challenged to do better in this area. Pace myself. Get a bit more balance. Realise that not everything needs to be done perfectly and NOW. And yes....I can say 'no.'

I can also, take a few seconds often during the day to just STOP! I can make sure I divert my thinking and my actions so that I factor in some down time. This week I can ensure that there is a little bit of 'me' time, an hour or so of 'withdrawing' from all that seems so pressing and urgent. I am already looking at the calendar for our next term's little escape....perhaps just a long weekend away as a family this time....and maybe in a tent?? And the annual abandonment for 2011....well that's still in the works, but it probably involves saying 'bye' to this house and 'hi' to our new place.

Of course this can all apply to giving ourselves a bit of space and having a holiday, but I guess it could also apply to dealing with problems or issues in our lives too. Or even commitments and routines.

Perhaps it means we all need to take just a little bit of time off or out to reflect on the 3 months that have just passed by in such a flash in 2011. Three months that have seen the world shake and change. Three months that have reminded each of us of our own mortality and the immense value of life.

Yes, maybe we all needed the reminder that life is precious and we need to enjoy the journey.

The TO-DO List

I bet your TO-DO List is l-o-n-g!
If you're a woman...it definitely is. If you're a Mum....it most certainly is.
So long in fact, I bet it sometimes feels overwhelming to think about, let alone write down. And if you do put pen to paper, you probably feel like a roll of tp isn't even long enough for all you have to do. Particularly as we enter December and realise that Christmas is just a month away. How did that happen?

So let, me guess what's on your TO-DO List. Any of these sound familiar?

• washing - linen, kids' clothes, grown-up's clothes, towels, tea-towels and rags (and of course hanging it all out, folding it and putting it away is extra on top of loading the machine)
• cleaning - every room...surface....floor...etc....wiping, dusting, vacumming, etc...
• cooking - including meal prep and cleaning up for 3 meals a day...7 days a week 
• shopping....not the 'for pleasure' variety but just the essentials
• your call list....mailing list...'thank-you for the birthday present' list...return the missed call...etc....
• playing with baby/children...ooppps...that's the fun stuff that comes after the feeding, changing, bathing, soothing, rocking, etc....
• read that book before you get another over-due notice from the library
• organise those art/drama/cooking classes you decided to run over the holidays
• Christmas present list....who are we buying for again?
• pack for the weekend away
• bake for the final Mums and Bubs morning
• attend the work break-up party
• do the end-of-year marking and report writing
• send Nanna a letter and card for her birthday
• drop a meal round to a friend with a new baby
• decorate the Christmas tree
• comment on your friend's blog
• put a bag of clothes and toys together for the op shop
• iron your husband's uniform
• put those 87 photos you recently had printed into the right albums
• bid on the ebay purchase you've been watching
• pay that long list of bills
• sign the loan contract at the bank
• organise money for the special offering at church this week
• attend awards night
• do the bookwork for hubby's business
• exercise....don't just talk about it
• and no doubt the list continues on and on and on.........

Girl...you are amazing! You have so much to do and you do it with a smile. You serve your family and friends willingly. You give cheerfully. You are industrious, conscientious and generous. Your kindness is noticed. Your joy is contagious. Your caring is appreciated. Your encouragement makes a difference...every time.

But please, just remember....don't attempt to do anything on this list without first spending time in the presence of the One who empowers you to achieve all that's on it. Soak in His word....meditate on it...pray...sing praises...seek forgiveness....have faith....obey.


Hmmmmmm....another l-o-n-g list but you know something? It's one that's even more essential you DO than the first one. 

I heard God speak

Last week I heard from God. Not in an audible voice. But I had such a strong impression that it was Him speaking to my heart and the words were loud and clear and delivered a much needed reprimand.

Over the past couple of weeks this has been my morning routine....
Wake up when baby j does. Feed him...change him...put him in his cot to watch his mobile....make a coffee then sit in front of the computer to blog and Facebook for the duration of the mobile's songs. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Except what I was finding was that I was getting stressed as the day progressed. I would get frustrated when I had to stop working on the computer to deal with j. I was upset when he didn't sleep as long as I wanted him too. I didn't seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I wanted too.

So last week, on Wednesday morning, I head God clearly say..."K! How dare you think your blog readers and fb friends need to hear from you before you've heard from me." *GULP!* How true!

Yes..somehow...far too easily really....I had gotten my priorities mixed up. And gotten them sooooo very wrong. Instead of spending time with God - being fed and setting the tone for the day, I was soaking in the unreality of my on-line life...attempting to give out when I hadn't been filled. Silly me!

So what did I do? I listened. And I made the change. I went back to the routine I had been following just a few weeks ago. The one that worked. It looks like this....
Wake up when baby j does. Feed him...change him...put him in his cot to watch his mobile....make a coffee then go back to my room to read the Bible and pray. It's only about a 15-20 minute activity but WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes to my day to start with time with my heavenly Father.

In His presence I am filled. I learn and grow. I am encouraged and challenged. I feel peaceful, hopeful and joyful. I get the right perspective on life. I set a positive tone for the day. I am fed and changed...for the better.

And it's only when that happens, I am able to experience blessing. And then as the day progresses, be a blessing.

So God help me this week to continue to make good choices....to put You first....to love time in your word and talking to you. To live like it. To get my priorities and perspective right. And to continue to hear your voice throughout the day.