I’m busy, busy, terribly busy

(Anyone singing along with me?)

I have a confession to make.

In the midst of all of this blog transfer stuff, and multiple things going wrong, and a deadline for 5 photo books I bought approaching tomorrow (which I didn't adequately plan for being able to complete), and still keeping the house in some semblance of order, I have just not been able to keep up with everything.

Worst of all, my husband and children have seen far too little of me, or at least, an undistracted, face-not-glued-to-a-computer me. Yes, we took a bit of time to spend together last weekend, but that was a rare break in the midst of what has been non-stop working.

I know that I could just keep puttering along on my blog, trying to get everything hunky dory (my husband might intervene at this moment and say "you mean, perfect?"… ahem, well, yes), pretending that my life was going on as normal and that I was a superwoman, able to keep my house clean and laundry done, manage 25+ hours a week on a web business (no, that's not usual, but only because of the transfer and subsequent issues), maintain a regular quiet time with God, get my seedlings and garden going, participate in healthy family, church and friend relationships, host people for dinner and caregroup, cook nutritionally and from scratch, mother and homeschool a preschooler, care for a teething baby, and lovingly serve my husband.

But I'd be lying.

I am simply not perfect (oh, not even close!). I am overwhelmed at times, this being one of them. We bloggers are not quick enough to point out our flaws, our inconsistencies, our mistakes, or our struggles, but are often content to allow you to think the very best of us, myself included.

If you notice a little bit less of me over the next week or two, please know that it is because I want to have integrity when I speak about being a keeper of my home.

I cannot continue to post with great gusto, about all of the wonderful things going on, and all that I want to share with you, when my house desperately needs vacuuming (among other things), my kids need more attention and discipline, and my husband needs his wife's love and affection. Taking a step back for just a little while is my way of doing what I need to do to get my home, relationships and priorities back in order.

Do you relate to this somewhat? Do you feel like you've gotten too busy, too overwhelmed, and your priorities aren't in order? Try taking this short, but revealing quiz I took last week at The Motherload. Or asking yourself a few of these questions that I've been asking myself:

1) Am I really hearing what people say, or just quickly answering in a distracted manner?

2) Am I requiring first-time obedience and disciplining my children with consistency?

3) Have I spent any time just sitting down and talking with my husband, while doing nothing else? Have I made a point of connecting with him on an intimate level at some point every day?

4) Is my house running in an orderly manner, or are things feeling a bit chaotic? Am I sticking to my schedule or has it gone out the window lately?

5) Am I screening my calls or avoiding relationship because it feels like just one more thing to do?

6) And perhaps most importantly, has my time with God been pushed aside due to being "too busy"? Am I meeting with God and reading his Word in a purposeful way for some period of time every day?

If you don't like the way that you answered these questions (as I don't), then perhaps it is time for you also to take a step back from your busyness and reassess your priorities, and decide what needs to give, what needs to go, and what need to stay and receive full attention.

As for me and my house, we are going to get back to basics a little more. Tonight my patient husband is going to help me work away one last time at some of the issues at hand, and then tomorrow we will begin afresh.

I will use start by using this as a guideline to get my house more back in order, and my primary focus for the next several days will be as follows: priority time with God each day after breakfast, lovingly and consistently disciplining my children and meeting their needs (including some time playing and just being with them), spending quality time each evening with my husband, and preparing basic (but nutritious) food. If I blog, it's a bonus (I probably still will, but probably not every day).

Thanks for your understanding!

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8 Comments

  1. I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

    Stacey Derbinshire

  2. Your transparency is extremely encouraging. Your blog is among a number of blogs that I have discovered recently that is providing me with a terrific community of homemaking ideas and spiritual encouragement. I am a WAHM, and during the spring and summer, I actually have two jobs that I do at home in addition to caring for my 1yo daughter. My life is crazy right now as I’m experiencing life as I never have. My house is a mess, as are my priorities, as many days have gone by where I have spent little to no time with my Lord and precious little time with my husband. Tonight, I am weary. Each night I go to bed thinking that some how I will make the next day different, and then when the next night comes, I face the discouragement that it was the same as every other day. I think I know what I need to do, but carrying out the action is most difficult. Thank you for your encouragement to re-evaluate the priorities in our lives and honor God and our families with our time.

  3. I can relate! Although I don’t have a blog, life sure can get busy and unbalanced at times. I am glad you shared with us. I think we all need to be more transparent with our struggles. I will pray for you as you seek to put balance back into your life.

  4. Oh, Stephanie! It’s family first, always! Well, God first, then family, then work. We understand! Now I can catch up on your older posts since I just discovered you. 🙂

  5. We need this kind of transparency in every aspect of the Christian walk. Our attempts to appear perfect in front of other does little to uplift and encourage…and in fact has the opposite effect. Thanks for this.

  6. Stephanie – I adore your blog and love your posts, but I have always thought it must take SO much out of you! I completely understand where you are coming. COMPLETELY. Thanks for this encouragement to all of us to make sure we are keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing.

  7. Oh I can so relate to this post. I am now writing for two blogs, one of my own and one I am paid for. I too find it overwhelming and find myself distracted and distant. Glad to see I am not alone in this and what I started doing to stay home with my kids is pushing me farther away. Atleast they are close by as opposed to daycare where they used to be for 9 hours a day. Horrible feeling that was. God Bless and hope you find peace soon.

  8. I just found your blog recently, and really appreciate the information you share with everyone. Having said that, my blog is a “content rich” blog too for parents in my city and takes some time to pull the information together. I have felt very busy (Busy! Shockingly busy! Yes I was signing along 🙂 lately too and I realized I was a little out of focus. SInce this is the third post I have read in 30 minutes about being overly busy, I am going to do a post about it too, and link back to yours and the other ones I came across as well.

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