Wait, just a minute, then I'll be done....

The dishes sat undone,
The laundry waited, a load in the dryer, a load in the washer,
The kid's bed didn't get made,
The toys lay on the living room floor,
Wait....
I found three priorities that could not.

In looking at my 'to-do' list, I found that the harder I worked at completing it, the harder it was for me to get done. Why? I was tired and burnt out!

So I found a way to refresh myself---daily, both in spirit and body.

I found time to complete my tasks, I found time to DELIGHT in my children,
I found MORE TIME.
I rise early, beginning my day with getting things done, I spend time with the Lord (without fail) during the kid's nap, I find time to DELIGHT in my children throughout the day, I play, and when our day is done, I finish my to-do list.
I am tired of being diligent, but somehow more content. I am renewed when I spend time with my kids. The laundry now takes me three days instead of one, but I am happier. The dishes get done every morning, and I'm sick of them, but I feel a sense of accomplishment. I have grown weary of making my bed every morning, but it helps to begin and end a day with a neat bed. I haven't watched TV in the evening for a couple of days, instead I've been spending time with the Lord, blogging, emailing or crafting. I have dedicated my most sacred time of the day, the kid's nap, to spending time with my Father. I have found my eyes droop and it would be all to easy to just lay down, but I shake myself and continue to listen to what He is trying to teach me.
I have found much more than I could hoped for, just by making the smallest of changes, and sacrificing the thing I held tightest laziness.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31: 27


I impulsively loaded up the older kids after dinner and took them to a free Fire Prevention Show last week.
I also decided that we could spend an hour outside (weather permitting) after we pick Luke up from school. We're already out, what's an hour? We even took an hour and went to McDonald's play land. Even if we don't go anywhere, I take an hour to play. We raked leaves, jumped and laughed until we couldn't stand it anymore.
I am planning for the bad weather. I made a list of active indoor activities to attempt in the upcoming months. It's amazing how you can feel the urge to get everything done and then refresh yourself, but in doing so you find yourself burnt out and meeting an endless struggle of 'to-do'.
The greatest revelation from my Lord has been this: If I don't take time to refresh, I won't have energy to complete the tasks of everyday life that cannot wait.
Why not find refresh myself with the things that bring me great joy - my Father (my water and bread) and my children (my purpose in life)?