Sunday, January 19, 2014

Priorities

So many things that I would like to do…and so little time. At least that is the excuse I use. The Lord speaks to me fairly often right in the middle of my teachings to my children. Maybe you can relate. More than the obvious lessons like: 'I don't want you to get hurt. You need to obey so that you are safe' or 'I like it when you to talk to me. You can always trust me and know that I will love you…no matter what', but deeper things. The Holy Spirit was constantly whispering, 'Yes. Do you hear what you are saying? That is what I want you to know.'

Most recently, the girls & I were talking about prioritizing our time. My kids ages: 19, 18, 17 & 8yrs. My husband & I are so grateful that they are still at home with us this semester. The older ones were realizing that between work & school, their free time was disappearing fast. Too many responsibilities were left undone and in a household with six people, things not done in a week turns into three weeks of trying to fix-it-cleaning. So we talked about what was important to us. We discovered together that some of what was important to us was not getting done. huh. Then we talked about what we were actually spending our time on. revelation.

Most of their growing-up lives, I've had the older girls document (maybe once or twice a year) what they did every minute for an entire day. We've tried to do two or three days in a row to get a better baseline, since our homeschool days varied, but that wasn't really necessary to get a better handle on where our wasted time went. From the 'What I Did' info, we tried to prioritize better. Much like the Franklin Covey way. And then we tried again when things & time got a little out of whack.

Bottom line? You know what it important to you by looking at what you spend your time on.

Obviously there are exceptions and extenuating circumstances, but these won't be the rule.  The time spent in prayer actually creates time that is cherished. Thank you, Lord!

~Crystal

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014 …a New Year! Hallelujah!

Happy New Year!

I am so looking forward to great and fresh beginnings! As a homeschooler, I tend to panic and feel overwhelmed by all that I didn't do (almost every December), but after Christmas and the reminder of His mercy, I can see January and the coming year as He sees me…with promise and hope of a future.

One of the things I want to accomplish this year is to set up an etsy shop and to publish several designs onto Zazzle & Cafe Press. I have several more freebie files to upload here, but seem to be interrupted before I can finish the projects. So, scheduling work hours into homeschool days is another priority, even though it can be toward the bottom of the priority list.

Hoping that you look to the One that can fulfill and sustain you.
~Crystal