Static

While driving from Columbus, Ohio to my home in Nashville, Tennessee this weekend, I couldn’t help but compare my life to the radio dial. Kinda weird and random right? With a 6-hour drive, my mind went to some deep places, so let me try to explain…

We all want to be “tuned in” to life, but I’m finding the more my wheels keep spinning, the more my life is becoming static. Nothing is clear. It’s a constant in-and-out of focus, understanding, energy, willpower…the list goes on and on. Have you ever felt like this?

Each day is a constant go. I continually chip away at my to-do list, but it feels like not much gets crossed off in completion anymore. New e-mails are always coming in that need to be responded to, meals need to be made which makes the dishes never ending, and don’t even get me started on the laundry. In addition, I’m finding that I rarely take time to stop and just enjoy. But isn’t that life for a mom? The kids make a mess, so we clean it up, and while doing so, they make another one, and there goes the day – day after day. Weeks are fastly fading into months and a year doesn’t at all add up to what it once felt like. I feel my life just slipping into static. Who am I becoming? I feel like a maid and cook, but my role is really to be Mommy to my kids and Wife to my husband. I’m home with my kids full time. I’m always there with them, but this question has convicted me, “How often am I really “there” with my kids? I’m realizing not as often as I would like, and I’m not okay with that.

It’s so easy to steal away the minutes that turn into hours for my ever growing to-do list as they play with each other or their toys. It’s even easier to pop in a movie knowing my kids will tune in so I can tune them out. Now don’t get me wrong, I always have an eye on my children, my realization though is that my watchful eye is overpowering my hands on desire.

I started a new Bible study called “Breathe” by Priscilla Shirer, and there couldn’t be any greater conviction for me and my current state of life! Through this study (which I highly recommend at only 2 weeks in!) I have learned that God created rest – for us! God didn’t need to take a rest on the 7th day – He wasn’t tired! However He knew that we would be, so He created it as a gift to us, just as all His other creations were. Mind blown! How often do you take a rest? Are you like me and too busy to stop and actually enjoy the fruits of your labor? Do you also look at rest as a bad thing, with your to-do list constantly nagging at your mind?

Friends, it’s time for us to tune out the distractions and tune into our lives! They’re fading by so quickly, and if you’re at all like me, you’re missing it too.

It’s not going to be easy, but I refuse to allow static to swallow me up. I plan to combat this feeling I can’t seem to shake. Some small changes I’m actively making are…

1.) I’ve started spending designated 1-on-1 time with each child, each day. I won’t hold myself to a certain amount of time doing this. I want it to be organic. It can last 5 minutes or 5 hours! My goal for this time is laughter! If they learn something, great, but most importantly I want this time to be fun – that is important for both them and for me to take away from it!

2.) I’m going to try to follow Priscilla Shirer’s plee for Sabbath Margin. One day a week where I step away from the things that enslave me, and instead enjoy the beauty that is my life. I don’t do this, and I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one who fails to stop, rest and just enjoy.

3.) I’m going to be sure I am doing something for myself each day. This is the advice of my friend Ashlie over at Southern Made Blog (You should check her out, she’s so very sweet and insightful!) Whether it be actually putting on makeup for the day or taking a bubble bath at 11:00 PM, it’s important not to forget to take care of myself! We need to feel our best to be the best for our babies! I’m going to will myself to not feel guilt about leaving the kids alone with Patrick so I can get some alone time, or time with girlfriends. I’m going to will myself to not feel guilt over booking myself a massage (Y’all I’m behind my monthly package by 14 hours! That’s 14 months where I’ve failed to take an hour for myself! That’s insane!) or a much needed pedicure. I deserve to treat myself to some “Me” time, and you know what?! So do you!

If you have any other tips for me, add them below! I’d love to hear how you plan to “tune in” to your life in new ways!

Be Blessed + Be A Blessing