Guest Post: Not Enough Hours in the Day

Several weeks before our sweet baby was born, my bloggy friend Kristen emailed and asked if she could help me out by doing a guest post.  My answer was a resounding "YES!"  And when I found out what she planned to post about, I was even more excited.  Because, you see... I needed it for me.  And so I have been blessed by the encouragement here.  I hope her words and tips bless you as much!

So introducing, Kristen...

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As I cozied up on the couch with my blanket and snack to watch a movie with my husband, I remembered that I had a heaping load of clean laundry to fold.  I considered leaving it for another day, but knew that grocery shopping awaited me in the morning.  How was it that I had checked off my list all day long and this chore had escaped my doing?  I moped as I mentally made a list of things to be accomplished tomorrow: pay the gas bill, change sheets, make a menu plan, and buy a birthday gift.  How was it that I had worked and worked and yet there were so many things left undone?


“There are not enough hours in the day,” I grumbled.

As I folded towels and sorted socks, I thought about my attitude.  When God created the world, he gave us 24 hours per day. In His infinite wisdom, He knew those 24 hours were all we needed to work and play and sleep.  Could it be that the problem wasn’t with the clock but with me? 

I came up with my own system to keep my mind in check:

  
1)  Name my household priorities.
I made a short list of necessaries—things that I considered priority.  If one of the kids got sick or life got crazy requiring me to drop all extras, what still needed to be done anyway?  For me, the list included putting meals on the table (simple though they may be), keeping up with the laundry, and teaching (home)school. 

2)  Schedule the extras on a weekly basis.
I am a task-oriented person and I don’t feel productive unless I’m doing something.  At the same time, I can overwhelm myself by making a large list and only checking off two things.  I began making a weekly list instead.  I scribbled a master list of anything big or small I wanted to do in a given week—everything from clean the bathroom to make cookies to blog about my book list to mend my sweater.

Then I rewrote the list by day.  On Monday, I will change the sheets and return that phone call.  On Tuesday, I will run errands and make muffins for the freezer.  If a particular day awarded me extra minutes, I grabbed from another day’s list, but if I over-planned, I also freed myself to postpone something for another day. 

3) Accept that God is in control of my plans, my schedule, and my hours.
I have a confession.  I am still a busy mom.  I still do too much and stress myself out and stay up too late trying to fit everything in.  I still slip and wonder how I’m expected to do all I feel is expected of me. 

When I am tempted to say, “There are not enough hours in the day!” I remember that my hours were preordained my Him.  Either He wants me to eliminate something or He will provide a way for me to get it accomplished.  I rest in that assurance. 



Kristin met her husband Brian fifteen years ago when they both worked for their local library during highschool.  Love blossomed and they have now been married ten years and have five children, ages 1 through 9.  Kristin blogs about books, homeschooling, and the struggles (and thrills) of mothering at Bits and Pieces From My Life. 

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:10 AM 0 Comments

Introducing...

Our forth blessing from the Lord (yet to be given a blog name) was born Sunday night, March 18th at 9pm.  She weighed 9 pounds 9 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. 

I'm working on the detailed birth story... but the short versions starts during church with kids bouncing all over me and ends hours later than we had hoped (because I'm spoiled). :)  But the end is joy!

Thanks for your many prayers!

I'll pop in and out I'm sure, but may not be at my computer much in the days to come.  I do have an exciting guest post I'll share next week!  Stay tuned!

Labels: As it happens..., Pregnancy, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:48 AM 4 Comments

Loved... and why I'm content to wait this baby out

I am so loved.  And so in love!

I've debated posting on this topic in the last few days because each time I start, my heart is so full... my feelings so personal... I just don't want to share it. 

Even now, having decided to just do it, I keep changing what I'm willing to type.  Keeping what is so precious to myself. 

Suffice it to say, such special days and nights with My Beloved leave me not quite ready for this little one (due tomorrow) to come yet.  I'm not ready to give up the evenings of game playing, long talks, just sitting together. 

And when he comes home from a late night grocery run with these... I know he feels the same way.

That just makes my heart smile.

Labels: As it happens..., Getting Ready for Baby, Prince Charming, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:50 PM 0 Comments

Busy hands help to pass the time

But I can't just do nothing... so I'm reading to the kids, napping, and picking at a few little projects. 

 One of those "little" projects is this cute hat.  I'd had the actual beanie finished for a few weeks, but I wanted to add some embellishments.  It is, after all, a girl.  So we needed to add some pink... and a flower.  And if you have a flower, and you can find instructions... it really should have a couple leaves too.

Don't you think? 

I finally got a few pictures taken today, so I wanted to share them. 

Now I just hope it fits her. :)

Labels: As it happens..., Getting Ready for Baby, With These Hands

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:31 PM 3 Comments

I'm SO ready...

...to use these!

Have you seen these??? 

I designed them back before Sweet Pea was born... and then made some boy ones when I was expecting Little Man. 

They have helped tremendously with each newborn (I used a boring version with Tornado, so I've done this three times and what a blessing!)

They help keep track of feedings, as well as wet and poopy diapers so us breastfeeding mamas can keep track of whether those babies are getting enough to eat!  Does anyone else worry about this... every. time.?

Here's a little sample of how I use them...


If you bottle feed, just put the number of ounces in the "feedings" boxes instead of the "R" and "L".  Works the same... though the colors of poop your looking for may be different on that first week.  I don't really know how that works with formula.  Sorry!


If you want them yourself, just click below and you can download your own!!

         

Oh, one more little tip... the boxes that are colored in are the minimums as are recommended in the book Babywise.  Definitely talk to your doctor about what your baby should be doing!



I'd love to know if you use them!!!

Labels: Getting Ready for Baby, Pregnancy

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:30 PM 0 Comments

Four

 My little girl is 4 today!  So of course that means everything PINK!

I blew up and hung 15 balloons from the living room ceiling for them to find when they got up this morning. 

They love them!

Labels: As it happens..., Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:32 AM 3 Comments

For all who are wondering...

No, baby girl did not come on Leap Day... nor yesterday. 

My mom called me a watched pot.  Was she trying to encourage me???  Hmmm...

But there is still plenty I can do... and I don't expect her to come this early anyway. 

Truth be told, even though I'll welcome her whenever she comes, I'd kinda like to wait till next weekend anyway.  You see, we missed our window.  Yes, I feel a little like the space shuttle.  But it's true.  We missed our window, and the next window doesn't open again until March 9th (or 10th?). 

Had our baby come on or before February 28th, we had the perfect friends ready and willing to take our other three children while I labor.  But now, and until next weekend, they are in Florida.  I do finally have a back up plan, but I'm not as comfortable with it.  So... we'll see when this little one comes, but I'm ok with another week. 

Sort of. :)

Labels: As it happens..., Pregnancy

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:38 PM 0 Comments