Wondering what Mommy Homework is??? Each week you will have an “assignment” here to share in our comments here on this site. You will love this-both sharing AND enjoying answers by others. Some of them, I compile into an ebook (contributors can resell as a product of their own–be sure to submit your email and full name when you register so I can credit you appropriately!).
The result is AWESOME!
We get to know each other…we are encouraged in our journey…and we glean super ideas from other great moms!
Ready for this week’s MH? This is a good one!
Our topic this week is “What ONE thing could you do that could change EVERYTHING?”
Your Assignment This Week…
Oh! I LOVE this question! Sweet friend, this is a GOOD one. I can’t wait to see your responses! These can go ANYWHERE! I know that all of you come from different backgrounds with different needs/strengths. You all have different things going on in your life. Before you peek at any other answers–I KNOW that they are tempting (!!)–take a moment to just pull back and think about what comes to your mind. Is it one thing you could do for your marriage? Your child? Your homeschool? Your home? Your business? YOURSELF? See…it is goign to be GOOD! I could have an answer for ALL of those areas. Just dig in and share your heart here with your mommy pals!
Oh! I LOVE this question! 
Ready? Get going! This is going to be GOOD! 
Ready? Dig in!
Love,
Cindy
PS! Please remember to use your real name if you want credit for your Mommy Homework Credit.
PPS! You CAN just share and not participate in Mommy Homework, BUT I would LOVE for you to get some goodies along the way!
PPSS! Want to check your credit? Here is the newest update: http://www.talk-a-latte.com/ebooks/MommyHomeworkCredits.pdf
PPPSS! If you are new, all you do to share your MH is first register (see the link on the bottom of the right column), then log in with your name and password that you select. Share away!
Wow the timing of this question is incredible. I woke up this morning with the word procrastination on my mind. If I could change one thing it would be to not procrastinate any longer. By doing this alone it would solve many a problems in every area of my life. Things wouldn’t pile up or go undone which in turn makes for a happier Mommy which in turn makes for a happier household. No more planning last minute dinners, no more letting the homeschool work pile up, no more piles of laundry, stacks of papers, unreturned phone calls etc. Reorganizing the priorities based on no longer procrastinating is the one thing that I could change that would make all the difference in the world for me.
Great question and I can’t wait to see what others have to say!
Blessings to you all.
Kim Wilson
Oh Cindy I already register under GoofyMamma before I saw to use your real name. If I sign my real name is that okay or should you delete Goofymamma so I can re-register? Thanks.
NOTE: Just be sure to sign with your real name when you submit your Mommy Homework…OR, I can use your nickname. Either way is fine. 🙂
The one thing I could do that would change everything, is get my driver’s license. Homeschooling four kids with your husband on the road as a trucker is very hard when you can’t go very far on the good days, and can’t go anywhere on the cold days. It would literally change our whole lifestyle if I could do that – and I will, hopefully by the end of the year!
Bekah Carroll
Kim,
Super post!! WOW! Thanks for sharing! I will have to check out your blog too. 🙂
You are fine to use your log in, just sign your posts with your name so I can be sure to keep your credits together.
Keep posting beloved! You hit it right where it gets REAL! Super answer!
Love ya!
Cindy
I’m not sure if it is actually a thing, but I have to remember that change takes time. My actions and new habits will not immediately effect the everyday. Change takes time. I tend to get distracted and burned out easily. I get the feeling that what I do goes unnoticed and that frustrates me, so I need to focus on the attitude and determination to change things.
The one thing that God has been speaking to me about is getting up earlier in the morning . . . so that I can do the things I need to do before my little ones are up. (Of course, this means I need to get to bed earlier as well — which is another “one thing”!) When my kids and I get up at the same time, I find that I’m more distracted and our day often gets off to a rockier start — I’m trying to fix breakfast, check email, have a quiet time, iron a shirt for my husband . . . it just doesn’t go well for us.
I read once that as mommies, we are the thermostats of our homes, so we set the atmosphere or climate. I want to make sure I am in the right frame of mind — especially spiritually — to be the wife that my husband needs and the mommy that my kids need, and that’s best accomplished when I am up early enough to be prepared for what God has for us each day!
Thanks for asking the question, Cindy, so I could put into words what has been on my heart for the past few days!
Lisa Martin
Ouch!! Had to put on my boots as just the thoughts that came up from this question. I truly would love to change a lot of things. I would love to be ever changing, so I can be more Christ like. However if I must just pick one. I need to be more motivated and consistant with my routine. (I can not use the word schedule there, because that is a ugly word to me. lol) I make the most amazing routines~you all would just LOVE them. However I can not seem to stick with it consistantly. I have been in every class Cindy has taught on the last 2 years on the subject. I have read books and articles with little change. I don’t think I am lazy, just highly distracted from keeping a routine. I let my days sometimes just slide by and think what did I get done? I can not stand it when that answer is nothing. It is not one thing that goes on my routine..it is all or nothing with me. I either do it great, or just do nothing. I can’t get those nothing days back so for my family’s sake I MUST change this and it would change everything for the better.
Be blessed,
Chasity Brannon
Ugh! Sorry ladies about my link. It got deleted in my hurriedness. I’ll try and get that back up for you. Sorry about that!
Blessings,
Kim
Sorry me again. I wanted to respond to Lisa Martin. I just wanted to encourage you to do your one thing. I’ve been getting up early in the morning for years now. I used to do as you do.I’d get up right when the kids got up and realized there was absolutely no time for “me”. Which is so important. Having that quiet time with the Lord and being able to get dressed and have your morning coffee and breakfast before the kids get up sets the pace for the day. You are ready for there smiling faces and not hurrying around trying to get them and you going. I personally get up at 5am but this is mainly because I also get my husband ready for work lol. He leaves at 6 am so I get his breakfast and lunch ready for the day. Then I have 2 hours before the kids get up to have “morning me time”. Going to bed early enough is key. We have a set time that the kids go to bed which is 8pm and then I’m not to far behind them with 8:30 or 9:00pm. That will give me the rest I need to assure that I’ll get up on time. I hope this is able to help you. You can do it. The first week may be hard but after that it’s cake!
Blessings to you. 🙂
Kim Wilson
What has absolutely changed my home and my homeschool, is my timer and the “15 minute rule”. I got the idea from http://www.flylady.com but then kind of made it my own. I make a list of the tasks that I find distasteful or overwhelming and that I am prone to procrastinate on, and then every morning, I make myself work really hard on whatever the most pressing project is for 15 minutes. At the end of the 15 minutes, I give myself permission to quit for the day, but often I find that I am then motivated to finish the task. Sometimes it is cleaning a cupboard, or catching up on filing – or cleaning out something that has long been ignored, or even doing home improvement projects like painting a room. I have involved my children by having them join me and assigning them a task to do for 15 minutes. This task is something “beyond” their chore list, and it’s been great to teach them the value of tackling big projects.
Because I have six children age 10 and under, it is often difficult for me to get “big” projects done because I am constantly being interrupted, but I have found that I can usually get my 15 minutes in when the baby is sleeping, and I have trained everyone else not to interrupt Mommy until the timer goes off. If you add it all together, that’s an hour and half per week minimum – and it’s amazing how much I can get done in that time.
Can I have 2 things?
1. I would have enjoyed the year that dh and I were married “without” kids more. I was so wrapped up in “gonna be a mommy” that I didn’t truly enjoy the time we were together alone. I know that I will get that chance again when the kids are grown, but I know it won’t be the same either.
2. I wouldn’t have rushed so much to get our new house. There are a million and one things that I would do differently if I could.
Oh well, I guess that you live and learn!
Blessings,
Carie
These are SUPER!
So, dearies…
You have got MY MIND clicking here–that CAN be dangerous! hehe!
So, have you got a plan for making this ONE THING happen? Why not begin TODAY??? Go ahead. Move forward! Don’t shove it to your “wish” pile. Let’s put it on your things to do TODAY!
Getting up early? Plan now. Here it is 2:11pm. Begin now to get things in motion to get to bed early and get a good start on your day. Matthew was sharing with me how that it is so refreshing early in the morning. He cracked me up the other day. Every day I set my alarm to call him for his “wake up” call. It is nice way to say “GOOD MORNING” and to rest well, knowing that he is up and going. Well, he needed to be up at 3 in the morning rather than our usual 4:30 wake-up call. He was so funny. He said, “Well, mom, you may still be UP then.” We have a different appreciation for early. He loves those moments fresh in the morning. I love those moments as quiet at the end of my day. BUT! That time has power! Great, great!
Bekah, get that Driver’s License manual!!! 🙂 We can quiz you! hehe!
Kim…you crack me up! You COULD wait until tomorrow or Friday… NOT! ha! I LOVE IT! HOW honest!!! I will not GO THERE about procrastination! This is one of my struggles! It is crazy too! It is SO NICE when you “eat that frog” and “get ‘r done!” But….getting started! hehe!
Cariann, you SO nailed it! I work on so many projects. Some have immediate changes that you can see. Some are done over years and years.It pumps me up to see things start changing and moving. I wish I had vision ALL the time. I think I would be 10 times more productive!
One thing that I do right now that helps me is to make my lists. Then, I can SEE things getting down. I KNOW that change is happening. I have a THING about going back over lists and SEEING what was done. Yesterday was a great example. I had connection problems with my BlackBerry (I use it to tether to my laptop and give me DSL speed). I fought the computer for HOURS and got behind on my wish list for the weekend–that always goes above and beyond my TO DO list. It frustrated and wore me out. I grumbled for 30 minutes over it before I let go of the lost time. Last night, before bed, I was looking over my planner, helps me make sure I don’t forget something big like FEEDING my family! ha! I could not believe HOW MUCH got done. I got more done yesterday than I usually get done in a week. It would be easy to think that change is not happening if we don’t see immediate results. Of course, for many of the results, it takes many days of working and plodding away at all of the tasks that are necessary to get to BIRTH of the “baby.” Oh! Do I relate with you! 🙂
Chasity, funny that you are talking about routines. THAT is what I have been thinking about for my ONE THING! 🙂 I have big plans for our trip to Kentucky to take my journals and really think/pray over my routines. Things have changed so much around here this year that I have been praying about what my NEW NORMAL DAYS should look like. As I shift into this new season with my nest full of puppies instead of kids and homeschool books, I am wanting to be sure that I let God “enlarge the place of my tent” and help me go for the things on my heart that are only DREAMS now. Know what changes everything to reach for those dreams? Yep! My new routines. I am with you sweet friend! Hummmm….may have to be a topic for my writing……hehe!
OH! What am *I* doing before I get ready for that KY trip? I am working feverishly on wrapping up a big, big list of things that need to be done and wrapped up. My goal is to have all of them done during the next two weeks. That is my personal deadline. I COULD probably get them all done this week, but I am also working on a few projects that need my daily work on them. I want to have them all done by KY. Then, I want to plan my routines and work in specific time to work on a few NEW THINGS that are on my heart! I am excited!
See, I have THINGS that need to be done today that change everything too! 🙂
Cheryl… OH! I LOVE THAT! You will love my next post. I am about to plug it in for in the morning. It is AMAZING how much of a difference 15 minutes or even 5 minutes can make. Big, big things are made up of lots of 5 minute or 15 minute increments. You are right on! There is something about giving it all you have for just 15 minutes, then letting it go. Over a month, that is A LOT of time. Actually, most everything can be finished in that much concentrated and focused time!
And, sweet Carie… Carie, we got married and just let God plan our family. I found out 6 months later that Matthew WAS NOT a never-ending case of the flu and that I was 7 weeks pregnant!! ha! We have always had kids. I really believe that is what God wants for us. My son is praying that when he and Jill get married that they conceive on their honeymoon and never look back! He wants a house (BIG HOUSE) full! 🙂
THESE days go by too fast too. I have NO words to express how much I miss my kids. I NEVER get that time again. Harold and I get forever together now. I know you hear this. There is a reason! 🙂
ENJOY TODAY! That is one thing that would probably change all of the tomorrows. Make time for your sweetie NOW while the kids can learn from you. The one thing that they will need for their entire lives is to have a beauitful picture of marriage. I believe that teaching children to read…write…think mathematically is important. But, the greatest lessons are things that they catch by watching us. Marriage is a lesson that is passed on more by what you DO than what you will ever SAY or recommend in a book. They just absorb “your ways” more than you think. So, it is NOT too late to enjoy your sweetheart. In fact, it is the perfect time! 🙂
If there is a way to fix the past, do it now. If not, drop it, learn the lesson that can be learned from that, and move on with confidence. It is not about the things that we COULD CHANGE from the past. It is about the things that we CAN CHANGE today to make big differences for tomorrow.
So, dearies…
Have you got a plan for making this ONE THING happen? Why not begin TODAY??? Go ahead. Move forward!
Don’t shove it to your “wish” pile. Let’s put it on your things to do TODAY!
I’m so glad I got on here, after Cindy. I’m just about crying. I have never met anyone as encouraging as you are! You are such a blessing! You have really “hit the nail on the head” for me this week.
1. Spending time with God, every day.
2. Make a list…set some goals! I’m going to have my hubby read this one – I’ve known about setting goals, but I don’t always do it.
I have been going to bed earlier, but I don’t always get up. If the baby wakes up at 5, I usually go back to sleep; I just need to stay up. I KNOW, that I KNOW, that I KNOW the Lord has something great for me, so I’d better get up and see what it is 😉
Thanks everyone for your sharing!
Blessings, Danielle
One thing that I could do would be to get a good nights rest! : ) Then I think the next thing would be self disipline. I have a little nine month old baby girl and four other children and it just seems so hard to get to bed and a decent hour, and then be able to stay asleep all night long. I thought about getting organized in my daily routines, and that is true I just need a goodnight sleep for about a month and then the disipline to wake up early. I have found that if I wake up early and have my morning scripture study time and then going out for a walk it make a tremendous difference to my day and my perspective on life. I seem to be able to get so much more done, and I would really like to lose some weight so the excerise would be benifical in more then one way. ; )
WOW Cindy what a question! Only ONE thing???? I have so many and I think that is my problem. I get so overwhelmed with my list of things (and they are mainly BIG things) that I want to see happen or see changed that I give up. Sad ah!
Well, this year God has been dealing with me in the area of prayer and I have really felt convicted about the quantity and quality of time that I spend in prayer, just talking with God for my children, my future grandchildren, my husband, homeschooling , family, friends, my nation etc..
It is now Spring (officially today) and last Monday I decided that I will make a commitment to set aside time , first thing in the morning to pray. I have discovered that I need to be moving while I pray otherwise all sorts of distractions occur – so I go walking and praying at the same time. It is awesome!
So, I did that last week – Monday , yes, Tuesday , yes, then that ol’ devil decided that he didn’t fancy me getting stronger through prayer walking and he has inflicted a cough that isn’t going away. But this morning I decided that I wasn’t going to let the devil have the upper hand and regardless of my cough I am going to get up early and do my prayer walking.
If I don’t walk and pray , I am only able to pray for five or ten minutes but when I prayer walk – like this morning , it was an hour – and then I had to come home because my husband needed to get to work.
So at the moment by ONE thing is being committed to praying – giving Him my day before I begin it, praying about decisions, worshipping him etc It really flavours everything if I set my face toward God first thing in the day.
You know it has taken me quite a while to come to this decision – before I was hearing God say – I want your first hour but I never fully , and regularly committed myself to it. I thought it was a good idea and probably told people to do it but I only half did it – do you know what I mean?
My ONE thing now is to stick to my decision and to have faith that as I step out in obedience to God that He will enable me to continue every day even when I am coughing or blowing my nose while I am walking and praying! I have not been that great at sticking to decisions or seeing things through to completion.
God’s strength is perfected in my weaknesses , right? I have to remember that daily.
thanks Cindy for your thought provoking questions – it causes change to occur!
Rachel Larkin
I just want to thank everyone for sharing what was on their hearts. I was reading and thinking to myself that maybe I didn’t give the “right” answer…..I didn’t think about something that I could change only about things that couldn’t be changed in the past and Cindy turned it around and blessed my heart so much by her response! I have been blessed to know all of you ladies over the last week or so and I look forward to learning and growing more with all of you!
Blessings,
Carie
One thing, oh my!! The LORD has been showing me a few things, like “Be a DOER, not just a thinker and planner!!” And a DOER of good things, get my priorities straight!!
And I was just thinking of how undisciplined I am. My hubby has been out of work since May and I just lazy in the morning. (of course, he is in there with me, most mornings. I usually wake up early enough and pray, drift in and out, but I got to get moving!!) Where has the morning gone!! ; – )
Does it boil down to Routine or laziness?? Pray for me too!
Love, Alaska Bea (Belinda Lovejoy) Isaiah 26:3,4
Cindy, I followed your suggestion and I haven’t read the answers of the other ladies, yet.
My 9y/o dd immediately answered that she would share the gospel and that would make a big change in this world. Awesome, huh? 9 years old and she already knows her calling, wish it were the same with me. But since it’s not, here’s my answer:
I’m thinking of two answers that are equally important. But I’d write them in the order of priority. The first would be to read my Bible and pray DAILY. Most days, I would get so caught up in the day’s activities that I would not be able to open my Bible. When a few days have gone by and I’ve become so harried, I would read God’s word and the Lord’s peace would come over me. After that, I would feel ready to take on the rest of the day. But if I don’t read my Bible and pray, I’d usually be so overwhelmed by everything.
The second thing would be to PLAN. In the past, I would plan our homeschool lessons for weeks, but I am unable to plan our days. This lead me to drift and not able to do the things I really wanted to do. I would just be doing what needed to be done for the day and usually, at the end of the day, it felt like I didn’t accomplish much. Seeing that has caused me a lot of stress. So I’m praying to change my ways and get into the habit of planning our days, our activities, even our menu!
At this point in my life, these are THE MAIN things that I have to do. If I go on without this, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to achieve the goals that I have set. I read something the other day about waking up one morning and finding out that you are still the same woman that you were 20 or 30 years ago, the same faults, the same weaknesses. Phew, I was really hit hard when I read that and I realized that I wouldn’t want to be the same woman that I am right now 30 years from now. I’d want the Lord to bring me from glory to glory, so that when I am ready to meet my Savior, I can say, ” I have fought the good fight. I have run the race “.
Cindy, this question has been thought provoking. Thank you for this.
Now, I think I’ll go read my Bible! 🙂
Michelle Padrelanan
I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on this matter. It is so encouraging to see that many of you have experienced, or have the same concerns, as I have. I am NORMAL! (MAYBE!!)
Anyway, I tend to be the over-achiever, over-planner, ‘my way is the right way’ type of person. I wish I could go back to the very early years of homeschooling (this is my tenth year, we started homeschool-highschool with my daugther this year!) and not sweat the small stuff!! I wish I had focused more on the ‘meaningful’ opportunities that were presented to me on a daily basis. I wish I had encouraged my children to strive for excellence more instead of perfection. I wish I had learned to relax and enjoy my children more.
Hmm, maybe I have learned the relaxing part…I think I’ll go relax with a cup of Cafe Mocha now!!
Take care,
Natalie Munroe
Honestly, the thing I think of I can’t really change. I was barely 17 when I had my daughter. We lived right next door to mu in-laws. My mother-in-law was very pushy and wanted my daughtetr to be with her at her house all the time. She would ask to let her stay the night, she would keep on and my husband woud say ok. I would go home crying, and could’t do anything about it. It has really made an impact on the relationship with my daughter. I feel like we never really got that bond like i have with my son, b/c I was 24 when I had him and I was not going to make the same mistakes again. I try to make a strong bond with my daughter but it is so difficult without that bond when they are little. I feel like all I did for 5 years was cry over my mother-in-law and how she kept taking my daughter from me. I would not go down there or let Kayleen go over there b/c i wanted to spen time with her and she wouldn’t even wait until noon before coming over and askin her if she want ed to come play? Of course she did. She would let her do and eat all the thing I didn’t want her to. She bought her own bigger and better swingset so that my daughter would rather play in her backyard instead of ours which had a swingset, right next door. Oh well I won’t kep going on this b/c there is nothing I cand do about it now and I know now that I let it happen. But I wasn’t strong enough at 17 to stand up to them. I will say that she is tons better now than she was then and we have a better relationship now than we did then and I stand up for what i want now. But if I could change one thing it would be to go back and change those things and have a better bond with my daughter but since I can’t I will take that into today and say that one of the most important things is to make sure that you don’t let too much time slip by without spending time with your kids. I know that it is never too late and better to try to form a good relationship now that to let it go and say it will never work. She is now 11 and we have a better bond everyday. My son is 3 and I will not let that happen with hima or any futeure children I may have. So, the thing for me that changes everything is… being very actively, lovingly involved with my kids, forming those bonds, and loving them. Don’t let it pass by. Even now, when I have spent a day not too involved, just letting the kids play with eachother, I see where they need some good time with me everyday. If you have good relationships that flows into every aspect of your lives. The children will love and respect you more, be more willing to obey, not argue to do their school, etc… Relationships, form those relationships….. Rodna James
Wow, when I first read that “One thing” I thought “Only one?How could I pick only one?” As I sat and thought about it, though, what is coming to mind is RELAX. If I would relax, I wouldn’t get so wrapped up in what I’m not getting done that I miss enjoying what I am getting done – accomplishing a task, playing and laughing with my girls, building relationships. If I would relax, I would be so much less likely to compare myself to others to see if we’re doing okay with school and (naturally) coming up short. I’d know that we are doing just right for our family as long as we are doing what God puts before us AND I’d remember that most of those who I compare so miserably to are only sharing the good stuff about what they’re doing. If I would relax, all of those little things that grate at me wouldn’t bug me so much because I wouldn’t be so focused on me and getting my stuff done. If I would relax, I’d have more time to just enjoy my husband because I wouldn’t always be distracted or worried or struggling. If I would relax, I wouldn’t always try to find a better way or tool, I’d just do it! If I would relax, I could enjoy life so much more. The key to relaxing ….I believe that is resting in Christ, knowing deep inside that I need not fear, speaking promises in faith over my day.
Great question! But, choosing just ONE thing is difficult. Since I’m a rule-stickler, I will choose only one. The one thing I could do to that would change everything is get up earlier each morning. I like to stay up too late; therefore, I tend to sleep a little later. That does not help in my homeschool endeavors to get started at an early hour and not be having school at 5 p.m. Also, since I like to start off each day with Bible study and time with God, it pushes the start of our homeschool day even further out. So, getting up early would truly be the one thing that would change everything in my household (which would require me to go to bed earlier, but that would be two things, so we won’t go there.).
This is my first time to post, but, oh do I need this!
I’ve heard myself saying that before kids when I worked outside of the home, I was much more organized. I’m realizing that when I worked outside the home, I had a specific routine. Once I stayed home, everyone encouraged me to enjoy the freedom of not having that schedule. But, I feel like I’m drowning. I need to get back to having a specific routine.
Oh….the one thing that I could do that would make all the difference??? RELAX. That one seemingly little thing would make life sooooo much more enjoyable in all of my relationships and my daily responsibilities. Relax and let God be in control….He is anyway, so why fight it?? 🙂 Relax and enjoy the time I have with my kiddos each day…..relax and not stress out if the house is messy. Relax and curl up and read with the kids – daily. Relax and let them be noisy, messy, fun, active kids. Relax and enjoy the little bit of time I have each weekend with my husband ashe works out of state all week (of course, this COULD be how I ended up expecting little one number 9 this winter…..) 🙂 I used to think that happened as a result of praying for patience, so I gave up that prayer!
So, my one thing would be to RELAX. Period. Vicki
I’m reading all these Mama’s hearts, and am soooo encouraged!!
What I would do that would make the difference? I’d SMILE more!
Sad isn’t it? I don’t smile enough. I get busy, schedules, and kids to homeschool and then it’s 5pm and my Beloved is on his way home, and the animals need fed, and on and on, and on!!
Smiling. I know that it absolutely changes me and those around me. Simple. No cost, no memorization…..just a smile. My kids change……and my sweet husband melts…..and I feel so much better!! So thats my thing! Thank you sweet sisters!! I smile at you!! We are society changers!!
Many Blessings!
Kelly Martin
Ouch this is a hard question!
What God has been laying on my heart is focus. I tend to be so terribly scattered. But like Vicki said I need to relax while I’m trying to be focused at the same time somehow. Life seem so chaotic sometimes that it feels like I’m not getting much done :). My husband works at home, and neither of us is focused by our nature, so I know if I could pull it together it would make a big difference for everyone, him, the children and myself. It just seems like I’m in a baby fog so much of the time :(.
Jennifer Bogart
Some days the thing that I think would change everything would be to disconnect my telephone permanently, but then the world would come knocking at my door at the worst times : )
Things are changing alot at my house this year. One of my sons is turning 18 and another just turned 16. The 18 year old has worked the last two years with my husband and now is changing positions within the company and they are hiring on my 16 year old to be my husbands helper. This is such a blessing that their first couple of years out in the working world can be spent with their dad. That leaves me with two still at home during the day : ( I sure wish I still had seven here. If I could come up with some new routines, I could accomplish so much. I feel like I’m one of the Israelite’s wandering around in the wilderness. It feels like I am getting nowhere, but sure working hard to do it. It is such an adjustment when life changes. I tend to take a long time to adjust to any changes in my life. I tend to feel sad and kind of lost during the transition.
I was in a nice routine of spending a couple of hours after my husband and son left for work reading my Bible and spending time with the Lord. About a month ago, I began walking with one of my girls. I pick her up and we walk for about an hour and a half. This is vitally important for me to do, because it helps strengthen my back and also helps me to lose weight. So for health considerations, it is something I really need to do. I can only seem to accomplish it if I do it first thing in the morning. After I’ve been up and around, I just can’t physically do it. My goal is to get rid of the cane I have had to use for the last year. I need to figure out how to adjust my routine to be able to spend some time with the Lord. I seem to need a long time with him because I get so distracted, it takes a while for me to be able to just concentrate on him and hear his voice. My husband really likes me to spend about an hour with him before he goes to work so that starts about five or five thirty. I could spend time after my walk, but that would have us starting school about 11 am which I really don’t want to do.
If I could figure out a new routine, it would help everything fall into place especially with starting out on a new school year. I also have a daughter who is very sick with gastrointestinal problems that needs my help, and a sister who is pretty close to bedridden because of a back surgery gone bad and could use more help from me. I guess I need to take some time and seek the Lord and ask him to give me a new routine and maybe 12 extra hours a day to fit it all in.
From Mary’s sister Martha, aka Linda Howard : )
Not be a control freak. I think that somehow I can control so many circumstances and outcomes. It is not true. I am trying to realize that really very little is in our control. We do the best we can and God does the rest. Everyone gets to choose their own way and make decisions for themselves. I hope that I can train my children to make good decisions and throughout life, they will remember things that they learn and that God will prompt them to do their best. I think that I should relax. It really sets the tone for the entire household.
Katrina
The one thing I need to do is definitely become more disciplined….with when I go to bed, when I get up, what I eat, eliminating distractions, consistent exercise, consistent time in the Word, and the list goes on, and on, and on. I know if I can maintain a habit of discipline it will affect so many areas of my life, and provide a much better example for my kids as well. I shudder to think what they may be learning as they watch me. I’m not talking about getting more done here – the quantity of my output is not something I struggle with – it’s the processes I use to get it all done that add stress and steals joy from the journey. I tend to leave things and use my time out of order, allowing the time pressure to mandate when I do things rather than careful planning and disciplined habits. I want time in my day that I can spend in relaxation – time without guilt or thinking about what I should be doing and am neglecting – because disciplined habits have carved out that spot for me, and I want order and peace to reign in our house because disciplined habits have everything under control. Sounds simple enough, right?
As difficult as it was, I honored your request Cindy, to not look at the other posts until I nailed down my “one thing”. After realizing what it was, I really didn’t want to publicly admit it. Surely I was the only one struggling in this area: getting up early to have my quiet time with the Lord. Well, evidently I’m in good company! : ) I am still nursing my wee one in the early morning hours – hence my excuse for not getting up earlier. However, I know that if I honor God by sacrificing that time to spend with Him, He will be faithful to give me all the energy I need to do His work throughout the day.
Thanks for encouraging me to think about this Cindy! It helps to bring it to the forefront and stop putting it off until later.
Blessings,
Kristin Girod
Ok, I was a neurotic homeschooling mom- I sewed my kids’ clothes, baked their bread, canned fruit, grew vegetables, etc. My kids were at or above grade level and I drove myself crazy. I slept about 4 hours a night – and I was ragged. I prayed to God to make me a better wife and mother. And it happened… I had a car accident, and a brain injury. That was 12 almost 13 years ago.
I still homeschool. I have raised those children, and 5 more besides. The one thing I have learned is that I cannot possibly do it all.
I quit comparing myself to others. I quit trying to be like all the others out there.
Homeschooling is a lifestyle choice. You choose to not have a plu-perfect home. You choose to spend the afternoon gluing pictures of revolutionary men to a felt backdrop rather than playing bunko or working some sleek job. Your lifestyle means you will have less money, do more with the kids, have a messier house, less time and more memories (unless, of course, you have a brain injury and no short term memory!)
I spend every fall reminding myself that this is a lifestyle choice. What would I do that would change everything? NOTHING! This is my choice. This is my lifestyle. There is no way I would choose to do anything else.
Sure, perhaps I could learn to manage my time a little better. Perhaps I need to brush up on my housekeeping techniques, or maybe cook a little better. But I’ve been homeschooling for 16 years. I’ve got another 8 or more to go… I love this life that God provided for me.
Rebecca
Hi Cindy!
My one thing would be more quiet time with God. With seven children, I find it very difficult to carve out a few minutes to spend with God alone. While I don’t have a problem reading my Bible or praying around the children, I do find that I can’t concentrate as well as I would like. How can I hear God with seven youngun’s running around? LOL. But really, that is the one thing that I desire at this point. Twenty to thirty minutes to spend with God by myself every day.
Barbie
This is an easy one for me to answer, just not easy for me to implement. The one thing I could do that would change everything is to LET GO. Stop holding back because of my fear that I will fail. Stop holding back because I can’t see what the end result will be. Stop holding back because I am not sure if God is really telling me to do something (especially when I do know but am rationalizing). Stop holding back just because I hate change. LET GO and let God take over, let Him be responsible for me and my family. I tend to have a lot of influence in my family and small circle of friends, and I know if I would just let go and just do what I know is right, what God is calling me to do, some of them would jump too. The saddest part is that I keep buying more bags of cement to make sure my feet stay planted…….
If I could just rearrange my priorities throughout the day to keep God first, it would make a huge difference! Too often I get wrapped up in my own agenda of what I want to see happen, or what I want to do, too often ignoring both God and my children. In those moments I need to set aside my own selfish wants and refocus on God – and how He’s called me to love Him and my children. He’s been trying to drill this into my head the past few weeks. OK, now I get it! I think.
“What ONE thing could you do that could change EVERYTHING?”
For me, this would be – be kind.
I am a little high-strung (or wound tight, or whatever term you like) and being kind, loving, and patient is a daily struggle. It is work for me to remember not to blow a gasket when things don’t go the way I plan – with 5 children, this is most of the time. My life long struggle is to maintain a calm exterior, offer it up to the Lord and kindly, lovingly deal with the situations that arise continually in my day. I would change my temperment. I find this especially important, because some of my children share my temperment, and I think that if they learn to be kind and loving with the super high energy personalities they have they will be so much happier, and positive influences in their lives.
This has been heavy on my mind today, so today – this is certainly the one thing I would change. I actually just came upstairs to get my copy of Ministering to the Heart of Your Child :0)
This is an easy answer for me. I could wake up earlier. I tend to like to sleep in everyday. If I woke up earlier I would have more time to get things accomplished. I would even have more “me” time. Sigh. I know what a life change it would be to wake up earlier each day yet when it is time to get out of bed all I can think about is how much I want to stay in bed.
Blessings,
Bunny
First, Lisa, i have to encourage you to GO FOR IT!!!! it was HARD, as a night owl myself, but since i started getting up early, the ONLY days i have missed my quiet time were days i was sick, and when i was miscarrying, i allowed myself to sleep in to let my body recoup. but other than that, i’ve been SO MUCH MORE productive!! it amazes me… PLUS, i don’t have to wake up to chaos!! i don’t do well with that and it makes me GRUMPY. now i’m the first one up after dh. OH and dh and i have had some time to spend together in the AM now too, which has helped our relationship a lot.
Ok, so for mine… i really could get a WHOLE lot done with all the time i spend on the computer! its hard becuase it serves such a critical purpose for me… its so encouraging to “be around” people who are LIKE me… especially since my best freind who is the most like me person i know moved to a different state in February… 🙁 Also, homeschooling was TRANSFORMED for us by the internet in so many ways….
Anyway, i’m thinking of, in my leisure time that i’m on the computer, timing myself, doing 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. Like as an example, i tried that last wednesday when the girls’ bedroom SERIOUSLY needed a “mom cleaning” it took about 3 cycles and VOILA! it was done! so i think that will be my goal. either, cleaning, reading to a child, or doing whatever needs doing 🙂
Rebecca Kvenvolden
Vicki, WOW! relax.. that would change a lot for me too, but there’s NO way i’m pursuing that one! LOL! i just have NO clue how to balance the needs of the massive amount of DOING that needs to be done AND relaxing…
The one thing I could do & really need to do & actually intend to finally do is to just pick something & go with it. I always thought my problem was procrastination & I guess, yes, this is a form of procrastination; but I’ve realized the heart of my problem is actually fear. I have got to stop being afraid that I’m not doing this whole “life” thing right and actually start doing it. It’s really obvious in homeschooling, but I’m seeing that it really applies to my whole life. I haven’t always been this way, once I was a self-assured, type-a, go-getter, organized, etc. woman. A lot happened to me and somewhere along the way I became afraid – afraid of making a mistake, of choosing the wrong path, of not being taken seriously. And sadly, I think I stopped living and have just been taking up space for a long time now. So…. I’m picking and I’m sticking because this is what I need to do for me, for my family, for my God. Thanks, Cindy, for making me say it.
Kerri Hopkins
C-H-A-N-G-E
As I say the word thousands of things come to mind.
Right now it would have to be that I live in Florida. I would move somewhere different to avoid all the hurricanes.
Ever since the year we had four hit us, I have been suffering from anxiety attacks.
So I would move to Montana and live on a nice huge cattle farm.
M. Waters
Well what area should I choose? I am truely working on building a relationship with my children. Sometimes the life that we have as homeschool parents becomes all consuming. Some days you have so much to accomplish school, dinner, cleaning, running, and the list goes on. On that list though it is very easy to forget to actually take time to be with my kids and have fun. I rarely take time to just play a game during the day or play dolls. So the one thing I would change right now is taking time to laugh and have fun with my girls. They are only here with me for so long as my babies so I really need to cherish this time right now.
Jenni Schafran
This is such a good and timely question.
I can tend to be so negative. My ONE thing would be a positive renewing of my mind.
I believe this would make a positive impact on my family.
I need much prayer in this area.
What is my Plan?
I am doing a 10 week study, with my church, using Joyce Meyer’s book:
`Battlefield of the Mind`.
I am also beginning a study using the book: `Passionate Housewives Desperate for God`
I believe both these studies will have a positive impact on me through the Holy Spirit.
Michelle Fitzgerald
The one thing I could and obviously should do is stop more. Stop and listen to my Father. Stop and listen to that still small voice. Listen to God, sit at His feet and be more like Mary. Martha may get it all done but oh….to be Mary! To sit at His feet and learn from Him and to be able to follow his direction without questioning the directive because of all the “distractions” of my life! Don’t get me wrong, I love kissing booboos and praying right then for healing and teaching my little ones (and the teenagers) how to go boldly to the throne. I love the distractions and my calling but I sooo long for more time at the feet of the Master!
Valerie Boivin
I think my one thing would be to rid my body of what is causing me to constantly be exhausted. If I just had energy, then I could take care of my house, take care of my family, and take care of myself. As I am tired all the time, I only want to sleep and have no desire to do anything, and that includes worshiping God. I am spending more time looking into this and prayerfully will find a cure. Something has got to change before everything falls apart for me and my family.
I guess getting myself healthy would be my one thing that would change everything. Samantha
Jane Rowley I could be you! I too have a 9 month old plus 4 other blessings. I can never seem to get to bed at a decent time–here I am typing away when I should be sleeping! My little one is finally sleeping through the night again for about 1 week now, but not mama. When I used to start my day with time for the Lord, everything was done & the day went so well. I need to think of it as time for the Lord and not time for me. If I think ‘time for me’ I feel selfish & think of other things that need doing instead. I too could lose a few pounds–a good nights rest goes a long way towards that the ‘experts’ say. Self-discipline is my ‘one thing’. Why wait, I am starting now. It’s 10:30 here, I’m off to bed.
‘Night y’all!
Hillary
Like many of you – it is hard to just think of one thing when I have so many. But something I have been praying about over the past year is to have a Gentle and Quiet Spirit. This would change so much for me and our home. I appreciate Teri Maxwell’s book “Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit” because she speaks of what is “robbing you” of your meek and quiet spirit. And guess what, for me – it is:
**Not getting up early so that I can have my QT, get showered, etc. so that I can be ready for my children.
**Not having a plan for my day like I should and so I just go about doing things as I see they need doing instead of truly making a list and marking it off.
**Because I do not have my routine/schedule in place as I should, it robs me of my patience with my children and sets off my “ugly” attitudes and then I wonder — Where did my children get this attitude???? Hmmm- I wonder!!!
**Not finding time to exercise or choose better food choices so that I feel better and respond better to those around me.
Well, these are just a few of the things that rob my “Gentle and Quiet Spirit” and the list could go on, but I will stop. This for me is what I’d really like to see different in my home.
Bless you all and thank you, Cindy, for helping us to ponder this question.
Nancy Mosley
The one thing I am trying to change right now is TRUSTING GOD TO PROVIDE. I have been hanging on to things that I might need, but I’m having a rummage sale this weekend to try to raise a little cash and to make room in my space for GOD to provide for us. I need to trust that if I truly NEED something, HE will make sure we have it. Relaxing (as Vicki, above said) comes very close to this, too, but I see it as a TRUST issue for me.
Elizabeth Bowen
To actually do what the bible tells me to do. Submit and put my husband first. To be quiet and pray. I have come along way but so often I just can not bite my tongue. God ghas been tieeling me to be still and know He is God. That would mean that I do not need to fix everything He is in control.
This isn’t as hard as I first thought it would be! Cindy, do you remember the first time I joined you and Lucia in her first Victorious Living session? That’s what I’d change. Something was said about our worth. And I asked if someone as piddly as I was included in that worth. (Now ladies, before everyone has a heart attack, in Texas, a piddly person is someone who’s unimportant, not worth paying attention to, almost invisible to others. It has NOTHING to do with bathroom functions!!!!!) I’m sure Cindy now remembers, when I said I was kinda piddly, there was such a huge intake of breathe from everyone, that for a moment it was like there was no more oxygen in the world!!!!! (I never intended to create a mass coronary with the group, it was an innocent comment on my part…..but the hazards of dialect made it almost funny as everyone explained what that word meant in their area of the world.) Then I was really embarrassed!!!! So if I could change anything that would change everything, I would have never listened to all those folks that talked derogatorily about me ‘following the beat of a different drummer’ or being a ‘duck of a different color’ or how I could never do anything ‘right’ simply because I did it in a different way from them. I’d have listened more to my loving Papa who always tried to tell me how wonderful I was (and am!!!) I’d have been more confident in my own skills and abilities and the gifts Papa gave me. That would have allowed me to better serve others with my gifts and abilities and to better convey to Little Critter how precious and awesome he is to not only DH and me, but more importantly, to his heavenly Papa. So my plan to change this is to continue to read those scriptures that tell me how much Papa loves me. My favorite verses right now are in Song of Solomon. That’s my Papa talking to me!!!! Isn’t that incredible?!?!? He loves me so much that I’m His favorite kid!!! I’m the woman He can’t wait to spend time with and misses to the point of distraction when I don’t visit with Him at least daily!!! This just blows my mind!!!! Now to help instill this certainty of His love into Little Critter….well, I’ll keep teaching him about how much and often Papa takes care of us and trust Papa to speak to Little Critter’s heart about how much He loves him. And I’ll do all I can to instill a strong self confidence in Little Critter so he won’t have to go thru the same insecurities that I have. Hope this makes sense. And thank you CIndy and Lucia for helping to explain my worth to me. Shalom, Joie
The one thing I could do that would change everything is to get my business started. I have the eBook started that I want to sell and I’ve been researching about blogs, hosting and web sites. I am scared to death! I just need to do it. My husband is on vacation this week and said he would help me even. I don’t want to sound selfish but I really need to do this, in hopes that this would help our family with finances. Two of our 4 children are not at home now and I feel like I have time to pursue some things that get me excited. Cindy, I love all of your materials and have listened to you for years. Thank-You for all the encouragment!
I would like to free my home of clutter. I am working on it but also need some help from my family. Finding the time when everyone is in the mood to “declutter” is the biggest challenge. Then getting the kids to understand what the whole idea is about! I am praying that the Lord will help me in this one!
Robin
The one thing I would change —
I would have taken the music scholarship that was offered to me
in highschool! I turned down the scholarship because I had a
boyfriend at the time who “didn’t know what to do without me”.
I have regretted that decision for many years.
Katy Horn
Wow, it really seems like we all need the same things. We need to get up earlier and spend more time with god, spend more time with our children and relax!!! It seems like a lot of it boils down to taking the time for God, taking the time to schedule for our families so things can go smoother. I am glad to see that there are a lot of us in the same boat! Let’a all try to tke a little time to pray for everyone on this group!! Rodna James
The One Thing that I have realised would change my life if I did it is to eat healthily and appropriately for me. I have always been on the small side for my height and tend towards boniness in an unhealthy way. Add to the fact that I don’t eat well (tend to go for chocolate and simple carbs when I do eat) and I have been breastfeeding one or two children, or feeding one and pregnant for the last 10 years and it is no wonder I have no brain power.
After each pregnancy I hit a wall energy wise for about 2 years to only just start getting it together and get pregnant again. Finally with this, my fourth child, I have realised that my best days have been when the brain fog doesn’t happen because I snack healthily, almost eating 6 Jennifer size meals a day. I still can’t eat big meals (have overweight family members and it horrifies me to think of getting “fat”) but at least now I am eating better food. Now if only I can keep it up. Also some light exercise seems to keep the fog away and the blues. This year with a new baby could actually end up being the best.
Thank you to everyone else for your honesty. It is nice to be able to admit my short comings and know I am not alone instead of reading all these blogs about what people are doing in their homeschools while I struggle to just get up, make meals and have clean clothes ready for my family.
Thank you to Cindy too for her great encouragement over the years. Over the 4 years I have been reading her letters and buying her products I have felt greatly encouraged that I can do this. I have looked far and wide and just haven’t been able to find someone who encourages us in so many formats. The audios are great and I love printing out the books to mark and make notes in.
Best wishes
Jennifer in Australia
I love reading all the comments for what one thing you could do that would change everything.
I think for me the one word it all boils down to is consistency. I start things with great intentions, but the follow through is not always there. That’s why the end of the homeschool year seems to end in a stack of papers not managed and assignments undone. The house never seems to look as good as I want it since I don’t always chase down the boys to do their work. It even flows over into relationships as I find myself late in sending cards or gifts. I bought them, but I don’t always get them sent out on time.
Now if you are wondering why I chose consistency rather than saying I need to follow through….it’s because I can follow through and do for a lot of things. But, it is when I loose the consistency that some things get left undone or done poorly.
Oops, forgot to sign my post! Must be rising too early in the morning for me as I got up with hubby at 4:45 a.m. today.
Laura O’Neill
The one thing that I would change is to laugh and play more. I can see the delight on my kids faces when they see me enjoying them. I have always had a hard time having fun. When I was growing up I had to take care of my siblings and be more like their mother than their sister so I dont really know how to enjoy my family. The Lord has helped me to learn as I go along but I still have a long way to go. But this is the one thing that I would change. I would laugh and play and just enjoy my family. I wouldn’t get so flustered because there was so much mess around me. The Lord is good and He is teaching me. I am just hard to learn sometimes.
Joanna Phillips
Currently the one thing that I am seeking to do is to work out what God’s priorities for my life at this stage are. To this end I am working through Kathy Butryn’s latest seminar – the It Factor along with the book – Pathway to Purpose for women. Thank you Cindy for your ministry too. You are also encouraging me at this stage in my Christian journey even though my childrearing and homeschooling years are at an end.
Ruth Hollands
.
If I would follow-through and finish the jobs I start, instead of leaving everything half-done.
This would include, (but limited to LOL)
Decluttering
Developing a household routine
Finish making the art prints I started
Watering the plants before they wilt
etc
I allow myself to run from crisis to crisis instead of dealing with things in an orderly manner.
….and the first step to overcoming a problem is admitting you have one, right?
Julia Schlenker (you have me as Julie, but I prefer Julia-thanks)
This may sound crazy, but the one thing that would change everything is trying to NOT stick to a schedule! I am constantly getting stressed out trying to stay on schedule with everything. My children learn more, and have more fun, when I just let go of schedules and have FUN! This is something that is going to change all by itself, seeing as how the Lord is having my husband quit his job (of 15 years!) and start up a business of our own! Along with this we will be building our own home. I sure won’t have time for schedules!
The one thing I would change is I would have learned what intercesson for my children was. God has been teaching me lately. For
the last several years I have had my quiet time with God and He has worked
in my life. But because of some recent decisions my son has made, I have
learned to really pray, to spend hours in prayer, to see God work. This trial
isn’t over, but God has taught me so much through it. I would encourage
each mother that reads this site to learn to pray and not just say prayers.
When your children get older and you can no longer plan their days, or their
studies, or anything else in their lives, if you know how to pray you can still
have an influence upon them, even when they won’t listen to your words.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds.” Praise God for the weapon of prayer! I want
to learn to use it more, not just with my children, but in our neighborhood,
town, state, and country. And I don’t have to leave my home to do it, but
travel on my knees. Carolyn
Yesterday as we were preparing for gustov to camp here in NE Texas (high winds and 6-9″ of rain) my kids and I worked in the yard. A project that would have taken me 3 hours 10 years ago (and that was by myself) took ALL DAY. I guess I need to accept that I am not 20 anymore, I will be 42 in Oct.. As I was resting before showinging and making dinner I was watching the RNC on Fox News. One of the Govenors of the Gulf States said something that just really impacted me. He said “What lies ahead of us, and what lies behind us, compares little to what lies within us”. I thought I was “old” and empty, at least I felt that way. I thought about what he said and realized I still had enough energy to pull myself up by my boot straps, yes I was in the yard in shorts and rubber boots, all I needed was a Red Hat….. I also realized I need to fill my cup. I used to be like a camel when it came to filling up, grab alot cuz I did not know when I woud have time to fill up again. I did keep a few scriptures stratigically placed so I could reflect on them, but somewhere along the way it was not enough and I never knew it. I am downloading the It Factor Seminar by Kathy Butryn as I type this and since it is raining today (and probably all week) that is where I am starting. I am hanging the above quote from the Govenor (either Alabama or Georgia) on my fridge. I have accepted the fact I am not 20 anymore and am going to adjust MY lifestyle to that fact. Then as soon as I can I am going to make me a purple dress and buy a red hat to drive my family nuts, just kidding, but that thought did make me laugh, which is something that I have not let myself do lately….. So as Oil of Olay says, “Love the Skin your are in”. Thanks Cindy for sticking with us after your children graduated, you, your audios and teachings, and all of your friends are such a blessing to us, sometimes they are a lifeline!!!
Valerie Neal-Texarkana TX
I think getting up earlier in the day would be one thing that could change the atmosphere in our home. Then I could be more consistent with my quiet time with the Lord EVERY day! That alone would reap great benefits but also if I could be up and ready to go and in a good mood before my little blessings wake up I think I could start them off on the right foot also. Someone said “Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning Satan says “Oh no! She’s awake!” May he be saying that about me! I pray so.
Lori Duncan
Wow! The first thing that came to my mind was this: I want to be total surrendered to God, to be able to, without the least bit of reservation, obey Him. No struggle against what I know I should do and my will. The second would be just the same, to be able to submitt to my husband in the same way. I know that these would raically change my life and the life of those around me.
When I look at these I see myself standing on a precipice (sort of like getting ready to bungy jump) and actually feeling the flutter in my stomach. Knowing my life would never be the same if I would just do it.
The one thing that I could do that could change everything is to put time with God’s Word and talking to the Lord first, before the day gets too busy. I’ve often heard the verse, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” I believe it’s because I get too busy to hear, and if I put that time first, I will have His Spirit and His Word guiding me and giving me peace in the midst of all the day will have, which will in turn cause the whole focus of my home and children to be turned toward what God wants, which is where my hope rests. If I will choose today, to seek Him, then that changes everything!
I would say the one thing I NEED to do that will definitely change my life is having my qiet time with God. It is so easy to put it off when you have young children that are up very early! I need to get to bed earlier so I can get up earlier, then spend time in prayer and reading my Bible. I can’t hear clearly from God if I’m not listening! I know that this ONE thing would change my spiritual walk, my marriage, my impact on my kids’ lives, and my testimony to others around me. I so want to be closer to the Lord so I can hear His voice, so it won’t be drowned out by all the other things that call for my attention throughout the day. Now I just need to make a ‘plan’ and implement it. I’m ready for a life change!
Wendy Woerner
I have been so busy trying to help bring in finances that my time with God has been hit and miss. I’ve always wanted to have a deep, private time with Him but have always struggled. I guess I’ve allowed my busy-ness to be an excuse.
I think that if I took the time that I need to spend with God it could make a HUGE difference – in my being a wife, mom, and writer.
I’ve also been trying to do too much. I’m staying up later than I should (which I know isn’t good for my health) but it seems I never have enough time to do everything. I’m sure I’m not alone with that feeling.
Could it be time to let go of the “good” to get the “best.” You bet it is, I just wish I knew how.
Over the summer, I was reading something you wrote, Cindy. Find joy in the journey not merely the destination. It blew me away as I meditated on that thought! Despite making dramatic counter-culture changes in my life and striving to be eternity-minded, I realized I was so intent on “getting there” that I often missed the joy God intended each step of the way.
The destination is often only a minute portion of the intended goal. The journey is long and how wonderful to enjoy each moment of it rather than viewing it as something to be plowed through so I can attain the goal for an ever so brief time of joy only to set off again on another long trek to reach the next objective! I pray I will remember this.
Becky Delvaux
Hi, I think I have two that are a close one and two. First would be to spend more time in my Bible and with God. I just don’t do that near enough. Second is to have my family on a schedule so everything has a time to get done and we don’t spend out time “wondering” what to do.
Simple – get off the computer in the morning. So here I sit, on the computer, in the morning and yet I know that if I would just walk away from it my mornings will be so much more productive! So I’m going to click “send” and then make this Mommy Assignment work for me today – and walk away!
I could think of a lot of things to choose, but this one keeps running through my head…
I could listen to the leading of the Lord more. I am getting better, but still need work on not letting fear, Satan, people’s opinion or unbelief stop me. By following Him and where he wants me to go (even when it makes no sense) I allow the Lord to open more doors in my life. When I think about all the times I had doors quietly closed because of my disobedience-It makes me sick.
Thankfully, I did not ignore the leading of the Lord to homeschool our kids.
I know that by really trying to open my heart and walking by faith that not only my life, but those He puts in my path- will be greatly blessed. Now if I can remind myself of this daily.
Sheri Hagemann
Well I have never really thought of this before, changing one thing? hum, I think if I was more organized it would change our home, our homeschool, and our lives so I guess that could be a key. So why don’t I do it, 🙁 I guess I am not motivated enough to make the effort. I always feel like I need or want someone to “hold my hand” and get me doing what I should do. So the one thing that I could/ should change is being more organized.
Honestly, I have been thinking about this one a lot lately. We started school a few weeks ago. Things have gone well but could be better (always could be whith a 16 month old energetic boy running around while Mommy is pregnant again). I think the best thing for me to do would be to get up at least a little before the kids and spend time with God & DH. I think this would change the whole focus of the day for us all, especially for me. Problem is that I never know really when the kids will wake up or if they will get up as soon as they wake up. They are more likely to get up if they know I am up, and I think I need that time to get my brain together and to focus on God. I guess I just need to convince myself to try it. Plus, DH gets up at 5 (thanks to the dog) and leaves around the time I get up. Anyway, more time with God in the mornings.
Rachel Stevens
Be the most positive person my kids know. Especially when talking about them:)
I spend entirely too much time pointing out the things my kids and dear hubby do wrong.
It ruins my day if I’m told I’ve messed something up, especially when I’m trying:) Why wouldn’t it hurt others?
Tone of voice, gentlesness, kindness, treat others like I want to be treated.
Be quick to brag on the kids, instead of telling everyone about the one thing that they’ve done wrong. I’m going to spend all my time telling it like it is…they are really great kids.
Dee Dee Helmers
Sheri, I have the same need. I am realizing more and more that he does speak to me and I hear him if I let myself. I have realized that I choose whether or not I hear him. When he speaks to me and I don’t really want to do that, then I tune him out. I am realizing that he speaks to me for a reason and I should listen to him each and every time. That is also one of my goals. To listen EVERY time and not just sometimes. Rodna
The ‘easiest’ thing to do is make you all wake up when I do and go to sleep when I do. LOL!!! I have tried to get up in the wee hours of the morning to listen in to the ‘chat’s… LOVE them… but I just can’t function very well the next morning – when y’all get to go to bed… the time difference here is huge. I love receiving the encouragement from you all – but because of the time difference I don’t do it very often.
I’m not really sure how to achieve this next one. (the top one was a joke!) I find it really hard to push through the mid year to end of year SLOG. It is so hard to be motivated and routine and systematic (plus all those ‘good’ things I ‘should’ have added but can’t because my brain is so addled). The beginning of the year I’m full of pep and can achieve so much… the last half of the year is like walking through water – just plain hard work. That’s what I’d change – it’s just I have no idea how.
Aussie Wen
(Wendy Woolley)
This week I have been reading a book called Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris. I know that this book is really aimed at teenagers, but I’m still getting a lot out of it as a thirty-something-year-old mom. My favorite chapter is on doing small hard things … things that don’t pay off immediately, or seem routine, insignificant, or pointless. I feel like as a mom I have a lot of these small hard things that must be done every day and my challenge to myself is to do them to the best of my ability and cheerfully instead of putting them off or doing them inconsistently. The small hard things can be a training ground that will help prepare me for when big hard things come along, and will also set an example for my children.
–Susan Flowers
Wow, the one thing I would do and am trying to do is overcome my Fibromyalgia naturally. After 4 1/2 years of stuggling and being told I’m clinically depressed but in my soul I knew that was not it, I have a wonderful new doctor (Praise God) and now know I have Fibromyalgia. Believe it or not a little bit of relief to know what is wrong. My doctors goal is to not put me on bunches of meds, which I wholeheartedly agree with. The hard thing is so many of the CLINICALLY PROVEN natural cures that work better for many and have many less side effects, are not covered by insurance and we are pretty financially strapped.
So now I am doing what I can, daily aerobic and light weight training and reading as much as I can on what I can do. I need to find the combination that works for me (everyone is different).
The hope in my heart that I can overcome this is what keeps me going. It would change EVERYTHING! The overwhelming constant fatigue, I never feel rested. The Fibro Fog that makes it hard to do anything b/c sometimes it seems like my brain just completely shuts down to the point I can’t remember my address or phone number (or loosing the sugar contianer for weeks and finding it buried in the DEEP FREEZE???). The constant migraines and other seemingly random pains all over. All these things make it so hard to just live. I wan to do more than just survive, I have been in survival mode for years now, and this past 9 mos. have been the worst. My poor (wonderful) hubby misses his wife (and is disabled so has his own physical problems), I feel like my precious babies lives are slipping away and I am missing it. I’m a lousy wife, homemaker and mother because I am trying so hard to be able to get through the day and just get the dishes and laundry somewhere close to caught up – I won’t even comment on the rest of the house. (Although the word Tornado came out of the kid’s mouth today)
My hope and prayer is that God’s shows me the way and opens doors for natural healing.
But here is my fear, that actually just came to mind right this moment b/c it just occurred to me, what if God chooses to not allow me to be able to overcome this? Is it possible that this is the new normal and somehow I need to find a new way to change everything or make lfe work this way? Oh that scares me.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – when I am weak He is stong – right?
On that thought I better go to bed, I am supposed to get good nights sleep b/c one symptom is poor sleep quality and here it is 11:41 already. Sigh.
Goodnight and Blessings to all of you. I can’t wait to read what you have written. Hmm, I must exert some self discipline though and sleep! Zzzzz
I just joined today and this just reinforces how much God cares for us(me)! This topic/question is so timely for me. The one thing I can do that could (will) change EVERYTHING is to get better at giving it all to the Lord and stop “leaning on my own understanding”. Along that same line then is to honor God with my commitment to be better organized and less easily distracted from my priorities. I like what someone said about getting up earlier; that is one of my new commitments–get up earlier so I can have my quiet time with the Word. Can’t think of a better way to start the day, but if I wait til my daughter is up, it always gets put off ’til later! If I start off with my quiet time, my whole morning seems more organized and less rushed. I am much more relaxed and not as easily stressed if things don’t go the way I had planned.
Well i have to say that the ONE thing that i could do that would change EVERYTHING is be perfect :O) i guess that in this world that is IMPOSSIBLE but i know that it is a process that Christ is working us to. So the one thing that i can do today that i think is where i am in the process is REMEMBERING the MAIN thing… ie Christ and His purpose for me today, and tomorrow and the next day etc. YEP i have been reading Cindi’s “Give Me a Burden, Lord…. Your Burden” and then “Ministering to the Heart of Your Child” (as a result of the first) and i am really feeling convicted that if i REMEMBER Christ is ALL that i do EVERY day then EVERYTHING will be the way that He wants it to be. So for me to change everything in ONE way would be for me to always, in everything, REMEMBER Him – when i clean the dog poo, when i respond to my children (especially in the things that IRK me), when i get irritated with my husband, when the house is messy, when i stay up too late and sleep in: just remembering Christ and reminding myself of what He wants me to do and how He wants me to do it so that the eternal things are more important than the immediate… Wow this is long and i sure didn’t mean for it to be. I think i have had this on my mind of late too and now i have been able to identify what i think the Lord is trying to teach me NOW! i wonder if tomorrow my ONE thing would be different??????
Pauline Monty
I have prayed and prayed over this and it still comes back to one thing! When I first read the question I thought, “Just one? I’ve got a list!!!” But as I prayed one thing kept coming back to me. THEN I asked my family the same question and asked them to think about it for a day. At the end of the day when we all came together to discuss this question, WE ALL HAD THE SAME ANSWER!!! So I know this is the one area of focus for me right now.
What is it you ask? Our health. We are all overweight. This summer, we have made more of an effort to be active. We’ve started walking regularly. We are geocaching which gets us on regular hikes. We’ve ridden our bikes more. So the process has begun.
Our better health could effect so much! With fitter bodies, we would be more resiliant to serve. We would not tire so easily. We would have more energy for projects and service. It would enhance our witness and not detract from it.
I find, thankfully, that God brings my focus to one thing for change at a time. I’m so grateful for that b/c if He changed everything at once it would be so painful! So this is where he has me today. I need to put less in my mouth, and what goes in there needs to be quality. And I need to move my body more.
In some ways this was a painful question when my human critical mind thinks of all the areas in my life that need change. BUT knowing God’s heart for me and what the next “thing” is, is so freeing!
Lori Lynn Lydell
I think more than anything I could use a schedule or at least a routine for doing just about everything. A routine would enable a daily stability for my kiddos (especially during the homeschooling year) and I’m sure my hubby would appreciate a lack of chaos. *wink
I really identify with Wendy’s thoughts. I have only been hs-ing for 2 yrs now and sometimes feel out of my element. Especially with all the things I want my kids to learn, what I think they need to learn and the subjects they’d like to learn about. I wonder if better planning would help in this area as well?
It is so hard to pick just one thing. But this past week has changed a lot in our house, so I will go with it… I had to put my kids back into public school last week. We were not getting along, and I couldn’t get them to do any work for quite some time. So, I guess my one thing, would’ve been and should be to change my life and how I live it. Like not being depressed over issues concerning inlaws even though they do affect our every day living. Not to take it personaly when someone at church doesn’t like me or think I can’t do something, when they won’t ask me first. I need to be myself, but better…… if that makes any sense. Getting up early isn’t a problem right now, I have to get up and have the kids up by 4:30 am to catch their bus for school, and my quiet time is after the last one gets on the but at 7:45 am. God Bless to everyone! and have a great year!
Shannon Morris
The one thing that I could do that would change everything is to not take myself so seriously. This would have a big impact in every area of my life. I spend so much time and energy worrying about everything. As I write this I see that this is perfectionism. I just need to relax, cast my cares on God, and let myself enjoy life more.
There are still times that I forget that there isn’t someone coming up behind me to beat me verbally and/or physically if things aren’t done to just their perfect standards or just the perfect (in their opinion) way.
It is ok to have fun, it is ok to make messes, it is ok to enjoy life.
Having goals is a good thing, but it is ok if I miss a day or if I don’t save every penny possible. I have a problem with being too scrupulous. I am going to relax, have more fun, and let people love me who are trying so hard to do so.
I think we will make peanut butter play-dough this afternoon, and I will play too.
Annie
The “one thing” for me that would change everything……honestly, nothing. My life is FAR from perfect, but I don’t believe in any magical answers. This is my struggle. I am to grow and learn from it – when I get one element figured out, there is simply another “if only…” on the horizon. Life isn’t about waiting for all of the pieces to fit into place to bring a perfect life, but growing each day to become a better person. Live life fully with no regrets to be happy in the here and now – not living a life of envy or want.
Annie,
I know exactly what you mean ….. that voice or fear can just sneak up and you can’t even identify sometimes what is driving you to push so hard.
I am in prayerful agreement with you to relax and enjoy. And yes, play.
Bobbi
Trying to keep a better grasp of things would be the thing for me! I tend to either get wound up too tight or come undone at the seems, so to speak. Got to find that “happy medium” as nothing is worth getting so worked up over as if to say you are running out of time and it has to get done by such and such or so and so. Getting better but still need a lot of work in just letting things take their course and dealing with the things of today instead of getting so worked up about the things of tomorrow or next week.
A million things fly through my mind to answer this question. You see it is easy to see the things that I could “do” differently…..get up early, be more organized, say no to phone calls, and the list goes on. I guess those things will always be there to change or do differently. But I want to trust the Lord more so I am free to love more and see the good, positve and encouraging things in my family. It is hard to tell someone how to trust more because it is a personal journey for each of us. I have spent many years controlling everything/everyone around me so i would “feel” safe. I just know I want to trust the Lord more and He will pour out His grace for me (and you) to do that. I wish it meant overnight change but it doesn’t and I fall again every day, but He has plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans for a future and He can do abundantly more than I could ever ask or think. So this morning I pray that the Lord would pour out His grace onto me and you today for complete trust and surrender. That He would give me/us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who He is and the depth, height, width and length of His love for me….just me and just you to! In that complete trust and surrender I can love my family as He loves me and that is what I believe can change everything for me. Thanks for being there ladies. This computer “blogging” is all new to me. God Bless you all.
because Jesus lives-
Julie Peterson
Give up my TOTAL CONTROL ISSUES. I am a control fanatic. I must be in control or have control of everything and basically because of this I have painted myself into a corner of non breaks or rest. I know in my heart and head that the man should be the leader of the family and such but yet I just can’t let go of the control as my husband is a very passive person. I take care of the kids/grandkids, house,yard,cooking,cleaning,bills,banking, shopping,decisions, discipline,pets,handling repairs, errands, homeschool,teaching, etc. basically all except going out to work and bringing the pay home.I have tried to give up some responsibility to my husband and it doesn’t last because of my perfectionism. If its not exactly the way I do it then I take it back. I therefore never get a break from it because I put myself into the position that I actually hate. I try very hard to handoff things but I think since everyone knows I will take it back on again that they tend to avoid it now. I know that this does come from being a single mom for so long and on my own and I accept this,but my life would be so much richer if I could share some responsibility with the rest of the family and have a break and ENJOY some of our time together.I have been working on this for the duration of our marriage the past 6 years but it is definitely a monkey on my back I would love to throw off. This tends to make you miss out on a lot with family,friends,fellowship,etc. because I am always busy doing whatever needs to be done. Feel free to throw some prayer my way to weaken the bondage of control issues in my heart., but this is the one thing I could do that would literally change my whole family. I would be able to have fun,relax, be less stressed, or pass less onto the family.I would’ve loved to be able to start out with the correct order of how it should be with the family structure in Gods eyes. The man the head of the family and wife submissive and children following leadership of father and mother. I do pray daily on this and try to lay it at the alter but don’t you know I end up dragging it back again. This would truly change our family I do believe.
I was tempted to read what everyone else already commented on, but I listened to you Cindy. As I prayed and contemplated on what my one answer would be, I started typing by priorities, so here goes………..
For the Lord
*More of Him, less of me — Seek him First in ALL things
*Consistent quiet time with Him
*To KNOW and grow in Him each day and the power of His might; to keep my mind focused on Him and His promises; I want to confidently say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
For my Hubby
* Truly submit, respect, honor, reverence and ENJOY him
* Romance him
For my Children
* Disciple (not just educate) my children and ENJOY them
* To get to know each child individually and spend quality time with each child
For Myself
*Exercise & eat healthier
*Less time on computer
*Learn something for me: sewing, play guitar (for worship), some HTML, gardening
*ENJOY my journey in life with the Lord and family
I think I’ve summed it up. Sorry, but I didn’t have just one answer.
Love ya!!
Sharon Nelson
I have been reading all these posts and I thought, what about the one thing we are already doing right, that we wouldn’t change? So, I am thinking about it and I think first and foremost was making the decision to accept Christ and lead my liitle ones to him. But in my daily life it would be homeschooling! I feel that this is one of the best decisions I have ever made and I have never regreted it and that is really hard to say, that you NEVER regreted something. I just wanted to encourage everyone, that even though we do have things we need to change, Know that you are doing a good job and that are doing plenty of things right already. Rodna
Sherri Atwell
I have testimony of two people in my life that have been healed of fibermayalgia. They had been told that the root of this illness is unforgiveness. They sought the Lord and He revealed things to them. Please take this to the Lord in prayer for your life because everyone is different. I just could not go without mentioning it. I will be be praying for you that if the Lord reveals some unforgiveness to you that He would pour out His grace on you to walk through it.
God’s abundant blessings to flow to you today-
Julie Peterson
Wow Cindy, this is a toughie! I think it is as tough to admit as it is to do. But, I’ll take a deep breath and answer anyway.
The first thing that I could do that could change everything would be to spend MORE time with God, communicating with Him and studying His Word.
Another thing would be to spend more time paying attention to my children. I am actually working on this one. Unfortunately, when my children were younger, I sent them to “go play” a lot, instead of spending time playing WITH them.
Another thing that would change everything would be if I’d spend less time on the computer. A lot of the time I’m on it is spent in “researching” or finding more things for homeschooling but I have used very few things I have “found”. The computer is one of my “homeschool support groups”, so it has been valuable, but just would have been better if I would have spent less time, getting sidetracked, online.
The one thing I need to work on that I know would change things…would be to not be so controlling. I have been working on letting go, but it is soooo hard. I want to control actions and words for others and I get so frustrated with trying to do that. I am learning to be more relaxed and turn this over to Christ. In order for me to change everything about this, I need to truly turn this over and I believe it would change (almost) everything for me.
OH Samantha!!! The first thing I thought of as I was reading your message (copied and pasted below) was something that my mother told me about herself, years ago. She said that there was a time when all she wanted to do was sleep. She eventually realized it was an escape mechanism and that the real problem was that she was depressed.
Now the way my mother generally handles this feeling is to go and spend time on the piano worshiping God! I don’t have a piano, but I put on some cd that really ministers to me and worship. It is amazing how it lifts the spirit.
The second thought I had was to recommend that you take Emer-gen C. When I am feeling a bit draggy, I take one and it really helps. This has B vitamins in it also, to give energy and C to boost your immune system. My Wal-Mart carries it; I’ve also seen it at Target and available online, for even cheaper from Swanson
( http://www.swansonvitamins.com ).
I hope this information can be of help to you, dear sister in Christ!
God bless,
Michele ºÜº
Quoted text:
I think my one thing would be to rid my body of what is causing me to constantly be exhausted. If I just had energy, then I could take care of my house, take care of my family, and take care of myself. As I am tired all the time, I only want to sleep and have no desire to do anything, and that includes worshiping God. I am spending more time looking into this and prayerfully will find a cure. Something has got to change before everything falls apart for me and my family.
I guess getting myself healthy would be my one thing that would change everything. Samantha
I think the one thing that I could change about myself that would make the greatest difference would be to always talk in a loving and kind manner. I have always wanted to be a calm, soft spoken woman. Unfortunately, I am by nature a strong willed, dominate woman. I have learned how to humble myself and be a submissive, respectful wife (almost all the time), but I feel that this character flaw really hurts me with my children. If I could just be calm and kind (even when they are driving me crazy) I think it would help our family dynamic and be a better example. Four of our five children are also strong willed, dominate personalities (the fifth one is just independent) and that makes for some interesting clashes at times. I don’t mean that I go around yelling my head off. I just don’t always say things in the kindest most calm way. I am missing out on being a great example for them on how to handle their struggles in this area, but I struggle and pray about this every day and still seem to fail. I know the Lord is patient and forgiving, but I only have a few years with these precious souls in my home and I want those years to be wonderful for them and for me.
Thanks for helping me examine myself!
Kelley
You shared in one of your seminars a simple idea that I wish I’d been doing the whole time. It has just been amazing how much this one thing has helped me out. You talked about making a to-do list each night for the next day. What a super easy way to accomplish more every single day! That would have changed so much if I’d been doing that all through the years.
Love, Dawn Hall
I think the one thing that could change everything for me — and I’ve watched it do exactly that in the past — is a consistent, meaningful quiet time. Whenever I see that my stress level is rising, my patience is stretched thin, or old, bad habits are creeping back up on me, I can almost always trace it back to letting my quiet time slide. Then it becomes a downward spiral of discouragement, which leads to not taking care of myself or my family, fatigue and depression, misplaced priorities and then who has time for a quiet time?? I’m really struggling with this right now and I KNOW what I need to do, it’s time to just DO IT!!
I think the second most important thing at least right now, for me in this particular season of life, would be to limit my computer time. It’s so easy to get lost in even GOOD things on the computer and miss the best that God has for me and my family.
CONTENTMENT! That one thing would change so much in my life right now.
For me it comes to a BIG GOD ISSUE, that being resting in Him and being content, means that I totally trust Him in my life and in the lives of my children.
I am STRUGGLING with this one right now.
It seems so simple, but it is a stronghold that I am fighting with God’s Word and prayer.
If I were in constant relational contentment the following would be a result:
* more contentment for my children (they see me struggling right now)
* not struggling with financial issues
* accepting things as they are right now in my home and marriage
* trusting God in all things
* a huge growth spurt in my relationship with God
* more time at home
* being able to make good decisions, not being so wishy-washy
* not having a busy, hurried life
* sleeping much more easily
* having more flexible routines instead of constant chaos
* loving those around me, just as they are
* reduction and fatigue
* priorities that are straight from Heaven
* resting in God’s plan (even though it may not be my plan)
* turning control over to my Heavenly Father
This is so HUGE for me! I am praying for contentment this year, this month, this week, this day, and this hour. I so desire to be content with contentment!
Hi! My name is Kimberly Mauldin. The one thing I feel that I could do that would change everything is to continue working on my high expectations for what I think my son should be learning and what my husband and son should be doing and when. When I let the day progress, according to the scheduled routines we are used to, and let them alone to get what they know and needs to be done, things run very smooth. When I jump in with my “two cents worth” that is when there is havoc wreaked of some sort! The schedule(s) are posted and known at the beginning of the week, they keep up with them, but I insist on keeping on them and need to STOP! Oh, tomorrow is another day to try again…I am also trying to maintain time for myself each and every day to read and study my Bible and have time for me…THANK YOU so much, Cindy, for the Bible study “Ministering to the Heart of the Child” and, Elizabeth, for the “Heart” series – these are really wonderful and helpful!
For *me* it would change a lot of things if I could remember to make my loved ones day often. To do the one thing that would make my husbands day, EVERY day. To do the one thing that would make my oldest son’s (8.5) day (Get our instruments, banjo and fiddle, out and just play). To do the one thing that would make my youngest son’s (6.5) day (play cards or a boardgame with him). To do the one thing that would make my daughters (1.5) day (play with her outside all afternoon). To do the one thing that would make my grown daughters (23) day (call her just to chat and tell her that something she did was meaningful to me) Now I feel really guilty because I let another day slip by. Guess that’s better now than 20 years from now…..
The age old procrastination problem. This is something I work on every moment of every day and by doing so seems to put me further behind (LOL). If I would stop trying to stick to a strict schedule and use blocks of time I am sure things would go much more smoothly. It seems that if I miss a deadline I’m done and whatever it is gets put off a day or more. If I set a block of time aside I get much more accomplished, maybe not finished but quite a lot done. So what if I have two pots to wash before I cook dinner if all the other dishes are clean in the dishwasher? What does it matter that we didn’t finish one booklet out of eighteen for this weeks lapbook?
I guess the real answer to your Question Cindy is just get started and do some.
HMMM? Well I tend to stress out when the house is a mess, it overwhelms me. So if my house could constantly be clutter free, mess free that would help so much.
If My children would clean up after themselves properly
I quit answering the phone during the day and that did change alot!
Take a quiet time for myself
Build a shed so I have more room to store things. ( we have no garage and so bedroom closets are stuffed to gills, with over flow pantry, xmas decor….)
MIchelle Stahnke
I think I posted to the wrong homework. I will try again.
This is One Thing that I could do better. I could be more consistent, especially with scheduling and be less stressed and more relaxed with my family.
Rosanne Muncy here,
If there was ONE thing I could do it would be enjoy my family NOW instead of getting caught up with all business of the day. When my little ones say “Mom, Mom, Mom”, I need to stop what I’m doing (no matter how important), SMILE :), and enjoy!!! With 9 kids sometimes I get in a hurry and miss the special moments.
Ok as badly as I wanted to I didn’t allow myself to read all 106 replies here though I’m sure I would have agreed with many of them. I know for myself the one thing I need to change which I’m in the process of doing before I cam here is STICKING TO MY ROUTINES! I must do this in order to begin this new journey. I have great ones written down but I need them to be a consistent part of my life. ~ Alyssa Avant (new to Mommy Homework)
You know, I have been thinking on this question for sometime. What can I do? because I seem to always look to other things to change my life. It is always, if we had a bigger house, if my husband made more money, if my kids would just get it…. and the list goes on. I am a fairly organized productive person. I am a SAHM that homeschools and works for her husband from home. I know this all sounds good, but I feel at times that I am on one of those hamster wheels and if I step off….who knows. So I have been praying about this very thing… what can “I” change that really would change everything. I would have to say the “one” thing that covers it all is – Dying to Self, daily. That act alone covers it all. With the daily dying to self I can get up earlier, stick to my routines, have a more purposeful homeschool, spend less time on the computer, fix dinners, dig into my Bible study and the list could go on. So that would be it – Dying to self daily.
Several things spring to mind of something that I could do to change everything. The four that I am working diligently on are reconnecting with God on a daily basis through His Word and prayer. My husband and I are trying to keep each other accountable by sharing about our reading each evening, but have gotten lazy this month. Need to get back on track. I am also praying more and becoming more intentional when it comes to the intimate side of our marriage. That simple change has made a huge difference in our lives, and I am so thankful that that priority was pointed out to me by a mature Christian woman in my life.
The second area I am working on changing is our finances, specifically starting a new business venture with my husband that can help improve our finances so we can have more cash flow. It is sure hard to follow Dave Ramsey’s program with all our expenses slashed and still not enough to buy the essentials like clothes. I am working hard to turn that around with a trip to Rhea Perry’s seminar in Aug, working through the Rushton family business series, and completing an Adwords course.
The third thing I am working on is including my kids in our homeschool planning and organization, especially my daughter. I need to just get out of her way and let her organize her lapbooking and notebooking topics. When I do, life moves along a little smoother.
Lastly, but certainly no less important, I plan to schedule mini one night get-a-ways for myself each quarter to rest and reenergize. Maybe one time with a friend, one time along, one time with my mom, another time along, and then wrap up the year by going on our homeschool group’s end-of-the-year retreat. I became so burned out last year, and this is one way I plan on avoiding that.
Whew, what a list. EVERYTHING is coming along nicely, and I as for your prayers that the Lord will continue to help us and bless all of our efforts.
ME!
I would be
speak gently
calmly handle discipline issues
more organized,
get up early
and be able to savor my relationship w/ the Lord
, not react, but act
Monique