Hello again! I have really missed our times together. This summer was a wonderful break but also very busy: family visiting, lots of travel, moving my mother-in-law to her new home, and just trying to “keep it going” and be productive.

Hard isn’t it?!

I have stacks of notes and ideas I want to write about but ‘life’ keeps getting in the way: the window replacement man will be here any minute to replace a broken window; I still need to go the grocery store so I can cook dinner tonight; I need to meet with the landscape man; I have jury duty tomorrow; Bible study tonight; emails to read and send; walk the new puppy; laundry; phone calls for more repair people to come, etc.!

But that list is normal for every one of us. So how do we balance it all?

Although I write on becoming more organized, it’s hard for me too at times. So here are a few tips that help me and I sure hope will help you too:

Action Plan

1. Keep your life centered on the most important aspects: Your Lord, your family, your health, your work and your friends.

2. Literally take deep breaths when you get stressed. Stop, breathe, go outside if you can, pray and try to make lists of what you need to do and when.

3. Do all you can to schedule in some:

a. Me time – time where you can just stop doing. For me, I pick up the book I’m reading or I go for a walk or I even play a game on my cell phone. Phone calls to a friend or family member also helps.
b. Exercise time – it might be just getting up from your desk and walking through the office or through your house. Of course, if you can, do some forms of exercise as often throughout the week as you can.
c. Jesus time – even if it’s a 30 second prayer, pray! He wants us to go to Him every second of every day for strength, encouragement and peace. And get in His Word daily.

4. Remember to eat healthy. If I don’t eat well, I really get lethargic.

5. Carve your day into sections so you can get accomplished what you need to: perhaps the morning is laundry time and walk the baby time; early afternoon might be nap time for those with young children or focus on emails for those who work. Late afternoon is planning dinner; going through backpacks with your children; scheduling activities for them. After dinner might be the time to help with homework; or a walk; or phone calls or more laundry. Bedtime is a great time for reading. If I don’t schedule or block off chucks of time, I won’t get anything accomplished.

I know lists make everything seem “easy” but I do know for sure that many of you reading this are struggling with life and all you have to do.

May I pray for you? And could you ask God what you need to take off your list?

Take each day as it comes, one step at a time and remember to smell the roses!

Manna from Heaven

“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing?…And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span?

…O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then …for your Father knows that you need all these things, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Mathew 6:25-34