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    Get Your Priorities Straight - 2014-08-06 11:36:56-04

NOTE: Yesterday, I accidentally published this post before having a chance to edit it. When I woke up this morning, I deleted that post and re-wrote one that shares what is on my heart. I hope it will encourage you to get you priorities straight as you start a new homeschool year.

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In case you haven’t noticed, it’s been almost 3-4 weeks since I’ve posted to my blog.

Oh no!

I needed a break. I spent 4 weeks in El Salvador (in May & June). While I worked down there, I also created Free Bible Lessons for Kids blog posts about our mission trip Bible School. Then, I was sick and left to speak at a homeschool conference mid-July

When I realized each blog posts usually take 4-5 hours to write & create, I decided to take a break.  I wanted to enjoy my home & my family & cooking/sewing/coffee/friends. I needed to get my priorities straight. So, I haven’t written in several weeks.

And it feels great!!!

I’ve enjoyed some visits with friends…over coffee. I made Ashley a baby quilt, with my brand new sewing machine. I forgot to take a photo, so I’ll post one in a couple weeks. I’ve worked on our business, just not writing blog posts.

Why do I share this?

I think it’s important to get your priorities straight .  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in tasks that aren’t really priorities in our lives.  Or, we worry about getting things just perfect in our life. Or, we compare ourselves to other homeschoolers or families in our church or moms online.

It’s so tempting to compare ourselves or get wrapped up in non-important activities.

As far as my blog goes (& my recent break from writing) . . .

It takes time to keep a blog going, posting useful information on a regular basis.  I thoroughly enjoy sharing information on my blog, but it can be very time consuming. I am tempted to compare myself to other bloggers and try to keep up with posting as much as they do. (You might be tempted to compare yourself to other moms or homeschoolers)

If you’re watching someone who has the perfect blog, the perfect homeschool, the perfect home … you’re following the wrong person. It’s not true!

You can’t do it all.

My kids are grown & on their own (so I have extra time)… AND I still have a hard time keeping up with my blogging, my  home, my marriage, my relationship with God.

Is it Hard Keeping Up with Everything in Your Life?

If you’re trying to do it all, something is going to fall by the way. If you look great online or at church or at the co-op, it would be interesting to see how it’s really going at behind closed doors. You simply can’t do it all, so you have to make choices.

What is most important in your life? That’s where you’ll spend most of your time.

Try a little exercise for a week & you’ll discover a lot about your real priorities.  Keep a journal of what you do every 30 minutes.  If you have a phone, set a timer for every 30 minutes.  On your phone or notebook, list what you are doing on the hour & half-hour.  At the end of the week, take a look at where you spend most of your time.  That’s where your true priorities are.

Is it . . . .

Homeschooling?
Cleaning your house?
Time on the computer?
Playing with your kids?
Enjoying your hubby?
Working?

When my kids were at home, my focus was my family. I spent all morning with my kids, helping them homeschool.  I did not look at my business (or my blog) until the afternoon when my kids were at sports practices. Generally, I had 2-3 hours in the afternoon to run my homeschool business and do the books for our family businesses (FamilyEbiz or Beck Construction). Then, it was time to start cooking for a family meal (another priority of mine).

During those junior & senior high years, I still worried that my kids would remember the BACK of my head looking at a computer.

What will your Kids Remember of You?

• Fun family times
• Working so hard you never have time for your kids
• Laughing at the dinner table
• Grouchiness because you are “working”
• Facebook time, but no time for your kids
• Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter time
• Hospitality at your home – Inviting other families over

I’m so glad I took a break.

I feel refreshed and plan to share some of our blog favorites over the next few days!

Although I haven’t blogged, I’ve spent the past few weeks planning our 5th annual Homeschool Super Heroes. I am so excited about the “real homeschoolers” we are interviewing. You can listen to the interviews for free the last 2 weeks of August. All you have to do is reserve your spot here:

Question: How do you get your priorities straight ? You can leave a comment by clicking here.