Well, "Going to be" is the operative phrase. Life happened and through it I know God was whispering "No" to my grand idea.
First of all, a few weeks ago at my daughter's 9 year old checkup, while telling the pediatrician about some strange symptoms she was having, he interrupted me and said, "She needs to see a neurologist or get an MRI in two weeks or less. I am really concerned about this." We just saw the neurologist, an MRI is scheduled, along with more visits to this specialist soon. Those things alone are going to make this month pretty crazy.
Then, last week as I was trying to upload pics to my blog, I kept getting an error message saying that my blog was full...as in I had zero memory left in the web album to host anymore pictures. I was seriously like "What?!?!" I didn't even know that was possible! So, right now I am trying to find the best solution to the problem...basically if I want to post any pics to the blog, I have to delete other pics. (I've learned there's a few ways to get around this and am trying to find the best option.)
I think it was on Thursday that I finally sent a text to my hubby and asked...
"Should I go ahead with the 31 day series, or not? Please tell me what to do!"
It was a few minutes later when I got his reply.
"Well, it's your plate...only you can decide how much to put on it."
I promptly wrote back, "What plate...I feel like I have a serving platter that's already full!"
To which he replied, "Then it's probably not wise to add a bucket of chicken to it."
I love that man. He has a way with words.=)
In one weeks time, not counting homeschooling, keeping our home running halfway smooth and wrangling four young children, these are other "major" events that occurred....
-we had a large group over for Sunday dinner (which obviously requires a bunch of extra cooking)
-taught a teen girls class
-taught children's church
-hosted a Sunday School class party (more cooking!)
-prepared for the monthly ladies' meeting (yep, you guessed it...cooked for that one too!)
-neurology appointment
This month is not slowing down, and things just keep being added to what feels like an already "full serving platter." There were a few days last week where I just felt like I was a toddler about to have a meltdown...how in the world can I possibly accomplish everything that I NEED to do?!
So the answer to the 31 days became quite simple.
It was "No."
I know I could have "made" time, but not without giving up something more important, like Bible reading, prayer and even sleep. My decision would really not have just affected me. Why? Well, that full serving platter that I felt was my life would have really "overflowed", but not in a good way. Like when you step away from the microwave for just a minute and the oatmeal overflows. (Don't you just hate that?) It's not pretty. It's messy. And it just makes you so aggravated you get mad.
When I feel that "overflowing" feeling, I just can't keep it to myself. My platter gets bumped and what sloshes out on my husband and children is impatience, unkindness, selfishness...it's not good. Would it really be best to have 31 days of that? Um...NO.
Right now we are in a season of extreme busyness. Most of it can't be helped and I can't say "no" to. A friend and I were talking the other day and while it wasn't about this, she reminded me of one of my favorite verses.
I'm so thankful that no matter what is happening, whether my life is crazy-busy or not, God is my refuge. ...my safe place...where I can run when I'm overwhelmed and need help. When I'm exhausted and don't know how in the world the things on my "full serving platter" (a.k.a. this thing called life) will ever get accomplished, He gives me strength to carry on. What a mighty God we serve!
How about you, friend? Do you feel like I do sometimes....just one more thing and your platter will overflow? Has God ever just impressed on you that you just have to say "no", even to good things? I'd love to hear about it!
Thanks for sharing, Laine! This is often true in my own life! We r praying for Lydia!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I've had to say no to plenty of things lately, although I should probably do it even more. In fact, I've been debating giving up my daily blog reading for October because I knew so many of the blogs I read would be doing a 31 Days. As much as those series can be helpful and inspiring, I tend to get sucked in to spending way too much time at the computer. But obviously today I still decided to read, and your post is just another nudge that I really need to evaluate what's on my serving platter. Maybe I'll just pick a few blogs to keep up with for the month. And for you, maybe God is saying to just space out those photography posts in the coming months instead of cramming them in just one. I just got a new DSLR, so I will be eager to read your tips. ; )
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for your daughter. (hugs)
Hey, Laine! I have experienced that "blog full" phenomenon. Our first blog filled up, so I took about a week to get a second one set up just how I wanted it..... but then about 3-4 months later, the new blog was full! I wasn't a happy camper, to say the least. When I was "overflowing" to a friend one day, she told me that I needed to re-size my pics for the blog. She also mentioned using html coding, but the re-sizing factor was easier for me. If you email me, I can give you more info.
ReplyDeletePraying for your family and for Lydia!
Do you need me to watch the boys for L's appointment?
ReplyDeleteHey Laine,
ReplyDeleteI recently stumbled across your blog and have been so blessed! (your iced coffee recipe led me here!!) I am also a pastor's wife and we homeschooled for years (though not right now). Just wanted you to know we will be praying for your daughter. I am guessing this is the same daughter you posted about with the surgeries when she was a baby. Take heart--what a beautiful testimony she already has of the Lord's hand in her life. And may the Lord bless you with confidence in WHO He is. Blessings to your family! a sister in Christ, Liz in PA
Praying for all the extra things you have on your plate. Don't feel bad. Sometimes we HAVE to and NEED to say no. You can always post your great photography posts as a series some other time. And honestly it might work out better cause there are SO MANY 31 days series, no one has time to read them all :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder to just be ok with saying NO, when I need to. :)
The same exact thing happened to me with blog pictures...out of the blue, my blog is full! Ahhhh!! All I did was go into my Picasa account (which I didn't even realize I had, lol) and delete some pictures...just old profile pictures, blog headers, etc. that didn't need to be saved. That gave me some wiggle room. Then I heard that if your pictures are under a certain size, it doesn't count against your space in picasa. So ever since then I have been resizing my blog picts to 600x450. It is a good size for my blog, and so far I haven't had any more problems with space. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the life of a pastor's wife!! I completely understand- our entire summer from May through September was like this. All the normal stuff plus 4 funerals for church members, pastoral candidates, etc. etc. And it just keeps going...Sometimes I want to get off the merry-go-round for just a few minutes!!
ReplyDeleteThe busy-ness....is hence the reason my new blog is not up and running yet. I'm making small steps though....meanwhile constantly praying for wisdom to keep my priorities right.
You know how there is a pastor's crown? I think there is one for pastor's wives too! :)
My plate feels full quite frequently. One day I finally sat down to decide what my "just the basics" are. I listed everything I thought I had to do on a regular basis, and then crossed off everything that I could. Here's mine: Time with children. Laundry. Dishes. Meals. Set needed things by the door for tomorrow's appointments.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. On my crazy days I try to do (at least some of) each of these tasks. Most of my days seem crazy, so obviously my kitchen floor doesn't get swept too often; tho it needs it desperately. Saying YES to a calm, patient mom is the way to go! Good for you!
My plate feels full quite frequently. One day I finally sat down to decide what my "just the basics" are. I listed everything I thought I had to do on a regular basis, and then crossed off everything that I could. Here's mine: Time with children. Laundry. Dishes. Meals. Set needed things by the door for tomorrow's appointments.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. On my crazy days I try to do (at least some of) each of these tasks. Most of my days seem crazy, so obviously my kitchen floor doesn't get swept too often; tho it needs it desperately. Saying YES to a calm, patient mom is the way to go! Good for you!
My plate feels full quite frequently. One day I finally sat down to decide what my "just the basics" are. I listed everything I thought I had to do on a regular basis, and then crossed off everything that I could. Here's mine: Time with children. Laundry. Dishes. Meals. Set needed things by the door for tomorrow's appointments.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. On my crazy days I try to do (at least some of) each of these tasks. Most of my days seem crazy, so obviously my kitchen floor doesn't get swept too often; tho it needs it desperately. Saying YES to a calm, patient mom is the way to go! Good for you!
My plate feels full quite frequently. One day I finally sat down to decide what my "just the basics" are. I listed everything I thought I had to do on a regular basis, and then crossed off everything that I could. Here's mine: Time with children. Laundry. Dishes. Meals. Set needed things by the door for tomorrow's appointments.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. On my crazy days I try to do (at least some of) each of these tasks. Most of my days seem crazy, so obviously my kitchen floor doesn't get swept too often; tho it needs it desperately. Saying YES to a calm, patient mom is the way to go! Good for you!
Sorry!! I did not mean to post the comment so often!
ReplyDelete