I’m linking this up over at 152 Insights to My Soul.

From Kristin: #ThreeWordWednesday is simple, really. I know we’re all busy with life and kids and jobs and parents and friends and church and whatever else it is that occupies our time. Some weeks I’m not sure what my post will be about, but knowing people will show up here on Wednesdays is good motivation to write something. #ThreeWordWednesday is a chance to pause and hear God. Sum up what you’re hearing in three words. Those three words are enough. But stories are good too.

Finding my balance

I’m new at this blog thing… kind of. I had a family blog that I used for keeping relatives updated on the kiddos. I was really good at posting weekly updates of each of the kids during their first year… until the twins arrived.

Adjusting to life with two newborns, a kindergartner, and two others at home meant lots fell to the side. We still managed to take weekly pictures of the twins, but writing a post about their newest milestones and other things we were up to each week? Nope. Didn’t happen. But at least I have pictures. 

So when the idea to start a new blog, a real blog, about real things and not just baby updates came about I wondered if I’d be able to manage everything. I’ve now got two toddlers, a preschooler, a kindergartner, and a first grader. I’m very active in my local MOPS group. I’m part of a babywearing group. I stay at home but there are lots of things that need to happen at home to keep it running even semi-smoothly for seven people. I needed a plan.

I think if I had attempted to start this last year when the babies were very much still babies (since the idea popped up when they were about three months old) I would have drowned and the blog would have been dead before it even had a chance to live. One of the many reasons I put it off as long as I did!

Now that I (usually) get a decent night’s sleep I can wake up and have quiet time with God to start my day on the right foot. 

Now that they are older and can play more independently I have breathing room in my day to spend time writing and networking. 

Now that the little ones all nap at the same time I have a chance to workout and focus on healthy habits. 

Now that (almost all) the kids (usually) all go to bed willingly (again, usually, almost all… we’re working on it) Micah and I get to spend time watching movies, chatting, building LEGO, and focusing on each other when the house is quiet, rather than in spurts between the noise. 

Now that all the kids are older they understand that sometimes chores need to happen before the fun can happen.

Plus the chores don’t need to all fall on me! Most of the kids can help out with various chores to take the weight off my shoulders (can I get a hallelujah?) even if it takes a little longer and isn’t done exactly as I would have (they are learning). 

I still have many days (probably most) where I ignore a chore in order to write. Or I ignore writing to do a chore. Or I ignore all that other stuff to spend time with the kids (which is definitely the best option.. most of the time).

But I am finding a balance.

I’m carving out a daily routine that is very loose but helps me know what needs to get done and when. I’m also looking ahead to summer and what I need to do to keep things in check when all five kids are home all day. I’m searching Pinterest for better chore chart ideas (last year’s was a dud) and creating a Summer Bucket List of fun ideas to make memories together. I’m gathering kid writing prompts, science experiments, and kid cooking ideas to keep the learning going. I’m planning out my own writing so I’m not sitting at the laptop begging for words to come. 

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

cclesiastes 3:1-8

It’s not always easy to find a balance and it’s definitely not always easy to maintain the balance. Certain seasons require more hands on time than others. I know the balance I am finding right now won’t work forever, or possibly even in another few months. @@I need to be adaptable and willing to change as my family’s needs grow and change.@@

If I don’t find a balance that works in my current season I will constantly feel frazzled and pulled in too many directions. I need to say “no” when it needs to be said and make sure my “yes” is one that fits to help my balance, not throw it off. 

So I’m finding it. It may not be perfect, and probably never will be, but the balance is starting to appear. Just don’t look in my closets 😉

How are you finding ways to balance everything in your life?