Hobbies: Where've You Been All My Life?

Oh friends, it's been so long! Last time I checked in with you my littlest was just a wee thing...not even walking yet. I had brief moments of time I could explore hobbies. My craft room was a welcome reprieve -- this boymom needed a shred of garden whimsy - pink - personality in her life. So husband was gracious enough to add a room to some storage space and voila MommySpace! My writing was a cherished outlet. My garden was dirt therapy.

Then my wee one grew and crawled and walked. Then he was running. We had three in grade school the next year and socio-emotional and educational challenges to tackle. Life has been wonder-full and crazy busy!

I would NOT trade it for the world!

It's a season of life where pouring ourselves out for others is the calling we have before us. Yet, we must be mindful to keep our own buckets full. In the crazy-busy of motherhood trenches, it is in bits and pieces that we do this: a class while kids are in discipleship clubs, the occasional trip shopping alone, a moms group where childcare is covered, a desperate stop for coffee along the way, a ThriftShopHop with friends, planting a few flowers instead of entire beds.

The key I've found (though not entirely mastered) is to find contentment in whatever we can do right now. Find little ways to squeeze your favorite things into daily life. Find ways to do them with the family since rightfully get the majority of your energy/time. Don't waste energy longing for the next season; it will bring it's own brand of crazy. Embrace where you are now.

My daily Bible reading/study time has narrowed over the years, and gotten more creative. I love devotional books/apps (reliable sources) because they can give me a focus in this scattered season. Listening to sermons while working at home is fantastic. I try to do a weekly character study with the kids based on examples in Scripture. We enjoy family devotions at dinner whenever we can do so (not daily, because life does happen ... often). I love refreshing myself in whatever I'm teaching/guiding this week for kid's classes at church. I write Scripture on my windshield in dry erase marker, on sticky notes all over the house, in my planner, etc.

I craft when called upon...
     "Mom, can you fix this?"
     "Mom, I need a Ben Franklin costume."
     "Mom, I'm going to make this, can you help me?"
        (read...it will be less mess with your help, Mom).
     "Mommy, color with me."
     MOPS...bless MOPS activity time!

I love to bake, but again it's often only when called upon because other things demand my attention. Snacks for school, church, MOPS, or celebrations.

My garden is a big part of family life and how we make ends meet. However, there are times it is not as well-tended as I would like. Some projects got put on hold in lieu of just keeping up with my traveling circus. We engage the kids in helping more each year, but then I have to let go of perfect more, too.

Music is practiced by singing to my kiddos, or helping them learn piano. I may walk by and pluck out one page while waiting for dinner to cook, but an hour of practice is not practical right now. My strings stay in the case because l can't walk away and trust they will still be unbroken when I come back.

I've stepped back from some community/service opportunities to be more involved at school. The way I see it,  since we chose not to homeschool (each family has to weigh and pray this, friends; no judgement), but I'm still a stay home mom... I see value in making sure I spend my volunteer time where my kids are at, still investing in them in some way. I know the school, staff, environment, parents, kids. I still have heart for those other things I did, but my kids won't be young forever. This is where I'm at right now.

This is the same reason I'm doing a Saturday morning character study [see Rachael Carman's series at http://rachaelcarman.com/character-qualities/ ] -- This time is more fleeting than we think. I've been convicted to intentionally invest in their world now, with the hope they will still see me as a big part of it as teens (not for me, but for them).

Still, I have found myself truly missing my writing time. At one point it had been as scheduled thing for Friday (bless my soul, I was so cute *naive*). Lately it's been on an as-needed basis. Share at a church luncheon, teach a MOPS lesson, write for the newsletter... and moving on!

So that brings me up to current day -- I miss the hobbies I used to love. The toddler is almost in preschool, the big ones are in grade school (oldest hits middle school soon, heaven preserve us). I'm seeing little slivers of time open up as our season changes. I may eventually go back to work (after little one is through kindergarten), but for now I can make the most of this.

Sometimes we have to start small. Pick one thing to change, maybe two. My plan is to keep up on the gardens better now that the little one is potty trained and more independent. My other plan is to write more. Ideally, it would be a day away from home, but if it's an hour while kids are in the sandbox and playing outside, that's good too!

I hope you enjoy this journey with me. I know I'm not perfect, but learning as we go can be a source of joy. It's an opportunity to see how God orchestrates all of it to teach us and mold us!

Please say you'll join me!

So what's that one thing (or more) for you?
     What hobby can you bring out of the dust and into the light?

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Tomatoes: Salsa, the Gardner's Staple

Why salsa?

So, do you remember when I said I didn't set out to be a gardener...or homesteader...or whatever it is that I am? Yes, friends, it's true. I am no expert but rather a humble newbie learning more day by day. It's been a decade now, and I feel like I'm at a point where I can help and encourage friends (as we all should in some way or another).

Still, it all started with salsa. Let me explain. When we got married on a gorgeous June day, I hitched my wagon to a man raised with gardening. When I moved into his bachelor pad, I adopted a lovely garden of 20'x20'. Tomatoes, peppers, onions...and sweet corn.  You know that whole bit about "where you go, I will go; your people will be my people," etcetera? Ruth was wise (yes she was talking to her mother-in-law, but it is applicable to spouses, too). Still, she was glazing over one other unspoken piece of cleaving to your new family: "Your garden will be my garden."

He had a garden for two reasons: sweet corn and salsa.  He canned it himself, too. Kudos to his mama, because I love that my man is not afraid of the kitchen.

For that first summer, I watched and I learned. I helped when asked. The second year I was part of the planting process and learned even more. Mother-in-law taught me to can. By year three I had ideas and adventure: motivation! I had garnered lots of skills from him and my in-laws...and added them to the green thumb I inherited from my Babi. Voila...I became a dirt therapy loving, garden growing, bean snapping, canning and freezing junkie.

I started planning and researching the best way to use space. I started listing my goals and crossing them off. The garden got bigger each year. Fast forward ten years -- we have 40'x40' garden, outlying berries, a pumpkin patch, salad and herb kitchen garden (8'x7') and edibles on the patio. Oh, and the chickens. All because of salsa.

I love sharing recipes. Not because they are perfect...because I'm not...but because they are a great place to start the adventure! Here is what I have come up with, based on guidelines in the Ball Blue Book.

Mild Garden Salsa

16 c tomatoes (aprx 10-15#),
     blanch off skins, seed them so it's mostly fleshy fruit.
3# sweet/mild peppers
  Ex: 3 large green bell peppers, handful of banana peppers.
1/4# hot peppers (jalapenos...cayennes would work but increase the heat)
1.5# yellow onions
1.5# red onions (use all red onions for more heat/flavor as well)
1/4c lime juice
1-2 bunches fresh cilantro, chopped (about 1/3c each I think)
3 tbsp minced garlic
1 c cider vinegar
Salt to taste

Chop all veggies as coarse or fine as you like. Bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes (do not over cook). Pour into clean hot canning jars, wipe rims, adjust two-piece caps, process in boiling water bath 15 minutes. Let stand for 24 hours before cleaning/moving.

Spunky flavors

Like I said, my husband is a salsa guy. Here are some great favor additions that the husband enjoys (singularly or in combination...but not necessarily all in one batch):
Crushed Pineapple
Corn
Hot sauce
Hot peppers (the more the better, according to him)
Extra lime and cilantro
Smoke flavor

Start with a good base recipe and then you can play with flavors each batch you do. The key is vinegar, salt and/or sugar. Those are your preserving agents. Second key is processing correctly....following the instructions carefully. Flavors can be adjusted, processing cannot.

Cooking with salsa

My mild salsa is one I like for eating plain, topping Mexican dishes, using as a salad dressing, or cooking. Here are some ideas for cooking shortcuts using salsa (canning is my fast food):
Salsa chicken pour a pint of salsa over 1-2 pounds of chicken, cook in crock pot 6 hours on low. Serve with rice or chips.
Easy gumbo simmer salsa and any choice of cooked meats (sausage, sliced brats, chicken, fajita meat, etc -- great way to repurpose leftover meats). Stir in cooked rice. Dash hot sauce to taste, for kick. Get creative by adding extra fresh vegetables.
Spanish rice cook rice, substituting 1 pint of salsa for 2 cups liquid and 1/2 packet taco seasoning. Top with shredded cheese (I like the Mexican blends) and serve.

What do you like to make with your salsa? There are so many possibilities!

There you have it. Salsa. 'Nuf said.

Loads of Laundry

Hey gang...so God has really been teaching me to love every bit of what I do...and when I don't love it, I can still be content in the work of my hands. My last two years have been at a breakneck mama pace for many reasons. Still, me not writing at all would have been torture. I am blessed to be part of a wonderful MOPS group that lets me write and speak now and then. When I couldn't get to my blog...I was able to get to MOPS. So here it is, another reshare, with a promise of MUCH more original stuff to come. 2 weeks until 3/4 are in school all day -- I will miss them, but it will be nice to have time for a slower pace and take my roller skates off!

Without further ado:

Throughout the seasons, one thing remains the same... loads and loads and loads of laundry. Those mountains can be daunting. So here are a few laundry survival tips. Quick organizing efforts may just make the laundry room feel less like the Temple of Doom and more like a cozy little workspace.

» Keep things sorted: Before you even start washing, sorting makes it wash-ready. A sorting center by the machine is great if you have room. You can buy sorting racks with two to four bins, with easy assembly. A more permanent solution is shelving and bins or baskets. A hanging bar with storage shelf (36"), a shelf, and four baskets (1.5 bushels) runs about $35-40, which is the same or less than a sturdy pre-made kit for four dividers. Have separate baskets for each load (work/greasy clothes, jeans, delicates, lights, darks, kid's, towels, etc).  

Using ready to assemble hamper/carts.
Note supplies on the top shelf

Upgraded to a more fixture-like system.

» Keep supplies and hampers handy: Have the room-specific loads stored in those rooms (bedrooms, towels, kitchen), when space allows. Use your vertical space above the machines to store soap, stain remover, softener. Baskets are great for catching small things you use occasionally. Keep a cup on top of the dryer for all the little things your littles have in pockets and laundry baskets (legos, Lincoln logs, quarters and rocks...yeah).

» One room at a time: When doing kid laundry, which goes to another room entirely, do one room at a time. For us this also works with upstairs towels and downstairs towels. Wash, dry, fold, hang, and away we go.

» Fold as it comes out: This means you don't allow yourself to toss it aside. Keep the dryer and washer clear as a folding station. Hanging is the same concept: hang it fresh and warm to prevent wrinkles. Laundry in baskets tends to sit...for days...and collect wrinkles...and really, who wants to iron everything? When all else fails, toss a wrinkled shirt in with the next load then hang immediately, still warm, when the load is dry. 

» Put it away right away: Piles on the furniture, folded laundry that gets knocked over and needs refolded, baskets that end up with dirty piled on top of clean, kids hollering for pants from the other end of the house. These are stressful things; skip them all together.

» Put things away where you use them: Store clean sheets under beds in plastic tubs (under-bed size) or in the respective room's closet or dresser. Towels in a cabinet or drawer in the bathroom or kitchen. Bibs in a bag on the high chair. Cleaning rags in the cabinet with cleaners. Shop rags in the shop. You get the idea.

» A load a day: This is a FlyLady.net thing...throw a load in every morning, change it over to the dryer in the afternoon. Fold it as it comes out. Now, you may have more than seven loads in a week; some days may need extra attention -- pick one where you are home all day and run big loads (like kids' laundry) it in between your other to-dos. 

» Stop stains: Pretreat bad ones, use a laundry booster on tough loads, and NEVER dry in the dryer until the stain is out. A daily load of wash helps in this, the older the stain, the more set it is. This will save money, too, by preventing replacement purchases.

» Save money: Making your own soap can save a bundle (pennies a load). Use reusable dryer balls instead of fabric softener (better for allergies anyway). If you go for store bought soap, get a combo with stain fighters so you aren't buying a separate product. Stock up when you see rock bottom prices. Air dry outside when weather allows...this is also somewhat therapeutic...and mindless. 

» Get kids involved: Empower them to help you keep up on it all. Even the littlest ones (walkers and older) can put the laundry in a hamper. Save your back and get them to help toss stuff in the dryer or hand it up to you from the basket if hanging them outside. Older ones can put their own stuff away.

» Spruce it up: There is nothing like a redo to get you recharged and remotivated. Paint the walls, add new storage, or thrift shop for a few decorative touches. $20 can go far in uplifting your spirit while doing tedious chores. On the free side, clean (FlyLady says once a month). Banish dust bunnies, fur balls, and cobwebs. Wipe down the surfaces. Run a ghost load now and then with bleach or another washer safe disinfectant. Brush the lint trap and tubing.

This is not an exhaustive list -- everyone has their own tips for laundry.

I loved this post on MOB Society -- one of my very favorite blogs. http://www.themobsociety.com/2014/09/22/laundry-boys-five-tips/
This one was shared by MoneySavingMom http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/59997/laundry-hacks-busy-moms

I will add more links as I find useful information ... because we're all in this together!

Laundry does not have to overwhelm you. But you can have fun with it. 

A friend pinned a cute quip: "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run!"

Always laugh often friends!

As read in the MOPS newsletter, March 2014. [Mama pulling double duty].

    

When the Kids are Home from School

In honor of today...
~the fourteenth-hundred bajillionth call out from school
~following our first MOPS meeting in 6 weeks thanks to all these snow days
~saying, "This is Iowa...we get snow...put on your big girl Carharts and deal with it"
~a day wih a good covering, but flurries for Pete's sake
~when I figure it must be blowing...somewhere... on the edge of town

Sharing something I wrote for our MOPS newsletter, enjoy.


Ah, life with kids...when they are young it's songs and games, naptime and lots of feedings. Yet, the question remains, "What about the older ones?" Getting organized can help prepare for those lovely breaks flanked by snow and cold days. And when I say prepare, I mean as in for battle. It is a war zone in my house when kids are cooped up and bored. As I write this, (January 2014) my kids have had one whole day of school in the last three weeks. Yeah...I love  'em but this mama is starting to run out of creative ideas. Still, there are many things that can keep the troops occupied and non-combative (for the most part). Variety and structure are the keys.

• Limit screen time: yeah we all know the pediatrician recommendations, but sticking to them can be tough. I want to encourage you, because when we leave it on all day, they get worse all day. Have a set time to turn it off, make the kids aware of it, and be firm. For us it is off at 10 am for the morning and in the afternoon on at 3/4 and off at supper. No screen time before bed has been proven to allow the brain a more restful sleep. (You too mom, if you can! Keep it to a minimum and turn the brightness down on tablets...better yet read paper books right before bed.)
• Do something educational: read, have some workbooks on hand, impromptu writing workshop, get ahead on the week's homework. Keep those gears turning or it will be a sluggish experience when they do go back.
• Get creative: try to have a few kid friendly crafts on hand for planned breaks. (I also do this when I know Dad is going to retreat.) Watercolor paint is fun and easily cleaned; they love giant coloring pages for this. Keep loose and extra craft supplies (paper, scissors, glue, stickers, glitter, sequins, stamps -- the sky's the limit) in a handy tub and just turn them loose on it. Be sure to have it in a contained space ... all over the house will drive you crazy. Craft time should easily fill an hour or so.
• Playdoh: add trucks, rollers, cookie cutters, etc. Older ones can practice etching/sculpting letters, too. It is great for building hand strength, fine motor skills, and creativity. Colorful. Classic. 'Nuf said.
• Teamwork chores: life at home doesn't stop just because kids are home. Get them to help you. Keep a list of kid chores handy and track who does what. Rewards help ... so can choice and competition. We read off the list and they call chores, first come first served. When the whole house needs an overhaul, keep them moving. Each person does one chore per room and then we move on. It leaves the house better than it was; not spotless, but definitely better...and they are excited about the accomplishment!
• Play together: building toys are a must for boys. Trains take over the living room, logs in the den, Legos in the boys' bedroom. For girls I would say pretend play, dolls/Barbies...but I am not an expert in that field. Games and cards are always a classic standby. We can Phase 10 our way through the week one hand at a time.
• Bake: who doesn't love cookies and cocoa on a snow day? Baking teaches math and measurement, even chemistry if you really want to get ambitious!
• Get out: outside play is fun and healthy. I recommend getting everyone outside at the same time so the back door does not become a revolving door. Of course, this is limited to when the weather allows. We bundle through most weather, but the arctic cold means short or no outside time.
• Quiet time: in the middle of the day, quiet alone time can counteract the overstimulated syndrome siblings can get around each other. This is good for mom, too. My Gavin calls this his "alonely time." Quiet activities in separate rooms = refreshed family and maybe baby can even get a nap in!
• Change the scenery: Go shopping, visit a friend, head to the park, run to the library. Break up the day a little, if you can. A word on shopping: stick to the list and avoid grand ambitions. Get in, get out and no one gets hurt. 
• Stick close to the normal routine: bedtime, meals, getting dressed. You will thank yourself when they do finally go back to school.

Last, a word to the homeschooling mamas: you could write this book, I'm sure and God bless you for your heart for that. I am seriously considering it for a variety of reasons...though weeks like this make me question the longevity of my sanity. Right now, though, long periods at home are culture shock, so thanks for bearing with our problem solving approach.

Keep them busy, Mama, and keep your sanity!

~As read in Jan 2014 MOPS Newsletter [Mama Pulling Double Duty]

Travel Ready

So last time we talked about the entryway/launch point of your home. If it's in order, that makes coming and going easier – routine being the key. This month we're tackling when we are gone from home. 'Tis the season, after all!

I don't know about you all, but there are days I feel like I live in the Mommy-van. So I'm going to share with you my secret to this stage of life...packing for being on the go! I just assume I may not be back for 24 hours. That never happens... but I'm ready for it.

Diaper bag: A diaper bag that is fully stocked and always in the van saves frustration when out with baby. Just grab the dirty stuff and take it in at the end of the day. Likewise, throw the restock items in your purse/tote on the way out the door. This gives you one less bag to carry coming and going.

Busy bags: Older kids have a busy bag for travel time. Crayons, activity books, books, flashcards, small travel games, cars. Go with what they like and you can buy yourself a few hours of peace! Stow under their seats or hanging on the side of the seat.

Trunk organizer: A trunk box keeps everything from rolling around. It can include car things like jumper cables, air compressor, folding shovel, flashlight, lantern/hazard flasher, and emergency radio. It also holds family needs like spare clothes, diapers, outdoor must-haves, and first aid kit (more on this another time). This is a great place for reusable grocery bags and baby carriers, too.

Summer/Winter: Each season has it's own needs. Stock the trunk appropriately. Summer: swim gear, caps, bug spray, sunscreen, water bottles. Winter: blankets, spare hats and gloves for everyone, sand, emergency food. When the seasons change...so do your carry-ons.

Garbage collection: My sister had a great idea – hang a grocery sack on the arm rests of the front seats. If I have a few minutes waiting in the vehicle, we will do a quick collection throughout the vehicle. Once a week, the whole bag gets tied up and tossed directly in the garbage cans outside. This sister was also smart in having a sweeping brush in the van for quickly ridding the van of all the tracked-in junk! Loved that idea!

Driver's needs: A bin or center console in the front seat can contain all the things you may be searching for. Paper, pen, calculator, stamps, lotion, snacks, cough drops, chargers, coupons, lint roller, hairbrush, sunglasses, etc. Again, keep those things from floating around and cluttering the vehicle... and being a distraction while driving.

Use bags: I can confess I am a bag lady...if you're not, disregard the following. If each activity has it's own bag, you are ready to roll without switching things around or carrying loose things. In the vehicle this means it is easy to take things back in the house when you get back without searching for lost items.

A little preparation goes a long way. Peace of mind comes when you know you are ready for whatever while you are away from home. My motto is “I can always get it from the car at home, but can't run in the house when away in the car.”

~As seen in Dec 2013 MOPS Newsletter [Mama pulling double duty]

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Are We Coming or Going?

Welcome to the “blur” stage of life. Oftentimes I don't know if I'm coming or going. I can tell you one thing... the entryway of our house can look like a hurricane was coming and going, rather than our kids! A few years ago it got to the point where this was really bothering me – like visual nails on the chalkboard! So ... I decided the entryway needed an overhaul!

Here's few tips I found for taming the entryway of your home:

• A place for everything. That's the key. For us this looks like crates for shoes, a closet rod for coats, a shelf & individual bins for little things (hats, gloves, Bible, books and busy bag), hooks for bags and backpack.
• Don't loose the vital stuff: Keys, wallet, purse. If they are put on hooks/shelves at the door... there is no ransacking the house to find them. Priceless sanity saver!
• Mudroom mentality: Mud happens. Wet happens. Make sure the kiddos know where those things go. For us this is “everything off on the rug, boots on the boot tray (contains wetness), wet stuff gets walked to the bathroom for parents to hang up. In extreme cases...kid goes in shower. Our setup works well with a straight – hard-floor – path to the bathroom.
• Hard floors: Carpet is your enemy in the entryway. It will get dirty, no doubts there. Save yourself the angst and make it an easy-clean surface. Rugs are a low-cost fix if you already have carpet there.
• Pets' place: This is a great place for pet things if you have room. A muddy dog can go straight to the kennel and not track through the house. Water dish sloshing can be wiped up along with the day's footprints.
• Everything gets put away When we come in, everyone is responsible for their own things. Coats and shoes, backpacks and lunches. Oh yeah...and all that PAPER that comes home with us. Coats get hung (step stool close by), hats/gloves/etc in the kid's bin, backpacks on hook, lunch and papers from school go to the kitchen counter for Mom. The goal is NOTHING ON THE FLOOR!
• Training is everything: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." This verse in Proverbs has deep spiritual meaning...but it is also very practical. If the kids are enabled and equipped to help you keep up on these things it will make life much easier for the whole family. Every now and then, mine need a refresher on this. Yes, I could just pick up after them... but that doesn't help them grow in responsibility. Call 'em back if they drop and dash; you'll thank yourself later for this little battle now.

Remember clutter equals stress. Get your launch point organized so you feel more prepared for your day and have fewer surprises when you are on your way out!

~As read in Nov 2013 MOPS Newsletter [Mama Pulling Double Duty]

Organizing Family ~ Saving Time and Money

My bio: mom to four rowdy boys, one huge dog, and six chickens. As a recovering perfectionist, I have a driven heart for practical organizing that make life with kids fun and manageable.

Okay, so beyond that little blurb -- why do I love being organized? Well, this stage of life can be -- let's face it -- a blur. I want to enjoy it, not be stressed over everything that needs done and what and where and on and on and on...

I have been a perfectionist for most of my life. As a teenager, this saw me with many physical symptoms of the stress I put myself under. I didn't know the Lord, didn't have peace in my heart. All I had was "I must do this -- if I don't, I'm a failure." I tied my significance to my success or failure at things. I was a top student, but no one knew how much each day took me deeper into depression. Now if that won't ruin the heart of a teenage girl!

As a mama -- it can ruin me just as readily. The difference is that now I am in a position of influence -- I am raising my kids (by the grace of God and with huge help from my husband, of course). Now, the enemy will use that tendency to want to be perfect to undermine my peace, faith, hope, love and joy. We all know that is his plan -- to steel from us our peace and destroy the heart of our family. If he does that, he eliminates the chance for our family to honor God!

When it comes to curbing those meltdowns of being an overwhelmed & underrested mama, three things make the difference: prayer, rest, and organization.

PRAYER: Friends, this is at the top of the list for a reason. Prayer is the single most powerful thing we can do...and yet it is often a last resort. Why? For me, I see my pride as the obstacle. It goes back to thinking I need to earn my significance on my own works. Wrong. I have a Father who loved me before I was even a life on this earth. I have a Savior who intercedes at the throne of Heaven for me. I have Spirit of hope that lives in me and guides me... if I can just be still long enough to listen. My Ladies Bible study group is starting a new term on this topic, so expect to hear more soon.

REST: Have you ever read Psalm 23? You know, the one about that good shepherd?What a beautiful metaphorical picture of Jesus! There is one verse I always breezed over until a friend shared it at work one day. "He makes me lie down in green pastures." I was not aware of this, but did you know that sheep are a little dense? They just keep meandering about until exhausted. They are spooked by rushing waters, but yet won't rest in even the most perfect place. The shepherd has to lead them there and make them rest.

Do you rest? I mean really take time to rest? Or are you waiting to be forced to rest? I admit I am a little like those dense sheep. It takes influenza to make me rest for a few days. It takes sick kids or a dead vehicle to keep me home. My body wants to rest, but my "I have to do it myself" voice says keep going.

I have started to rearrange things to bring rest into my life:

• I only leave the house on Sunday (church), Tuesday (MOPS), and Thursday (errands) whenever possible. The other days, excepting being the mommy-van school bus, are for catching up at home and having some down time. A mentor of mine once said, "Rest when they rest [or are at school]. The chores will be there when the kids are...time to rest won't. Time to rest is fleeting." 
• I also have quiet time in the morning before doing anything else. Just me and God's Word. It means not going back to bed right after feeding baby at 5...but hey, that lady in Proverbs 31 "rises while it is still night," right? Seems to be working for her.
• I have made going to church and a Bible study group a priority. This is rest for my spirit. I can go go go all day, but if I am not being refreshed in God...I will feel empty and overwhelmed.
• I am getting braver about accepting or asking for help with the kids. "Honey, I really need a haircut. Tonight's schedule is clear...I am going if you can watch the kids." I used to wait until desperation set in (6 months between cuts kind of desperation), then beg. Now I can remember taking care of me is important enough to ask for help.
• If it works with family and budget, take a little retreat. Our church offers some for individuals and families throughout the year. There are great local seminars and national conferences to do. I just try to remember garbage in, garbage out. Make it worth your time and uplifting to your heart. Trust me, the kids, spouse, and home will survive a few days without you. I have learned to not have grand expectations of them rushing me at the door with remorse for taking me for granted. Nor will the house be as neat as I left it. Those just set me up for disappointment. But I will be refreshed and actually have had the opportunity to miss them!
• Do something that makes you feel healthy. Even exercise can be rest when it gives you time alone and recharges your batteries. You better believe I am looking forward to getting back to my fitness club when this year's frenzy of multiple schools passes.
• Get organized and you get more time/money with which to rest.

ORGANIZATION:
So, there you have it. More time and money. Less stress. More rest and peace. Living the calling God has for you. That is why being organized is a blessing to you and your household. For a while...the next few blog posts (barring random acts of homestead inspiration) are going to dig into some specific strategies that make things a lot smoother for us. It is my hope they help you out too friends! I have shared many of these with my MOPS group, and now it's a joy to share them with you, as well.