How does she do it?

There was a movie years back with that title, I think.

Basically wondering how a mom could balance all the different area of life and keep it looking pretty good.

Here's the answer: she's not doing it all.

It's just not possible to "have it all together".

Gah.

Why do I try?

Because I'm human.  And I'm ridiculous.  And I think I can.

My kids keep me in check most of the time.

Oh mom, you wanted to blow dry your hair in the morning?  And have that extra time to shave your legs in the shower?

Mom, you're crazy.  You are just hanging with us.  No need to dry your hair or shave your legs!  Plus, I need you to hurry up and get out of the shower and tell Daddy that I can have chocolate for breakfast.  Puh-lease!

Somedays I wonder why I even have a beautiful dry erase board to write down all my tasks for the day.  They just don't get done.

What do I do all day then?  Where does my time go?

(We won't go here because most parents know the answers to these questions.)

Instead of writing down what I need (or would like) to get done on the board for the day...I've found writing what I did get done to be much more effective.

Got out of bed.  Cross that off the list.

Fed the kids.  Cross that off the list.

Language class.  Cross that off the list.  (That one's easy because the teachers come to my home.)

You write stuff down too on your list that you've already done just so that you feel more productive?  I bet I'm not alone there ;)

This past week has been tougher.  Just trying to balance it all.

Spend time learning and growing in the Word.

Date my spouse.

Enjoy my kids.

Learn the language.

Talk to folks in the community - practice language.

Language homework.

Foster friendships (in person, through email, messages, video chat, etc, etc)

Workout.

Just some of those things.

We all have some basic lists of what we need to do daily.  Those are some of mine.

I'll also add in "live in another culture that's not my own" and suddenly all of these "basic" things for my day has become 10,000x's more stressful.

Everything takes much longer.

I'd give anything to pop into Aldi's real quick and do grocery shopping...even with all the kids.

So, trying to figure out life here and do just "normal" things for my day has me...

Tired.

Frustrated.

Overwhelmed.

Lazy.  (Why am I only getting one thing done in my day!?!)

Sad.

List could go on...but you get my point.

I've been working on shifting my focus to seeing all the things I've accomplished and things that I am "checking off my list" but, man, I'll be so honest...it's a challenge.

For me, when I'm stressed - getting a good workout in - relieves my stress.

It's my prayer time.

My quiet time.

My sanity time.

So, when there's no time for that...whew, my day just got harder.

My workouts have been more limited this past week.  Prob reason weight remained around the same and only went down 1/2 inch total.  I'll take it though.

How does she do it all?

She's not.

I'm not.

I'm a hot mess over here in SE Asia.  Ha!

Trying to trust Jesus that all these things that I want to accomplish in my day means...well, not a whole lot.

What means a whole lot is Him.

In my humanness...in my sinfulness...I forget this.  Constantly.

Thankful that He is Good.  And loves me even when I try to do it all.