If you are visiting my blog for the first time you may want to subscribe to get my updates free and easy by email or RSS. The sign up box  and links are in my sidebar to the right.

And

if you leave a comment I will donate .10 (for each one- up to my preset limit) to help Haiti.

I shared last week that I’d accepted the Blissfully Domestic challenge. I picked 3 areas to work on… better time management between computer and kids, improvement in the organizing/decluttering area and moving my devotional time with the Lord to the morning instead of last thing before bed.

I’m happy to report that I had a GREAT week with moving my time with Lord up and it truly made a difference in my life. Usually the kids were up when I was reading my bible but that was okay. It also reinforced to me that it is good they see me read my bible everyday. I was reading it after they went to bed before.  I also realized that the grace of God I asked for was delivered as each new day brought expected or unexpected stress and I had more peace and self control about  those plucked nerves of mine

The organization/decluttering has begun (again- must be done every so often, it just never goes away) but is not done enough. That I will continue working on this week.

The prioritizing of time between kids and working on the computer has begun as well.  There really isn’t any easy cut and dried solution to this that I know of but I just do both interchangeably. Spend time working, spend time playing, spend time on housework, homework or whatever. I’m more “mindful” of spending time with them- especially playing with them.

I wonder what BlissfullyDomestic.com will talk about for week 2? UPDATE: I checked it today. I picked to clean out and reorganize a closet and I know just which one needs it. I’ll post a before pic soon.

I really like this post from Blissfully Domestic and am accepting the challenge.

I can identify with falling short with several of the areas mentioned here but the ones I believe I need to make for myself – the ones that would make the most difference to me and to our family would be…

~ organizing and de-cluttering (ugh! it never really stops piling up, does it?)

~ manage my time better so I’m off the computer more while the kids are around (thats like, all the time pretty much-  this will be challenging)

~ Most important…try to do my devotions (time with God and His word) in the morning BEFORE the kids are up instead of how I’ve been doing it…last thing before bed.

It wasn’t this challenge exactly that got me thinking about that last goal, it was Pastor Rory. For me personally I had tried the morning thing and it didn’t work well- I’m not very “functional” in the morning.  But Pastor Rory made a good point today in his message at church about doing it in the morning…its about grace and how we need God’s grace in the beginning of our day…not so much just before we pull up the covers.

Well, I know I need “that” grace.  I definitely have areas in my character that fall short of “godly” when my nerves are being plucked by my boys…and the clutter that never goes away…and…what? you mean I have to  make another meal? …etc etc.

And so, I’m going to try to get up earlier and just spend better time with the Lord- but I do so fully accepting the fact (and God knows this too) …I may have heavy eyelids and a head that feels numb from not enough sleep. But I’m going to give it a try…

And have a cup of coffee while I’m at it

What about you? Are you up to the Blissfully Domestic challenge?