Tempation to do it all? Just Say No!

I have a confession to make: I'm a joiner. I just love to join things. Classes, book clubs, volunteer organizations, kids play groups, family events, work parties, neighborhood planning committees. You name it, I want to be a part of it. I tend to feel the same way about my kids. They need to join things, right? I mean, isn't it important to get out and "socialize" and experience new things with other kids? Preschool, Soccer, Softball, Fencing, Dance, Drama, Coop, Babysitting Classes...you name it, sign us up!

Is there a 12 step program to cure a person of the addiction to Join? If there is, I haven't seen it yet. So, here's what I'm working on doing this year. It's a secret that not many other people know about and it produces instant results. Are ready? Here it is:

Just Say No.

Unbelievable isn't it? Who would have though of that? Not me that's for sure. I say "no" only if I'm in the hospital and the thing I want to join can't take place in my room. I'm supermom after all and I have an image to uphold.

Can anyone out there relate? I don't know about you, but often this is the dialogue that takes place in my head:

"If I say "no", the kids will miss out on a great opportunity to grow, learn more about themselves, about Jesus, and about others. If I say "no" they won't be the productive, Christ loving adults that I want them to be when they grow up and I will have been a horrible mom. If I say "no" people will think poorly of me."

I know, I know, it's totally irrational, but this is how Satan gets a foothold in my life. Here's the good news though (you knew there was some good news, right?):

God is good, All the time. Whenever I start going through this spiral of thought, God grabs a hold of me in ways that only He knows I understand. A godly friend's phone call to speak honest and kind words of wisdom to me, some unexpected quiet time to read my bible, a child's meltdown from doing too much, a bout with the cold or flu or other sickness that causes us all to stop. These are sometimes the ways in which God speaks to me. I'm so thankful for all of these things because He loves me enough to protect me from my "joining addiction". He convicts me that the only person, place or thing I need to join, or that my children need to join is Him. In Him, we are complete, we are loved and we are able to become exactly what He wants us to become.

Jesus came and gave His blood to wash away our sins and make us shiny and new. The disciples left their families, their homes, and all that they knew to JOIN Him and tell the world the Good News.

Were the disciples too busy with dance, drama, coop, fencing, softball, book club, or study club, to see who Jesus was? Were they so caught up in doing that they didn't see the Messiah right before their very eyes? Can you imagine if they had been like, "Hmm, Sorry Jesus, but I have a lot going on right now. It's fishing season, and the Fisherman's Club meets every Tuesday night, and then the Boater's Union meets on Thursdays. Monday's and Wednesdays I have to take the fish to market which only leaves Fridays for me to to have some down time. I have to spend the weekends with the kids and the wife or I get in big trouble, so unfortunately, I can't join your crusade to save mankind."

Whaaaaat???? Ridiculous, right?

I woke up this morning with this on my heart which is why I'm sharing it with you. God is convicting me to "Just Say No" as this season of business starts. Already, I'm being tempted to join, join, join by well meaning people who have no idea what my own personal situation is. My promise to God is that I will resist the temptation. When my dd looks at me with bored eyes and is sad because she can't join a certain club, I will pray and ask God to open her eyes and her heart to what is all around her every day. I will pray that God will show me what's all around me and how best to use what I already have to inspire and educate my children. I will pray and thank God for loving me and for being ALL that I need, and therefore ALL that my kids need.

I don't need a 12 step program. I only need God. He is my Everything.

Have a blessed day.

How do you spell "relief"? A N-E-W S-C-H-O-O-L Y-E-A-R!

Now ask me in December if I still feel this way and the answer will be much different, but right now, it feels so good to be starting school again here! We all have enjoyed the time off (We finished up last year mid-May), but the girls are restless and bored, and we are all ready for a schedule, a routine, some challenge. So, we started our "easing into school" process last week. We did this last year and I loved it so we're doing it again. What I do is start #1 (that's my oldest 11 year old daughter) on her basics first... you know the 3R's. Then once we get our groove with those (usually a week or so) we start adding in bits of the rest of our curriculum. By the time September rolls around we are at full swing and over the first major growing pains of starting school. This method also allows us to finish school a few weeks ahead of our public school counterparts which #1 really likes (she's a little bit competitive and I have NO idea where she gets it:-)) So, we are back in the swing of things and loving it! Praise God!