A long week

Last week was a rough one. I took a whole week off from work thinking I could get the basement cleaned out and cleaned. I thought that by Friday I would be shampooing the carpets and putting the finishing touches on the family room. It didn't happen. I was pulled away for all sorts of errands and other things that were minor emergencies and needed to be handled. This left the basement actually looking worse than when I started. Now I need to somehow find several hours this week to work down there going through boxes, bags and piles. I can't give up until it's done.

I can't believe I let things get this way. I feel like one of those people you see on one of the Clean(fill in the blank) type shows. I just have accumulated so much stuff and I have no idea why. Of course I'm not in this alone. I have a husband that loves to buy books and cd's and junk in a big way. On a daily basis he comes in the house with some pile of stuff that I'm supposed to find a place for.

So, now I just have to keep plugging away and working at the mountain on a daily basis. The trick is finding time to do that. I'm considering getting up very early each morning to try to get an hour or so in each day before anyone else gets out of bed. Can I truly face clutter at 5am though? We'll see.

I'm not even going to try to post my schedule for this week because I don't really have a good one. I know that tonight my neice is interviewing my father, a former chef, for a school project. Tomorrow night is Scouts and Thursday night is the Green and White Banquet at school for students that made the A or B honor roll all year. Saturday we are celebrating May Birthdays in Kevin's family. We celebrate once a month instead of trying to do them individually. I have no meal plan or chore plan. I'm just going to try to fit in working on the basement whenever I can. Which will probably be at 5am. Oh. My. The more I try to simplify our lives the busier they get. How exactly did that happen?

This past weekend wasn't all bad. Kevin was out of town doing outdoor skills training for Boy Scouts. He really enjoyed it and we have discovered that he is a whiz with a compass. Dylan and I spent Saturday shoe shopping, having a nice dinner and just being together. We actually made it to church on Sunday (first time in months) and then came home and cooked a brunch of pancakes and sausage. We certainly didn't spend Sunday as a day of rest as is my goal. We did get the main part of the house somewhat cleaned up though. I felt so energized after we came home from church that I just couldn't help myself. I went on a cleaning frenzy.

I told Kevin last night that the lightbulb came on and I know what's been wrong with me. I know why I've been depressed and haven't wanted to do anything but sit in the recliner watching tv for the last year. I've let God slip out of my life. Oh, I know He's there, but I've been taking Him for granted and haven't paid a bit of attention to Him. We haven't been going to church. I haven't been reading my bible. I've let myself fall into watching things on tv that are dark and depressing instead of uplifting and positive. It's actually been building for about four years, but this last year it has really hit me hard. I need to make changes from the inside out. I'm so thankful that God doesn't take me for granted like I do Him. I've felt so lonely this last year because I haven't allowed God to be a part of my day to day life. What was I thinking? What was I teaching my son? *This is where I knock myself in the head V8 style*

So, in addition to the time I need to spend working on our house, making family time, cooking family meals and working outside the home, I need to make time for me and God. Anyone have any idea how I can do this still get to sleep each night? How is a mom supposed to do it all? Is a mom supposed to do it all? So many questions, so few answers.

4 comments:

LynnSC said...

Hello Mary,
I am so glad that you stopped by my blog. I am in such a hurry right this minute... but I am coming back to read as soon as I can. I will comment again as soon as I get a chance.
Oh sister... this is a good day. I am expecting my Tuesday night ladies to come over soon for our Bible study. God is so good. Hang on... He is up to something. I promise. Lynn

LynnSC said...

Oh sister... I did take a minute to read your last post... really, really, fast. You sound like you have hit the nail on the head. I don't know how I would make it through my stressed, too busy life if it were not for the Lord. I always tell myself... if I am too busy to spend time with my Lord... I am TOO BUSY.

Also... I have struggled with depression for several (more like 13) years. There are days that I don't even want to get out of bed. That is a whole different subject. God is my only hope. He is OUR only hope. I'll be back.

Love ya, and hang on. Isn't that great that we can just love one another... and don't even know each other. Love comes from God. Lynn

Anonymous said...

I feel in love with this message on a local church's sign:

Communication is the key to spiritual contenment....
Send kneemail daily ... :-)

Luvs~
mr

Anonymous said...

*contentment* even...

(oopsie)