The constant struggle

I mentioned last week that I've been doing a lot of thinking and pondering lately. I've really been struggling, trying to find a better balance in my life. I love blogging. I love the friends that I have made and what a bonus to actually be able to meet some of them! I have enjoyed posting and writing about my life or those things that just strike me as 'post worthy' at the time. Blogging has given me a chance to write down some things in my life that maybe I wouldn't necessarily have recorded. Blogging has been a huge part of my life for over a year now and I've enjoyed it.

Lately though I've really struggled with the good, better, best concept. [Please know that I am only speaking for myself and my life situation at the moment. What works or doesn't work for me might be totally different from everyone else.] See I have a problem. I tend to get sucked into the computer. What starts out as just a few minutes at the computer turns into hours spent at the computer. Before I know it the day has gone and I have accomplished little. My home is suffering, my family is suffering, and my life is suffering. I've tried to cut back and only do a little bit at a time, but again, a few minutes turns into too long. Something has got to give in my life and blogging seems like the easiest thing to let go. Maybe easy isn't the right term since this has not been an easy decision for me to make. It just makes sense though. My children deserve to see more of me than the back of my head. My family deserves to have a better organized and better functioning mom. My husband deserves to have a wife that cares more about him than she does about people she has never met before.

The thing about my husband is that he never says anything to me about how I spend my time or what I do while he is at work. He is very patient and kind and loving and would lead everyone to believe that he has the best wife in the world. In reality I know he wishes that I would step up a little bit. While he is 'working his buns off' at work every single day, I should be devoting as much of my heart to our home and family. (maybe I can work off my buns too!) That is not to say that I am not allowed or able to have free time or time to pursue my own interests, but when those interests affect the rest of my life then it is time for a change.

I hate to say good-bye to blogging entirely, but I at least need to take a break. For a week, a month, maybe two. I'm not sure yet. We are heading into the busy season and with everything going on I might just enjoy having some extra time each day. I may still be around visiting and commenting when time allows.

In the tradition of Thursday 13 here are 13 things, in no particular order, that I plan on working on and/or accomplishing over the next several weeks while not blogging.
1. Clean my scrapbooking/craft desk.
2. Sort through kids clothes.
3. Recover our kitchen table chairs.
4. Learn to knit.
5. Master the fine art of baking bread.
6. Make curtains (or buy curtains since I don't sew) to cover our hall pantry doorway.
7. Play more with my kids.
8. Work with Megan on her colors, numbers, ABC's, etc.
9. Plan our Christmas program for Enrichment Night.
10. Get Christmas shopping done.
11. Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas at home this year.
12. Celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary next month. Yay!!
13. Maybe lose some weight because my butt won't be planted in front of the computer all the time. Okay, maybe that is wishful thinking since it is the stuff your face with goodies holiday season.

See ya later. Loves, hugs and kisses to all!