Life is good. Busy. Productive. Happy. Fulfilling.

And I feel overwhelmed.

It’s time for a Six Month No.

 Although the Six Month No is a necessary ingredient in keeping a home focused on those things most important, it is not an easy thing for me to do.

My life fills quickly. With worthy projects, commitments, opportunities, pursuits. And yet, when it is too full I begin to focus on things that matter less than my family.

Currently I teach classes, host book clubs, take pictures, write blogs, serve in church, teach school, keep house, pay bills… is that all? It seemed like more than that today.

But when you consider that laundry is a full time occupation here…

I must not forget cooking. And chauffeuring.

Oh. I also have a 4 month old. A soon to be 7 year old. A 9 year old. A 13 year old. And a husband. They are all pretty great… I like to spend time with them.

I also have a list of things I want to do. Projects in sewing, art and beading. Books I desire to read. A journal which waits patiently for my pen.

And I really wouldn’t mind heading to the gym again. Whoa. Did I just type that? It’s been months {feels like decades} since I’ve been to the gym.

We have entered our birthday season. Sam, Jake, Jacob and I celebrate ours amid fall festivities and season’s greetings. Not to mention our 15th Wedding Anniversary {which definitely deserves capitalization} next week.

I am blessed.

Today Josh and Sam and I colored stained glass pictures to hang in the window. We designed Coats of Arms and colored large shields to reflect our designs. We cooked snickerdoodles and washed load after load after load of laundry. We built a marble tower and spent time together dropping marble upon marble in the top and watching them spiral down, down, down.

It took all of my concentration to sit and play marbles. So often I find myself saying, not right now. I’m busy.

Book club was to be tonight, but sickness in our ranks prevented and postponed. I was okay with that. I didn’t worry about cleaning, reading, preparing. It felt good.

And so.

I’ll be making a list of all those things on my to-do list. Our to-do list. The classes we attend, activities we are involved with. All the things that fill my life and prevent me from sitting on the floor with my kids to build marble towers. And I’ll cross some off the list. My goal will be half. It won’t be easy. I like to think that I’m irreplaceable. But I’m not. The only place I’m irreplaceable is as a mother.

Not to worry. A vacuum likes to be filled. That’s why it’s called a Six Month No. It doesn’t take long to fill a plate right back up. But I need to make sure that I’m not missing really important, life changing moments…

like reading to Sam
building Legos with Josh
rubbing Jacob’s shoulders
playing This Little Piggy with Betsy
holding hands with Jake

… because I’m too busy.