Creating Margins for Unscheduled Interruptions

I heard Jill Savage speak last weekend about leaving margin in your life. She opened a book to explain that it is the margins that allow us to read the words on the paper clearly and stress free.

Withoutmarginoneslifeitlookssomethinglikethisandonefeelsabitstressedoutthereisnoroomforanythingextrainalifeiwthoutmarginthereisverylittletimeforrestandonesfusecangetveryshortandfindthemselveslongingforsometimetorecharge

I found myself wishing I had allowed some margin in my life this week. I really had thought I started to be intentional in this area. This week only emphasize how little I have changed. I have left no room for exercise or meal planning let alone thinking or resting. I certainly did not leave any room for the disturbances that came into play. I was at the end of my rope.

Earlier this week, my daughter attended an after school program for the first time where transportation home was to be provided. While I had just enjoyed a day with her at the Chicago Children’s Museum on her class field trip, I left her at school to attend “Camp Fitness” and was home in time to meet her at her appointed drop off time on the bus route. Knowing this was the first day of the bus route, my friend and I waited a good 15-20 minutes before contacting one another for assurance that both of our daughters were still together on the bus. As time continued to creep by without any sign of our children, I attempted to contact the school and the bus company. I was informed that “there was a hysterical child on the bus” they were attempting to deal with and the bus was running late but was assured that the driver was on his way again. Needless to say, as 40, 50 and 60 minutes rolled by without any sign of my daughter, tension began to rise. I was on the phone apologizing ahead of time for my tone of voice to the bus company as I cried that I wanted my daughter home and my nerves got the best of me just as her bus pulled up.

My daughter was thankfully oblivious to the depth of her tardiness. I struggled with giving the benefit of the doubt to the bus driver. And finding the positive twist in this scenario was next to impossible for me. My entire day was thrown off but the important thing was that my daughter was home safely.

It does something to you when you rely on complete strangers to transport your child to and from school. Ultimately, I know I am trusting God but there is some level of responsibility involved as a mother on my part. That responsibility found me on the phone the next day with my daughter’s school as well as the District’s transportation department. I found myself uneasy with agreeing to allow my daughter to take the bus again for the after school program but was pleased with the attention I was given from both offices.

This one fiasco in my day threw off my entire week. The amount of energy, emotion and brain power it took from me was not allotted in my week. I was drained and found myself only beginning to feel better after my daughter returned home safely today once again (late, but not nearly as disturbing). She was put on a different bus route and this bus driver actually apologized and attempted to explain to me the situation when she dropped my daughter off only 20 minutes late.

I am appreciative to each and every adult who invests in my daughter’s life each day. It was comforting to have my mom here already helping with the little ones so my focus could be on the situation with my oldest child. I’m thankful that I didn’t have anywhere I needed to be that day of the bus incident. I am so grateful for my friend who walks through these moments with me as our daughters grow up together. More than anything, I am indebted to my God who loves and cares about my daughter more than I could ever fully realize.

I need to create more margins into my day. I do not allow room for the unscheduled interruptions. I need to follow God’s example of utilizing a day of rest. I need to implement some positive change into my life and it needs to come sooner than later.

How big are you?

"A man is about as big as the things that make him angry."
- Winston Churchill

Star Struck

This past weekend ended up being very full... but it was fun!

For the benefit of my cousin, oldest nieces and Twilight fans out there, I got to meet BooBoo Stewart (Seth Clearwater) on Saturday. It seems the older I get, unfortunately, the younger teenagers seem to look. It was still pretty cool to have been able to meet a movie star!



(I told you they look young! That, or I look as old as I felt.)

My cousin and I enjoyed a day at a Mom's Expo in Bloomington, Illinois. We were able to sit and talk with Sheri Braendel, author of Good Girls don't have to Dress Bad. I was able to hear her views on fashion, modesty and being an example to my daughters. She has actually made me believe this was something worth listening to. (I bought her book and am very excited to read it. The introduction has already grabbed a hold of my heart!)

We sat and listened to Jill Cataldo as she spoke about Super-couponing. I am very hopeful I can put some of her tips into practice. She saves over something like $5000 each year! After her workshop, I actually think there may be some hope.

The highlight of the day for myself was this moment.



I have been to Hearts at Home a handful of times. Jill Savage has come to speak at our Mom's group at church. This moment, where I was able to have a picture with her and speak to her one-on-one left me a little star struck. As I was discussing it with my husband, he just pointed out that it meant a lot to me because she has been instrumental in my life. It was fun to meet BooBoo Stewart but he has made no lasting impact on my life as a whole. Jill's transparency and authenticity along with her heart for God has stirred dreams to life within my heart.

It was a good day away and spending it with my cousin, Kelly, made it the best! I love that God has surrounded me with just a great gift of friendship right within my own family.

I Believe. I Believe. It's Silly, but I Believe.

My husband has a way of embracing the fun in life. He usually knows all the silly facts. Those such as, on the first day of Fall, you can balance an egg. He's told me this now for over 14 years. I just smile and nod because he has never been able to prove it. As a matter of fact, he just tried the other day to no avail.

"Do you know why the egg thing didn't work the other day?" he asked as he was leaving for work this morning. "Because it wasn't the first day of Fall?" I asked already knowing the answer. "Fall started at [some specific time] last night!" he exclaimed. "You have to try it!" he challenged me with the level of excitement my third grader would normally express. I just smiled. "Do it!" he pointed his finger at me as though he were commanding me and left.

I walked in the door, pulled out an egg, shaking my head in disbelief and began my experiment. Nope. It didn't work. I decided that, for his benefit, I would try for a little bit more time. That's when it happened! The egg balanced. I went to grab my camera and the egg was still waiting for me when I returned!

In reality, it wasn't for his benefit. It was for mine. God knew so well what He was doing when He gave me Rod. I take life all too seriously and then there's my husband; reminding me to balance eggs on the counter on the first day of Fall, teaching me how to hang spoons on my face and reminding me that there is fun in life everywhere. I just need to allow the time to experience it!

This morning I'm starting my day similing and I have my husband to thank for it.

Wednesday's Weight

Weight Watchers makes me mindful of usually mindless choices. Recently, my cousin talked me into going back to Weight Watchers. I hesitantly agreed to go. While I know it is good for me, I hate the effort involved. In the long run, I will be grateful to her once again but I have gotten very comfortable in my mindless way of living.

I just snacked on an apple. If I was not utilizing the Weight Watchers plan, I probably would have grabbed some type of processed snack. While attending my meetings, however, I am mindful of the fact that I need to work at least 5 fruits and/or vegetables into my day. Portion sizes are something recognizable again and I am reminded of the importance of staying hydrated.

"63% of the time we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty," was the statistic my leader gave at the last meeting. I don't know how accurate that is but I can believe it. It is so important to get enough water into my body into the day. That is my goal this week: to get at least 8 glasses of water in each day.

While I'm not all out cheerful about attending Weight Watchers again, I expect to get some results. Who knows, maybe I can actually wear pants that fit this Christmas and feel good about being in pictures again. It is amazing what a difference just one day of healthy eating can have on my mind, body and spirit. I wonder what a couple of months will do.