Cutting Back

Do you ever just feel so overwhelmed that you want to hide in your house and do nothing at all?

That's sort of where I've been lately.  I feel like I can't say no, I find myself volunteering for stuff so that I can make others happy, and I just feel drained.

It just so happens that for my birthday I was given this book, and at church our pastor has been doing a sermon series using this book.

I have been taking an "inventory" of what is replenishing my soul (and my family) and what is draining.
Now, by draining I don't mean that it's a bad thing to be involved in.  I just mean that it's not a good thing for ME and my family.  It's likely not somewhere God wants us right now.

I have prayed and decided that for now, we need a break from our homeschool co-op.  I love the people, I love what we've gained from it (many friends and a lot of confidence), and I love how much we've grown there.  We just need a break.  So we're taking a semester off.
This was such a hard decision to come to, but it's right.  For now.

I'm also learning to re-arrange my schedule so that we only have appointments on a certain day of the week.  No more running all week to random things.

Ben and I are making date night a priority, even if it's just twice a month.  I'm working to plan at least one fun "family night" once a month.  We need these things.

Just these small (yet big) changes are going to make a big difference for us.
Also, if I tell you "no" when you ask something, it isn't because I don't want to.  It's because I just don't need to.