Stop the Glorification of Busy

I saw this quote on Facebook the other day---the cementing of all kinds of thoughts that had been swirling around my mind in regard to the subject.  

Are you staying busy?  

Have you ever been greeted that way by someone in passing?  I have and, for me, it's kind of awkward.  What am I supposed to say?  If I say no, they'll think I'm lazy and boring.  If I say yes, I'll be exaggerating the truth.

I try really hard not to stay busy.  In fact, my new year resolution for the last two years has been to avoid any outside activity that makes me feel overwhelmed, stressed, or too busy.

When I say outside activity, I mean anything that doesn't fall within my obvious, God-given role as a wife and mother.  So, field trips, ministry teams, and play dates are subject to avoidance---laundry, conversations with husband, and meal prep are not.

We often feel obligated to be busy.  We feel guilty if we can't account for our time.  Schools give kids busy work because teachers will feel guilty if they just send the faster-working kid outside to play while the others finish up.  Oh yeah, and it's against The Rules.

You've heard the phrase, "stop and smell the roses."  Have you ever done it?  This morning I took five minutes and sat on my porch with my eyes closed, listening to the birds and the river, and praying.  I feel really refreshed. Now I've got four babies making noise in the background, and will have nine kids up wanting breakfast any minute now, (I hear footsteps on the stairs) but I am going to handle this day way better because I stopped to be filled first.  

(Before you start imagining I live in some idyllic meadow and begin lamenting your lack of birds, a river, and a quiet porch, understand that mine is smack in the middle of the busy downtown.  Loud, obnoxious people, stinky diesel trucks, and blowing garbage abound.  But, like mom says, you make your own happiness.)

What is being gained from your busyness?  Kids are up now so I gotta make this short.  Basically there's one test to be sure you're busy for the right reasons.  If it doesn't fall within your specific, God-given role and it's not going to bring eternal good, then it's eligible for the chopping block.  

This post was published in The Christian Home Magazine, Issue #106.

Thank you to Judith from WholeHearted Home for featuring this post!

Linking with:

Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
One More Time
Motivate Me Monday 
What's In the Gunny Sack? 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
What Up?! Wednesday @ Frugal Fit Family   

Scent of Lilacs Book Review

My first experience reading Ann H. Gabhart's books was when we had just moved to Washington and my husband had started a night job.  Lonely with no friends and no internet, I was lamenting leaving most of my books back in Oregon to be picked up on our second trip with the moving van---two weeks later.  The next night, my husband brought me one of her books set in the Quaker days, and I've enjoyed her novels ever since.

Gabhart's works show the reader that we have all dealt with similar issues---no matter what time period we are living in---and that God's timeless grace can get us through them all.  In Scent of Lilacs, Gabhart tells the story of Jocie Brooke and her family's struggles in the summer of 1964.  Jocie's family is holding a secret---even from Jocie.  When all is revealed, Jocie will never be the same---but that could be a good thing!

From the publisher:  "Combining unforgettable characters, true-to-life struggles, and the perfect dose of humor and nostalgia, this riveting story from bestselling author Ann Gabhart explores the very essence of new life and love."

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are honest and are my own.

Chili and a Homemaking Linkup

Today for the Homemaking Linkup, I'm sharing my chili recipe.  I've shared it here before but it's been a couple years so here you go!  This chili is super good with my Spiced Cornbread.  Mmm!!

Mrs. Coller's Chili

(makes about 10 servings...you can half this or freeze the remaining if you don't need this much)

6 cans beans (We like to use black beans)
2 cans refried beans
1-2 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 c. bbq sauce
1/4 c. dijon or spicy mustard

Rinse 6 cans beans in strainer.  Place them in a pot with the refried beans and all other ingredients.  Add 2-4 c. water.  You want to start out with the chili quite a bit runnier than you like it.  Cook and stir often until it has reached your desired thickness.  This could be anywhere from a half hour to an hour and a half...depending on how much water you add.  The more water you add, the longer you have to cook it and the more flavorful it will be as the beans absorb the flavors from the other ingredients.  If you're in a hurry, just add a couple cups of water so there's a buffer there to keep it from sticking to the pan while it's heating up and dissolving the seasoning and you'll be good to go in about a half hour.


I hope you'll join me for this week's Homemaking Linkup.  I love to feature some of the neat posts that are linked up so please make sure and put my button or a text link on your blog so you'll be eligible to be featured!  There were posts both last week and this week that I really wanted to feature but didn't because there was no back link.



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Here are some of my favorite posts from last week:

The Proverbial Homemaker gave a very thorough lesson on creating your own seed storage binder.  I love this---and not just because it's pink and green!  Tauna has been a blogging buddy of mine for awhile now.  She is so encouraging!

Another blog that I'm really enjoying lately is 31 Cups.  Gretchen has such awesome insights and I always come away from her blog feeling fed.  She linked up a great post about diving into enjoying poetry---I'm ready!

Thanks to everyone for the great posts!

Now for the linkup.  Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post.  Have a great weekend!



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Linking with:

Homemaking Link-Up Weekend @ Hope In Every Season
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm 
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Craft Schooling Sunday @ Creative Jewish Mom 
Church Supper @ Everyday Mom's Meals 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
What's In the Gunny Sack? 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm Cottage
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe