We are days away from spring.

Can you believe it? How is your year going? Are you reaching your goals, resolutions, and dreams? Have you been getting those projects done?

Or… Do you need a friend to help you troubleshoot, problem- solve, organize, and get out of your rut? Could it be time to Spring Clean and get some real help so you can make this year really count? Is it time to get a plan that will help you set and reach your goals…get things done…make those resolutions a reality…and live your dream? I can help!

I am so excited to announce our next coaching program which begins next Monday afternoon. This program is just perfect for wherever you are…

–> With an idea and absolutely nothing ready to have a business?

–> No idea where to begin?

–> Got everything ready to go, but just cannot find time to get it done?

–> Struggling with getting your family on board (Or at least busy so you can snag time to work)?

–> Been working, but just not getting response on the internet and have NO idea why?

Yep! If any of this is YOU, then this program is JUST FOR YOU. Instead of me writing any more, let me take you to the site so you can learn more about this coaching program. You will LOVE it! Learn more here….

>>>> http://www.Writers-Nook.com/SpringClean.html

See ya there!

With much love,
Cindy
http://www.Writers-Nook.com

Time to Spring Clean Your Business!
Join us! This is the year to go for your dreams!
http://www.Writers-Nook.com/SpringClean.html

Our Talk-a-Latte Chat!

1PM CT

Back to the Heart of Homeschooling with Cindy Rushton

Just when you are in DEEP need of a bit of encouragement, Cindy rolls in with yet another great workshop! This one is tops!  This workshop takes you on a FAST TRIP through the Word of God to glean principles that are sure to not just make homeschooling EASY and FULL OF LIFE, but also to help get back to God’s perfect design for the godly homeschool! In Cindy’s typical style, she pours forth until we are all overflowing with encouragement, inspiration, and practical ideas perfect for yet another year of Homeschooling!

Don’t miss this one!

Here is how you join us:

Join Us Live Online (On our website!!):
http://talk-a-latte.com/chat/ (room will be open tomorrow about 15 minutes before we go live)

OR here are the call-in details:
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 38181#
PIN: 1# (Or your Talkshoe PIN)

Yes! You can share that information with your friends. We would LOVE for them to join us!

Can you believe it? I am TOTALLY SMITTEN! And, yes! I do believe that GRANDbaby Rushton was waving at its GRAMMY…what do you think??? ha!

Our Talk-a-Latte Chat!

Our guest is: Matthew Rushton!

Yep! My precious son! And, look at the topic:

Graduated, Married, Got a Baby On the Way–NOW, What I Think About Homeschooling with Matthew Rushton

Join Matthew Rushton, homeschool graduate, as he shares his thoughts, feedback, and challenges for homeschool moms. Come pick his brain about what he really thinks about homeschooling–now that he has a baby on the way! Bring your questions. Matthew will take time to give you his honest answers from two perspectives–a homeschooled student’s viewpoint looking back AND a homeschool dad’s perspective looking forward.

OH! And, yes! We will have his beloved wife, Whitney on the line too!

Here is how you join us:

Join Us Live Online (On our website!!):
http://talk-a-latte.com/chat/ (room will be open tomorrow about 15 minutes before we go live)

OR here are the call-in details:
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 38181#
PIN: 1# (Or your Talkshoe PIN)

Yes! You can share that information with your friends. We would LOVE for them to join us!

How many times have you as a mother been certain that your child would never move past his current stage, and that you were doomed to live out the rest of your days forever stuck where you were, a? la Ground Hog Days?

Well, I’ve felt like that many times in my kids’ lives. When my son was a toddler, trips to the store became a battleground as he often threw tantrums when he didn’t get what he wanted. Discouragement set in after one particularly bad trip when he and the whole cart tipped over– in front of a group of managers-in-training! I was certain I was the poster child for the “how to handle the hysterical mother” lesson that day.

Another time I felt forever trapped in my daughter’s grow-her-bangs-out-stage. Now, this wasn’t a life-or-death situation, but we combed and bobby-pinned and coaxed them in place for months only to have her cut them again when they finally grew out. We repeated that cycle about four times in succession.

Then there was a good two years when I dreaded going into my child’s school (which was also my workplace), because I was always greeted by a battalion of teachers wanting to talk to me about said child’s missing, late or otherwise nonexistent homework.

Well, I did eventually live through each of these stages and many others–some serious, some just annoying–largely due to one thing:  prayer. I learned how to pray through all the stages of my kids’ lives. Prayer kept me sane, gave me perspective, allowed God to work in the situations and changed me for the better. It can for you too.

As parents, we desperately need God’s perspective on the stages in our children’s lives. When we don’t take the time to consult with Him, we are left to muddle through on our own strength and power, without the discernment, strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

I learned the hard way that I needed my regular times of prayer with the Lord to be the best mamma I could be.  Each new, precious stage of their lives had me on my knees praying my way through the unchartered waters. Sometimes I was laughing and praising, and sometimes I was crying and interceding for one who had stepped off God’s path or for one who was suffering from a hurt or injustice.

Years ago I started recording my prayer requests in a notebook, and the other day I found an old journal in the closet. What a wonderful look back at how far we have come and a reminder of what is still ahead. I’ll be there on my knees. Won’t you join me?

Don’t you just LOVE Jane?

Jane is one of our ULTIMATE speakers this week at our Ultimate Women’s Expo. She is going to take the mic Friday morning at 10AM to teach her awesome workshop, Persevering in Prayer. Make plans to join us! You will be fired, inspired, and equipped to make this year really count! Learn more here: CLICK HERE

Also, why not hop over to Jane’s website and dig into her “home on the web” now? Just pour a big cup of tea and plan to get to know a friend for life! You can find her at: http://www.OnlyByPrayer.com

http://www.CindyRushton.com/FlightPlans.html

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Building your marriage? Is it on the back-burner? Busy with the children and the house and homeschooling and working in your business? Just dropping at the end of the day with nothing left over?

I am not trying to give you another thing to do with your busy day. Rather, we need to get back to God’s design for the godly home. Take a peek at this passage from 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

“The woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

Our number one priority after our relationship with God is our marriage. We are created to be a helpmeet. Not a small thing! Not an extra thing. It is absolutely essential.

I have gone through entire years of focusing on different roles that I must fulfill to the detriment of my main calling—to be a wife. Harold is just so easy to please. He doesn’t demand or push me to take care of him. Rather, he is like me. We just stay busy on all we have going on. We mean well. But, if you are not building your marriage–intentionally building your marriage–even a godly marriage begins to fall to pieces over time just due to neglect. The entire home begins to crumble around us.

I remember the first year of homeschooling my children. As the last days of the school-year rolled around I realized that in my enthusiasm of turning my heart back home toward my children and really enjoying motherhood to the fullest, I had not nurtured my marriage as I should have! Days had gone by where both of us were so busy with our other roles that we had very little time, much less energy, to connect. The year just flew by with very little focus on building our marriage. Ever found yourself like this?

There are so many different facets of womanhood. We constantly juggle so many roles. It is so easy to get so wrapped up in one area that we lose sight of all of the others!

Our main calling, first and foremost, as women is to the awesome role as a helpmeet for our husbands. We are to bring glory to our husbands so they may in turn bring glory to God.

Isn’t this beautiful? We are those hidden women who reflect all of the glory back to our husbands…who build up our husbands and promote THEM…who do all that we do to help them subdue and have dominion over the world!

Where there is a beautiful marriage, all else falls into place. Two become one. There is security, stability, and a good model of biblical priorities in the lives of the children. There is a ministry to the world. This is the means that there is glory reflected from the family and the marriage. In turn, this glory magnifies God to our culture. Others see God’s perfect plan for man and woman! There is hope. There is abundant life.

The catch here is that beautiful marriages do not just happen. It takes work. Hard work. It takes commitment. Years of commitment. It takes priority. Intentional priorities.

Want a great marriage? Build your home! Build your marriage. Have no idea where to begin? Let me help. Have a good marriage? A good carpenter always looks for new tools. A good carpenter never thinks he is done. He keeps on building. Marriage is the same way! Let me share a few tools that will make your good marriage even better–or, prayerfully the very best. Ready? Dig in with me…

–> Always build! We don’t have an option. We must intentionally build our marriages or they will fall apart around us. We must be intentional about what we do. Our marriages need to be on our calendar. Our marriages need to be on our daily to-do list. Don’t shove them to the back of everything. The benefits flow to everything and everyone else. So, build your marriage.

–> Don’t hold anything back! Give your all–all your gifts, talents, bents, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom! Be a real helper to your husband! Give him assistance during the tough times. Protect his heart and his name. Step in the gap and pray hedges of protection around him in all that he sets forth to do. Adapt yourself and your whole life to him—to God’s plan for him. Wrap your life around his with the intention to make him great. To bless him. to bring him glory. After all, as you bring him glory, he reflects glory to Jesus, Who reflects glory to our Heavenly Father. It all beings with you. Don’t hold anything back. Pour it all out!

–> Be his best friend! Do the little things to build your friendship. Take time to just enjoy him. Take time to LISTEN. Take time to enjoy the things that he enjoys. Look for ways to pal around. Develop a close, intimate friendship with your very best friend!

–> When in doubt, die to your ways and your ideas and your plans! OUCH! Decide now that you will live your whole life as your husband’s chief support. Only when we die to SELF can we really have an abundant, lavish life. Be the one who gives him that respect that he needs. Be the one who knows all that he is and yet still admires him more than even his little 2-year-old boy! Be the one who loves him unconditionally, enough to give up all life could possibly offer you to build him up! Die to all you had in mind for your life and commit to promote him. Watch what God does when you take that first step!

–> Contribute to his growth, his enlargement, his excellence! Patiently nurture him and encourage him to develop interests (Bible Study, SWAT team, metal detecting, sailing, email–He needs down time too!) that will help him to re-fuel, re-charge, and become strong. Beautiful, forever marriages all have several key elements. One of the most important is embracing change and growth, encouraging each other to expand, keep learning, keep growing, and helping each other press on toward big dreams together. It knits you together in a forever love story!

–> Affirm your man and his manhood—get excited about his leadership, his masculinity, his sexuality, his work! Reassure any insecurities! Enjoy his masculinity. God created him to fill your gaps. ENJOY that rather than despising it. Yes, so often we get frustrated, exasperated, and despise the differences between man and woman. Such a contrast to God’s plan. God wants for us to enjoy our differences. He wants for us to affirm one another. Ask God to help you enjoy your husband and all of the blessings that he brings into your life. Why not begin a list of things that your husband does to provide, protect, and lead you? Keep that list going. When you find yourself struggling with the differences, take time to dwell on your list. It will change your perspective and help you to build your marriage.

–> Be the one person who always believes in him. Be the one person who always has total confidence in him. Inspire him to greatness! Encourage him dream big and go for his dreams. Have vision for all God wants to do in his life. Encourage him. Be his teammate as he works toward that calling. Relieve him where he needs relief—where can you come alongside to help him??

–> See a weakness? Of course, you will. That is part of becoming intimate and real with one another. The question is what do we do when we see a weakness? Do we point it out? Nag them about it? Ask our friends to PRAY for him? Worry? Fret? Fear the future? OR…Do we come alongside of them and offer them strength, back-up, support? Do we take it all to God in intercession with prayer and fasting? Do we jump in and give them inspiration and encourage them. How do we respond when we see their struggles? It makes a world of difference! One choice builds our homes. Another choice destroys our home. Cry out to God on their behalf. Find ways to make it easier for them, any way you can. Help them succeed! Love them in their weaknesses and struggles. Be joyful and positive, always uplifting and encouraging! Let God supply your needs, not your husband, things will relax…you may change your heart! At minimum, you will be building your home instead of tearing it down with your own hands.

Sweet friend, what is your choice today? Will you build? When you build your home, you build your marriage. When you build your marriage, you build your home. Sweet friend, let’s commit to build! Decide now to pour yourself into your husband! Build your marriage! Let the little things go so that you have time to get to know your husband, so you will have time to minister to him in little ways. Take that time for the relationship and you will find that all else will fall into place! Invest your best into your home. You are building a home, a marriage, a godly legacy! Oh, wise woman,  BUILD your marriage, BUILD your home!

Like this? Get MORE regularly!

You can join our NEW study TODAY!

Marriage 911 Flight Plans are now ready!

Subscribe here:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/FlightPlans.html

Hello Sweet Friends!

Ready for a big, big week? Oh! We are hopping around here! I suspect that you may want to join us for some fun things that we have going on!

Before I dig in and give you our weekly update, I want to tell you how much I have MISSED YOU! I took off the whole month of January to work behind the scenes on some of my projects. Oh! I am busting at the seams to tell you all about all of the things on the horizon! Actually, everything kicks off this week!

First, our ezines are all back up and going strong. Actually, this week, I am combining all of them and giving one mini-ebook that I think is great for all of you. It is written along my personal theme for this year, A YEAR THAT COUNTS! Want that? Oh, you will LOVE this ebook. Here is the link:

Download A YEAR THAT COUNTS by PDF:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/Ebooks/AYearthatCounts.pdf
((If you like it, feel free to share it with your friends!))

That is not all that is going on!

We are gearing back up with our Talk-a-Latte Chats. Excited? I AM! They are NEW, FRESH, DEEPER THAN EVER, AND even have an IMPROVED chat room! We have a new set-up for our chat room. It is now on our website–no more ads or headaches–hopefully (!!). If you can go to a website, you can join in. EVEN WITH DIAL-UP! EVEN WITH A MAC! For real!

Tomorrow–TUESDAY–we have our first Talk-a-Latte Chat of 2010! You will LOVE IT! Here are the details:

Preview Chat
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
1PM CST
Messy Motives and Wrong Way Roads
with Kimberly Ehlers

Join Us Live Online (On our website!!):
http://www.Ultimate-Womens-Expo.com/chat.html

OR here are the call-in details:
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 36682#
PIN: 1# (Or your Talkshoe PIN)

Yes! Please do bring your friends for an awesome afternoon of mom-to-mom fellowship and learning. You will LOVE Kimberly! I can’t wait to sit at her feet and learn!

And, join us LIVE for fun freebies that Kimberly has prepared for all of our attendees. If you cannot make it, you can join our Ultimate Women’s Expo Membership Site for this event and still get them when we open the Membership Site on February 11–learn more here:

http://www.Ultimate-Womens-Expo.com/YearthatCounts.html

Speaking of Talk-a-Latte…

For some time now, we have had requests from many of you for a special subscription program for Talk-a-Latte. You have not wanted to miss even one of our sets. There are some of you who have joined EVERY single seminar, retreat, event, and class that we have offered since 2006. Yep! I have noticed! You are Talk-a-Latte Mommy Pals through and through! You are going to LOVE what we are doing this year!

This year, we are changing up the organization of Talk-a-Latte. We will give full-focus to our Talk-a-Latte chats and ULTIMATE events and retreats. Those will be our live events. BUT! Wondering how we will make room for our special homeschool workshops and personal retreats with Cindy? That is where Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club comes in! YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS!

Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club is a monthly premium membership for Talk-a-Latte. What does that mean? It means that you can choose to be a part of our Mommy Club  for only $12.95 per month and you will receive the following each and every month:

Our Talk-a-Latte Audio-of-the-Month!
This audio is ACTUALLY an audio SET of the month. It includes 2-4 (sometimes more) audios on a topic. These sets will become sets in our Online Store. Once they hit the Online Store, they will cost $14.95-29.95. Members get these sets completely edited, with RSS feed (for easy downloads) each and every month as long as they are members. Want to peek at some upcoming AOM sets? Here are just a few that are being planned:

A Year that Counts! (AVAILABLE THIS MONTH–A WOW SET!!)
Secrets to a Passionate, Forever, Happier and Happier Ever Marriage
Get Connected!
No More People Pleasing!
Legacy Letters
Standing Strong
The Path out of the Pit
LIVE Today!
Just Say, “NO!”
Organize Your Life!
Submission: DO WHAT???
Attitude Check!
Mommy Bootcamp
Spring Clean!
A Strong Woman
Fire Up Your Marriage!
From Desert to Dessert!
Christmas on a Shoestring
Put on the Full Armor of God
Taking Care of Mom
Doing ENOUGH???
Just TOO Busy!
Help! I am SO Tired and Weary!
Hey! I Want Consistency, Order, Peace and Quiet!
The Battle Between Your Ears!
Restoring Balance to Completely Overloaded Lives!
Secrets to Abundant, Lavish Living
Know Thy Enemy!
Secrets to Starting Your Day Right
Let’s Get Fit and Healthy!
Midnight, Malls, and Many Letters
Time for a Quiet Time Getaway!
Blessing Blockerscomp
Talk Like a Warrior!
Fill Your Cup Back Up!
Say Goodbye to Super Mom!
PLUS! MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE!!

Each month you will receive access to your download page that will include access to your audios. Plus, that is not all!

Special Pricing on our ULTIMATE events!
Our TAL Mommy Club members will receive 50-75% OFF of all ULTIMATE events sale price! Yes! You probably know that our ULTIMATE events are offered at awesome prices already, but our TAL Mommy Club members will save even more! SURPRISE: Mommy Club Members this month will receive access to our upcoming Ultimate Women’s Expo (February 11-13) as a gift for subscribing this week! We will have regularly surprise bonuses like this!

Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club Shopping Area!
If you have been on my email list for any time at all, you have probably noticed that every year I offer a CRAZY SALE. During our CRAZY SALE, everything is priced at rock-bottom prices. Well, for our TAL Mommy Club premium members, this will now be EVERYDAY prices! Yep! Our Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club members have access to their own shopping area that gives them crazy prices on all of our products all year long! We want to bless our most loyal customers. Not only will you find everything we have to offer listed in one place, but you will be able to grab our resources at the best prices whenever it is your best time. Everything we offer at this time is posted in our shopping area right now–at CRAZY prices!

PLUS! BONUS! BRAND NEW Homeschooling Workshops!
Every month, we will include a brand new homeschool workshop set too! Talk-a-Latte did offer weekly classes for homeschool moms–every Monday night. We are not going to forget all of you who loved to learn with us. Now, we are going to record brand-new workshops just for you and include them on your monthly download page. We will be including topics that will help you all along your journey like:

Scheduling (THIS IS OUR TOPIC THIS MONTH–A SUPER SET!)
Record-keeping
Notebooking
Approaches
Nature Studies
Practical Skills
Quiet times/Discipleship
Fine Arts
Copywork
History
Unit Studies
Great Literature
Narration
Lapbooking
High School
PLUS! MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Want to join the Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club? It is EASY! Just join at our website and  you will become part of our Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club and you will be able to dig into this month’s download page immediately! Join us now:

Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club
$12.95 per month/$99.95 for the whole year!
http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com/MommyClub.html

One more thing!

I am SO excited to be joining my friend, JoJo Tabares for her SAY WHAT YOU MEAN CONVENTION this Wednesday. She asked me to be one of her keynote speakers for her event. You can join me at her website for a super workshop. Hint: I am going to be teaching on how to build a passionate, forever marriage. The part that makes me nervous is that my focus is on communication. OUCH! Do we EVER get that one down???

Make a note to join us live–come and support me dearies! I will not only teach, but I will also be giving out a freebie that will only be accessed there for those who join us AND for those who are subscribers to our Marriage 911 Flight Plans (http://www.CindyRushton.com/FlightPlans.html). You won’t want to miss that one! Here are the details:

Building a Passionate, Forever, Happier and Happier-Ever-After Marriage
with Cindy Rushton
2PM CT/3PM ET
Learn more here: http://www.SayWhatYouMeanConvention.com

Did I say, “BIG WEEK?” Yep! This week is full of wonderful opportunities! Mark your calendar and plan to join us.

Oh! And, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let’s make THIS YEAR COUNT!!

Love,
Cindy

Reading the Bible and praying more is right at the top of Christian womens’ goals and resolutions lists, up there with getting organized and losing weight.  Unfortunately, just like organizing and weight loss aspirations, our best plans and intentions to have daily devotions or quiet times tend to fizzle a few weeks into the year.  What happens?  We’re convinced of the value of spending time getting to know our God through His word.  We’re convinced of the power of prayer in our lives and others’.  How does something this important and desirable keep slipping through the cracks in our days?

One of the ways we unintentionally keep something from happening is making it too difficult or complicated.  Do you admire a friend who is able to read her Bible an hour or two a day?  Or a friend who studies Greek daily?  A favorite author who writes about watching the sun rise as she prays over her day?  All of these things may be good, but do they work for you at this point of your life?  Maybe you have three small children running around and 1 – 2 hours of uninterrupted reading time just isn’t going to happen.  Maybe you are anything but a morning person.  In your mind is anything less than your “ideal” quiet time not worth doing?  In other words, are you making it more difficult than it needs to be?

All you really need to have your quiet time are three things:  A time, a place, and your “stuff” - your Bible and anything else you’re planning to read.  Place and “stuff” are pretty straightforward.  You need a place to sit and read and something to read of course.  Where we usually get messed up is time.  We usually know “what” we want to do, it’s the “when” we have a problem with, as in the “when” just not happening!

Here is a common scenario.  We hear that waking up early to have our quiet time is the best way to go so that’s what we shoot for.  If you’re an “early riser” this can work great, but for the rest of us…  Tell me if this sounds familiar:  You wake up later than you planned (again) and you resolve to get on track and have your quiet time later that morning.  Then “something” happens and you have to put it off until lunch.  Lunchtime ends up being taken up with “something” else and you figure maybe in the afternoon you’ll catch a little time.  Guess what… “something” keeps happening until you’re laying in bed wondering what happened to your quiet time.

So if you don’t get up early in the morning is all lost?  Not at all!  Look at your day and pick the best time that works for you.  Don’t worry about your friend, your favorite author’s schedule, or what you’ve heard is “most spiritual.”  What time of your day tends to be the least hectic and most likely to be somewhat quiet?  The kids’ nap time?   While dinner is in the oven?  My best time is right before bedtime!  It’s quiet, there’s nowhere I have to be, and everyone else is in bed too.  Be creative!  What’s important isn’t the time of day you pick, it’s that you pick a time that works best for your current schedule and that you guard it from invading “somethings”.  The “best” time for your quiet time is the time you can realistically make it happen!  You might have to experiment a bit to find the best time.  Also, have your place picked out and your “stuff” where it needs to be so looking for your Bible and a pen doesn’t end up being a “something” that comes up!

So how long should your quiet time be?  Again, look at what works for you.  I’d love to have two hours a day but in this season of my life when I have four kids, one with special needs, two hours isn’t going to happen on a typical day.  God knows your circumstances and responsibilities – He created your family!  Do what you realistically can.  You can probably get 20 – 30 minutes into your day.  Some days you’ll have more time, some days you’ll have less.  If you can’t find even 20 – 30 minutes, take a look at some other activities you find time for like checking e-mail, web surfing, Facebook, telephone calls, reading…  We make time for these things without thinking twice about it.  Not trying to be legalistic… just something to think about!

It’s not too late to get your prayer and Bible reading resolutions and goals back on track.  Sit down and take a few moments to think about what the best time is for you and make a plan of attack!

Don’t you just LOVE Jennifer? I ADORE HER!

She is one of our speakers at our upcoming (in just a FEW WEEKS) Ultimate Women’s Expo! Don’t miss her! You will be fired, inspired, encouraged, and equipped to make THIS YEAR count! Learn more about our event here: A YEAR THAT COUNTS.

Are you a “night owl” who needs more help making a consistent quiet times happen?  Jennifer Schwilling’s new e-book Night Owl Devotions is all about thinking outside the box to make meaningful devotions a part of a busy mom’s life.  You can visit her on-line at:  http://www.MomsNoChaosZone.com or http://www.DaisyChainDailyCarnival.com

Are you digging into the New Year? Isn’t it great to have a NEW beginning? I LOVE the New Year! This is one of my favorite times of the year because I look back, settle into my present, and look ahead.

We don’t have any live events going on this week, but I am working on some awesome things that I will tell you ALL ABOUT this next week. Get ready! We have a big, big year ahead! Just look around here on the blog for my newest article and recipes. Also, jump into our new Mommy Homework. And, don’t forget to catch up with me next week as we kick off our NEW YEAR!

More then!

Love,
Cindy

Sweet friends, “Me-Time” ain’t a myth! It must be a discipline. It can make or break you.

I was just peeking in at Facebook–I know, I know! I am SUPPOSED to be writing! Well, NOW I am! ha!

I ran across a link to an article that is STILL circulating on the web about the “Me-Time Myth” for moms.

Nice rhetoric. But, interestingly written by a YOUNG mom. I have written many, many things as a young mother. I have NO problem with youth. Just a problem with short-sighted youth. I just wonder what she will think about her ideas as she grows older? I wonder if her children will embrace her teaching on this one–or resent her for this commitment? I wonder how many young mothers will be led astray into the pit of depression or despair because they have embraced this teaching?

This week, my son got married. Of course, this year, I have moved into the “empty nest” years. There is something about this season of motherhood that is strangely more retrospective than ever before. I have evaluated my decisions through the years even more than ever. I think that is why I am SO alarmed by this article. It goes against everything that God has taught me through some very hard, hard times. It goes against everything that I have learned to regret through the years of motherhood.

Want to know what I think looking back?

It is “essential” for young mothers to take time to take good care of themselves. Fail in this area and regardless of your great work, you will fail in all other areas.

Mothers have to be ALL THERE ALL OF THE TIME. No mother can fully be what God has called her to be if she does not take good care of herself all along the journey. She will crash under the load. Everyone will suffer.

Recently, I was at the gym talking with some of the older ladies that were there. (Actually, it is interesting and quite bothersome how few ladies my age or younger are at the gym–perhaps because of those who “slam” the idea of taking care of yourself as being “selfish” or “ungodly” or “worldly” perhaps??? I know that I have heard it A LOT through the years.)

These Titus 2 woman are different from many of the ladies that I see in our culture. They radiate God. They have a peace that I have not seen in a long, long time. They are truly alluring. They are a glory to God. They draw me into biblical womanhood.

When I go to work out, they are usually there cheering me on, noticing my hard, hard work, and sharing wisdom that I need more than ever. They are truly worth far more than rubies!

The other day, they stopped me and commended me for being there, taking good care of myself. I got teary, remembering how much I have changed through the years. Actually, I see things much, much different now than just a year ago. I remember thinking that I just did not have time for ME. I remember thinking that it was just selfish to take so much time to workout. Oh, I was constantly turned inside-out over whether or whether not it was selfish to want to finish my daily quiet time or have a bubble bath ALL TO MYSELF! Now, get an idea of why I teared up?

They began talking about their concerns for the younger women who put themselves on the back-burner and end up very burned out in the midst of the heavy demands of mothering. These precious ladies were talking about how much they wish they had only known how to balance taking care of themselves better while they were on the front lines as young moms. That is my wish for all of you. Where were they when I was young? Oh! To have more godly OLDER woman rise up and teach us how to be godly women!

We need to hear this wisdom more now than ever. Talk to the older women (Titus 2).  Learn from them. Really listen to their regrets. They are key to your life today. They are key to your life many years to come.

Your calling as a godly woman is not a little thing. You have to be ALL THERE. That means that you MUST take good care of yourself–spirit, soul, and body. It is not a selfish thing. It is not as worldly thing. It is an essential. It is a command (see Deuteronomy 6). It is modeled and commanded all throughout Scripture. Even Jesus modeled it in His very busy, hectic, and demanding life.

It is NOT good enough to take care of your spirituality ONLY. God created us in His image–spirit, soul, and body. Yes, He has paid the price for our freedom spiritually, but that is not where He left it. He also paid the price for our freedom mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is not just an extra to take care of ourselves. It is an essential if we are being a good steward of what God has entrusted us to.

I KNOW it is hard. I know that it is a battle to even make time for “Me-Time” in the midst of the heavy demands of managing the godly home. I know that you can feel that it is never quite enough. That is not because it is WRONG, but rather it is because this must be a daily discipline–we all need a daily quiet time (nothing is more important to train your children in than to respect your daily quiet time)…daily time to exercise and take care of yourself physically…daily time to pow-wow with your spouse…a regular investment in relationships with other godly women…on and on! Yes. DAILY.

It must be a priority each and every day before you begin anything else. You MUST have your “daily manna” to feed your spirit, soul, and body. Don’t you think it is interesting that God told His people in Scripture that they were to gather enough manna FIRST for themselves, then for their households, and then for those who came into their tent. Strange  how easy we get this all backwards–give to the world (maybe even our churches), then give leftovers to our families and usually leave ourselves anorexic and starving to death in the background. And, manna is not just about “spiritual things.” It was LITERAL FOOD that God provided. A daily food.

I think this teaching on the woes of “Me-Time” just  “punches my buttons” because I failed in this area of my life when the kids were very young. I denied myself to the point that I did crash. I sacrificed for everyone else, thinking that it was the “godly thing” to do. It took the ramifications from this lifestyle to get my attention: depression and sickness.

I bought the “lie” that it was “godly” and “dying to myself” to take care of everyone else but ME. I did not believe that “ME-TIME” was important until I was in the pit. My biggest lesson from the pit was that if I do not set aside time for MOM, there is a very weak mom up against a “strongman” and that is not God’s best. That is not God’s will. Our Heavenly Father has called us to be “Virtuous” women. That means that we will be “armed and ready for battle.” No one is armed and ready for the battle when they push their limits and refuse to invest anything into themselves. A good soldier must be fully prepared and strong at all times– Army strong: spirit, soul, and body.

I can certainly understand the reasoning behind the “Me-Time Myth.” However, the secret is not in becoming a mommy martyr, denying the needs that we all have and must be honest about. The secret is learning how to balance the huge demands that we face as a godly women–learning what to let go of anything that hinders us from running the race and pressing toward the mark (Those extra activities for the kids, perhaps? Running on empty? Doing “the stuff” instead of the most important things?) and learning how to really soak in and enjoy the precious gifts we have–whether that time is ALONE or surrounded by all of our treasures.

It IS tough! But, it is essential if we are going to become the godly women that God created us to be.

So, sweet friends, I come to you as an older woman (eek!). I challenge you to look beyond the rhetoric and learn from God and the teachers He is sending into your lives–Titus 2 teachers. Be balanced. Let the stuff go that keeps you from being able to “BIBLICALLY” take good care of yourself. Don’t fall for either lie–the selfish lie that it is all about you OR the “Pharisee’s” lie that you are called to be a mommy martyr during this season. Really think about what your children are learning at this time–do you want for THEM to live like YOU? I want for my children to live an abundant life and have ALL Christ died to give them. That begins with loving themselves–otherwise they can never love others…or God. I am their greatest teacher. I pray that I teach this lesson well!

A different perspective…

Love ya!
Cindy

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks…” Proverbs 31: 17

PS…Any comments older women (or younger women–looking on our lives?)????