"You were serious?"...The comment that make my week

Last month I toyed with the idea of blogging less. There wasn't one particular reason that brought this on, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I found myself asking my parents and Ed, "How did I survive last year editing, revising, working with the editor, marketing, and speaking in addition to working full-time and life as wife, mother, and daughter?"

My parents chuckled and gave all the right answers from a parent's perspective: you're organized, you set a goal and didn't let anything get in your way of reaching the April 3, 2013 release date, and it wasn't work -- it was a mission to share hope and Heidi with others.

Aren't my parents wonderful? I think so too. I agreed with them yet it still seemed like there was something more to it but since I couldn't figure out what it was I decided to take a break from the blog and see if I could figure out what was different.

Someone said, "You were serious? I didn't think you could stop blogging and only do it a few times a week, it's in you. I hope you are enjoying your break but I wanted you to know I miss reading your blogs everyday." To say I was touched is an understatement. So is this why I'm blogging now? No.

It's taken a few weeks but I've figured out what is different. In addition to a couple personal issues that need not be on the blog, I've let the exhaustion of life get to me. Instead of getting up a little earlier to enjoy a few moments of quiet time, I'm hitting the snooze until there's barely enough time to make the coffee, do the dishes, and a load of laundry before racing out the door for work.

Once God started to reveal this to me I decided to make some baby step changes in the morning, I didn't get so far removed over night so I can't expect a miracle turn around yet it has to start somewhere. My first change was to read from the coffee devotional instead of playing the bubble popping game. I'm trying (and I'm such a creature of habit this is more of a challenge, lol) to utilize quiet time as it fits our current schedule rather than stressing over missing it in the morning. God doesn't care if I read the Bible at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m. He doesn't care if I journal first thing or later in the day. Do I prefer it first thing in the morning? Yes, but it isn't about the time on the clock - it's just enjoying, embracing, and savoring the "time with God" -- not logging the hours, if that makes sense.

Another aspect of the blog I didn't think about until today when author, and friend, Michelle Weidenbenner posted the following on her Facebook page: "28,677 words written this month. What about my writer friends? Are you on target to reach your goals this month?" I originally planned to gift my parents a book for Christmas so I thought a break from the blog would free up more "writing time"...Not so much. I'm not one to count how many words I write per month but there is one thing I know, since cutting back on the blog -- if I was to count the number of words written in my "break", they've traveled in the opposite direction rather than in the positive direction. Thanks Michelle for this great question today, I needed it. Still not sure I'm setting a monthly writing goal yet to write is a goal.

If you are wondering if the blog is returning to a daily routine, I don't know. Life still feels a bit crazy and out of control but I'm moving in a forward direction and praying God is going to lead, provide, and help us through it. God called me to write and speak. When I do these things for Him I am blessed above and beyond anything I can imagine. So if you would like to join us in prayer, it is appreciated. Pray for God's will, leading, blessing, and for a couple unspoken requests at this time.

Please don't worry, nothing serious as it compares to the grand scheme of life...just some things aren't meant for public posting, if you know what I mean. Thanks again.

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What have you been up to? What are your plans for the next week?