Finding balance

It is easy to get caught up in the mountain of paper work! Thankfully I am pretty good at staying organized and keeping track of things. To-do lists and lists of all my to-do lists are just a regular part of my life. Excel is a wonderful tool and I am using it extensively! Keeping track of what items are needed, which documents are ordered, which ones we have, how long certain ones will take to collect and how much each little things costs is enough to make anyone crazy! Our home study list is just as long! 
While we are still just in the beginning phase of our journey, we are thankful for the extensive network of resources we have at our disposal. I am spending approximately 4-5 hours a day just on research and documentation collection. Reading up on requirements, the best way to obtain certain documents, and studying Chinese culture and food! It is almost a full time job!
While adding all this new "work" to my schedule I am just so thankful for what the last couple years have taught me. 

A little history:
Just over a year ago I had a packed full schedule. I am a mom of two teens, a wife, stay at home mom and teacher of my teens (homeschool), a college student myself at the local community college studying Culinary Arts and Food Service Management, Bible Study Coordinator and member of our Woman2Woman ministry at our church, playing in a weekly volleyball league and baking specialty cakes on the side plus everything else required of a mom and wife inside the home! I can tell you.... I was burnt out! 
I decided to knock everything extra off my plate that did not involve my husband and kids and learned to say "No". I thought I had to say yes to everything that was asked of me. I didn't want to disappoint those who knew I had skills to perform certain tasks. I love to serve, I love to minister, I love doing things for others. I was taking care of everyone else, but not taking care of myself. 
It is ok to say "No". I needed to hear that. I needed to believe that I did not have to be involved in everything. God will take care to have others step up when I can't add that one more responsibility. God will provide for someone else who has been waiting to be asked to help, an opportunity to do so. It is my responsibility to do what God calls me to do but not to the point of burn out! 

Now a year later I am realizing how God was changing my spirit to be more aligned with Him. I was so busy and concerned about getting approval from those around me that my own quiet time was almost non-existent. What I needed most was God's approval and love. Now that I have only a few commitments outside the home I am able to have more time to spend with my teens. I make time to spend with God. I have a better relationship with my husband and don't feel as rushed to get things done. I am not stressed about getting everything just right.

Now, I do have a lot of things to accomplish each day and more now going through this adoption process, but I have been able to find some of that balance. Balance between what the world is asking of me, and balance of what God wants me to do for His kingdom. I have my crazy busy days, but thankfully most of my days are just right! God is working on my heart and each day I am learning to lean on Him. I know that when this process is complete and we have our new daughter home with us, there will be challenges and change. I am praying that I imprint God's words on my heart so that I have them to lean on through the tough days ahead.

Psalm 92:1-5 

1 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!