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Blog: It's good to be back!
 What do you do with your free time? Could you Coast?
So, I assume from the title some of you are ROFL saying "Melissa, WHAT free time?" Yea, yea, me too a few years ago, but I sat down for the first time this week since having my boys 7 yrs ago and realized I in deed have free time, furthermore, I've always had free time! But, did I make the most of it?
After taking baby steps all these years with a long term goal and a husband in agreement we seemed to have reached it. We had a 5 yr plan after Owen was born, I would stay at home with him until he started Kindergarten and then I would grow my own business or go back to work. I had no idea WHAT I was going to do but I gave it to God. All I knew was that after 7 years in the newspaper industry I was NOT going to go back to work as a full time career mom! It is quite funny when I look back over the years we stayed pretty steady. I spent all that time distracted, focusing on this business realizing I made it work but did I get the most out of my time of being a stay at home mom. I ended up working more and longer hours but I was home when they were home, right? That is how I always looked at it. But
I never took time for myself, I rarely committed to a new hobby, I didn't really do any cooking Bayne did most of it, and most nights I fell asleep before the 10 o'clock news was on leaving NO time for my poor supportive husband.
The relationship I now have with the Father is growing by leaps and bounds. We committed our lives to Jesus Christ the year our second son was born. Our lives have changed so dramatically since then but one thing is obvious. It had a course and we stayed true to it. We are in a unique position to allow me to continue to stay at home. I could cook, work at the therapy farm with the kids and the horses, I could volunteer more with women's groups and church activities. There are lots of things I could do. I would certainly like to lighten my Lula load and write more. I would like to cut it to a project every 4-6 weeks. Space them out more. If I control my anxiety and try not to let the OCD takeover (close to counting 1-2-3 as I turn off the coffee pot, that's bad!) I could have a remarkable life. I could be there for my children, there for my husband, there for my church, there for my friends, there for my passions, there for my clients, there for my children's teachers, there for "me"time! Could it really work this perfectly? I started drawing and painting again a few weeks ago and even bought a new sketchbook which is something I did daily 20 years ago. I felt good about it!
Having been at that farm this past week really heals me too. I cannot wait for the first ride of the new fall season. I truly enjoy what I do with my time. It warms my heart to know that when my kids are sick I can clear my day and change it at a moment's notice. But I don't like having unstructured time. Tuesday, I was home and got bored very quickly.
While the last few years I have worked extremely hard and witnessed some very humbling moments with complete strangers, I've taken inventory on my own life and processes to be the most efficient I can be, I realize it all worked into a nice little package that brings me where I am today.
The other day my mother, in her mid 70's, suggested I seek out a career with the state, or maybe the post office. So well meaning I love my mother, but it was a little bit crushing at the same time. While I would certainly go back to punching a time card if we needed the income…I just cannot justify it. So for now I am completely okay with coasting. Making my way much like we decided to do in 2005...let God have it and see what He wants me to do. Focusing on my family and my health and pursuing that which I only feel passionately about. The rest will work itself out in my free time!
posted on: 8/19/2010 2:00:00 PM by Melissa Searcy
category: Family
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It's good to be back!
by Melissa Searcy
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About Melissa:
Melissa Searcy is a professional organizer and independent decorator now living in Jasper, AL. Formerly of Montgomery, Melissa owns Lulagrace Interiors where she was a regularly featured guest on morning television and had articles featured in the local newspaper and many local monthly publications. For more information you may visit her at www.lulagrace.com. Melissa is also a member of the Facebook community at Facebook.com/melissa.searcy or on Twitter at Twitter.com/LulagracePO.
Melissa's Website:
www.lulagraceinteriors.blogspot.com
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