Stressed! It's the New Busy.

I long for a simpler life I really do. Those who know me well know that I speak often of moving to the country and becoming Amish, or to a remote beach where I homeschool my family and we eat the fish and mangos that we harvest. But what I am really in search of is a simpler life, a slower pace with less busyness and less stress. I desire more down time and family time. Our pastor speaks frequently about how "busy" is the new norm. When did this happen? When did being over scheduled mean power and popularity?  When did complaining about your lack of free time make you seem cool and more successful than actually having free time? Not only is busy the new norm but I think we have done ourselves one better and now it seems as though "stressed" is the new busy.As my girlfriend and I were running the other morning we discussed this very concept and how we could possibly buy back some time and stop the madness. For me it boils down to three issues. Time, and how to use it wisely, technology and how to draw boundaries with it, and Truth, how to seek it. Time....My friends and I talk a lot about the upcoming month of  May. I even blogged about it  last year. Click here to read about crazy May and the Mayhem that ensues. I am usually done with everything and everyone, stressed and worn out by then and really feeling the need for a change from our routine. I need some 'oomph" to get through the month and a proverbial shot in the arm.  Somehow it feels like  the "May Mayhem" came last year and over-stayed it's welcome like a bad house guest. Our summer was way too over scheduled, the sports seasons seem to run longer and start sooner, not leaving us  much of a summer break. Then back to school, holidays holidays holidays, throw in the flu for a few kiddos and boom we are up to speed. I stand here looking May in the face thinking, "Hey, you never really left!"   Where does the time go? Where do the months go? It seems as if there is always something coming along to pull me in the wrong direction or suck up any amount of free time I may have left.It is true.There is always something.It reminds me of when my Dad tried to help me with a budget (God bless him.) He said, "Set some money aside each month for emergencies because there is always something. If every single nickel and dime is accounted for every month you will get into trouble." Perhaps I can find a way to set aside some extra time, carve it out, covet it, protect it, even if I have to say "No" to seemingly good commitments because there is always something to say "Yes" to. Why is it that we feel the need to use up every minute of everyday leaving us exhausted with out any free time for each other?I am committing to make family time a priority no matter what it takes. It is hard with a big family. But I will say "No" to things, many things if I have to and draw boundaries. Down time is so important and necessary for the health of  my family.Technology ....  It adds to our stress. In Richard Swenson's book The Overload Syndrome,(which I read years ago and HIGHLY recommend), he implies that we do not need to be such slaves to technology. Who says I have to be available all the time in an instant? People will post on Facebook that their phone has died so to FB them if you need to get a hold of them. Really? Then two hours later they post that the phone is working now... Phewf!  When we are slaves to technology with no boundaries, It feels to me as if we bring home every single person we work with or go to school with. All the kids in the lunch room and on the bus, come home with you via Twitter and Instagram. Your clients sit at the table with you and go to bed with you if you never "unplug". It does not allow for any down time. I want to leave work at work and school at school and come together as a family.  Some nights I will look around and everyone has their face in a device of some sort. Quiet, yes. Peaceful...not so sure. Our souls are stressed and our spirits are being taxed. I have said before that I want my home to be a safe place, a calm place, the place where we recharge and refuel before we go back out. I have been doing a crazy thing! As soon as I know that the whole family is under one roof for the night or the weekend, I turn off my phone. Completely off! I challenged my hubby to do it as well. I will also shut the computer screen when a child is talking to me, not just nod and keep typing. "Uh huh... uh huh."I have had my kids yell, " MOM, look at me! "May it never be so again.I set limits for the kids during the day, (every family is different) and ask them all to turn off and of course unplug for the night.  I need to model this if it is going to be the standard in my home. I want family to be more important, more fun and more entertaining than what's on line. As life gets busier and faster, we need to be more adamant about finding rest and peace and serving it up for our family.Truth.... I find myself often saying. " How does everyone else do it?" I know others are living like this. Running on empty. There has got to be someone doing it successfully. Right?  Maybe, but the question that begs an answer is this, "What has God calledme to do with mytime and my family?"  What does He want me to say " No" to and "Yes" to?  It may be different than my neighbor and my friend or the gal that looks like she has it all together. (Watching you seek theTruth may even help others be honest with themselves.)  I want to hear God tell me what to do with my time then there will be grace to do the things He has set before me. It  seems like a great skill to model for my children. I want them to take their schedules and life choices before the Lord as well so they can feel confident about their future. The Bible has so much to say about how to be wise with our time. Here is just a taste.Make the most of your time because the days are evil. Learn to number your days and be wise. Walk and talk together about the things of God, often. The enemy wants to kill steal and destroy, but God brings life and abundance. My favorite: Keep God's commands and length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you!!  Length of days? Years of life? Peace? Sign me up!I am taking the family schedule before God in prayer. Asking Him what works and what doesn't. What does He want us to add and even subtract. What would He have us do with our time. All of it!I do believe that we can redeem the time back from a busy and stressed lifestyle even in this day and age. Especially in this day and age! It may take some work but it is work I am willing to put in, seeking the Truth and asking God to bring peace and rest, joy and abundance back into our families.Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have  for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.