Whether you are a high school or college student, a young mom, or a mom like me with some all grown up and a few still getting ready to leave the nest…we need a plan for our life. Time passes so quickly. I was just in a high school classroom and a quote on the wall struck me, “We won’t remember the days, but we will remember the moments.” It is so important for us to be offensive in the way life our lives and not defensive, simply responding to whatever comes our way each day.

We have heard that the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. It is a good idea for us to look at our days, weeks, and years in the same way. Make a plan and stick to it. Here is an outline that I use in my own life. I like to see it written out, so I still use a real live planner that I can hold, consider, and adjust.

Planning our days:

• Consider things that build you up and strengthen you. (quiet time and exercise)
• Consider things that build your spouse up and strengthen him. (a few minutes to himself when he comes home, or time to play with the kids)
• Consider things that will build up and strengthen your marriage (time to be together when kids go to bed)
• Consider things that build up and strengthen your family (Plan meals for every day. It helps to clean a different part of the house each day.)
• Consider things that build up and strengthen the kids. (Have a set time to wake up, nap, take baths, go to bed at night. Dinner at the table. Time to work on homework.)

Planning our weeks:

• Go through and add practices, school programs, art class, dance class, etc to your calendar.
• Add a one day a week Mother’s Day out for preschool kids if money will allow. This is a great chance for them to have friend time and for you to run errands, have coffee with a friend, or just a little quiet.
• Go to church every Sunday (hopefully with your spouse, but if they won’t go, then you take the kids) and take the kids to a Wednesday night program if your church has something for your kids’ ages. This is a great chance for you to have time as a couple as well.
• Plan a “Date night” each week, even if it is just watching a movie and popcorn after kids are in bed to avoid a sitter…but still a set “Date”

Planning our years:

• During nap time, look into possible degrees you could get or other aspirations you can pursue. The years will pass quickly whether you do something like this or not.
• Think forward on parenting. Spending some time thinking about each child and considering what their strengths and maybe weaknesses are. Parent based on each individual child. Their “bent” will determine what activities you put them in and the way you communicate with them. For example, one child may be a little unsure and insecure. Being on time and not speaking sarcastically to them will be very important. Write down specific scripture for each child and pray over them during this time.
• Think forward about your marriage. What do you want your marriage to look like in 6 months? Three years? 10 years? Pursue your marriage on purpose.

I hope this helps. It definitely keeps me moving forward. Sure, there are days, I don’t want to do the laundry or spend time journaling, but I am committed to the plan and I want to live my life with purpose. Every day. Each week and each year.

My love,

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