Confession--I am not Superwoman (Updated with photo)

I am taking a small break from my "Why I Homeschool" series because I woke up with something else on my mind today. I had been dreaming that I couldn't find any clean clothes to wear to work and had ended up wearing a white leotard, a denim skirt, a red, lacy shirt over the leotard, and a diaper. I dreamed that after I got to work I remembered that my work uniform is supposed to be blue on top and khaki or brown on the bottom, and that red wasn't part of the dress code. I also dreamed that I was late because I forgot I was supposed to go to work and that I had been late several times for the same reason and was in danger of being coached.

I'm sure I dreamed that because I have a laundry pile the size of Mount Rushmore by the hide-a-bed in our home office. I'm not ashamed to admit it, because at least it's clean laundry. I've had times in my life when it wasn't. You see, my husband and I work opposite shifts so that our kids don't spend all day by themselves. One ingredient that I've always felt is very important to homeschooling is having a parent at home to teach the kiddos. The result is that I am gone nearly every evening, which is the best time of day to fold and put away laundry. That's when I transfer the mountain to the couch in the living room, pop in a nice long DVD, and sort it all. It usually takes at least two hours just to sort by the time we get around to it.

Some people ask why my husband doesn't do it. He tries, bless his heart, but he doesn't know the difference between my clothes and my kids' clothes. Last time he sorted laundry my seven-year-old son ended up with every one of my socks. I have taken great pains to make sure every child has a different brand and color of socks, but he can't keep them straight to save his life.

You may be wondering by now why I'm telling you all this. I do a lot of things. I homeschool. I work. I am a full-time college student. I minister alongside my husband at church. And I find time to blog. Some people are amazed that I find time for all this. As much as I'd like everyone to think that I am just a really amazing person capable of doing it all, I am sharing this story about my laundry today to confess to you that I am not Superwoman. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

We all only have 24 hours in a day, and we all have to choose how to fill those hours. I have chosen to fill my 24 hours rather full, but in all honesty I wouldn't recommend taking on as much as I have. It's just that for the life of me I can't figure out anything that I'm willing to drop right now. But the truth is, I do not "do everything." As much as it pains me to admit it, there are some things I have let go. There are things that I do a halfway job on, and things that do not get done at all. The laundry is one of those tasks that is not top priority in this house. I also did not put out a garden this year. In fact, we bought some blocks to build a retaining wall for a flower garden out front about a year and a half ago, and they are all still sitting on that pallet where Menards delivered them. I haven't finished the curtains in the living room that I started two years ago. I rarely make breakfast anymore. This year I cheated and bought a gingerbread house kit instead of making it from scratch like I usually do. We've even decided not to send out Christmas cards this year. During the semester when school is in session, I give up just almost all of my hobbies--quilting, reading, and even playing Facebook games. Every time I log into My Sims Social my poor Sim is sad, hungry, tired, and dirty because I've neglected her.

On the other hand, there are two very important things that I have found I cannot neglect. The first is my physical health. No matter how busy I am, I make sure to get my sleep at night and to eat healthy foods. I absolutely could not handle the workload I have right now if I did not maintain my health.

The second thing is my spiritual health. I have been guilty of neglecting that from time to time, and when I do, everything else in my life goes downhill. My relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing to me--more important than my kids, more important than continuing my education, more important than work--even more important than the ministry. If I put that on the back burner, as it is so easy to do, I find quickly that I cannot handle all of the other things I have to do. It seems counterintuitive sometimes, because when I am short on time I don't feel like I can afford to spend time with the Lord. But when I put Him first, He makes up the difference. He gives me strength and energy. He helps put everything into perspective and reminds me of what is important. Without His help, I could not do everything I do. Even though He does not demand my attention like everything else around me, He is the One who deserves it the most.

I am not Superwoman, but I serve a Super God. With Him, I can do all things--or at least all that He's asked me to do. Everything else--well, let's just say that digging through the laundry pile for clean clothes never hurt anyone.