The other day, I did an online interview for the release of my book, Sapphire Ice.  The first question was, “Tell us a little bit about yourself.”

I started typing the words, “I’m a homemaker…” when I realized that wasn’t right.  Well, it IS right, it just isn’t complete.  For the first time in my life, I wrote the words, “I’m a full time writer who manages two blogs and writes Christian romance novels.”

The last several months have seen a drastic change in my life:

1.  Gregg came home.  That’s number one.  He’s never worked where we live before, and it’s been a beautiful and amazing time establishing a “normal” life.
2. We put Scott in preschool 2 days a week.  I’ve always always always been geared for homeschooling.  That may come back, but for now the plan is to keep him where he is.  Next year, he starts kindergarten full time, and Jeb will go to the same school two days a week for preschool.
3. We decided to self publish my books.  That required starting a different blog, marketing, joining different writer groups, and seriously buckling down with writing and editing time.

Since the end of summer, every time I think I had my schedule structured, we did something different and caused a new upheaval to all that is “normal”.

I think we’ve finally stabilized.  God willing, there won’t be any more major life altering changes made in the near future.  Which has allowed me to actually create a schedule, work through it, and find what works for me.

Despite how I answered a question in an interview, the term “homemaker” as it applies to me is vitally important.  My walk with God, my marriage to my amazing husband, my wonderful children — that all must be first.  This home, where my family lives and loves, must run smoothly and with order.  Whole food, real food, non-processed food still must be served to my family three meals a day.  My home must still be a center of hospitality, where people are always welcome for a cup of coffee or a meal.

If I can’t balance all of that with this new “I’m a full time writer”, then that will have to go or will have to take a SERIOUSLY smaller roll in my life.

The good news is that I’d worked such a strict schedule out for homeschooling that is no longer necessary, so that was ready to be made available in my day.  Unfortunately, the kind of work that is required to write and to market has me with my head stuck in this laptop all day long.  Not so easy to balance with two small children at home.  I’m interrupted all day long, and if I’m lucky, I get thirty minutes of work done at a time before the next interruption.  Case in Point:  I started writing this blog post at 7AM.  It is currently 10:46AM.

I’ve compromised in a few places.  It’s what I can do for now, and will get better as Scott and Jeb are in school more starting in August.  I still do my 3 Chores You Should Do Every Morning and my 3 Chores You Should Do Every Night.  I cannot compromise with that.  I still cook real food, whole food, non-processed food.  I cannot compromise with that.

But, I haven’t gone for a good run in weeks (and, I’m here to testify that a 40-year-old woman need not skip out on her focused exercise — nope).  I keep forgetting to make bread and end up tossing ingredients into the bread machine (which isn’t even mine — I bought it for my mom!  Sorry, Mom!  I promise I’ll have it with me the next time I come see you!  HAHA) and letting it make the bread for me.  Kaylee has been handed more chores and some laundry duties (not necessarily a bad thing), and I’ve started molding the boys to get ready for more responsibility (again – a good thing that wouldn’t have happened because I’m a micro manager and try to do everything).

I keep my laundry schedule, but get caught up in my day and don’t fold it.  That creates days like today where I’ll spend several hours folding and ironing.  I don’t think that’s so bad, because it makes me get up, away from the screen.  I’m pretty much maintaining picking up and straightening the house daily, but reserving the heavy cleaning for one day a week — preferably a Saturday when Gregg and Kaylee can help.

Changes are happening, but they’re all good.  I keep missing days to post here.  That will get better, too.  Launching and marketing is a lot of work, and I have three books coming out in a three month time period.  The summer should help even that out for me, because I won’t do another release until September.

My biggest problem is that I have a dozen things whirling about in my head at any given time — things I need to do, reminders, appointments, recipes, ideas…my brain is never resting easy and it makes me feel chaotic.  Hopefully, that will find balance, too.

How have you been?  I really miss you.

Hallee

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