We’re In Guideposts Magazine!

We’re in Guideposts Magazine!

There are times when I have to pinch myself. This month is one of those times.

When a magazine arrives in your mailbox and your family’s photo is tucked inside with a story about said family– it’s pinching time.

A few months ago, Marci Seither contacted me. She’s one of Guideposts freelance writers and pitched our Radical Sabbatical story to their editor. Marci is also a writer-friend of mine and we may have spent a few hours complaining chatting it up about millennial-aged kids.

Marci and I talked about the possibility of a story on us and whamo…the professional photographer and her assistant were standing at our front door. Here’s a tip for your next photo shoot: when a paid photographer brings in a truckload of equipment to set up in your home–you will fret about what everyone is wearing BUT YOURSELF. 

Guideposts magazine runs with an big idea to focus on every year. One year it was military families, another year it focused on caregivers  and this year their whole year will be geared towards strengthening families.

Their kick-off story is on a topic and the one thing distracting and tearing apart families all over America–BUSYNESS.

That’s where we come in.

Many moons ago our family took a radical sabbatical. We made a serious decision to get off the merry-go-round. We were all dizzy from running all over the place and I was wondering when I’d become a personal social director with her own taxi company. For twelve months we took our kids out of sports, music lessons and anything else I had to leave the house and drive them to.

What began as a choice in our home became an experiment with miraculous results….and a book.

Our family lived out this sabbatical from 2006 to 2007. I had no idea the Lord would continue to shine a light on that time for us.

If you’re here because you read our story this month, or because you heard about a family of people who chose one year to stop complaining about their busyness and do something about it, then welcome.

The benefits of those months played a part in building the foundation we stand on today.

You Might Need a Radical Sabbatical If…

• You look at your bustling calendar with dread.

• You are in your car more than in your home.

• You think country music counts as devotion time.

• You spend money on your kids instead of time.

• You haven’t been alone with your hubby in weeks.

There’s a Bible verse I pray quite often. “Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom.” Time cannot be multiplied. It’s only subtracted each day from our life. What are you spending your time doing?

Jesus makes it clear that He desires a relationship with us. Do you find it surprising that we spend our gift of time doing anything and everything with little lasting value when it comes to our kids?  When all along, what they really want is some face-to-face attention and our time.

I’m praying that this article hits it’s bulls-eye.  I want you to find yourself asking for wisdom on ways to destroy busyness and strengthen your family this year.

Time is short.  Why not do something a little radical?

 

P.S. Enjoy a FREE study guide when you read through Just Too Busy–Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. Contact me when you get your group together because I’d LOVE to Skype your gathering!

P.S.S. I’ll be leading a Busy Mom video study beginning January 19th. Sign up for my newsletter to be a part of the fun.

P.S.S.S. (Is this even a thing?) If you found me from the article this month in Guideposts Magazine–WELCOME! Want to know a little more about our sabbatical? Tune in and listen to my interviews on Family Life.