Life is all about choices.
We all are given different opportunities each and every day. Some times those things have very clear answers in what we should do. Then there are times neither way you go is wrong. These are the times I need to watch myself closely.
Over the past 7 years I have been blogging, I have seen my desire and passion change. The first few years were random posts since it was just a hobby.
Then 3 years ago my husband went into full time ministry, and God used this hobby of mine to become a full-time job. It has been fun and exciting to see where and what God has done with my blog.
I love sharing random bits and pieces from our life along with the recipes we eat. As I continued in this job, I started working with brands and slowly all my thoughts and time began to become consumed with this job. This was a job that I finally loved and was good at. I threw myself in to it with all I had hoping to make this blog a happening business. The competitive side of me loves a good challenge.
But that success I was looking for never came. The blog only grew to a certain point. It was frustrating to me that I was putting in so many hours without seeing results. I started to compare myself to others. I wondered why if I was doing the same thing as other why the traffic wasn't there. The problem was that I had started to focus on how I could do things, instead of relying on God to do it. I had to stop myself and learn to be content where things were.
Philippians 4:11 "I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in." ISV
This summer I made a promise to myself that work was not going to happen before the kids went to school. I want to be present in the morning to help our kids be ready for the school day. So far, with just a few exceptions this has been a goal I have kept.
My other goal has been to close the computer when they get home from school. My first and foremost job is a wife and mother, and I feel like over the past few years I have slacked off some. Don't get me wrong! I love my husband and kids something fierce, and I will go into mama bear mode if provoked.
Somewhere along the journey my job had taken over.
I'm the kind of person that goes in with 110% on any project or job I do. I believe wholeheartedly that this is a skill/talent God has blessed me with. But I also think He expects me to use it wisely. Work will always be there. My time with my family needs to be guarded and spent wisely.
That means when opportunities come up I need to be more careful with saying yes.
I don't feel like God is telling me to give up what I'm doing, but I'm feeling like I need to put clear boundaries up for work. I had a huge travel opportunity lately that I said yes to. It was in a beautiful place with lots of fun people.
But it caused me to miss all three kid's last sports games.
I wasn't home to help my daughter study for tests she had in classes she struggles with.
I wasn't home to pray with and support my husband over good changes in our life.
This realization ended up being a costly choice I made. I even came home a day early because all this was eating me up and making me sick to my stomach. We have a lot of unanswered questions in life right now and being home with my family was more important than any vacation or trip.
I definitely feel God working in my heart to make sure work isn't taking over.
My desire is to be the best wife and mother...not the best blogger and baker. My family is important to me, and I want them to know it.
I want our kids to remember all the fun things we did together, NOT the fun things or trips that I got from work.
I want to experience life and places with my family beside me. We are in a season of our life where we need each other. Who knows what God is doing?!?! But I know that if we are together and united, we cannot fail.
There are only two choices on the shelf...loving God or loving self.
I want to show my kids that choosing God's way is the best thing you can do in life. Things we do for ourself will only last a short time, but pleasing God will last forever.
So from now on, my time blogging will be done in a timely matter. Then the computer is going off and I will spend the rest of the day being the wife and mother that God intended me to be. There will always be things to do work wise, but it can wait until the next work day.
I think this is the best thing I can for my business right now!
Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." NIV
kentuckylady717
Great article...your kids are beautiful, your husband is so good looking and you are so cute....what a beautiful family you have.. you are doing something right 🙂
Jocelyn
Thank you so very much!!!!
Jenn@eatcakefordinner
Jocelyn - you are amazing 🙂
Jocelyn
Jenn - I puffy heart love you!!!! 🙂
Rachel
Thank you for sharing your heart with us! I love following your blog.
-Rachel in Taiwan 🙂
Jocelyn
Thank you so much for following along. I am so glad you enjoyed this post!!!!
Chels+R.
This is what I strive to do in my family and so far I've done I think pretty well. I don't have a lot of job opportunities knocking at my door and my traffic isn't what I want it to be, but I try not to think about it much. I check my traffic once a day (my husband more because he's the tech behind the blog) and I'm just trying to be content. For us, the blog has been very much a family project and that's pretty cool. You're on the right track and your family will flourish from these choices 🙂
Jocelyn
Keep those family priorities first and enjoy each other in the process, and all the rest falls into place. All the opportunities and traffic aren't really all it's cracked up to be. The money is nice, but the time it takes to get there really is a lot. I have felt more relaxed since pulling back on some things. God knows what we need and will provide it...it's all about trusting Him in every area.
Diane
You have been "listening" to God's sweet & quiet voice I see! You and your family will be all the better for your decision. I was a stay at home mom of 6 and I earned a small income longarm quilting for other quilters, so that I could be creative and have my own spending money. I could only work when my kids were at school. Believe me when I tell you, that they grow up so fast. Thank you for sharing your faith, and may God bless you all!
Jocelyn
Thank you so much! It's always so rewarding when we listen to that still small voice of God prompting us to make changes!!!
Lucy
Hi Jocelyn
Family always comes first and that's how I operate too. That's why I changed my job from full-time to part-time and now I feel much happier and content in my life. Good on you for making this decision.
Lucy
XX
Jocelyn
Thank you so much, Lucy. I totally agree with you. I have felt so much more relaxed about work and the responsibilities I put on myself since sharing this. I'm glad to hear that doing the same for you made you feel happier and more content too!!!!
Maureen Blackburn
Love this
Jocelyn
Thank you!!!!
Mrs. T
Love this post, Jocelyn! I love your blog and have followed via email for quite some time. I've linked to many of your recipes on my own blogs over time. One thing I have always enjoyed about your blog is that you share your faith and your family life along with recipes. To me, that actually makes your blog stand out (in a good way) from other cooking/baking/recipe blogs out there. You can tell when someone just writes a quick post to make it fit with a sponsor or whatever. Yours aren't like that... one can tell that you do give 110%.
That said, I do believe that you are making right choices by putting your husband and family ahead of work. God will bless you for it -- maybe not financially (but maybe so) --- but definitely you will reap the blessings with your precious family. I'll look forward to reading your posts whenever they hit my inbox ... even if that isn't as often as before. God bless you all!
Jocelyn
This comment truly made me smile. I am so glad to hear that you can tell from my writing how much my God and my family mean to me. I always wonder if it shows to others. I know financially this isn't going to be the best thing to do, but I also know that money isn't everything and I'm ok with that. I want my family to know how much they mean to me!!!
Debbie
Thank you for posting this blog in particular. It really touched my heart. It also reminded me that I need to put God and my family before the many jobs I have.
Jocelyn
You are so very welcome. I am encouraged that I did the right thing in sharing because it seemed to help so many others. It's easy to get our priorities out of focus, but I know we can get it back on track.
Fernanda Mahuzier
Jocelyn,
I've been following you and baking your recipes for years now. I'm speaking for myself (and I think all followers will agree), but you don't how much I'm gonna miss you.
I'm not a mother and certainly not a blogger. But your family must always be a priority, no matter what. I hope your decision will give you that piece of mine you have being wanted.
Sorry if my English is rusty, but I'm not a native English speaker.
Love,
Fernanda.
Jocelyn
I am so glad to hear that you have been making my recipes over the years. I'm still going to be blogging and sharing recipes...I'm just going to be a lot more conscience of the time I'm putting into it. 🙂
Fernanda
I'll keep enjoying your writing and your recipes then, honey. Balance your life... an intelligent determination.
Cathy Vauters
Love your honesty and humility, love the challenge given!
Jocelyn
Thank you so much! It is truly humbling to see how many people were encouraged by this post!!!
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting
When I read this post it was like you were speaking about me. God first, then family, then blogging. Every time I change the pattern, things go wrong. Also we're only "a Mom" for a very short time in our lives and that's more important than anything. Good on you for choosing the right (only) way!
Jocelyn
It's so easy to get that order in the wrong spots! And it's so easy to point out what went wrong when we change it up. The kids grow up so fast, so I want them to remember me being there...not me working all the time!! I'm glad you and I are on the same page here!!!
judith matulewicz
Beautiful blog. Family first. Nothing like having a mother around to be with you in all things. Your husband and children are lucky in your choice.
Jocelyn
Thank you so much!!!!
Loretta
I want to thank you for posting such a heartfelt message. You stated what your heart was telling you and what God has planned for you in such a way to I'm sure you set a chain reaction of positive thought in all that read your blog. I know that I forwarded it on to 5 of my closest friends.
Keep blogging but in your free time.
Jocelyn
You are so very welcome. I have been trying to follow the promptings of my heart lately to share more of what God has been teaching me. It doesn't always happen like it should, but this one needed to be shared right away! It is so exciting to see how much what I'm learning could help so many others. Thank you for sharing with your friends!!!!
Joanne
I love this post! Although I have not been following you a long time, I have seen how important your family is to you, and they should always come first! Your children will never forget that while growing up they had a loving and nurturing mom.
Jocelyn
I am so glad you found my blog recently, and more importantly I am so excited that you can tell how much my family means to me. You totally just made my day!!!!
Rachael
Thank-you for sharing. I love your blog and your recipes, but I believe too that by putting God & family first will bring you many blessings. I am so happy to have found your site & will continue to follow. May God bless you & your wonderful family. Love, your sister in Christ.
Jocelyn
Thank you so much for following along on this blog journey. I totally agree with you that with God first all the blessings I need will follow. I am excited to have you reading along with us!!!
Kathy Murray
God bless and keep you strong! Your decision sounds right to me!
Jocelyn
Thank you so much 🙂
Kim's County Line
Your blog is much more successful than mine. And that perfectly demonstrates one of your points made in this post: Comparison does us no favors. Though I am at a different place in my life as an empty nester, I still wonder about the inordinate amount of time and effort I spend blogging - probably too much if I look objectively about the number of readers I draw.
I love your recipes, and I have used several in my own kitchen. However, I, too, believe that your family is the most important job God has called you to do right now.
Blessings to you and your family as you figure out what that means in all areas of your life - child of God, wife, mother, community member, friend, blogger, and more!
Jocelyn
Man, it is so easy to get in the habit of comparing and getting frustrated when we don't match up. It's something I have to remember daily. Keep at it...success means different things to different people. Just because we don't have traffic doesn't mean we are not successful. Let's keep God and our families first and all other things will happen in the way it should.
Christina K.
I love everything about this post. It really speaks to me as I'm sure it will speak to lots of people. It's so easy to get caught up in work. I'm so guilty of doing that.
Jocelyn
It is so easy to get consumed with the day to day chores, but I think if we are careful we can guard against it!!!
Becky @ lovetobeinthekitchen
I love this post! I've been following your blog for years. I love your recipes and that you aren't afraid to share your faith as well. Blogging is great but family will always be more important! So glad you shared this today. 🙂
Kristy
I was just about to post a reply (something I very rarely do on blogs, but this post warranted one for sure!) and realized that you wrote exactly what I was thinking. So I second your sentiments! Way to be true to who (and how!) God wants you to be!!
Jocelyn
Thank you so much...for following along on this blog journey and for feeling the same things. Love that!!!