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Well- there have been some technical difficulties around here with my home computing network as well as my printer, hence the late post this week. I would have liked to send this out last Friday, but I was also dealing with others, and then myself, not feeling well over the weekend. One thing I know all too well about myself is that I do not like when my plans are interrupted! When I have a schedule- no matter how ridiculous it is- I have this insane expectation that despite life I will somehow overcome by sheer will and get my checklist done! All of this craziness came to a head today once again as I ran around trying to be it all and do it all and fix it all- yes, this little preacher woman STILL struggles in this area. Isn’t it funny how you can have a message burning so deep in you for others and yet somehow forget that it also applies to YOU? Oh Lord, help! So, earlier last week, I wrote this for you all, just some things on my heart and realized that in the midst of my chaos, He is waiting for me to come away with Him to a lonely place & ‘get away’ before my family’s upcoming “Get-Away”. So, this is all I’ve got for you this week, and I am going to tell myself that it is okay that my checklist isn’t done, it is okay for me to lay a few things down for the sake of the Greater Good and I am going to kneel beside my bed in my freshly cleaned and painted room, and allow Him do do the same for my soul. Have a blessed week everyone!

There are so many forms of  ‘getting away’. Jesus often withdrew to a lonely place to get away with His Father. Sometimes, we ‘get away’ by locking ourselves in our room for a couple hours while our husband watches the children , the Lord bless em! I used to take baths to ‘get away’ when we lived in MI in my nice garden tub- oh how I miss that tub! Here in WY during the summer, we have a nice state park that we can ‘get away’ at during times of need. Some people get away by listening to music, working out, watching tv or reading a good book. Regardless of how we do it, the general consensus among the human race is that it is indeed a NEED to get away and enjoy personal rest and recreation at times.

While I love personal time by myself, what mother doesn’t? , lately I have been sensing the need to pull together and get away as a family. For the last three months, it has been all I can think about. The funny thing is, this is not something I would normally look forward to. Traveling with five kids, MY kids, for more than an hour’s time isn’t exactly- how do I put this? – relaxing or pleasant. Maybe if I had a bus where I could spread them out into all four corners with forms of technological entertainment in each one’s hands, MAYBE it could be pleasant then… but five boys- three of them teenagers, a seven year old who HAS to bug those three teenagers and a two year old that hates his car seat jammed into a minivan – not so relaxing. So when I say I am sensing the need- I really mean it and can only assume that the Lord is leading.

Our family has just come through one of our roughest years, in ministry and as a family. By the end of 2011, I think we all were ready for something different and something new, which the Lord has already begun to do in this new year, to His Glory. My husband and I started talking before Christmas about getting away as a family, knowing that we couldn’t take a full vacation at this point in our lives, but also recognizing that a break and get away was important for the family to do together. Even though each of us personally could use a break, we felt sure that we needed one collectively as well. So, we have scheduled a weekend trip to a city about 5 hours away from our hometown to get away at the end of the month. While everyone is pushing full steam ahead into the New Year, we, the Kilcoyne Clan are taking a small break- and I am so happy that we are.

Sometimes, we need to be sensitive to the needs of each other regardless of our personal and ministerial agendas. As you are plowing through this year, from time to time, just stop and ask- is it time to get away? If you cannot travel, maybe you set aside a few days and have an at-home family camp with the kids, or a day trip somewhere fun. Regardless of what you choose to do, it is important to recognize the right timing. My husband and I can clearly see that this get away is meant to minister to us as a family, to be a blessing to each other, it’s not about just having fun. There were times in Jesus ministry when He too recognized the need to get away with the family (aka -disciples):

Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.’ Many people were coming and going. They could not even eat.

 ³²So they went away in a boat to a lonely place by themselves. (Mark 6)

Has your family just come through a busy, people-filled season? Then it may be time to get away, rest and be refreshed, no matter how short the duration. This year, pay attention to the needs of your family. Watch for signs of needing a break and learn not to push so hard. Another way to pull together as a family is to have weekly family nights, which I will be posting on soon here at Fruitful Vine. Having a regular exclusive time as a family is vital to the strength of your family and I will be sharing how we do that here in our home. But for the time being, be sensitive to what your family needs right now to meet this New Year on the right foot, for us, it is a quick getaway… what is it for you?

This Week’s Posts:

Sweep & Clean Challenge: Master Bedroom/Prayer Space- Week Two