It's not that I haven't had anything to blog about the past several days. On the contrary, I must have written half a dozen blogs in my head. I just haven't had time to sit down at the computer. My Journalism class put out the final newspaper of the year. I had to finalize the layout and get it printed. I had to be at the elementary Christmas concert because my camera is the only one capable of getting yearbook quality pictures in a darkened auditorium. The yearbook cover is due at the publishers, and grades are due in the registrar's office.

I was a college girl in the early days of the feminist movement. We were told that women could have it all - a career, a husband, children, and position in society. It didn't take me long to see that the promises were a lie. Women in my office couldn't do it all. They either sacrificed their marriages, their health, their children, or their self-development. Most of them didn't see it coming until divorce papers were filed or the school called them in for a conference. I have been blessed that in the 29 years of our marriage my husband has put home ahead of so many other goals.

I love my journalism career. It is mentally stimulating and emotionally satisfying. But when I have a week where I am working 8 - 10 hours at school instead of my usual 2-3, I see what I would have to sacrifice for a full time career.

There is no time to cook. Ha. There was not even time to wash the produce I bought. We have eaten fast food twice in the past week. I know why people eat fast food. When the hour is late and everyone is hungry, it is fast. Preparing natural, healthy food is not hard, but it does take time.

There is no time for exercise. I squeezed in a run yesterday, and rode my bike to do errands on Monday. But there have been days this past week where at bed time I didn't have energy left to do sit ups, much less 30 minutes of intense physical exercise.

There is not time for rest. I get home from school late, and play catch up with the laundry, the dishes, and all of the other tasks necessary to keep a home functioning. My daughter has finals and wants me to help her review. My husband wants to talk about family business. Last night I really needed a few minutes alone to think. That time for reflection meant I didn't crawl into bed until after 1:00. Five hours of sleep is not enough to build health.

I come away from a week like this with a renewed awareness that I must fight the demands that culture tries to put on my time. This is especially true in the Christmas shopping season where advertisers spend millions of dollars to make me want a bunch of stuff I don't really need. My priorities are worshiping God, caring for my family, and maintaining my health. If I don't have those three, of what use is anything else?