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Savannah Scott Romcom Author

When You Are Drowning in Your Own To-Do List

February 24, 2017 By Patty Leave a Comment

24 Feb

This week!  Holy guacamole.  I mean seriously.  I’ve been in over my head.  Living in overdrive is no longer my usual status quo.  I have spent at least twenty years of my life purposely studying time management, mastering the art of “to-do” and organization, simplifying, slowing and all other sorts of good healthy life habits.  Because of the way I’ve learned to manage time, I lead an intentionally full life but don’t usually FEEL overwhelmed.  

My normal routine includes out-of-town work throughout the month.  I go to LA two to three times a month.  Usually, those can be spread out with time in between to catch up, invest in home life and maintain a modicum of sanity.   This month my out-of-town days all overlapped into one week and that’s where the term “holy guacamole” kicks in – with chips. 

Ay caramba!

Life on Spin Cycle

Have you had weeks where your head felt like a carnival ride as you prepare for work, more work, children’s needs, getting the dog cared for, groceries, laundry, you name it on your never-ending to-do-list … Can you say spin cycle?   I know you relate.  

Besides my part-time job, I home educate, write, speak and minister.  Add in my crucial roles of wife, friend, and mommy.  Sometimes I have as many hats as Bartholomew Cubbins in the Dr. Seuss story.  The numerous hats don’t bother me because of how I’ve learned to wear them.  I’ve acquired the art of stacking – of deciding what matters most – of pausing for that deep breath to remember how small I really, truly am.  My little life isn’t the crux of anything.  Usually, I’m aware of the provision to help me do whatever I am called to do. 

Thank you, God. 

There’s freedom in being appropriately small.

At other times (like this uber-nutty week) I feel like I decided to stand under an avalanche and shout loudly … down it all comes, and quickly.  I’m knee deep in snow and can’t find my way out of my own self-created mound of overwhelm.  That’s the truth.  At times like this, some people, feeling helpful, or perhaps a little superior, say things like, “You’re so busy!”  Ah, yep.  Shovel?  Anyone?

Intentionally Full

As I said in the beginning, I’m not “so busy” most days.  What I am is intentionally full.  I work hard to enter His rest and to work from that place of rest.  Still, we all face weeks like this upcoming crazyfest.  How on earth did this traffic jam of events come upon me so suddenly?  The convergence of obligations and the preparation for each one took me by surprise and honestly I felt swamped.

Last night, as I crawled through the tasks at hand, I was clearing out my email inbox (a new habit I have to keep it at zero daily by taking 10 min a day to purge and re-file emails into usable files) … anyway, I found this email from a bajillion months ago.  It had a simple quote from C.S. Lewis:

It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.

Divine Appointments

All this day I had purposely refused to get anxious over the massive length of my current get-er-done list. I’ve pushed out the urge to get resentful or irritated when people wanted to chat and I needed to get a job completed. I reminded myself that interruptions are divine appointments. 

God redeems the time because this life is His – He bought me with a price.  My time is not my own.  I stopped during two such “interruptions” and said in my heart, to Jesus, “I’m trusting you to give me time to do what I need to.  I’m giving my time to this person right now.”  I felt His “yes.” 

He did the same … for the woman on the road.  A dear friend of his was dying and Jesus pauses to see who touched Him in a crowd.  He should be running!  Jesus didn’t run during his ministry years.  Not once.  He didn’t even scurry or speed walk.  Purposely walking from place to place, He pauses.  He stopped for the interruption because she mattered and what was important to her was felt by Him.  I want to be like Jesus in this.  Never so far into my agenda that I can’t stop for others when they want my time.  I want to remember that God holds it all and He holds me.

How Are You Carrying Your Load ?

As a blessing tonight, He brought the comforting quote.  It was a quick look in a mirror.  How am I carrying the load as compared to how I used to, Lord?  As I glanced, He showed me that I bore this load in a way that I wouldn’t have known how in years past.

It’s NOT the load that breaks us.  It’s the way we carry it.

Spiritual ergonomics.

God isn’t blessing my great skills.  It’s not that I’m innately great at carrying loads without unloading on everyone around me. Definitely not that.

He has done good work in my life and heart to make me just a little more like Him. He continues to teach me the great truth of two invitations:  Come to me … all who are weary and heavy laden .. and I will give you rest for your souls.  The other is that I might take His yoke – share my burdens with Him.  Every burden shared is broken in half immediately.  Share it with Him and we no longer feel the weight at all.  

How about your load?  Is it weighing you down?  Bring it to Jesus.  He’s standing with an open invitation.  He’ll trade you the heavy yoke for an easy one.  You can exchange the feeling of being crushed for that of deep rest.

Jesus can help shoulder your to-do list


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If you want to learn more about my availability to come speak to your group, you can hear a clip of me speaking or feel free to visit my page at Christian Women Speakers.  

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth, Time Management

About Patty

I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

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Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥 The banter is so f Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥
The banter is so fun!

Chris and Ella Mae start out getting on one another’s nerves … then, due to completely unexpected circumstances, they end up fake dating … and then they drive one another crazy in a whole different sense of the phrase 😉🥰

Ripped & Shipped comes out early May. I’m about 🤏 close to finishing it and sending it to my editor.

ARC Team sign ups will be coming for ebooks on Saturday (Apr 1). Paperback team is already selected and will be getting a welcome email by this weekend. 

We are going to have so much fun launching this book! I can’t even tell you the feelings I have … wrapping up this first Bordeaux series, writing this story that’s full of heart, and laughs, and kisses that make you grab a glass of ice water and fan yourself. 🔥😘🧊💦🫠

I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride. There aren’t words for the sweetness of sharing the Getting Shipped series with you. 💕

(And I’ve been loosely plotting the next series and getting excited as I start writing the Love Trippin’ books.) 💕

Do you love enemies to lovers?
Fake dating? 
Let me know … 

#wipwednesday #workinprogress #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #newrelease #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #lovestories #rippedandshipped #chellamaebae #rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #romcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt #shippers #Imashipper #Smalltownromance #ohiolove #smalltownromancebooks
Okay. So. Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Okay. So. 
Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Shipped to come out and be in your happy little hands on May 1st. 

But, authors are always (usually) a book ahead of the readers. 

And, this time, I’m a whole series ahead. 

I’m thinking about “Are We There Yet?” It’s the first book in the Love Trippin’ series. 

Four people from Bordeaux (yes!!) are traveling to California where the next series takes place. 

This first book takes place over a road trip (after a few chapters in Bordeaux, and before the later chapters in Cali).

So, I want to plan this road trip!
Im a road-tripper, and I grew up spending summers traveling from state to state with my family. 

I know my road trip stories. 
I want to hear YOURS! 
Leave it in the comments or DM me. 🚗🌳🚧🏔️

I’m not going to use your exact story, of course. But, if your story inspires something in the book, I’ll send you a free sticker and bookmark when “Are We There Yet” releases this summer. 

I’m so excited to share this new series with you!

#lovetrippin #lovetrippinseries #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #romcombooks #sweetromcom #sweetromance #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom #romcombooksaremyweakness #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #roadtrippin #roadtripromance #roadtrippin #arewethereyet #arewethereyetbook
Writing retreat A few days on the central coast. Writing retreat 

A few days on the central coast. 

Views. 
Good food. 
Sweet conversation 
Getting so close to finishing Ripped & Shipped. 

Dreaming about the next series. 
Thinking about how to bless moms and women 

#writingretreat #amwriting #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #cambriacalifornia #centralcoast #slocounty #moonstonebeach
Would the Rob & Laura fans raise your hands? 🙋🏼‍♀️

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Battleshipped together right now. It takes us forever because: life. But, it’s been fun to revisit their story. 

If you love a slightly geeky leading man, a strong female lead with a loyal heart and a persevering spirit, Battleshipped is for you. 

If you love second chance romcom with a dash of enemies to more, Battleshipped has all the “working hard to win her heart back” vibes. 

If you love laughing out loud until people look at you funny while you read. Yeah. There are those scenes. 

If you love a found-family friend group, and a quirky small town that will win your heart, come to Bordeaux. 

QOTD: Do you love when a brainy male lead becomes your book boyfriend? Which brainy male characters have stolen your heart? 

#battleshipped #battleshippedbook #bookexcerpt #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromancebooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #secondchanceromance #goatsgoatsgoats #bordeauxohio #bookboyfriend #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #ohiolove #bookstagram #bookstagrammers
Is it Wednesday? Um no. No it is not. But, do y Is it Wednesday? 
Um no. No it is not. 

But, do you still want this #WIPWednesday teaser from Ripped & Shipped? Why yes, yes you do. 

I’ll tell y’all. This book is coming along. And it is scrum-diddly-umptious. 

We’re talking banterrrrrr!
And all the swoony enemy vibes. 

And then they start faking! 
What? yasssss. They fake. The enemies start to fake a romance. 

Then … a completely unexpected and sweeeet friendship develops. 

But, ruh-roh. One of them catches feelings (just quoting Duke here). 

And it gets so HOT ( in a very closed-door way) and so HEARTFELT. 

This story is special. It’s the last in Bordeaux. So I’m pouring it all out into this book. 

You’ve got Memaw, Esther, and Mabel. 
The Bordeaux friend group. 
Lulabelle 
Ella Mae
Cooter
And so much more. 

I’m not kidding when I say this may be my fave in series. 

And you know what it means when I say I’m about 3/4 done writing? Yep. I just might release this story in May … ARC Team wannabes, lace up your running shoes. I’ll be posting opportunities to join the few open spots the first week of April. ❤️

Wait til you see the cover, too. Gah. I love it!! 

#rippedandshipped #workinprogress #amwriting
#amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromance #sweetromcom
#closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio
#bordeauxohioforever #bookcoverdesign #newrelease
#ilovemyreaders #gettingshipped
#gettingshippedseries #lovestories
#chellamaebae #comehomeellamae
#rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers
#bookstagram #romancereadersofinstagram
#romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt
Heyyyyy ARC Team! If you were on the ARC team fo Heyyyyy ARC Team! 

If you were on the ARC team for Cruiseshipped, our exclusive ARC Team only book chat is coming!

Tomorrow (Thursday March 23) at 5p PT we’ll be gathering on zoom to talk about Cruiseshipped. 

I’m so grateful to each one of you for reading, sharing, and reviewing Cruiseshipped. ❤️ 

So … mark your calendars and set your alarms (and a countdown is in my stories!) and let’s talk all things Brooks + Gabby ❤️🚢💃🏻

#cruiseshipped #cruiseshippedbook #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #arcteamperks #bookchat #buddyread #ilovemyreaders #authorchat
Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this one is featuring one of my favorite movies EVER: The Princess Bride!

Which slide do you like best? 

And … aside from posting here today, I’m writing! Ripped & Shipped (Chris’ story) is halfway done! 

I’m on a roll now, and my family is going to an amusement park for the day (without me), so I’m alone with Bella and my laptop. 

Then, this weekend, I’ve got a writing retreat. The final book in the Getting Shipped series is going to be written! 

Not saying we won’t have some novellas down the road … mayyyybe we could. (Who would you want to see in a Getting Shipped novella?)

I hope your Monday is GREAT!!

#bookmemes #bookishmemes #princessbride #asyouwish #amwriting #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #rippedandshipped #gettingshippedseries
#mawwage #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #bookishcommunity
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