I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.  As Christian Fathers, it is imperative that we spend time with God and His word looking for direction, comfort, encouragement....it's also important that we look to other Christian men....This whole area of time management is something I've been struggling with....our time at home is really limited because of our work schedule and commute.  Using what free time we have left as God would have us to is a constant struggle....Stewardship...using the time, talents, and materials that I have at my disposal to best honor and Glorify God.  I guess I'm not really giving you any answers...just nodding my head in agreement with you in saying that it is something that I wrestle with too.

Thanks for the "nod" Loren!  It is my hope that we can find some answers!  Stay tuned my friend!

"Me time"? You have "me time"???? lol

Charlie, Lau.. and I refuse to schedule our lives around our kids' schedules. None of them do sports (yet?), and even if/when they do, we will not run around to cater to that or cancel on more meaningful activities (opportunities to serve) b/c our children have some recreatin' to do. Our kids are also not in scouts, youth group, or any other activity that takes them out of the home w/o us. Granted, our kids are younger than yours (12,10,8) but hey, there are plenty of parents with even younger kids who are FAR busier running around taking their children places.

Looking forward to seeing your schedule! lol

Thanks so much to everyone that has left a comment.  I am already feverishly taking some notes!  lol  Stay tuned!

Jen's Schedule for today:   2 a.m.  - out of bed;  2:15 - in the Word and hanging with God;  3:15 - getting dressed and packing a lunch for work;  4 - 10:30 a.m.  - working (short day there; they've been running 11+ hours!);  hit the post office on the way home;, jump on MyChurch (right now!); throw in a load of dishes and a load of laundry; take a shower; eat something; go to a Children's Church thingy at noon, (setting up a World Watcher's bazaar in the building's foyer for this Sunday); shop for items for the bazaar, (I'm making collage boards for each of the countries we've visited, plus trivia question boards);  get home by 4:30, put clothes in the dryer and figure out dinner; more laundry; clean out the guest room (son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter moving in tomorrow for a month until the next semester starts in Bozeman where son will finish his degree; their house here already sold); another load of dishes (if I'm feeling motivated); FINALLY sit down and kick my feet up and spend a little more time with God; maybe pop on MyChurch again for a few; go to bed no later than eight.  (Gotta get up at 2 again tomorrow!)

And that's with no kids to take care of, since only my youngest (18) is still at home.  (Kids ages: 25, 23, 21, 18.)  I know how hard it can be, Charlie.  I homeschooled all four all the way through  (youngest graduated two years ago), worked part-time and was very involved in church and the homeschool group.  The kids also played sports (me as team mom and scorekeeper for baseball), but we didn't let them join everything.  They never did the scouts thing and we didn't encourage them to do the youth group thing, although we didn't prohibit it.  (I was a youth leader as well, Sunday school teacher, small group leader, plus a Bible quiz coach - which they were all involved with for about two or three years each.)  It can be done!!  :-)

For me, I had to put God first and still have to, or the whole thing just crumbles like a house of cards.  My family can't believe I'm getting up at 2 a.m. to spend time with God, but I can't imagine not doing it.  I've been spending early morning time with Him since I became a believer.  I've tried other schedules, but they don't work for me, although these days I often get the chance to "double dip" in the late afternoon or evening.  It's that quiet time with Him that keeps me centered and at peace, regardless of what's going on in my life. 

I'll be praying for you, Charlie.  I know that God will bless your efforts! 

"O taste and see that the Lord is good!" 

Okay, a little multi-tasking here (eating and typing). 

Just wanted to add that Michael makes an excellent point re: enjoying the season that you are in with your kids.  And it is a season, usually one of the busiest for parents in general but esp. Christian parents who have the added dimension of church stuff for themselves and their family.  But it can be such a fun season, even in all its busy-ness!  If you keep doing as you're doing now and seeking God's help to keep your priorities in order, you will be able to look back upon this season with great joy and satisfaction, even amidst the chaos!  

I know I had great fun with that stage of my life.  So many good and exciting things to "put my hands to"!  (My current season - almost an empty nester - is a blast, too!)   

And now I'm outta here...

Blessings to you, Charlie!

My husband Josh and I have been going to Impact for only a couple of weeks so I know that you don't know us very well, but we have in the past felt that same pressures.  Josh and I have 4 boys.  There ages are 11,10,9 and 5.  They all enjoy the same sports, which keeps us running.
Every year when we lived in Michigan we attended a marriage conference called Weekend to Remember.  This is offered by Family Life and we enjoyed it very much.  They have a whole bunch of books available regarding family.  While there last year we picked up a book called Little house on the Freeway.  Unfortunately I left it in our storage unit in Michigan, but it is a VERY good book. I'm sure you can pick it up at any Christian book store. We picked it up right before all of the boys started baseball.  They were all on different teams with different schedules on the same days and I was the only one able to do any of the running. 
Now that we are here we haven't had an opportunity to get involved in a whole lot, so things are very simple and for that we are very thankful.
I know here you tell us your busy and I say hey read this book, but this is what helped us out.