Why I Don’t Have Time For Facebook

I told you about my affair with facebook. I told you about my facebook fast. Next week I’m gonna tell you how I have brought more balance into my computer time and broken the addiction to facebook.

But this week I just wanted to share with you the awesomeness that has left me with little or no time for facebook or other time-wasters online.

Congrats to all you people who have used facebook as a ministry tool or formed deep friendships as a result of your time there. But me – I’ve realized I personally can’t afford to be on Facebook. I feel it is one of the cheapest forms of interaction on the web, with the lowest quality content. Think about it –  the easier it is to post something, the less time it takes (and facebook is all about small, short, easy bits of whatever) the lower the quality. Unless your Emily Dickenson or somebody who can spell a life in 3 short lines. Which I am not. In case you hadn’t noticed.

But I am an aspiring writer. A busy homemaker. A child of God who yearns for more – more life, more grace, more joy, more God, and more chances to tell of Him. That’s why I don’t have time for Facebook. Because I’m feeding my passions and my soul with things more worthy.

I’m so excited – I’ve been gathering this list of links and books for two months in preparation for this post! Here’s what I’m doing, where I’m hanging out online and what I’m reading when I’m not.

Websites
I had an epiphany last month. I thought, if I want to be a better mother, I should get myself some mentors in that area. If I want to improve my writing, I should read good writers. It occurred to me that, just as Passionate Homemaking is my inspiration blog for all things nourishing in my kitchen and home, there might be blogs out there that could feed my other passions. Then one of my readers mentioned the Relevant Conference. I went on the site to fantasize about going and saw the list of speakers. And all their blogs. I immediately added every one of them to my RSS feed. The weeks since have been a slow digging through the rich content on these blogs and deciding which ones are custom fit for me and that I will keep in my feed.

If you’re not sure you could spend less time on facebook, I challenge you to find some higher quality content in an area of personal interest and then see if you run out of time for facebook like I did.

These are some of my favorite blogs (both new discoveries and old favorites). I wish I had time to read all the archives, they’re that good.

Passionate Homemaking – My favorite Nourishing Living blog ’cause I can relate to Lindsay so much.
Pleasant View Schoolhouse –  She quit blogging over the summer but she’s back!
Gypsy Mama -Writing Inspiration (Five Min. Fridays), Relevant Speaker
A Holy Experience -Author of “One Thousand Gifts” and Relevant Conference Speaker
Pioneer Woman – Eye candy and a good laugh
Modern Alternative Mamma – For well-researched info on all things alternative.
Resolved2Worship Beauty, Inspiration

Books.Then, there’s the books. Oh, my, the books! Have you been spending so much time online that you don’t read books anymore? I had forgotten my goal of being a lover of good books. On a recent Amazon Spending Spree, I added some delicious titles to my to-be-read pile. Seriously, people. Facebook can’t hold a candle to the content here…

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons – My first official curriculum perchase. My sis-in-law has taught all her kids with this book – wore out her first copy and is on her second. That and the fact that it’s phonics-based was enough recommendation for me. I’ll let you know how it goes.

When the Hurt Runs Deep – I received a free copy of this book to review from Blogging for Books. I’m half way through – review coming when I finish!

The Lost Mission – I love Athol Dickson! And this was my favorite of his works so far – the best novel I’ve read this year.

Confessions of a Transformed Heart – It’s been a while since I’ve read a missionary biography. These things ought not so to be! I knew I needed to read this when Alyssa mentioned it and how Nancy writes of her affirmation addiction and how she learned to live for Christ alone. Workin’ on that. Yeah.

One Thousand Gifts – Totally stayed up too late reading this last night. It’s like chocolate. No – Coconut oil for the soul (those who know me know mow much I love coconut oil!)! Buy this book asap and read it in every spare moment and experience spring in your heart. All the hubub about this book is valid – it really is awesome.

For the Children’s Sake – Haven’t started this one yet – but I can hardly wait. It’s a favorite of my mother’s, though she loaned her copy and never got it back so I hadn’t read it yet.

When You Rise Up – One of my readers recommended this one to me (thanks, Jessica!). Only one chapter so far – it’s deep. It’s good. I’m reading it to Jeremy when we are in the car together. This book is going to help shape our family’s approach to education.

ESV Bible – My husband picked up this portable little edition of the ESV Bible. After reading KJV all my life, it’s like the Bible has come alive again. Don’t get me wrong – I love my KJV. But I’m really getting a lot out of this version, and it’s a translation I trust. I highly recommend it.

Letters. Last, but not least, I don’t have time for Facebook because I’m writing letters. Another lost art. Don’t let it be. It had been a long time since I wrote a letter – I write thank you notes and little notes of encouragement (and that not often enough) but a letter? I wrote one this week to this handsome man…

My brother…joined the Marines and entered Boot camp this month. “Letters are a life line for recruits” the information letter said. I’m trying to be a faithful letter writer to someone who needs encouragement. Some one I’m very proud of. Have you written a letter lately?

How about you? What’s your favorite place online? What books have you been reading lately? Please share in the comments!