Slowing down and saying no...

I have the hardest time saying no to people. I think I have acquired this trait from my Mom in the sense that she is an angel and never wants to let anyone down. She always is doing so much for those  around her, she rarely has time for herself. My lack of saying no comes more from not wanting people to get upset with me. And so I often over commit myself, get exhausted running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and then become a huge grump. Thus, simplifying and rest have very much been a goal for me lately and more importantly something that God has really placed on my heart! I feel as though in the past I have raced through life, so much that I have missed God's direction for my purpose. I have set my priorities in the wrong place and focused on quantity rather than quality. My mind is often onto the next task, rather then being present in the moment. I have always, always as long as I can remember, been someone in the future rather then in the present. I have struggled alot with contentment, because I have always been thinking about what's next. I have prayed many times asking the Lord for a content heart, and what I didn't realize was that much of contentment coincided with rest and simplifying one's life. Lately when I have been asked to do something or be a part of something I have heard a strong voice inside my head telling me to say no. Not because I'm supposed to miss out, or because I don't want to enjoy peoples company but more-so because I truly believe the Lord is slowing my life down to almost a standstill so that I don't miss this time of growth and blessings. This season in my life has been one that I didn't expect and I know it is all for God's purpose and blessing, but one that has definitely caught me off guard. I have had an extremely sensitive spirit lately and have been feeling everything 120%, which as you can imagine makes life a bit harder. I also feel like the Lord is trying to show me alot about who I am and how strong I am. I have also yearned for a deeper relationship with both of my girls, one that shows them my heart, rather then just my ability to do chores and make meals. I want them to never question my unconditional love for them and know they always come first! I realized in order to make this possible, I would need to start simplifying and saying no, even if it meant potentially upsetting people or missing out. This is one of the huge reasons I all of a sudden quit making jewelry and had to say no to many custom orders. Putting my girls on the back burner was just something I couldn't live with anymore. Life has definitely been less stressful since I stopped making jewelry and I find myself not really missing the super late nights or sore fingers from putting multiple pieces together. The funny twist was that after I stopped making jewelry, I thought that was enough simplifying. However I have really felt God speaking to me in other areas of my life and wanting me to slow down even more. On one hand I feel lazy, and yet in my heart I have been thinking how nice this pace of life is. I no longer frequent face book, plan out my whole week or even blog regularly, all because I just feel God saying,  "slow down, soak in these moments and memories, because these are the moments that shape who your girls will become, how they nurture future relationships and how they view life."