What a Break Does to Me

Last week was Spring Break. I loved it. I loved sleeping in (sort of you know kids don’t really ever sleep in), I enjoyed having friends over (tremendously), and I got to see my family (haven’t seen them since Thanksgiving). Oh, but my body prefers routine. I was unable or unwilling to get in bed when I needed and up when I needed. I did not use the work-out clothes I so dutifully packed nor did I monitor how much I was eating. (My mom and sisters can cook!)

So when I got my weary rear-end in bed last night I planned on getting up early and getting my blog post done and a few other things to make the first day back to school go smoothly…It didn’t happen that way. First I stayed up way to late…Then I must have turned my alarm off in my sleep. However God did graciously wake me up. There was no time for a blog post, and I had to decide between quiet time and shower. I chose quiet time thinking that I could just drop the girls off and quickly run home.

I woke my kids and they did GREAT getting ready this morning! I was so proud of them. We got downstairs and I realized I didn’t have milk. I had a few swallows for each kid, but that is it. So I knew I had to go to the store unshowered, but dressed, face washed, and teeth brushed (my hair was in a hat). No biggie…Most likely I won’t run into anyone I know.

I even had time to make two lunches this morning and to fry some eggs…Not for me, but I was going to get breakfast after that quick jaunt to the store…All was well, we got out the door in record time and headed to school. As I went to drop off E and L, I realized it was honor’s chapel for E. UGH!

Maybe she won’t want me to come, I thought as I turned to ask her if she wanted me there. Since I hadn’t showered, her answer was YES she needed me there. 😉 So here is a picture of what I looked like this morning for your enjoyment. I was thankful to see a few other mothers in hats and sweats, but I am afraid I took the grungy prize! 😉

And so I continue to count the things for which I am thankful for:

326. Spring weather

327. Outdoor play time

328. Friends that point me to Him

329. Clouds to keep the temperature comfortable

330. Children playing with friends

331. Growing children

332. Precious time on my knees

333. Sound of running water

334. Sound of my kids working together

335. Clouds parting in the early evening to let the sun through

336. Time with extended family

337. Baby Finely is home and doing well

338. Safe travels

339. My kids love their cousins

340. My J is all boy

341. My E still wants me around

342. My L loves babies

343. My husband loves to play with the kids

344. Audiobooks

345. God’s perfect direction

346. Snow up north as we drove south toward home

347. Friends

348. Learning to speak in grace

349. God woke me up this morning

350. We were on-time to school

351. I got to see E’s honor’s chapel

352. The Japanese Maple in the backyard is a beautiful red

353. Spring blooms

354. My washer and dryer

355. My new Jayhawk gear (yes I know they lost yesterday)

356. The built-in griddle on my stove

357. That I know how to use a stethoscope and I know what I am listening for

358. Cool coffee because I can never seem to drink it when I pour it

359. Clouds parting to show blue skies

360. The beautiful colors of sunrise

361. Other moms in hats and sweats at honors chapel

What are you thankful for? Does having a break make it difficult for you to stay on task? I can’t wait to hear what you think and what you are thankful for! Blessings to you all for this wonderful Monday!

It is That Time in Our House…

Potty training time.

I haven’t met anyone yet who says they love to potty train. I am in that boat. Yet at some point the child must learn.

Wednesday I gave a talk and had a babysitter come to watch my little potty training man. I gave her the run down on how the potty training was going, told her she may have to take him potty (instead of waiting for him to tell her he needed to go), and left.

When I got back my wonderful babysitter and I were debriefing and it came out.

Babysitter: “Yeah, I couldn’t really figure out what the Cheerios on the back of the toilet were for.”

Insert awkward smile and slightly red cheeks.

Me: “Oh, I uh forgot to mention that.”

Babysitter: “J informed me that he wanted “shoot them” and I figured it out.”

So the secret is out. We are using Cheerios as target practice and I forgot to tell my babysitter that I wasn’t allowing my children to eat while they did their business.

I am so glad my J is so verbal or I may have had a lot of explaining to do. 🙂

I would love to hear any funny story you have to share! Eccl 3:4 says there is a “time to laugh.” So lets make that time now! I can’t wait to hear your stories.

Please comment and share your stories! I can’t wait to get to know you!

Taking Time for Zacchaeus

“‘cchaeus, mommy I wuv dat song,” he lisps as he stands unmoving in the middle of the hallway of his school. “You sing it mommy pwease,” his eyes dance as he smiles and nods at me.

In my head I had a check-list of all the things we needed to do before picking up his sisters from school. Dishes to wash, visiting the potty to ensure my sweet son stayed on the potty train, sweep the floor under the table, start folding the five or six clean loads of laundry in the laundry room. I didn’t have much time, but time was what my boy needed at that minute.

I am not the mom with the clean house, laundry neatly folded. I am not the mom with the great craft ideas every week (although we do some crafts). I don’t always play with my children the minute they ask, but I have learned something. There are moments – moments to savor, enjoy, teach, and love. My little man is growing up, in what will feel like a few short days he won’t want to sing Zacchaeus any more.

So we stopped and sang Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man in the middle of the hallway, motions included. In fact we sang it through twice!

What do you need to take the time to do? Who do you need to call? Do you need to sing Zacchaeus with someone? Share with me…

I am so glad you stopped by consider signing up for e-mail updates, RSS feed. Join my FaceBook page. I can’t wait to get to know you!