NOT the mom of the year award...

IMPATIENCE IS MY ENEMY!!!

I've been feeling lately like I'm on the "outside of the outhouse" doing the pee-pee dance waiting for some things to grow and change in our lives...and it's so true - being impatient turns minutes into eternities!

And out of my impatience, I had a "bad mom" moment.

It really made me take a step back, and reflect on WHY I was feeling so anxious.

It's so easy for me to get wrapped up in the list, chores, planning, and reaching towards the future- oy! I was getting wound up over the things that were NOT happening the way I wanted. The next thing I knew, I over-reacted to a situation with my beautiful daughter.  Yes, she almost burned the house down and it scared me, but it did NOT warrant my reaction, I'm afraid.
 
I sadly realized I was not embracing my tasks, loves, and gifts of today and REALLY putting to practice Matthew 6:25-34.

There is always so much to do - and the days seem to never have enough hours in them. The family or friend "play time" tends to get put off to "some other time" as I'm forever trying to achieve, or accomplish... and before I knew it, the grouchies had done a complete "hostile take-over".

So...to the beach we went!  There is nothing more healing and refreshing than 

SILLY TIME WITH THE FAMILY!!! 

It amazes me (even though it shouldn't) how much perspective, peace, and focus can be gained by taking time out of the hectic schedule to simply enjoy myself - and serve my family.



I came home with such an amazing renewed sense of purpose.  This lesson may be easy for many, but somehow tough for me - because I'm a dreamer & planner...and I know that's not a bad thing - but I need to keep my concentration on what the treasures of my todays hold - and stay simple...and leave my tomorrows in God's amazingly capable hands.  

Let me never take for granted, or forget to enjoy my today.

Giving up the kitchen...an Unprecedented event!!!!!

I know I'm a good mom, but I too have my quirks. I home school my girls, so I covet the time I get to myself - especially when I have a lot on my mind; and the more I have on my mind, the more I go into robotic mode of JUST BARELY getting things done (as I'm processing my thoughts).  I just survive, rather than REALLY trying to serve.  

Sometimes the bare minimum is all I can do. 

For a while now my girls have been asking to cook alongside me & learn.  Anyone who knows me, knows I LOOOOOOVE to cook - I regularly do it for 20+ people...BUT...it's my best thinking time (as well as in the bathroom when my girls allow me to be there by myself...case in point - Miss Micah comes in the bathroom while I'm showering today and proceeds to say, "Aren't you excited I'm L-E-T-T-I-N-G you have a shower by yourself today?"  What's wrong with this picture?!?!  ANYWAYS...)

So, I've been putting off letting the girls into my coveted kitchen bubble.

Since the New Year I've been in a lot of "thinking" time - including alone kitchen time. 

Yesterday, I decided to bring myself to share the kitchen with the 8 year old...UNPRECEDENTED!!!

A miracle happened - The veil of discouragement I'd been working through lifted instantly.

It's amazing how easy we allow frustration to creep in, and the first thing it replaces is our desire to go over and above for others - whether it be our children, spouse, or people around us.  But, miraculously, the opposite happens even quicker - when we break the cycle of "what about ME" for even a moment, we feel EMPOWERED! 

She did an amazing job (even by my standards ;)) & cooked a beautiful braided chicken for the family - and it was more healing for me than she'll ever know.

It was a big lesson to me - not to be so focused on the things that I can't change, & discourage me , but rather be an even MORE willing tool looking to serve those around me, and like the serenity prayer states, "To Change the things I Can"

And God did the rest!