So many times in the last few weeks I have wanted to sit down and blog. I have had great ideas and thoughts to share, but time would get away from me. I am juggling a bit much lately and waiting/hoping for it to slow down and settle soon. From training for a half marathon to running the oil business to mentoring high school students and most importantly home schooling I find myself overwhelmed right now. However, as September progresses I know that I will feel relief from all of these projects. Home schooling simply takes a lot of time and I am trying to settle into a new schedule. I have to meal plan and grocery shop at different times then I am used to. Things have to be rearranged and I am exhausted when evening comes. I VERY much look forward to 4:30 when Dan walks in the door from work. It is great to have that extra hand for the evening. Because I am a scheduled person who likes things to work like a well oiled machine....I find that I am in a readjustment phase of my life with all the new things going on. So as I learn to juggle it all, I find that I am clinging to the life lines that God has provided for me....family support, quiet times, snuggles from the girls, relationships and physical exercise. Somehow I wake up each morning with energy and a love for the life I have. And my cup of hot green tea each morning helps get me going too.
Last week I had a birthday....number 37! I had some difficulty knowing that this birthday put me that much closer to 40. I take a step back sometimes and can't believe how quickly my life has gone. I remember in high school thinking life went so slow. Now it is going too fast. My birthday this year was wonderful. Dan took me out to dinner and gave me cash to spend at the mall. I can't remember the last time that I bought something at the mall. It was quite a treat. We had a great evening together and I had my favorite sandwich at Panera for dinner...mozzarella and tomato sandwich. On my actual birthday I woke up to Dan whispering "Happy Birthday" in my ear before he left for work. And he brought our oldest daughter into the room so she could snuggle with me before the other kids woke up. At dinner time Dan brought home a birthday cake and a movie for us all to watch. It was just a very pleasant day. And...I had to get a new driver's license and my picture came out really good. That made my day. I don't usually like pictures of myself, but I have to admit that I was pleased. My hair was all in the right place and I didn't close my eyes, which is quite common when people take pictures of me.
So this week I pray that I intentionally have time with the Lord and make myself rest when I am tired. I pray that I can get up at 6 am for my morning runs...without complaining. And I pray that I can have patience and a love for teaching with my girls during the day. One of the hardest things about home schooling has been researching to prepare for lessons and coming up on blogs that other home schooling moms have. First of all, I wonder when they have the time to blog about home schooling and then I wonder how they get everything done that they write about. I constantly had to battle the comparison game with those other moms. But it really comes down to loving and appreciating what is going on in my home. It is about what God is doing in our home. It is about the richness of life that my kids are experiencing. It is about us and not about them. The comparison trap is an ugly one. It is not necessary. If you look at scripture in the bible you will find that God does not compare any of us. He wants us to fulfill the great commission...not wish to be someone else. I am reminded of that constantly and find myself loving what we have and what we do when I leave others out of it. I have been blessed beyond all measure and have a peace that "surpasses all understanding." Isn't that enough? Yep!
