oh these kids

they are a delight. a joy to observe. i love joining them on adventures, sitting quietly for tea parties, answering wondering questions. all of it.



i do. i love all of it. and why do i miss out on it so often?



because of my own perspective/stubbornness/attitude, etc.



now there are going to be days where i need to be me. just me. a little space from the house, the parenting, the constantly being needed. and i think that's completely okay.

but i'm missing good things right in front of me sometimes. things i could enjoy. things we could enjoy. instead, i stick my feet deeper in the mud i'm in and declare that i'm not moving. not surrendering to a Spirit Who brings better.



i know that my Savior has given good gifts. i want to have my eyes open to them. i want to be moved. do i really enjoy standing firm in my muck of crabby? yeah, no. but in the moment i so often feel it is the only option. everything outside of myself needs to change. the problem could not possibly rest in my clenched fists and slanted eyes.



i know He has more. i know He will help me in the surrender. in the giving of the days and the moments- my heart and my attitude.

so glad He takes it all and does such better work with it all.

happy monday, friends. welcome to more good.

photo credit for this post: Mindy Bursch

rejoice in hope

have i told you how thankful i am for spring?

this weekend was full of it. full of outside- new leaves, fresh flowers, dusk light with friends and life around each corner.

a robin's nest in our hedge. i'm afraid she left because of all the excitement. hope she returns.

we had friends over for a perfect night of revelry. a good weekend by so many standards.

i walked this morning to greet my Lord and the day. i looked at the early sky and saw His hand. and felt the comfort only He can bring. i quickly walked back into the frenzy of my mind, but will hopefully remember my early moment throughout this day.

i don't like that i so easily sway. i teeter and fall into the frustration i'm so prone to. when my kids are yelling and asking me difficult questions. you know the moments. when the dishes pile and your back hurts. the hammock outside is calling to you along with your bedside book. but the tasks don't leave and the relationships don't always work on their own. my effort- my surrendering effort is required everywhere i look.

striving to lay it all down today. to rejoice in the hope i have. striving.

trying

so i woke up yesterday grateful for a day at home with little ones. i was going to engage with my children, play with them, get on the floor and have a mommy day. but by 8:40, i was cleaning my daughter's um... well... nastiness out of the bath tub, putting her back into the tub to start bath time all over again and i already had failed at being a happy mom. my frustration hits me so quickly- in a second my attitude is changed-- why does it feel like it takes so much longer for me to recover?

we did, however, all make bread together.





well, samuel and i made bread and kate ate the dough.





but we did have fun. learning how to knead and throwing flour all about. what could be more fun?





oh how i want to be in these moments. i want to run to these God-gift moments instead of wallowing in my frustration and selfishness.

hope your weekend is full of little joy-- His gifts are everywhere!