Some days are hurried, gloomy or humdrum making it easy to get completely wrapped up in the 'stuff' of life. Those are the days when I seem to find myself struggling to give those around me a very good version of myself. Rather than grace, kindness and humility they get snappiness, apathy, impatience, frustration or any combination of the aforementioned.
Today, thankfully, has not been one of those days. Today has been magnificent. It is a perfectly gorgeous Fall day. There has been much more laughter than whining. It has been relatively easy to be a 'good' Mommy today.Although my husband is on call, the children and I have managed a fun-filled, adventurous day. My parents and maternal grandmother came for a morning visit. (It is 5.5 hours roundtrip in the car...yet they are faithful to come twice a month on Saturday mornings.)
We spent much of our time enjoying the beautiful weather--including a trip to the pumpkin patch and subsequently carving up our spoils. We ate apple pumpkin bread. I roasted pumpkin seeds. Daddy even managed a quick break to run home and join in the fun. The sight of him carving in his scrubs made me giggle.
It is only 3:45 and I have somehow even managed to get three loads of laundry washed AND put away and there is a chicken brunswick stew cooking in the crockpot. The children all fell asleep while resting/reading in their rooms. I am actually about to SIT and watch some footballand read a magazine. Seriously? (The level of productivity I am experiencing is unheard of most days! And as I consider it, I am thinking it could have something to do with my 3rd Diet Coke...)
After a string of particularly intense days this week, I am so thankful for a great day. I am also reminded that the only thing truly different about good days and bad days is my circumstances and my attitude as I respond to them. I pray God can help me be more consistent in my response to my circumstances (and the young, wildly swinging moods around me).
Beautiful weather, fun activities and productivity are not my sole measures of the 'success' of a day--but every now and then it is good to have days like today!
12 comments:
Gosh, he handles that knife like a surgeon! (giggle) It is a great fall day, and I too find myself with a little breathing room today. Hope your doing well.
So glad to hear about your gloriously beautiful and productive fall day! I really needed to hear this right now in this moment. Today has been one of "those" days! You have encouraged me by reminding me that better days are within reach if I will only tap into God's power and respond differently. Thank you for sharing this today.
I want to see dad's pumpkin. I would think it would be awesome...and if he messes it up, he can always stitch it back together.
Love the bouncy ball picture - hair flying everywhere.
Perri- I love the hair in that pic, too. Unfortunately, Daddy got paged back to work so I had to finish his jack-o-lantern...but he had BIG plans. A picture printed off the Internet and POWERTOOLS to carve with.
It does my heart good to read your posts. You see, I have a 38 year old son who was saved as a child of 10 and is suffering so now because he thinks he has lost his salvation. He is very intelligent (member of Mensa) and was reading in Hebrews one day and came upon some verses about "falling away" and they have driven him to utter distraction! To see a 38 year old sob will break your heart! He is seeing a Christian counselor and a psychiatrist but his panic attacks are becoming more frequent and he can't understand why God just can't "let me know that I'm saved." To be quite honest, his parents have sometimes wondered the same thing.
Please remember him in your prayers and those of your friends, if they wouldn't mind. His name is Lex.
Many thanks, for this and for giving me such joy in the midst of my pain.
Mickie McGee
Your hubby in his scrubs crack me up :) What an idea to run home and have fun ;) Glad you got to watch a little football in silence this afternoon.
~Elyse~
You mentioned that you were doing the "Stepping Up" study in an earlier post (I am doing it right now, too), and this post reminded me of the lesson on "perspective". It is all in the way we choose to see our days, how we respond to what God has given us. I had one of those days, too....isn't it wonderful!?
Sounds perfect!! That first pic of them in the yard is precious!
Carpe diem , sieze the day! I just loved the pictures.
I'm so glad you had a good day! The picture of him carving in scrubs is just too funny!
Hi Jmom,
I thought I should drop you a comment. I often read your blog, and have so enjoyed your family and your insights. I found you through a triplet mom I know. I, however, have three single- birthed children.
Recently, I clicked on Gwen(Ivey) and just left a comment referencing you. I too have a special needs child, Eamon, and found her blog to be encouraging. Oddly, we have the same blog name - Ordinary Miracle.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for sharing your mom-heart and your blog friends - I have been blessed by both!
Tracy Barclay
J-Mom,
What a great post. Love the bouncy balls and the hair flying.....so perfect. And of course your husband carving the pumpkin..........
-Shannon in Austin
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