A Lesson For The Day

Rachel left the dinner table complaining of a tummy ache. She went to lay down. Later, I noticed her on the couch. I had thought she had headed for bed - not so. She hadn't made it that far. It was tough getting her into bed. There was crying and complaining from a seemingly exhausted girl. We finally got her in her cozy bed. I headed downstairs to get her 'ruffy' (stuffed animal she wanted for the night) and to do a couple of other things on the way. I was a little baffled when I saw her out of bed a few minutes later. I asked her what was going on and she told me that we needed to do the 'family stuff'. I gave her a puzzled look and then quickly realized she knew we hadn't done our scripture and prayer together as a family. We got things together and quickly finished getting the other kids ready for bed. We did our scripture and prayer. It was chaotic after that because by then she had her 'second wind'. It was bed time a bit later than originally planned - but, I was glad she reminded us to take that time together as a family.

I especially appreciated the timing because I was feeling a little picked on tonight. I haven't felt real great - I brought the kids home from school and took a 2 hour nap. That's not the best of ideas in the first place. Let's just say the boys didn't get their learning time done and spent extra time with technology. The girls found the M&Ms - no place is sacred in this house. They had also made a general mess in several spots and had pieces of bread strung around the house.

So...I wasn't feeling well, the house was even more of a disaster than it was before, there were piles of laundry to be done, the garbages/recycling needed to go out for 'garbage day' tomorrow, my throat hurt so I didn't even have it in me to 'yell' at the kids, Layne had called and said he was going to be late (which could mean anytime between now and midnight - usually a later version...so don't plan on him), dinner needed to be fixed/eaten/cleaned up - with dishes already in the sink, it was bath night, costumes for the boys were pretty much non-existent and needed to be completed by tomorrow, I was also concerned about some items that the kids need and I'm not sure how to help them, I kept hoping for some sort of 'second wind', I was also worried about all of the things (besides what's been listed) that needed to be worked into the schedule - some of which should have already been done and some that needs a system in place to get done. In other words - I wasn't well - I just wanted to go back to bed, I have lost my rhythm of getting things done and the cycle keeps getting worse. I was feeling a bit like a whiner - I was even more grouchy than usual with the kids today.

Rachel reminded us - particularly me that there are priorities and things we should be focusing on - they are eternal in nature. The other things will fall into place as we focus on what's truly important. Since then - the boys helped with the garbages and laundry, I've done more laundry since they've gone to bed, the kitchen and front room are at least somewhat bearable (with much more work needed) and I feel like life is at least going to be alright. I still don't feel so great and there's still lots to do - but, at least it's more in perspective now.