An Unexpected Journey

On Christmas day we had a special treat.  We had our family and a couple whom I call “framily”- some friends that are like family- around the dinner table.   We were laughing and playing a game of UNO Attack post dessert with the adults and kids.  This was a first because up until that point my kids haven’t been old enough to play anything that might actually be fun for adults!  We told a funny story about something mischievous that 4 year old Eliana had done, and she looked at our family life pastor’s husband and said “If you mess wit da bull, you get da horns!” Clearly, I credit this to her father’s influence!! I was driving and singing at the top of my lungs this morning to a worship song- alone- because that’s the only time I sing at the top of my lungs!  This funny scene from Christmas came flooding into my mind.  “If you mess with the bull, you get the horns!”  How often does the enemy mess with us and we tuck our tails and run.  Mostly...

So here we are sitting at the end of the second week back to school in the New Year.  Already a little of the freshness is wearing off a bit like a shirt that was beautifully starched but is starting to soften and wrinkle as it is worn.  The goals and excitement and motivation of January 1 are fading a bit.  The routine already stretching...  things always fit a little better when they have been broken In though...    Life is full on in swing.  A kid with fever.  A refurbished computer ordered so I can write more but it doesn’t have a new enough operating system to download any program I can write in.  A nasty cold that makes me want to sleep.  Obstacles.  That’s all they are.  Deterrents.   And as I sit here amid piles of laundry to fold, the sick one watching cartoons,  worship on my earbuds (because I can’t think watching Popples!),  I suspect that these things that seem to crop up and tower in my way...

I don’t know about you, but I love the beginning of a new year!  It just feels like I get a fresh start at everything.  I know it’s all in my head, but I really woke up feeling like a brand new person with new gumption and goals on January 1st!   I made myself a list of things I HAD to do before the kids and I went back to school and then worked like mad last week to FOCUS.  That’s my big challenge.   Cameron asked me once if I stayed home full time, would I just mop the floor everyday, and truly, the answer might be yes!  I have a really hard time seeing around crumbs and clutter to focus on the things that are more important.  And that struggle spills over into everything for me.  I like things to be neat and tidy, but more than that I feel better, more productive, and happier when things are clean.  With 4 tiny pairs of hands between the ages of 4 and 7 constantly working against me, this can be quite a hurdle.  It colors my ab...