Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I am thankful I am able

Don't you hate it when it seems as though God has you on this "thing" wither its a conviction or a thought or a change of mind its just this thing that no matter how hard you try to get away from it, its everywhere and everyone you know is talking about it, and the pastor preaches his sermon on it, and your friend brings it up in conversation and you get to this point when you finally are like "Is God trying to tell me something?" duh!
Well that is what has been happening to me in the last couple of weeks. The subject matter is nothing deep or life changing its sort of basic really it has to do with house cleaning. yup, house cleaning. It started a few weeks ago when I started to notice my husband making frequent comments about my lack of house work. Comments such as "Wow there are a lot of dishes in the sink today!" or "How long has it been since you pushed the button on the automatic vacuum cleaner?" At first I took offense to his comments and my women's rights side of me emerged and I would strike back with "Well I have been a little busy with YOUR kids all day long" Or "Its just as easy for you to push the button on the vacuum than it is for me" but in my quiet moments his words would sting a little because I realized how little house work I was actually doing and I could probably be doing a better job. So I started to put more work into the house during the day but God could not just stop there (He knows me to well) So it seemed everywhere I went people were talking about this subject of doing your job and doing it well. So I thought I would share just some quick lessons I have learned this week. 1. You should clean your house for your family and you should tidy up for your company. (Yea think on that one for awhile...I know in my house those two are reversed) 2. Be the best you can be in the job God has you in because you never know how that job (as mundane as it may seem) may be preparing you for something bigger in the future. 3.Instead of saying "I HAVE to clean the house today" or "I HAVE to take care of the kids today" instead change it to "I am ABLE..." Putting praise and thanksgiving into your work makes its so much easier to get done. I am by no way saying that because I am a women my duty is the house work. Brandon and I made a commitment on our wedding day that stigmas like that would not be apart of our household but I have come to the realization that for this season of life, I am home with the kids and the house and for now that is my job, and I am to do it well. I have to say that I cleaned the house with a thankful heart yesterday and my husband actually noticed and that felt good. So for me, I need to clean my house more, what can you be doing better in the season of life you are in?

Friday, October 1, 2010

"I'm not perfect..."

Its so hard to come home from vacation! I suggest that we start a new tradition that after a week vacation you get another week at home to let your body adjust to the real world. Brandon and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. We had a BLAST to say the least. 7 days and 7 nights with NO kids! I think we most appreciated the undisturbed sleep. The first morning we slept until 10am (We were bummed we missed the morning buffet.) We were like kids again...we ate whatever we wanted when we wanted, we stayed out late dancing, we went down the Cruise ship twisty slide several times, we went on several adventures like ATV rides, zip lines, water skis and racing horses along the beach...I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed to feel...well...Free again.
So coming home has been an adjustment, to say the least. We have gotten through the week dragging our feet through the mundane tasks of everyday life. I feel like Brandon and I have talked only when necessary...both trying to morn and adjust in our own way I guess. And I have not been the most energetic mom this week either...if you know what I mean.
Well today, after spending the day picking apples at a local farm with our good friends from play group, I finally had a fun day in my REAl life and it was just what I needed to snap me out of my vacation woos. But, the best part of the day was that my 3 year old enlightened me! Yup, you heard me right! Don't you just love the moments when you think you are about to be super mom and teach your child a very important life skill, like baking a pie, and than your child turns around and teaches you something so much more important. Well it happened to me like this: I got Petyon all set up on a chair by the sink washing the apples while I was peeling and coring. I was already getting a little teary over the fact that my baby was able to wash a basket full of apples like a pro...when and how did she learn to do such a thing...and when did she get tall enough to reach the faucet??? But to seal the deal on the tear flow my little princess starts singing a song from our latest car CD by Laurie Berkner:
"I'm not perfect, no I'm not.
but I do the best with what I got!
I do my very best, I do my very best,
I do my very best each day
but I'm not perfect and
I hope you like me that way!"
"sing it with me mommy!" Peyton shouts. So away we worked singing this song at the top of our lungs. Peyton even changed the lyrics to "WE are not perfect" and with each verse I felt more and more free. As I sang "We're not perfect!" all the not so perfect mom moments of the past week began to flash before me, like the fact that I plopped my kids in front of a movie so that I could sneak off and catch up on Project Runway Episodes, or the time that I faked being asleep while my husband got up with the baby. "I'm not perfect but I do the best with what I got" I shouted, this time with feeling. It felt amazing! Seriously try it! We sang it over 26 times (which I would NOT recommend) but really...It just feels good to accept and acnowledge that we are not perfect every once and awhile....and guess what...Its ok! I wish you all could have heard my 3 year old sing this song, you too would have been enlightened! :)