time enough

It's been a while since I've written (well, other than that post that some of you may have caught that I went back and deleted, though I saved it for my kids - sometimes its best to calm down before hitting the publish button).

Life is busy. Sometimes it feels too busy, but I don't think it is, not really. It just requires a lot more planning and intentionality right now. And it requires more juggling with My Man, who has been wonderful at taking over a bunch of the kid responsibilities while I'm out of the house more. I know there will be days when the tension radiates up my back and I fight the urge to scream because there's TOO MUCH TO DO! But I think those days will be rare, as long as I remind myself of what is truly important. Some things that are NOT important:

• a clean house.
• organic, natural food all of the time.
• making straight A's.
• providing the perfect enrichment activities for my children every day.
• a savings account.
• regular blog entries.

And some things that are:

• telling my family every day that I love them and appreciate them just as they are.
• noticing the beauty around me, even in an A & P lab.
• taking a deep breath when my children are driving me crazy and reminding myself that this day with them is a gift, a gift that some other moms don't have.
• reading stories over and over and over again, without skipping lines.
• doing schoolwork a little bit at a time, and being satisfied with enough.
• sleep.
• talking to friends, even if it's just on the phone.
• spending time with my husband.
• hugging my children.
• playing, playing, playing.
• pausing to help someone in need.

Sometimes it feels like there's not enough time, but there is. There is time to do and grow and be. There is time to rest and hope and trust. There is time to love, and to be loved. I do not want to rush from one moment to the next without noticing the now. I do not want to wait for a mythical future when all the pieces will be in place. I want to cherish today without worrying so much about tomorrow.

My prayer for today: Help us to see as You see, love as You love, do as You would do. Amen.