Homestead Longings

The Status of My Spirit

For the first few days of using our new chore chart everything went exceedingly well. Then the initial excitement came to a screeching hault. The last few days have been very touch and go. In fact, my ds almost missed out completely on attending church with us on Sunday (which is one of the BIG highlights of his week) because he chose to sit in his doorway playing instead of cleaning up the room. When he saw mommy and baby sister dressed and ready to go without him, he suddenly had a burst of motivation. What he had put off for almost 24 hours was suddenly done and done properly within 10 minutes. I believe he might have only had one shoe on as he was climbing into the van with the other in hand. I have a feeling the chore chart is only going to serve as a visual for what he already knows, and to specify exactly when those chores are intended to be done.

Yesterday was one of those absolutely beautiful and blessed days. God really came through for me. I prayed early in the morning that he would show me a great example of what our day should be like. What I would look like with a meek and quiet spirit, with an attitude of peace. To just breathe and not give in to busyness. To experience a joy in my work and my calling to be home and with my children.

You know, I can't really say that I felt like I was getting anything done as I went through my day yesterday. I just kind of did what the moment allowed. I managed to get in some bible reading and prayer time while the kids were eating breakfast. I brought the laundry out to hang on the line while I pushed the kids on the swings. They were practicing making up songs. Something that ds saw on a cartoon. "Singin' while your swingin' helps you keep your rythym". I got to spend quite a bit of the morning just listening to them sing to me. DS decided to share with mommy that thinking up quick rhymes for songs was not very easy.

Then they were off to the jungle gym and trampline. Yes, our backyard is quite the playground! So, I had the chance to mow both the front yard and half the backyard while they played. Just before we came in, we grabbed some of the baby plants that we started in the house and transferred them out into the vegetable garden. After that we moved on into the house where mommy decided that we probably should do at least something for school work today. I handed both 6yr old and 2 yr old scissors and glue. 2yr old got construction paper and 6 yr old got a few worksheets in which he had to cut out the words and glue them all into the appropriate columns for either long vowel sounds or short. When he was done he got to join little sister in gluing tiny pieces of cut up construction paper to larger sheets while I vacuumed the house and did a few inside chores. I have lots of very lovely collage artwork now.

After much oohing and aahing, I let them watch a few cartoons while I checked email and went off on a tangent in my bible and online after something sparked by a friends blog. It was a tangent I thoroughly enjoyed. I love when I feel like God shows me another lovely picture of his design. I also felt very blessed to have the uninterrupted time to go off on that tangent. It is rare. Actually now that I remember it, it really wasn't completely uninterrupted. I just responded differently to the interruptions and then the kids quickly went off on their ways again.

After an uneventful lunch, I found myself and the kids just kind of sitting around watching cartoons and snuggling on the couch. So, I just kind of thought, Lord, what would be a great thing for us to be doing right now? DD had a pile of books next to her that she had been absent-mindedly flipping through, so I reached over and asked "would you guys like me to read these to you?" Oh the excitement. So, off went the tv as mom sat between the munchkins reading lots of silly stories until naptime.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with a quiet over the house. DS mostly occupied himself with more art projects while dd napped. I finished up some more chores, brought in the laundry and folded it then had some time to settle down and read a little out of my book and check the computer again before dd woke and dinner time came around.

I know there doesn't seem to be anything specifically God-ordained or anything in that day. It was more the feeling I had at the end of the day. I kept wondering how I managed to feel so rested and content and yet still thinking, did I really get that much done around here? I guess I did. I wasn't rushing or anxious, and yet it got done. I was relaxed and present with my children. I spent the day just focused on being content in whatever work God called me to, and just doing whatever the moment either called for or allowed.

I did not start this morning off with such a lovely attitude. I was already frustrated when I woke up. My dd had crawled into bed with me whining for juice. When I answered no, get water until breakfast, she proceeded to whail in my ear. Then, in the center of my bible reading time the fighting began at the breakfast table and the interruptions started coming frequently. Oh, the little robbers of my spirit had come. Lord, I wondered, what happened between yesterday and today? That is when I remembered my early morning prayer yesterday morning.

Quickly, I changed my grumbling thoughts to a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Thank You so much Lord for showing me for a day a wonderful example of what my spirit should look like. I will be content, and take joy in my calling. I will look to the ways of my household and be with the amazing little blessings that you put into my care throughout this day, and I will seek joy in my heart throughout. Praise you Lord, and help me to carry this spirit throughout my days.