This week has been one of constant running. Taking the car to the shop, Ortho/dentist appointments. Haircut appointments. School & church activities....For some, this is a normal, every day kind of schedule...but not for me. I tend to be an introvert & make a point of scheduling quiet days into my week. Down-time to regroup & prepare myself for the next people-y thing I have to do...Don't get me wrong. I love people, truly...In small doses😜
...As the week progressed, it all started to snowball. I could feel the tension in my muscles building, creating sleepless nights & tiring days, to the point where I inwardly cringed when the sweet baby, in the cart beside me at Wal-mart, reached out to touch me...Thats when I know I've overdone it-I'd allowed myself to be stretched too thin-it was time to put myself in a time-out...
...This year I resolved to be intentional. Intentional with my Time. Relationships. Money. etc.
It's safe to say, that this week was not about being intentional. It was about getting done what needed to be done-even if it brought out the crazy a bit...
...Tonight though, coming home to my people, the tension ever so slowly, started to leave my body.
As I kneaded the dough for our Stromboli dinner...sitting around the dinner table, sharing a meal with the ones I love. Hearing about their day. My whole world started to quiet...This is my safe place, my soft place to land when the world seems to spin...
...It didn't take long for the children to start gathering around after dinner. I had hardly sat down on the couch when our 14 year old came to sit in my lap. After a few minutes, she settled in beside me, & the littlest one climbed up into my lap... A round of UNO was just getting geared up around the table, & I could hear 2 of the boys discussing hairstyles in the bathroom, & the hum of a hover board as a little person buzzed through the house...the sounds of home...My body relaxes more...
If you made it this far...All that, to say this. Take care of YOU. Figure out what brings you peace, then do it. Schedule it into your day, or week if need be. Mamas especially. It's impossible to pour from an empty cup...The thing that quiets my heart, is alone time with Jesus. Praying & reading His word...connecting with, & spending time with my family...
MY PEOPLE.
...The past few weeks, under some intense, on-going teaching & training, we are learning that not everyone(especially children) have that safe place. That soft place to land & regroup. They're living in intense, unimaginable situations & living conditions. We are coming to realize, we can be that safe place for someone else...but that is a whole nother post...we covet your prayers as we learn, train & prepare, to welcome a child into our home. To provide that safe place while Mommys & Daddys are figuring it out, & becoming healthy enough to parent again 🙏
