Monday, July 21, 2008

Pink Eye Germs

Well, Caleb (who hardly ever reads this blog - that I know of anyway) told me that I should really blog more often. I added that to the fact that the picture of our family on the top is a year and a half old and the "about me" at the top doesn't even mention Julia, and I decided I've been seriously slacking. Not that I haven't been busy. Three kids tend to tug at me all the time. But, I don't hear anyone screaming, "mommy!" right now. =)
I've been stuck in my house with pink eye germs for what seems like forever. It really hasn't been that long. We went grocery shopping Friday before Kylie's eye turned all puffy and red. So I guess that's only technically 3 1/2 days. I think I just missed church yesterday. Caleb said I could go, and I was part way there with Ethan and Julia in tow, and then Caleb realized that he was on-call, and couldn't watch Kylie in case he had to go to work. So, back home we went. It was very disappointing. I don't realize how much I look forward to and need the encouragement from fellow believers worshipping and God speaking at church until I haven't been in a while. I've missed choir for the last two Wednesday nights (and will be missing it again this week I'm sure), and the week before this week, I was in Central City at my parent's church. Not that there's anything wrong with their church, but it just doesn't feel like home. So, I listened to Pastor Tom's sermon from last week online and called it good. I'd better start praying for no one else to get pink eye before Sunday next week - especially since I'm in nursery.
I've been thinking... I think I need to be more thankful for where I am instead of wishing I were in a different place. Let me explain. Alot of people I know are enjoying so many fun things. They're FREE to vacation in exotic locations, travel around the world, use their minds and abilities at work every day, go to a movie, enjoy a restaurant or a walk in the park, read a book, or even get all sweaty running four miles if they feel like it. Their lives are full of spontenaity, friends, relaxing, enjoying, fun, even mundane stuff like cleaning a house without interruptions, or going to sleep knowing you can sleep in in the morning. And I sit at home and take care of kids. Don't get me wrong. I love my kids and wouldn't trade them for anything. But, sometimes I have to admit, it would be really nice just to do something just because I wanted to and it sounded like fun. I feel like my time is not my own. I'm not able to just go and do anything without thinking about the needs of 3 or 4 other very needy people. I realize it's a stage of my life. Intellectually I know it won't last forever. And I know how precious these fleeting moments with my kids are. They bring such joy and happiness into my life. I need to be more thankful for who God has made me and where he has put me instead of moping over the overabundance of dirty diapers and whiny kids, screaming babies and pink eye germs.

3 comments:

Chip Burkitt said...

There's nothing quite like talking yourself into gratitude. It usually doesn't work. The only way to be thankful for something is to really see it as a valuable privilege. If you're feeling a need for a break, perhaps you actually need one.

Melody said...

So, you caught the whole, "If I try hard enough I can talk myself into this" thing... =) Unfortunatly for me, moms nursing 5 month old babies have a hard time taking a break... Maybe next year! =)

-C said...

seems like our lives are pretty similar these days ... :)