Mama mixing a batch of cornbread with an eager 6 year old daughter wanting to learn all about making cornbread in that very moment; a sweet spirited 12 year old tidying up the kitchen; 7 and 4 year old boys thinking the kitchen was the perfect place to tickle and giggle, a 2 year old little boy tugging at Mama's dress sweetly, yet in a very needy manner saying "Ma....ma....Ma....ma."  And a 10 month old practicing her climbing skills on Mama's other leg. 

I would not be truthful at all if I told you that I wasn't tempted at all to shoe them all away.  It would have been so much easier to send them away so I could have some space and get my work done all that much quicker.  But...something stopped me.  I remembered, in that moment, when things were much quieter in my house.  Those days when I waited long hours for my hard working husband to come out of the fields and was often alone.  During those hours these were the moments that I dreamed of!

So, my 6 year old stirred the cornbread while I turned to involve myself in a bit of tickling with my older sons (learning I didn't even have to touch them to get them giggling uncontrollably!).  I hugged my oldest daughter, thanking her so much for helping me keep things tidy and reminded her that I loved her very much.  I knelt down and asked my needy 2 year old what I could do for him...turns out he just needed Mama's hug.  I scooped up my 10 month old, kissed her chubby face, placed her on my hip and got back to work.

It is days like these that I want to strive for the most, for I know it is pleasing to the Father.  I feel I grow more and more in His strenghth every day to, where He is giving me exactly what I need to do what it is He has called me to do.  I find myself enjoying it more and more!  I know He has fully equipped me to do this and I praise Him for being the rock I can lean on when I have days much different than this one!  For I am still human, I get tired and cranky :-) and wonder how in the world I am going to do it all!  Praise the Lord, though, that these days are less and less now because He is guiding me and I KNOW that without Him, I can do nothing!  It is when I remember this truth and who it is that is really guiding my hands and my heart, that I feel the peace come back again.