I hate to admit it, but things went so smoothly after our initial LoveDown that I got a bit lax again.  By Sunday, I think there was a little more sassiness in responses to parents, more sluggish listening to parents, more complaining, more greed, more dissatisfaction.  Last night my wake up call was when I was on the phone with my sister, and heard the children respectively hollering commandingly about what must be done, and responsive explosive shrieking about perceived victimization and oppression.  I have also noticed the creeping disrespect and distancing from Christopher that is surely more dangerous and distressing than shrieking and hollering.  Sigh.

When will I learn?  At least the children are consistent in their response to my inconsistency.  I wish I could be that consistent (let's reward Mommy with her inconsistency by bossing, shrieking and not considering each other.  Every time. Let's add really sluggish obedience and pretend like we can't hear her voice when it's not about icecream, too, and so on).   Maybe they will train me to be a more faithful mom!

Last week, I also got up about 15 minutes earlier to work on paperwork--my Life Nemesis.  Amazingly, I finished an annual project in about 7 days of teeny bits of time before the kids get up.  Normally this project is something that I procrastinate for months, hating it all the while, and usually tempts--I said tempts--me to swear while I am at it.  It's done--packaged, and ready to go.  I have to consider seriously whether or not this 15 minute earlier rule should be implemented as a regular way of life to manage this despised abominable dismal portion of my life called "information management".  

This little habit also pushed my daily devotions later and shorter, by default.  It also helped me to be more consistent with my devotions, but they were less meaningful.

This morning, after my wake-up call last night, I did my devotions first, and what a blessing it was to sit at Jesus' feet and pour out my troubles to Him, repent of my sins, and receive His grace.   I then did my paperwork, and still got the kids up in time to spend about 15 minutes with Christopher just talking and snuggling, and finding out what is in his heart these days.  What a blessing to fbe restored and joyful.

After Christopher left for the historic farm camp he is attending this week, I had some time to restore Natalie to her pleasant self by having do chores until she could obey cheerfully and happily.  We are in harmony again.

Thank-you, Jesus.  Help us to walk in You--the Light--while we still have breath.  Help me to be faithful, and not become lazy so quickly.  Thank-You for using our children to face me up to my responsibilities and to my weakness of character, so that I might grow stronger and more graceful.