Posted in Home and Hearth

We painted one wall of the girls' room yesterday.  Of course, I enlisted as much help as possible. . . My Beloved did the top of the wall that joins the ceiling; Buc-Fan did the next 1/4 of the wall that I would have normally done; Princess did the middle 1/4; and Big Girl did the bottom 1/4 at the baseboard using the edger!  Mom sat on the bed and supervised! (LOL)  I hope to get the other three walls completed within the next two days or so.  We're operating under short bursts of time to accomplish this (during Sugar-Sugar's and My Buddy's naptime) so it's taking a bit longer than usual.

As I've been cleaning (read "delegating"), organizing (read "delegating"), decluttering (read "delegating"), and planning (read "prayerfully pondering"), I have tried to fight the tendency to get anxious and overburdened about all that needs to be done (read "I think should be done")!  It has not been easy!  I am a worrier and procrastinator by nature, which is sinful and in total opposition to God's command to "be anxious for nothing."  In the Mary vs. Martha saga, I am a Martha, 100%!  Oh, I'll do the work, but I'm fussin'  'n fumin' and spittin' 'n sputterin' the whole time! 

Preparing for the arrival of a new baby shouldn't be so stressful!  Every task, every moment of preparation is a reminder that a new sweet liitle soul will be arriving soon.  Yes, there will be diapers to change and nights with a minimum of sleep.  But there will also be soft coos to ooh and ahh over, excuses to just sit and cuddle, and the sweetness of life that can only come from a newborn!

Yesterday I happened to come across this poem/prayer that a dear friend gave to me a couple of years ago.  To me it illustrates perfectly the necessity of seeing the blessing in every service to our families and the proof of provision behind every duty we perform in our homes.  Be Blessed!

In His Love,

Tammy

Thank You Lord . . .

...for this sink of dirty dishes,

we do have good food to eat.

...for this pile of dirty laundry,

we do have nice clothes to wear.

...for the beds that need to be made,

they sure are comfortable at night.

...for this bathroom with the soggy towels and splattered mirrors,

it is very convenient to have.

...for this finger smudged fridge that needs defrosting so badly,

and the cold drinks inside that quench my thirst on a hot day.

...for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today,

it has baked us so many good meals.

...for the tall grass that needs mowing,

our whole family enjoys our private yard.

...for the slamming screen door and the children who slam it,

they are healthy and able to play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says that you have really blessed this family.  I do them gratefully.  Amen