"Pump Up" My Spirit

Today I went with my daughters on their daycare field trip to Pump It Up. WOW, what fun! There were 3 classrooms of kids ages ranging from 2-5 running around the entire place like tiny chickens, or baby goats (aka KIDS) who get so excited they can do nothing else but jump straight up and kick sideways. All the teachers were sweaty from running and jumping and climbing with the kids. I'll admit, I was a little sweaty too. Okay, I was drenched!

After these past few days, I can say that I really needed the break. Even amongst 60 screaming crazy kids, my soul walked away refreshed! These are the times the girls will remember. My son will remember the trip to the apple orchard when he was 7. And it's this time that I must remember that despite the fact we have stressful days at work, bills are stacked up on the counter, the phone won't stop ringing, and I just scoured the bottom of the pan with the rice in it because I was flipping the chicken so that it wouldn't burn, our children look to us for our unconditional love and support. They don't know that every bill collector is harassing us, they are oblivious to the 3 disconnect notices hidden in the piles of bills, who knew milk is almost $5 and Mom & Dad have to work at least an hour just to pay for two gallons so they can have their favorite cereal in the morning, or that just for us to go to the pool cost $30 (there are six of us)? They don't know about car payments or insurance or medical bills or the ridiculous increase in the cost of gas, or the lack of a raise! And the thing is, they aren't supposed too. They aren't supposed to know that spaghetti (again) for supper is because it's an expensive healthy meal.

So Lord, why did you choose ME to be a parent of two and then suddenly four? My husband says children are my calling. I confess to him I get easily frustrated and angered by our children, but not by others. And who am I to be deserving enough for the Lord to send me to another country, another land, a land so great and wonderful as Africa if I cannot tame my emotions with my own four children?

Ah, Oh LORD, I get it!!! This is my trial period! This is my obstacle course, my training! Make Disciples of the FOUR you have so that they may serve the LORD. "Suffer" so that you know how others are suffering. Eat the same meal more than once a week so that you learn that there are others who have just a bowl of rice night after night, or worse, a bowl that is empty!

This is the sludging part, the rainbow is coming! Thank you Dear LORD for the lesson! I will take it in stride and learn from my every step, just as You have asked I do! I continue the prayer for patience, for undying love, just as You are showing me, for Your forgiveness when I forget it's not all about ME and for "rest"!

Everyday we make a memory with our babies. A Polaroid or Snapshot of the day. It is up to us to make it a good memory! What will the caption read at the bottom of your Snapshot at the end of your day?

My soul was fed today! I kept praying for "rest"...and believe it or not, I got it at a giant inflatable jungle gym!

Thank You Jesus!