Auto-pilot needs patience.

As a homeschooling mom of 4, sometimes life is on auto-pilot. I push through our daily routine over and over. Same ole, same ole. Wake up, breakfast, COFFEE, school work, lunch, COFFEE, chores, snack, errands, COFFEE, cook dinner, bath, bed, breathe....repeat.
I am not the most patient person in the world, and I have pretty high standards for my children. Sometimes they don't move fast enough or clean their rooms "the right way", and they ask a million questions a minute. They follow me around the house, holding on to my shirt, and I can't remember the last time I went to the bathroom by myself. Who knew the bathroom had a door on it?- Not my kids. About 100 times a day, you will hear me say- Get along or go to bed! No bathroom words! Say excuse me! Get off the dog, she isn't a horse! Get off the counter top! Be nice to your sister! Jonah Mathew! Jesse Ava, put clothes on! The list could go on forever.

The original Webster's dictionary offers this definition of patience: "the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness, from a kind of heroic pride, or from a Christian submission to the divine will."

The most painful words in that definition are- "endurance without murmuring" UGH!! ouch. Daily, my husband gets home only for me to run through my tough or frustrating moments of the day. Endurance without murmuring...I'm gonna have to work on that one. I can't imagine God turning to someone in heaven saying,"UGH!! Did you see Jessica make that poor choice?!, Did you hear her cuss when she stepped on that lego?! She prayed the wrong way, and not the way I wanted her to!"  Instead He says to us- "It's ok. Make an effort to do better tomorrow. I have grace for you, and I know your heart."
My day always seems better when I make an effort to find joy in the little things. God is proud of you, no matter how many times you have complained, murmured or been short tempered.

 1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.


“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them– every day begin the task anew.”  ~ Francis de Sales



God, please cover me with your patience and open my eyes to see joy in the little things. I am so thankful for my sweet kids, and the time I get to spend with them. You have blessed me beyond measure. Today I am turning off the auto-pilot and living in the beauty of the day. Thank you for this new day! Amen.

Think outside the box.

When I was little, the best toy was a big 'ole cardboard box! My kids feel the same way...

 I told them to create something that will entertain. A puppet stage is what they came up with. :)