work Archives | Heavenly Homemakers

I rarely take time off. I rarely watch movies and pretty much never watch TV. This doesn’t make me “oh such a hard worker” or “better than” or any of that silliness. (It could actually mean that I have issues – not that that would be shocking for any of you to hear about.)

It’s just that I really like working and doing things. I love writing, I love cooking, I love teaching the boys, I love corresponding with so many of you through emails and answering questions, I love creating new eBooks, I love making meals for others, I love gardening. I love working hard. The bigger this site has become, the longer it takes to get all my blog work done. I spend quite a bit of time on it, and I love it. As I said in this podcast, my work is my play. I feel blessed to have found so much “work” in life that is fulfilling and enjoyable.

But this weekend, I took time off. We made our annual Kansas City trip, attended Leadership Training for Christ for our kids, then spent the rest of Easter weekend with friends who live close to Kansas City. I didn’t get to cook all weekend, but was instead waited on hand and foot. We got to relax and visit. I got to catch up with some loved ones I haven’t seen in months (or years!).

Not only that, after LTC was over and we were back at our friend’s house, I sat. With my feet up. I watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the boys. And when that was over, we watched Mary Poppins. Then we watched a couple of baseball games. Every once in a while I thought to myself, “I should try to get some work done on the computer.” And then I said something to myself like, “nah” and kept snuggling with the boys or with Matt.

Sitting and doing nothing rarely works for me. I like being productive. But during those hours of down time, I felt like I truly was being productive. I feel refreshed and ready to work again.

Here are a few fun pictures of our weekend:

Malachi borrowed the camera and took some shots while we were waiting for
some of our kids’ events at LTC . Here’s a goofy one of me snacking on a Larabar.

And then Daddy got to join Mama for a picture.

After that, I grabbed the camera and said, “Okay, your turn”.
So here’s one of Malachi looking like his normal prim and proper self.

Elias and Justus were in a skit together that Matt wrote called “The Conqueror in the Hat”
(since the theme this year was from Romans: More than Conquerors). I love this picture.

As I looked at all of our LTC pictures after the event, I realized that I hadn’t taken one picture of Asa the whole weekend. He looked and did great too…I just don’t have any pictures to show you to prove it.

I’m very thankful for our mini-vacation! And now, if I could get the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song out of my head, that would be helpful.

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Write about it on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

If you are linking up a blog post for Gratituesday,
please copy and paste the following sentence into your post! Thanks!
Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

There are many things in my life that are important. There are many things that have to be done. There are great events to attend. There are many people in my life that I love and want to spend time with. There are hurting people everywhere. There are so many hurting people that my heart aches to feed them all, clothe them all, counsel them all and house them all. But I can’t do it all.

I’ll choose to let go of the guilt.

I have to make choices and above all I have to choose my kids. They are the ministry God has given me and when all is said and done…what matters is my kids.

It doesn’t matter that no matter how hard I try, the laundry is never caught up. It doesn’t matter that the dishes constantly pile up by the sink, even though I’m pretty sure I wash dishes all day. It doesn’t matter that there are dirty windowsills and…what is that stuck to the pantry door? Oh well…it doesn’t matter.

What matters is my kids.

It doesn’t matter that I can barely get through writing this article because my kids keep coming in and interrupting me. They want to tell me about the game they’re playing together. They want to remind me about what happened at the soccer game. They want to ask what I’m making for dinner. I’ll stop what I’m doing and look at their faces and I’ll talk to them because it truly is a joy that they love talking to me. The article can wait.

What matters is my kids.

In the big picture, it really is okay that the emails are piled up even though I hate it that so many people have to wait for weeks for me to respond. It really is okay that I’m never caught up with my work and it really is okay that even though I’m working really, really hard…I can’t do it all. I’ll stop sweating all the details in my life that cause me to worry and get worn out. The details don’t matter.

What matters is my kids.

I’ll let go of the guilt and the pressure I feel about all the jobs around me that are left undone and instead focus my heart on my husband. I’ll cherish him and serve him and meet his needs and enjoy him. I’ll make our very limited time together meaningful because keeping our relationship alive and sweet is incredibly important.

Because more than anything, it matters to the kids.

And they don’t care that we’re having pancakes and eggs for dinner again or that the living room is covered with boxes and bubble wrap mixed with lego men and building blocks. They don’t care that there are scuffs on the walls (they put them there after all) and they don’t care if the scuffs stay there forever.

What matters to them is the security of knowing that their mom loves them and takes care of them and laughs with them and trains them and prays with them and reads to them and talks to them. What matters to them is their mom understands one very important thing which is…

What matters is my kids.

Gratituesday: Time Off

What Matters Is My Kids