In case you were wondering if I had nothing more to post than ads for my work, the answer is yes, I have numerous things on my mind that I'd dearly love to write about. Such things like, "am I my brother's keeper?" in regards to how we raise our little boys to be men of God and how that manifests in how they treat Christian sisters and women in general when they grow up. Other topics like "suffering silently" for those who do suffer through all sorts of physical, emotional or spiritual pains & afflictions, the goodness of spring, who is reformed (and what makes them 'reformed'?), where did Sola Scriptura go, the astounding ability to put your foot in your mouth at the wrong moment (or the right moment?), people who do the right thing and make you cry tears of thankfulness, why is the resurrection of Jesus central to the gospel message, people who tell you what you need to hear as opposed to what they think you want to hear (and the discernment they possess to know the difference), people who say funny things and lighten your load... and people who do the wrong thing and make you cry tears of grief, and don't care. And bloggers you love to read, who decide to quit blogging. I don't like saying goodbye, it makes me cry & takes a little slice of goodness away.
Yep, all of that and more, has been on my mind the last few days or more. Problem is, lack of time and lack of clarity of thought on most of it to really take any of it on, and make it useful to anyone. A dear friend advised me today to set aside such things in my life that bring nothing but tension and stress and focus on those things which edify and exhort. It's brilliant advise, and while it's not always so easy to do that, it's advise we should all try our best to follow. Another friend was so funny today I just laughed and laughed at nearly ever comment he made. I love being around funny people and laughing. Another friend took time out of their very busy life to give me an hour of chit chat about everything from ice cream to Biblical apologetics.
And yet, my heart is heavy. Various reasons I suppose, but it's just the way it works from time to time. I call my blog Reflections of the times, and this is one of those. Some bloggers like to joke and poke fun at these kinds of entries and call them "this is where I am right now" posts that no one really cares about. Well, to those bloggers (and you know who you are, you goofballs) I express a hearty PFFFFT. These might not be the kinds of posts you like to read, but these are the posts that some of us girl bloggers like to get out, because it's useful to write it out and deal with "stuff" this way.
Good sleep has been elusive for weeks, and that might also be a contributing factor. We're also (all of us) just coming out of the worst winter for sicknesses that we've EVER had, and it's been very hard to get back into a normal routine. It hurt my heart tonight to tell the girls they'd have to miss their weekly girl's club at church tonight, because I wasn't prepared in time to get them ready, make dinner be out the door in time to get there. My energy level is hovering right around the place of a brick these days, so rushing off on a Tuesday night after dinner, to the church, wasn't something I felt like doing. I made blueberry muffins instead.
All sorts of other stuff going on lately that make me sort of feel like the juggler that someone keeps tripping. Struggling to keep the balls in the air and balance at the same time.
Some folks wonder "how you do it" when they hear of a mom with so many kids. Well, this is how you do it. Most of the time it's just routine & scheduling. Every once in a while though, it all piles up like that marathon laundry weekend where you have so much laundry to fold you're half tempted to throw it all away and hit the Goodwill. This is one of those pile ups. I don't consider the Goodwill an option though. A good night's sleep would sure be a blessing, however.
So... that's where I'm headed. Maybe tomorrow will be different. It's the first day of Spring, and though we have rain in the forecast, I'm so grateful that it IS rain, and not snow. I think cabin fever is part of all this as well.
It's the perfect time for a new season, in more ways than one.
