Our Path Of Life: Real Life

Well, it is Saturday evening. I am here at mom's baby sitting for a day or so. I was feeling at the end of myself earlier this afternoon - if you know what I mean. It was kind of a long week. May is always a crazy month for Jose at the farm and this week he worked long days and was gone most of today also. Just the way it has to be - I know that - but sometimes I get to feeling a little lonely - if you know what I mean:) I think he could tell when he got home and I am thankful that he is always very kind about it. ("It" being my bad mood.) Anyhow I am glad to report that I snapped out of "It". The Lord is faithfully showing me how he wants to be in the middle of my 'real life' 'end of myself' moments. He wants use those times to teach and grow and love and uphold me.

Yesterday I decided to take the kidos to a park near us that has a large beach area. I know, I know, we practically have a beach area in our own back yard. I am finding that sometimes I have to drop everything and go to a different location in order to really give my kids some time and attention and to enjoy them the way I should. There are to many tasks that call to me at home. Yes, real life is always there and must be dealt with and I pray all the time about getting my priorities right - but there are times I need to step away, get out of the house, and do only my kids! So, we get to the park and the beach is closed. I drove 40 minutes, packed a picnic, and have the kids all excited - we will just make the best of it!! We unloaded the rather large amount of things we brought (beach toys and school stuff included ) walked a little way and settled in to eat our lunch. The drop off to the lake where we were was too steep for the kids to be able to get to the water, soooo, we loaded up all of our stuff and people (beach toys and school stuff included) and went to find a new spot. The afternoon ended up a huge success! We found a spot where they could play and cool off in the water a little bit. I love listening to them play. They are so creative. By the end of the time they were all soaked and tired. I was glad that at the last minute I had grabbed some dry clothes off of that huge stack of clean laundry on top of the dryer that I should have been at home putting away - opps, I'm sorry, where was I? Anyway with everyone in clean dry clothes we headed home to a dinner of lasagna, salad, bread, applesauce, and cold lemonade. What is it about sunshine that makes everything taste better? Have I mentioned that I love spring?

Today I did put that huge stack of laundry away and actually got a bunch of stuff done. I let the children get out the hose and they thoroughly enjoyed that! I thought today about one of my little people that I am having trouble , um, how do I put this? I guess you could say I am having trouble right now knowing how to love them. Of course I am crazy about them, love them to my inner core, would do anything for them. I am talking about knowing how to show them love - the way they need to be shown it. Funny thing is this child is the one who is very much like me in many ways. They are sensitive and need affirmation - so why then is it so hard? Yes, there are at the moment, some issues in this persons behavior that need, shall we say, ironed out. But it is more than that. And then while I was thinking about it the Lord reminded me that I really need to make this a matter of my prayer. He will show me how to love - He is love. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for loving me, for loving this family, for my children, and for loving them even so much more than I ever could!!!!!!!! And thanks for caring about and wanting to be right in the middle of our real life!

I was really bummed because I was only able to take a few pictures yesterday before the batteries in my camera died. And yes, I had taken others along that I thought were charged - yea they weren't!