It's BEEW-TEE-FUL, Mommy!

Have you ever had those days when you "kinda" sensed you'll be short on patience?  Well, let me rephrase that...  Have you ever started your day already tired, lacking focus and just plain cranky?  And no... it's not that time of the month, yet!  

This morning had potential for disaster.  Baby is still NOT sleeping well at night.  Dishes piled up on my sink but... that's ok.  I could live with that.  The van had to be taken to the shop for a scheduled maintenance appointment (which I had completely forgotten about it... and yup... threw off my "plans" for the day!). 

BUT, I gotta tell you....  

I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!  

Amen?

I remember having "those" kinds of days so often after Elsie was born.  Juggling a very active toddler and a newborn was, in my own little world, so hard!  I remember refusing to see and feel the sunshine through my windows, or the colors in my garden, or even the soft grass in our backyard.  

I remember burying myself under the false pretense that "nobody understands", that "everyone gets to sleep but me", that "one more muffin won't hurt me"!  Ahhhhh, lies, lies and more lies!!!

Can I just fast forward to today and give a big shout out to Jesus?  Seriously!  Having 3 healthy (and active) children IS a blessing.  Sure, it's not easy... not gonna lie.  But it is SO good to know that they are healthy!

This picture of my daughter was taken this morning.  I was listening to James MacDonald daily podcast while reading through some Scripture, enjoying my coffee (with my favorite Amaretto creamer), and trying to maximize Noah's morning nap time.  Elsie enjoys "working" beside me and usually just goes to town on her crayons!  This morning, she was overly delighted with her art and said "Look!  It's BEEW-TEE-FUL, Mommy!   

I WANT that excitement about life, don't you?  

It must be exactly how God feels when He looks at us!  Isn't that amazing?

I love how God uses my own circumstances and surrounding people (big and small) to remind me of His goodness and faithfulness, and of my need for Him.  

So, here's a few things I've learned about "those" kinds of days:

1.  Get in the Word of God.  The Bible is a "lamp to our feet" (Ps 119:105).  

2.  Stay healthy and active.  I can't go without THIS!  

3.  PERSPECTIVE is key!

4.  I'm NOT alone.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)