Plans

Boy, did I have plans!

Sweet Pea was supposed to be sleeping... at all the right times. Night time, nap time... and for long periods of time.

I was going to get all of our school work done by lunch.

I was also supposed to

have my quiet time,

work out,

shower,

get dressed,

make AND eat breakfast,

have a family devotional,

and begin school

all by 8:30

EVERY MORNING.

I was going to read fictional missionary stories to the kids while eating the hot lunch I had just prepared in the midst of teaching Kindergarten and Third grade.

I was going to do all of that without crashing for a nap in the afternoon so that I could

Clean house,

Wash, fold, and put away laundry,

Prepare dinner,

Blog,

and respond to emails

during the kids' afternoon nap/quiet time.

I was also going to do all of this without caffeine.

(I'm laughing right now.)

Because Sweet Pea was going to be the perfectly scheduled/nap-taking/perfectly content baby like Hgirl was, I was going to do all this and just "pepper in"

feedings,

diapering,

baths,

play time,

and cuddle time.

(Now, I'm almost on the floor laughing.)

Don't get me wrong.

All of these things happen. (Especially the feeding, diapering, bathing, playing, cuddling... and just plain ol' holding of Sweet Pea! She'll tolerate nothing less!)

It is just a RARE occasion that they all happen on the same day.

As a matter of fact, I think that maybe it all happened

Once.

Period.

And even then, it certainly did not fit the above time table.

Then I woke up the next day and remembered how excruciatingly exhausting that schedule was.

And how I wasn't a very nice mommy because I was too busy barking commands trying to keep my schedule.

God reminded me of the blessing He has given me to be able to stay home with my children and to teach and train them.

He reminded me to ENJOY them.

Joy.

That was definitely something that was missing from my schedule.

So I realized

all of those things are important.

And all of those things need to be a priority.

Some of those things need to happen every day, no matter what.

But some of those things

Don't.

And it is all okay.

What is important

is enjoying the season in which God has me.

Enjoying my children because I have no idea how long I will have them.

Enjoying my husband and supporting him while he works hard to provide for our family.

Enjoying the life that God has given us through my husband's provision for us.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

So I wonder

Have you ever gotten so caught up in your schedule that you forgot to enjoy your calling?

Have you ever put your plan above His perfect plan?

I know I have.


Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I'm so thankful today that God reminded me of His plan

so I did not waste another moment on my own.