Chaos

Today, has been one of those days. A day, where you hope you survive it without breaking in to tears or embarrassing yourself by admitting how you really feel, defeated. I'm tired. My son didn't nap for his babysitter, he ran around the house crazy, destroying things and my husband is at work...again. My daughter is visiting her dad, and it pains me to say that I am a bit relieved, because the thought of caring for one more person tonight would push me over the edge, if I am not already falling. I am writing this tonight, as a confession of sorts. As we search for joy in our daily lives, as mothers and wives, as sisters and daughters and friends, we come across so many obstacles. Since our first meeting, I try each day to confess joy. To find something to cling to in the craziness of life. I struggle, as hard as that is to voice, in not being able to get everything crossed off my list for the day, to not make it to every event that I would like, in not having the "perfect" home. I am confessing my trials and my joy publicly tonight, so that I can humble myself before God and accept what He has for me. I found joy today in being able to give my nephew a ride to school and to see him interact with my son and daughter, to hear them laughing on the way there. I am thankful that my husband has a job, that although he is away from us at night, that God is using it to prepare him for something greater. I am blessed to know that my daughter is loved by her father, that he desires to raise her and have a relationship with her. I am grateful, that my son finally fell asleep and I could have time to myself to write this.

I find joy in the fact that tomorrow is a new day, and that God's mercy is new every morning.

Dancing with my Father Ch. 1 & 2

I was so encouraged meeting with all of you girls the other night!  It is an answer to prayer to have you all join me on this journey of joy and reading through Sally Clarkson's book, 'Dancing with my Father.'  Denise, great idea about setting up this blog as a way of encouragement to each other (and it wasn't that hard to figure out either).  I am already encouraged by you all and I'm excited to see where the Lord leads us.

I think we agreed to use this blog as a way to write a little note describing the joy we find in our days.  I think that joy was definitely found this afternoon while doing a little Easter craft with my 3 year old daughter Paisley.  We were making lambs out of her handprints and gluing cotton balls onto the lambs.  Well, a 3 year old can only do so many cards before she gets distracted and silly.  She was pulling apart the cotton balls and the fuzz from them was sticking all over her hands (this is a child who usually doesn't like to have her hands dirty).  She pretended to toss the cotton balls at me and I pretended to duck from them knowing that they were just going to stick to her hands.  Somehow, she thought it was the funniest thing and was just laughing and giggling so hard.  More than when I tickle her:)  And I thought to myself, 'now this is what makes the craft fun! Hearing her laugh like that and just being the cute silly girl she is!'  It warmed my heart!

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.  Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.  Know that the Lord himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture."  Psalm 100: 1-3