Joy in the journey!

Yes, I have heard the term, a lot actually.  But, I never really knew the details of this.  I wish I was still in the dark about it.  Then again, perhaps with children approaching the teens maybe we should all know the terminology, the know how, the how, what, when and why when it comes to their decisions. 

The very thought of partial birth abortion makes me feel that it is evil through and through.  There is no way that it  can be okay, under any circumstances.  I just can’t see it. 

Because of the fact that this has been on my mind I wanted to share a great site that gave me some great matter of fact information about abortion.  What I really loved was that the site focuses on adoption which is close to my heart.

Several years ago I had a dear friend who called one day and asked how I was.  I was sick so I told her the truth.  She said "you know, sometimes, the Lord can put such an obstacle in your way so that you learn to slow down".  I don’t know about the Lord doing it but I know that my body gives me a swift kick at times and it did it this week.  Really, it was quite unnecessary for my butt to take matters into it’s own hands considering that I had already decided to slow down.

But then came election day.  We did a full day of school and I cooked all day long preparing for a party the next day.  Then I thought I would ask my brother over to watch the election news and stuff throughout the evening.  He was game.  Then, when he came at 4:30 pm we decided to invite another brother and my mother.  Then my husband came home.  I made Mexican food and snacks for everyone and we stayed up until Obama gave his speech.  I did not fall into bed until late and then it took forever to get to sleep.  The following morning we had to get up at 6:30 am to get across town for another school activity.  This would be when I started getting really sick.

I have been in bed for the most part since then.  Stupid me.  I thought I was going to slow down, I knew we needed to.  Then I didn’t do what I knew was right and look where it got me! 

Not that anyone cares about a blow by blow of my daily routine, I am just proving a point.  Take care of yourself or your body (or maybe the Lord) will make you take care!  And to think we have another school party tomorrow!  Oy!

I am possibly the most impatient person on the planet.  Odd that I would choose to homeschool but it works for us.  It must be by some cosmic force that we are all alive today!  My problem is not just impatience with people but that I am ALWAYS in a hurry!  It doesn’t matter what we are doing, I am telling the family to "hurry up". 

This week I have decided that it’s okay if it takes five extra minutes to get out the door or to get a meal on the table.  I have decided to have a short term goal of one week of taking things more slowly.  This will not mean that we move like snails but bring things back to a normal pace. 

My reason for this is partly selfish as I suffer from tension and migraine headaches and my lifestyle plays a huge role in these things.  I have gotten to where I am great about my diet and pretty good about exercise and know that these things make me feel better.  I am hoping that slowing down and just choosing to be more relaxed will have the same effect on me as food and exercise.

I’ll have to blog next week and let you know how it goes!

My husband’s company had a 25% reduction in force today.  My husband was spared.  My joy today comes from the fact that he has managed to escape another phase of lay offs. 

My worries are wrapped up in this same thing that brings me joy at the moment.  I am panicked.  So sick inside with worry that it physically hurts.  I know that somehow things will work out, even if it doesn’t happen in the way that we would like. 

My children are healthy and happy.  My marriage is in a good place right now and we are trying to do a lot of things right.  I just hope that if the bottom falls out financially that I can make the choice to endure it well and with grace.  I hope that I can show my children that they do not need to curl up in a ball and worry but to be happy and have a good time just being together as a family.  That is what is most important.

Just typing that last paragraph made me feel like I may be able to sleep tonight.

This "Get closer, not louder" is not my own quote.  I found it on another blog but it didn’t really belong to that author either.  Anyway, I love this thought.  I spend so much time and effort yelling across the house or whistling to get people’s attention.  It would be better if I moved and went closer to the children and spoke in a softer tone.  I think that almost immediately we will see a difference in the atmosphere of our home.  I can’t wait to try this tomorrow!