In the last few days I have learned (or re-learned) a few things. Over the weekend we were all supposed to go to one of my favorite places and enjoy the weekend away together and with Jason's brother who is here visiting. Things didn't go as planned...Jason worried about leaving the house empty during this time of year, so I agreed to stay home. I was sad not to go, but excited about the prospect of two days home ALL ALONE and all of the many, many things I would get done. Well, instead of accomplishing the most impressive to-do list on the planet, I got sick. REALLY sick. As in my fever was 105+ and I won't tell you how much plus lest you think I am stupid for not going to the hospital. So, in the end, my glorious two days alone getting the next few weeks of school planned, getting a whole bunch of work for my website done, cleaning the house, etc., turned into two days of doing nothing but staring at one of three screens: the TV (finally getting into LOST), the computer screen (researching anything and everything because my brain was in a read-only mode) and a thermometer screen (seeing the numbers fluctuate between 101 and 105+). In those "joyous" two days and in the few days since the my health and family's return, I have learned a few things:
1. I don't know how to rest and sit still. Everyone keeps telling me how much I need to rest, even if I am feeling better. I keep saying, "Unless I am dying, I don't know how to do that." Can another mom of four kids age six and under please tell me how to rest?
2. Having my body completely shut down is a good way for God to get me to involuntarily rest and therefore spend a lot of time thinking and praying and wrestling and thinking and praying! I worked through some really hard issues while sick and if I hadn't been sick, I never would have had the time.
3. Knowing what I want isn't always an easy thing. So many factors get involved and I can't see God's way through the crowding of my way, the world's way, the easy way. But when I take the time to really think and pray and sort through issues (and what are really non issues), the path that God has for me starts to appear. And that path contains perfect peace.
4. As much as I LOVE my kids, and LOVE being around them all day, being away from them for two days was a really good thing. Reason? Read number 5.
5. I am tired. Not just "I didn't get enough sleep last night tired" but really tired. As in "I have been parenting babies and toddlers for almost seven straight years and I think it is finally catching up with me" tired. In all honesty, up until now, I wouldn't have ever said parenting had worn me out. But I am okay admitting that now I am tired and that it is okay.
6. I have really, really cool kids. I already knew this, but they remind me every day. My most recent proof:
We were sitting on the front porch with pizza. I hadn't eaten much due to being sick and I was really hungry, and really weak. Caleb asked for a drink. I told him that he could go inside and get it. He back outside not just with a drink for himself, but with FOUR cups. The top cup was full of water (because he knows that Alaina likes water). The other three cups were empty and he was carrying the milk. So my five year, who could have just gotten something for himself, thought of his siblings, thought about what they might like, and then took the trouble to bring it all out. That is the kind of kid I am trying to raise. He amazes me every day!
7. Scrapbooking makes me happy. You would think that four and a half years and over 800 pages would make me know how happy it makes me. And yet I forget. I scrapped some this weekend and oh how I love it!
I love reading your blog! Your a true inspiration! Glad your feeling better.
Posted by: Julie Brooks | September 23, 2009 at 07:04 AM
I am so glad that you are feeling better, Janet! We have had the flu here so we have dealt with that high fever too!
LOVE LOVE these layouts!! On your "Home" layout - is that an alpha or font? I would love to know what it is!!
Posted by: Shari Barnes | September 23, 2009 at 09:28 AM
It is a font that I turned into an alpha. Will have to look up what it
is...or if I can some time I can upload it and give it here on the blog ;)
Janet
On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 10:33 PM, wrote:
Posted by: phillipsfamily | September 23, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Oh Janet... I know you are super busy but I would LOVE to know what font it is. These layouts are great! I am really enjoying your homeschool posts too! :-)
Posted by: Shari Barnes | September 23, 2009 at 08:32 PM
May you find rest, from one weary mom to another. :) Much love to you and your family.
Posted by: Heather | September 25, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Looooooove your layouts!!
And I would love to know how you turn a font in to an Alpha?? Maybe a post for daily digi?? Including how you change the color... Inquiring minds what to know!!!
Posted by: MaryRuth | September 29, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Glad you are better!
Ok-I cannot find your last answer to my email when there was an earthquake...where are you located? Is it near the newest one? Praying for you and your family.
Posted by: Margie | September 30, 2009 at 06:12 PM
So glad that you twittered that you and your family are not in harm's way from the earthquake.
Posted by: Becky | September 30, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Has your fever gone down? I do hope that you are on the mend!
Posted by: ab.grace | October 01, 2009 at 10:33 AM