Monday Morning

Monday morning. Ugh right? Every Friday we’re all “TGIF” WOOHOO TO THE WEEKEND!” And then Monday comes around and we’re all “ugh”. So ya there’s that. And, by the way, what happened to September?? How is it already October?? 🙄

This Monday is no different. Fall has seriously been uber busy around here! Somehow we have allowed our younger two boys to be way more active in extra stuff then we ever did with our older two. Ya, they had their things, but just not as many. These boys literally don’t have a free evening, except for Saturdays most of the time. But then we usually have a game or a band thing sometime during that day. So, never a full free day ever. Which makes me kind of sad. These poor adolescent boys are ex.hau.sted people. My middle kiddo was so tired that he couldn’t even think to decide what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday… How did we get here?? I have been letting them skip things lately that aren’t required. (But, they love all of their things, so they don’t usually want to skip.) I have so been there. All the things are good. How do we eliminate a good thing??

I’ve just been a little frustrated lately with the tone of busyness in my life. The main reason I change course a few years back was to escape some of the chaos. And, lately it seems, I’ve traded chaos, for chaos. Most of which I’ve created I know, but still. I don’t want to be frazzled, I want to be joyful. I’ve been taking stock of what’s really important and trying to put those things in the right place. Maybe it’s part of getting older, I don’t know, I don’t want life to just speed past me, I want to savor every minute. Have you been there??

Seriously though, sometimes I just have to take a minute and snuggle with one of those big boys on the couch. Or, play a silly computer game with them when they ask. (both of which happened this week – grainy photo compliments of my hubby from the other side of the room – lights were out  😉 )

This goes for any of you mamas out there with kids of all ages. Take every minute that you can. Those moments when they let you into their world. Because, believe me they get fewer and farther between as they get older. Make sure that when they are home you are available. I know it’s easy to be distracted, even for me. At the end of the day I find myself scrolling through social media instead of engaging in conversation. I want to hear about all the things, but sometimes I forget to ask. Don’t forget to ask, because sometimes they really want to tell you, they’re just waiting for you to ask.

I know I mentioned over the summer that hubby and I were doing our best to get in a walk every evening. Well, the busyness of this fall has stolen that right away from us. Some days I managed to get up and at ’em enough to get our walk in before he has to go to work. But, not as often as I would like. I hate that because this has been our time to connect everyday. It’s a good way for us to get away from all the distractions, and just catch up on what’s going on. It helps us to stay on the same page. I even had to schedule a date night last Saturday night for the two of us, because we literally had not had a free evening in what seemed like forever. We went to dinner and then shoe shopping for him. Glamorous huh? But, hey, after 22 years, alone time is alone time. 😉

And, hey, don’t forget about yourself. In the mundane day to day (whatever that might look like for you), sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up. Maybe that’s treating yourself to a pumpkin-spice latte, or a massage, or maybe it’s as simple as a 30 minute stroll through the beauty section at walgreens to pick out some new nail polish and lip gloss for fall (and maybe a magazine too).

So, all this rambling to encourage all the frazzled wives and mamas out there to take a minute. Take a minute with the Lord and then be sure to take a minute with the important people in your lives – your spouse, your kiddos, your friends, and even yourself on this Monday morning. All of those minutes together will count for far more than all the other hours of the day. Thanks for letting me ramble on this Monday morning!! I hope you were encouraged today!!

What do you think about Instagram Stories?? Do you watch them?? I’ve posted a few. Maybe you saw my decorating craziness the other day! Sometimes the creativity flows and I have three or four things happening at once, with about three more in my brain, and other times – nothing. Lately things have been flowing and I’m trying to rein in my brain before it gets too far out there!! I’ll be sharing some of those fun things with you soon!!