Ready to Pop




(Here we are, waiting for the sun to set for our drive-in movie)

I try.

I try so hard, every day, to be content with what I have.
To be cheerful in every circumstance.  I want to be, and generally am.

When school ended, I was elated - I felt the burden of school responsibility lifted off my shoulders.  I was ready for some serious relaxing.  Cheerful was my middle name.

This summer has been epic - so many great summer memories have been made.


Trips to the drive-in movie theatre.  Playing frisbee while waiting for the sunset and eating giant buckets of popcorn shared between snuggly kids setting records staying up late for the second movie.


Swimming, swimming, swimming!  Learning to swim, trying new skills, diving for dive sticks, making it all the way across the pool - a super summer achievement for my littles.



Hot, hot weather - too hot to go outside unless it was to swim or to go somewhere air-conditioned.

Our cute little spring garden wilted away to nothing due to neglect.

We were too busy going to Idlewild, riding rides and catching waves.  Going to playdates and picnics and swimming in pools.

It has been a golden, hot, record-breaking summer


(My Hulk-boy and daddy at the water park)


...and I'm totally exhausted.


This morning, I woke up, ready to pop!

I felt like I haven't had a moment to myself, to do something I enjoy, for 2 straight months.  And this morning I had the extra job of rousing and readying the troops, who stayed up til midnight for the drive-in movie.  Why?  Because it was time for another puppy appointment at the vet.  All I wanted to do was stay home, but the schedule must go on...

Keeping up with all this meant, between activities:

Keeping groceries and sunscreen and juiceboxes stocked and ready to go at a moment's notice;
Catching up on laundry on rare gray mornings;
Doing the dishes here and there, eating off paper plates for 2 or 3 meals a day.
Doctor's appointments, vet appointments, haircuts, splinter a bee sting removals, and don't forget car repairs...

As I think back on the summer, I think every other dinner was pizza or hot dogs.

          (More time at the amusement park)

 

Yep - guilty - I hopped off the balanced meal wagon for the sake of summer survival.


And so, this afternoon, I can finally relax.

Why?  Because it is raining.  We have had a drought this summer - one gorgeous day after another, but our grass was getting brown and crunchy.  It was time for a rainy day.  In fact, if I am honest here, I was getting dry and crunchy, too.  Worn out, unrested, played out, drained.  I pray as we spend this afternoon indoors that my spirit will start to be restored - from empty to full, to joy, to contentment.

I imagine every mom with kids this age feels about the same at this point in the summer.

Today's playdate was canceled, so we have just been hanging out this afternoon.  I had a nap, the dog is still napping, and the kids are playing happily in their playroom, abandoned all summer due to great weather and summer adventuring.
 

Just when I think I can't make it another moment without some down time, God provides. 




Thank you, God, for giving us rest. Thank you for this time of restoration.

Thank you for providing all my needs, especially on this rainy day.





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