Every week I like to take a moment to showcase the moments that brought me the most joy. Sometimes they are awesome activities and other times it’s a sweet moment between the kids. There are always moments that can fill us with joy if we choose to see them with a thankful heart.
Um, it was an interesting week. The “fun” actually started last Saturday while I was at the Women’s event at our church. Parker started vomiting and didn’t stop most of the day. He woke up feeling better but incredibly worn out on Sunday. This meant I went to church alone while Micah stayed home with the kids, just in case anyone else was carrying germs. Good thing, too, because Mercedes got hit with it on Wednesday night and Jamison on Thursday night. We weren’t planning on bleaching the whole kid bathroom with bleach but we have now! So this week is filled with prayers for health and protection.
1. Mother’s Day
My plans for my ideal Mother’s Day did not include a sick kid, but it’s what happened. We still managed to have a wonderful day, though. We (well, the six of us) ate waffles with strawberry syrup and fresh whipped cream for breakfast, sushi for lunch – I’m so glad the kids enjoy sushi – and sandwiches for dinner. It was laid back and fabulous because I didn’t have to do any prep. The weather was incredible and we had a water fight with the kids new squirt guns from Easter. I used the hose and was winning until Micah caught me with a full pitcher of water. We’ve decided we need lots more water fights this summer.
2. Jumping in puddles
The beautiful weather from Mother’s Day gave way to thunderstorms and lots of puddles for the kids to jump in. They had so much fun getting wet while waiting for their big brothers to get out of school.
3. Itsy Bitsy Spider
We have a standing Skype date with my parents on Wednesday nights. We’ve done this since the kids were super little and both houses look forward to it. They used to do itsy, bitsy spider every week until the big boys were “too cool” for it but now the little guys have really gotten into the song and dances so we are back at it. I love that we live in this age of technology that allows us to connect with family despite being hundreds of miles apart.
4. Country sunset
I write about sunrises frequently but this sunset, guys. Wowza. I was at a friend’s house on Friday night for a bonfire and this beauty brought us into the night. Supposedly there were deer out there but I couldn’t spot them. But goodness. I could stare at skies like this every day. And the group of ladies I was enjoying it with made it all the better.
5. Coffee date with Mercedes
It was Mercedes turn for a date with mommy! She chose donuts and a “special drink” so we hit up the local grocery store with a coffee shop inside. We each picked out a donut then split a kid sized cookies and cream cooler. This girl can talk, talk, talk, and has quite the interesting view of the world. She enjoys explaining why words mean what they mean (like, cream cheese is called cream cheese because its creamy cheese) and she’s also picked up my awesome talent of singing her conversations. She’s a bundle of giggles!
Where did you find joy in the chaos this week? How do you stay focused on joy when chaos is everywhere?