Have I ever mentioned that I once had this twisted idea that stay-at-home-moms did nothing all day except shop, drink coffee, watch TV, get their nails done, decorate their homes, and put their children down for naps every so often? Well, shame on me! It's been just over a year since I embarked on this journey of full-time motherness, and what a ride it's been. In fact, there are those days when I feel the urge to ask, "Is THIS what I signed up for??"
Thankfully, today has been one of those days. Within a span of twenty minutes (if even that long), Cain had chugged some of and spilled most of Baylor's cup of apple juice on the kitchen floor. That's the floor that was just steam mopped last night. (I KNEW I should've enjoyed the cleanness of it just a little longer last night!) Baylor, the one who's potty-trained, managed to peepee all over the bathroom floor and then track it all over the living room floor on his little wet feet. (It took two towels to soak it up despite his claim that he'd already cleaned it up for me. At least he tried!) In an effort to breathe and regain control, I sent Baylor outside to play at the picnic table so I could keep an eye on him while I started supper. He perched himself on the picnic table forlornly looking out across the pasture... and picking his nose. I couldn't help but laugh inside... What a sight! Of course, then, the phone rings. Actually, at times like this, the ringing telephone sounds more like sirens going off; about 50 of 'em! Thankfully, it was my dad, and, boy, was I glad to hear his voice! He asked me the loaded question, "How are you and the boys?" Poor thing. He had no idea what he was asking. He was 80 miles away and didn't know that at that very moment, my lonely, booger-picking, three-year-old was dumping an entire bag of bird seed onto the ground. My reply? "Daddy, do you really want to know?!"
After explaining the past twenty minutes of our already interesting day, he understood what I meant when I said that it's a good thing I don't rely on any type of drug to help relieve stress. Otherwise, he would've been talking to a smoking drunk, and you know that wouldn't go over to well for a Southern Baptist! The more details I shared, the more we laughed. Before hanging up, I let him know that God had used him at that very moment through a telephone call to lighten the mood... and save Brantley from the wrath that awaited him upon his arrival home from work.
That's why I say, "Thankfully, today has been one of those days." If it weren't for days like this, I wouldn't realize all of the ways in which God blesses me day-in and day-out. Yes, this IS what I signed up for when Brantley and I petitioned God for children. He answered our prayers then and continues to do so now. So, if you don't mind, I'm going to go turn on some "Praise Baby" and enjoy a little quiet before the next twenty minutes gets revved up!
