I normally would have lost it...But I remembered.

Well this morning was a going to be a busy morning. So I made the list the night before and layed it on the kitchen counter so I would not skip or miss a beat.

I awake even earlier then I needed to all because Lil miss tapped my arm." Can I watch a show?" I roll over try and see out of my still wanting sleep eyes. 6:05 a.m No, honey I mumbled. Get into to bed with me. Noticing that Thomas was out on his early run as normal. She crawled and snuggled. I couldn't go back to sleep. 10 Min's later I hear the other room door creak open. It was Lil man. He just shuffles his way to the living room. Lil miss crawls out to join her older brother. I too crawled out needing more rest, but what can one do? I go to the stack of dress clothes layed out from the night before, and put them on to have my bra strap break. OK...Give thanks. I do. I can give thanks because I have a few more options to wear. Remember that Crissy. You have more than enough. I trek down the hall to start doing lunches. Just Jacobs today. Phew! I go to get the lunch meat. There is none left. Dang! So I go to grab a bagel with cream cheese. Cause no peanuts allowed. I push past the peanut butter. And there is only half a bagel in the opened bag. Ok....I will run out and grab him a sub. I have time, if I hurry I thought. then I remembered Crissy Give thanks. So I do, while I search for my keys to drive my 2005 Escape. I thank him for options. And thank him for allowing me to wake this morning. And to be able to drive to go get a sub. And to have money in the bank to worry about doing so. I get in the escape to see no gas. Remember Crissy. Give thanks. Ok God thank you that Subway is at the gas station. I only have to make one stop. keep going...Keep giving thanks...Ham, Lettuce and Cheddar Cheese. That's all he likes on it. Oh sorry mamm our shipment has not come in yet this morning. We are out of Lettuce. That's fine I state. I can throw some Spinach leaves on it at home.Knowing Lil man like routines and his sandwiches made the way he liked them. Remember....Give thanks Crissy. Thank you for teachable moments. Thank you for the interaction I had between the sales clerk this morning. the normal banter and smiles exchanged. I quick run home....to late to shower. Place the almost greasy hair back in a pony tail. and throw some spinach in the sandwich. Lil man comes in and states, mom I need you to fill these forms out for sub day and Pizza and milk day. Last minute of course I scramble to find the exact change and place it ever so neatly in the allotted spot in his agenda. Quick...turn the computer on, get the directions to the court house. Quick get the cell phone, place my friends number in there in case she needs me. Where is the list?? Anyone seen the list? Lil Miss started writing on it. walking around writing a note to one of my friends. While I head in her direction. I probably would have snatched it away and said something like " don't write on that I need it."
But I stopped and remembered to Give thanks Thank you that I had the exact change and we weren't late submitting his money. Thank you that Lil miss is practising to be a momma, making her lists and trying to write words of encouragement. How could I scold that? How could I miss that opportunity to show her grace.
 I had to drive Lil miss to my friends house 15 mins in the opposite direction that I had to go in. But
Give Thanks  Crissy, You have a good friend that you trust to care for your baby girl. And their road is so pretty. Take it in. Don't miss it, cause you are in a hurry. I drive Lil man back into town, I pull into the school yard. And Hear oh man, I forgot my backpack. OK Seriously...Breathe...Give thanks Crissy.  After I state to my son, really Jaker? I have got to go! I stop myself and thank God I only live down the street. What is a 2 min delay? really?? Its all good.

    So my morning was filled with potential set backs. But I am trying to learn. I am trying to stop and Give thanks. To stop and give thanks for the rain and the grey sky. And the dirty Lil man I just picked up from school. Thanks for giving us the day to day routines, that seem mundane.
If we want joy, we need to give Thanks. Lord keep teaching me this I pray.

I would rather be in bed.

This is how our morning looks like on a regular basis. Thomas gets up and runs at 4:30 a.m to be home for 6 a.m when the first little critter crawls out of bed.( Chloe ) He comes and closes our bedroom door so I can sleep in till 7-7:30 a.m Our second little Critter ( Jacob ) awakens anywheres between 6-7. Depends on how loud Chloe is. Cartoons are on and kids are fed by the time I am up. Most of the time Thomas goes back to bed until 8:10 a.m cause he was up so early. Then he heads off to work and then it is just me and the kidlets.
But.....A morning like this morning is what shows me that I am a very selfish creature. I don't want to get up at 6, but I had to because Thomas had to leave for work by then this morning. I don't want to hear demands and screaming and fighting before I even crawl out of bed. I like quiet in the morning. Not happening in this house. And then you make one piece of toast and run out. So Jake gets mad. Cause he wanted 2 pieces of toast. Then I pour the milk into the cereal bowl for Chloe and find that indeed that was the last bag of milk. So what's left for breakfast for me. ( Coffee ) and maybe a bruised banana.

So what's my point??? I am selfish! And I am trying to allow God to change this in me. I don't want to be snippy at my kids, cause I would rather be sleeping. I don't want to snap at them saying will you just give me a Minute so I can at least get out of bed. I need to learn to die to self. I need to learn that I need to go to God first thing in the a.m please Lord help me to remain calm and give to my children right now. Even though I don't want too. Give me a smile on my face and a joy in my heart. Cause Lord I would rather be in bed.

5 a.m to line up for swim lessons. CRAZINESS!

You know you love your kids when you get up @ 5 a.m to go get in a long line up at the Y.M.C.A to register them for swimming lessons. Do my kids know that I was running a fever last night and coughed all night long and felt so sick to my stomach the whole 25 min drive this morning?? No they do not. They did not even notice that I was gone until I walked back in the door @ 7.am.
I love the fact that my 2 kids feel secure. That they feel they can depend on us.
And no....we may not get a huge thank you for sacrificing our time, our energy and our sleep etc. But seeing there smiling little faces and leg squeezes and kisses being blown through the air. is enough for me.

Tapping into something Greater then coffee in the mornings.

I am by nature not a morning person. Things can go sour for me very quickly. If I let them. Like this morning. I woke up earlier then normal to attack some extra baking tasks for some commitments that I have made. No worries I love to bake. One batch of cupcakes and one batch of rice krispies coming right up. I start. I hear the kids playing. Jake in his room. Chloe with her dad.

Then not even 5 min's later. Chloe comes in the kitchen covered head to toe in toothpaste. Argh. I change her and then again 5mins later she is coming upstairs from the basement that is COVERED in drywall dust and Yes I have to change her again. Due to the white poweder covering her new outfit. I yell to Jacob. Come and get dressed for school. Shoot I gotta make his lunch still. and get dressed. And Yeah I should brush my teeth. So the rush and the frustration level is rising. I come out of Jacobs room to head to the kitchen again to tackle the baking, to see that my lovely little two year has found the diaper bag and the cheerios that were in it. oh did I say in it or did I say covering the front entrance?? Grab her again now wash the snot that is covering her face and making her bangs stick to her forehead. Argh!!!!!
Go faster I am telling myself. you still have the check list and only 22 mins left.

So why are somedays worse then other??? Not too sure. But I stopped I called a friend to come pick up the cupcakes to deliever for me instead of waking the the little monster from her nap, and from rushing around. Yes I thought a coffee is what I need so I did make one, but I thought to myslef. Wow I litterally jumped out of bed and started with the check list. God just knocked on my heart and said slow down, and include me in your check list. So I did that. I stopped and prayed. Not a long one, but one that I gave him my day and my plans and my check list.
Now....I can drink my cup of coffee.