Saturday, March 31, 2018

Hallelujah we have finally arrived at Spring Break! It started yesterday and on Thursday night I had BIG plans to sleep in late on Friday. I was dreaming of sleeping until 9:00 or maybe even 10! 7:00 my eyes shot open. Technically I did sleep in an hour, but this was not what I was hoping for. Minnie realized I had opened my eyes so she was by my bedside. I pulled her into the bed for some puppy snuggles and enjoyed just laying in bed for a little longer. I then realized why my mind had woken me up, I must get my house cleaned today! Oh it has been a struggle to keep my house as clean as I would like. It actually stresses me out! It's mostly issues with the amount of clothes that are just laying around my house, clean, dirty, whatever. My laundry is my nemesis. I secretly love when I see other post about their laundry struggle because I know I am not alone. I remember my mom doing laundry every day. She would take it out of the dryer, throw it on the chair in the living room and then do this weird thing where she actually folded them and put them away right then! Bizarre right 😜? I got the washing them, drying them, and then throwing them onto the couch in my basement, but then I walk away and pray that the laundry fairies take over. It usually ends with me begging or bribing my kids to fold them for me. I just can't get over how much laundry we have! My kids wear uniforms to school and I wear the same three pair of pants. Every room there are piles of clothes. Bedrooms and bathrooms there are dirty clothes. In the living room there are little piles of socks that people took off while laying on the coach and countless number (not really countless, probably 12) of coats and sweaters. A few weeks ago we were watching Live PD and they had a warrant for this man's arrest. They are in his house looking for him and there are piles of clothes in all the rooms. Jeremy says, "See they have the same problem with their laundry 😆!" Yeah, doesn't make me feel better. Anyway, I got up and got a few things done, but then Emma and I decided to go to a few stores to see if we could find the girls some shoes for Easter. I told them that there wasn't money in my budget to get a new dress and new shoes and the shoes were must be a necessity. I was actually able to find the girls dresses and shoes all on clearance ($7-$11) so they were able to get both! We got home and I continued to run laundry, but that's about all I got done yesterday. So, today is work day at the house! I have someone coming to watch our dogs tomorrow night as we go to my parents for the night so I have to at least get the basement and front rooms cleaned.

I want to take a minute to thank you all for your prayers and kind words this week. I had been dreading this past week since the week before. My class was really wild on last Wednesday and I knew the excitement of spring break coming would make for a long four days. I found out last Saturday that my teacher's assistant would be out this week because of a family emergency so that was dread. Then we got the disappointing news on Tuesday that just threw me off. As Thursday at 4:30 rolled around I was thankful that I was still smiling and still standing as I sent the last two kids to after school. I was thankful for some blessings that took place this past week even in the midst of the raging storm. My class was pretty well behaved. I had an awesome sub on Tuesday and Wednesday. She is a special ed teacher who was on spring break, so she stepped in for a few days. It was encouraging as she was able to observe some of my kids who need some extra help. It was encouraging to me that what she suggested to help them were things that we were doing or had done. On Wednesday we brought me breakfast and lunch! She could not sub on Thursday, but brought me some cinnamon coffee and some flowers. She had no idea how my heart was struggling and God used her to encourage me. My kids having seen my breakdown on Tuesday have been extra helpful and I have seen a lot more of Emma and Samuel this week. Emma spends most of her time in her room and Samuel spends most of his time in the basement. This week they have just been hanging out with me in the kitchen. Samuel didn't even complain about having spaghetti on Tuesday night! Maybe the best news of all this week, BASEBALL IS BACK! Whoo Hoo!! Go Cubs!! I am thankful that the Lord has reminded me over and over again that He is good. I have been reminded of what He has brought us through in the past. His track record for being faithful is 100%.

Praying you each have a wonderful Easter Sunday. Praying that as you face your own struggles that we never forget the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. May the picture of the cross and the empty tomb make us worship Jesus while our whole heart. May the hope of Easter take the place of every worry and fear we may be facing.

P.S. My husband approves the above post. Oh, I thought I could get out of this post without sharing, but I have to admit that I have a little bit of fire in me when people are saying ridiculous things! He might not approve this message. I have been looked at as someone who is not be submissive to my husband because I blog. I was questioned about if my husband knew I was blogging, like I had a secret blog. I have gotten some criticism lately about my blog. I find it amazing that every time I get criticism I get two words of affirmation that someone enjoys my writing and helps them in their faith. So I will keep writing. I will keep telling the story the Lord is leading me to tell.