Some of you know us and our adventures well, and some of you are new around here. Whether you’re a long-time friend or a new face to this space, welcome! Just to change things up a bit, we thought we’d try something a little different and give you a glimpse into our everyday — journaling the weekly mess, the mayhem, and the blessings that overflow. As we reveal our day-to-day, our hope is for this community to find heart-awakening connections, that we may learn from one another and find ways to support each other through this craziness called motherhood. Because EVERY DAY matters!
Today is track meet day for our 4th and 5th grade kiddos. This is where all like-minded runners and jumpers (and those yearning to be runners and jumpers) join forces and gather for a day of recording speed, height, and length. It’s breezy and clearly still spring, the day defined by fickle weather and adults toting large thermoses filled with caffeinated goodness. We end the day with a family birthday party, cupcakes, and swatting mosquitoes (aka: our state bird). If you hang around our family for long, you’ll learn that birthdays and mosquitoes are plentiful around here. Let it be known that this imported city girl is still looking for a good anti-skeeter recipe. Preferably something effective that won’t cause longterm damage to our brains. Anyone?
It’s the start of my work week. {Click HERE to read more details on what I do for work.} I shower before anyone else is up and prep breakfast while the kids are getting ready for school — finding clothes, making beds, and addressing turkey tails. Then we jam pack eating, vitamin-taking, quick devotional reading and brushing teeth into the next time slot. Kids head to school and I head to work. Today I decide to tackle several long overdue orders: party décor and accessories, favors, cupcake papers, and wedding retail. I complete five purchase orders in six precious work hours and rush to pickup kids, run home to help with homework (today we have a lynx report and a construction paper map project going), and prep food for our evening meal with my brother and his family. Fun full day.
My folks are headed back home today. We pack my car with suitcases and backpacks, kissing teary little faces goodbye. I drive my parents to the airport while my husband is left behind to console and wipe wet cheeks before the kids head off to school. To put it simply: goodbyes stink! I proceed to Barnes and Noble to console myself with a soothing Chai and the silent comfort of books. Chai-ing and crying. I’m a mess! I succumb to a little retail therapy and buy a book I’ve heard lots about (The Accidental Feminist: Restoring our Delight in God’s Good Design), and a journal. I’m pretty sure my 15 half-filled notebooks need a new friend. Hence, the new turquoise journal. With puffy eyes and a sad heart, I head to work.
Back to worky-work. It’s grad week here so most of our customers seem stressed and overwhelmed. I can’t help but feel a little sad for them as they end this chapter with their kids, watching them accept diplomas and take numerous selfies with friends. I’m feeling more introspective tonight as I read and snuggle with my two sillies. Oh how I love them! I just want them to stay little. Stay safe. This new world of growing up seems scary and unknown. But I know that God doesn’t want me to keep them in a bubble with their lights hidden from the dark world. And so I spend some time in prayer, asking God to cover them with His hand of peace and protection. I give Him their futures and their dreams, potential spouses, and children. I exhale out all my worries, laying down all my crazy mama fears, and fall asleep praying.
Today is a race to see how much work I can accomplish in a very short amount of time, leaving a few hours to prep and pack for a very busy weekend. For better or for worse, I agreed to chaperone a 5th grade fieldtrip to Homer, Alaska. Three days with a bunch of 11-year-olds and a schmattering of brave parents. Lord Jesus, help us! ~ One of the reasons we have our kids in public school is for things just like this – opportunities to be a blessing and a light in our community. Many of these kids do not have a saving relationship with Christ. They don’t even know who He is beyond a name they exclaim when excited or upset. My heart aches for them to know Him. ~ Lord, help me to be an extension of Your grace. Help my words and my actions draw others to You and bring You glory! Let them see You in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We hope you’re enjoying this journal-ish peek into our lives. Please join us for next week’s post where Amanda will share Part 2 of A Week in the Life of Us.
Anne-Renee Gumley
Latest posts by Anne-Renee Gumley (see all)
- For Every Mom - March 7, 2022
- Where Did Happy Mama Go? - February 22, 2022
- When Your World Seems Topsy-Turvy - February 8, 2022
Leave a Reply