from home

I posted the above picture on instagram last week. I was working at home during kiddo nap time. I have a little desk set up in the guest room. And by little, I do mean little -- it is a children's desk. But I love it because it is mine and has been mine since I qualified for it's size. This particular day I asked David if he would mind making me some coffee. He delivered it with dark chocolate crumbles and orange peel tonic water reminiscent of what my sister-in-law served us when she was a barista in Saint Louis. I swooned at his thoughtfulness and creativity and then staged an insta-pretty pic. Threw in some washi tape and grabbed a sketch book. The tape sits on my little desk. I wasn't using it. The sketch pad isn't for sketching - I don't sketch. I doodle some and write letters on it. So the pic looks like a "wow working from home is a dream," but it wasn't my job that day.
I'm sorry if I fooled you with my picture. Pretting up things some days is fun, a good break from the real tasks of the day, and a way of creating and seeing beauty. So it wasn't meant as a guise, but a little creative outlet. I did greatly enjoy my little coffee parlor treat. It spurred me on to finish writing a devo for discipleship groups and do some planning for the rest of the week's events. I was serenaded by a favorite Apple Radio station and It was a nice productive afternoon.
This is what yesterday looked like...

And you know what? It too was a nice productive afternoon. A nice day.

I went to a meeting in the morning and worked at the church office for a few hours while David stayed home with M & H. I came home to help with lunch and then continued my work from the couch sandwiched between and under the two nuggets. I was serenaded by the sounds of PBS and post-nap melt downs as I desperately worked my way through converting email addresses for our new work server all so I could accomplish mailing just one email. I also played "check up" no less than 10 times. Changed a few diapers and proctored a few time outs.
Juggling hats isn't always glamorous (heck. depending on who's looking, maybe it never is). There are plenty of frustrations and so many areas that I need lots of grace in. Things fall through the cracks. I forget my promises to take a turn at the dishes. Loose my temper. The tv stays on too long as distraction for Magnolia. I inevitably end up writing Sunday school lessons on Saturday because I just couldn't get it done during the week. I do what I need to do and do what I can do with lots of grace to myself and from others thrown in.
Whenever I need reminding of God's love and design for my life, my jobs (at home and work) are always a good place for me to look. His provision for my family and for my heart abounds. I am beyond blessed and beyond thankful -- with the coffee parlor treats and washi tape and with my children piled high on my lap as I reach for the one hand type.