31 Days of Gratitude- {Day 15}- Saying Yes to the Mess

This morning, we had plans.  Plans to head to the library and to a bookstore.  We had just finished Kayla's school work and everyone was dressed and ready to go, and we were on schedule.  That's when we noticed the huge truck blocking our driveway.  Apparently they were doing some kind of yard clean-up around the complex...

Great. Just great. 

I could feel all my peace and joy beginning to flee my soul as I waited for the girls to have a conniption fit.  I had promised fun new library books and a trip to a bookstore we'd never been to and now there would never be time...

I called a "family meeting" to discuss what we should do since the plans were going to have to change.  Fortunately the girls (though a few of them had sour faces and a whine in their voice momentarily) were mostly o.k. with changing our morning up.  But then Kayla suggested painting the pumpkins that they had brought home from their visit to the pumpkin patch with Nana and Granddaddy last week.  

A great idea.  A fun idea.  BUT the MESS!!!!!!!!!!! 

I already have so much mess to pick up right now...

 I paused.

BUT, this month has been making a more intentional effort via the #31daysofgratitude challenge to seek grace out and look more closely at my life to find ways that I can be more thankful.  

So I took a deep breath, and said "Let's make a mess."

Ironically, they made almost no mess.  A lovely dose of humble pie for me to scarf down.  

Thanks for that, God.  Seriously. Not even being sarcastic. 

Well, not much...

Sophie chilled in her seat with a ridiculous singing birthday card, some cheerios, and an empty gummy vitamins bottle.  And the girls worked ardently on painting some lovely pumpkins. 

 

And since we already had paint out, I thought we'd add a fun little art project for the feast of St. Teresa of Avila in to our "messed up" (pun intended) morning.  

On half sheets of cardstock, I wrote out a few St. Teresa quotes with permanent marker and let the girls paint them.

Here are a couple of the finished products.  The girls were so proud of themselves and had a blast.  And the truck was gone when we finished painting so we still had time to rush on over to the library to grab a sackful of books for the girls to pore over this week.  

Thanks, Lord, for reminding me to slow down and enjoy the moment. 

Thank you for permission to get messy and love fully. 

Thank you for the opportunity to live out that beautiful quote of St. Teresa's:

"The smallest thing, when done for the love of God, is priceless."

This morning was truly priceless.  

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It's all about God's Timing this week