Jumpin' for Joy

That's my boy jumpin' for joy at the beach.  Yes, my blog has suffered because, well, I'm on vacation. Now, before all of you stalkers/robbers/thieves start trying to figure out my address, just know that my manly man is still at home with my guard dog.  They are ready and waiting.

Oh, I miss that man terribly, but there is this thing called food.  And my children like to eat it.  And food costs money, lots of money it seems lately, so he chose to stay home and work.  And yes, I just broke every grammar rule about starting a sentence with "and."   AND it felt kinda good to break a rule.  Because if you know me, you know that I'm a rule follower.  

So while my hubby stays at home, works so we can eat, and deals with the extremely costly headache of having to purchase a new air conditioner unit, my girls dance in the waves. Childhood innocence is beautiful.  There is a fine line of involving our children in the 'team' of family finances and protecting them from fear of financial crisis.  Oh, what a balancing act!  I say, let them dance!

As I dug an enormous pit in the sand for my children to jump and hide in, it occurred to me that much of mothering resembles this task.  I work, sweat, and labor knowing that many of my tasks will need to be repeated, just as I knew the pit would only last until the next high tide.   Why do I wipe counters, wash dishes, pick up toys, and dig sand pits?  

I do these because of my LOVE for my children.  I didn't dig that pit with a bad attitude even though I knew all of my sweat and sore muscles were for a temporary delight.  I did it with joy because of the love I have for my precious ones.  I don't want to get caught in the web of complaining about menial tasks in mothering.  It is part of the journey.  The journey is meant to be enjoyed!   
This is one of my favorite snapshots of the week.  If you look closely, her feet aren't touching the ground.   She has some pep in her step.  

Enjoy the menial today.  It's part of this crazy journey called life.