Last night I wiped the kitchen counters, locked the doors, tucked blankets closer around little toddler bodies, and filled a few more lines on the next morning’s long to-do list.
I had a plan.
We would wake up, have devotions over breakfast, I’d exercise, shower, get dressed and we’d walk downtown to mail another box to our Marine and pick up some fresh bread from the coffee shop. Then we’d walk home, just in time for lunch and naps while I made phone calls and worked on a few settling-in-to-the-new-(tiny)-house projects. I would bake chicken for dinner and serve it with squash and salad.
It was a plan kinda plan.
But then morning came.
And with it, came this:
…along with food to fix, little voices and actions needing attention and a bit of correction, new dishes in the sink, ringing phones, a barking dog, and another day in our current potty-training adventure.
All encompassed by a general lack of motivation.
It was all the little things, setting us back another five minutes here, ten minutes there.
I started making my coffee at 8am…
…and only got as far as grinding the coffee beans.
At 11am I was still in my workout gear with hair a mixture of pulled back and falling out, sans makeup.
Sans workout, also.
(It was right about then that my four year old tilted his little blonde head and said, “Mama, you’re just making this day worser and worser.” Oh. Joy.)
About that time, I lost the last shred of patience I’d owned… with the day… with myself… with my children.
So I took a deep breath.
Sat on the couch.
Kissed my babies.
Prayed for our day… even though it was half over.
And started over.
We made egg burritos for lunch, with the scrumptious homemade tortillas from our “dairy guy.” Our tummies were happy.
(Hopefully that made the the day better-er?)
We opened the Bible and read a some verses. Soul balm.
(Yes, I’m reading my Bible again, just so ya know.)
Then it was book time.
And I fell in love with my children all over again.
They napped.
I folded a load of laundry. Read the mail. Checked my email, Twitter, read a few blogs.
An after naptime snack: fresh yogurt with a few sprinkled blueberries and a splash of vanilla.
(Ignore his shirt… please. Ahem.)
I could have taken the afternoon to work on one of the projects from my to-do list.
But instead…
…we made cookies.
They came out flat… because I still don’t know how to bake at 10,200 ft. elevation… but we laughed and giggled and tasted bits of dough for half an hour straight while we mixed flour and butter and eggs.
And then, being the oven was occupied, I tossed out my plan for chicken and made an incredibly gourmet meal.
Fan-say.
My plan went out the window this morning.
And it was okay.
In fact,
It was better than okay.
Some days–most days–a plan is good, necessary.
But sometimes plans are better when they’re tossed.
It was better than okay.
Thank you for sharing. I have had many a day just like that. Loved having a peak into your world.
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Sometimes unplanned days work out better :) (and sometimes not, you just can’t pick ‘em!) Glad it all turned out ok.
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Oh, I love when God railroads my plans and gives me something better! Glad you all had a ‘better than okay’ kind of day! Hugs, sweet friend!
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I love it when things turn out better than okay! And I love seeing milk in a huge glass jar, it makes me happy. That, and seeing you with a Nikon strapped around your neck. :) God is good, and specializes in way better than okay.
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I woke up this morning, checked my Reader on my iPhone and read this post. You inspired me to have a more inspiring day! Thank you
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Like this post!
Flexibility and changing of plans is def. something the Lord has been showing me more of lately and sometimes I don’t like it much but I am learning to take it as it comes and come out smiling. =)
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Aw Ash, I loved this post! You’re such a good mama. I love being able to get a glimpse into what deployment with little ones is like. Not that I think it’s cool that you have to go through it, but because it makes me appreciate you and other mommies like you so much more. You’re inspiring. Seriously. You make me so look forward to having little kiddo’s in all their candid honesty to make me fall in love with them… You’re such a trooper.
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Love it. I am not an uber-planner, but I hate getting thrown off what I want to do for what my daughter wants to do. Which is…the whole point of being home?
Love you, girl.
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Sometimes days don’t go as planned… (I think that is most common in a house with toddlers!;) but God always knows what is Best! and spending a few moments with Him usually gives us the right perspectives!
The cookies look yummy despite their flatness ;)
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On my wall, I have this old embroidered picture that reads “Cleaning and scrubbing can wait until tomorrow for babies grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.” I keep it front and centre for those kinds of days – which are frequent! Love your photos and your heart and I’m kind of falling in girl-blogger-crush with you. ;-)
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I read your blog on a regular basis but never leave a comment but when I read this one……well just let me say that I wish I had listen to God more when my boys were little when MY plans did not go as I wanted them too. I know now God had other plans at times that I should have listen too. My boys are now 21 and 17 and I so miss those times when they were younger!
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some days the plan just will not work out, and then you are happy because you abandonded the plan………
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My sister’s have this little sign in their bedroom that says, “We plan, God Laughs.” :) It’s so true too. :)
I hope your day goes well!
Rachel
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i loved your first post this week… i love this one… your blogs have SO touched my heart this week… soooo touched my heart and made my heart smile :)
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At the risk of repeating many others…:
I LOVED this post, loved that you started the day over again =) I wish I’d do that more often than giving-up-on-the-whole-day-thing… I loved the pictures. Loved that you sat down on the couch and kissed your babies. Prayed. *such bliss*
I’ve stopped several times during this lovely day here, to pray for you, and your precious babies, and brave husband. You’re SO thought-of!!
Have a good night (because, you see, it’s NIGHT here =)
åslaug abigail
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Me too…love it! it made me smile. Mmm the cookies look wonderful too!
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Love it – You had a perfect day.
And you’re beautiful :)
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*happy sigh*
I just love your posts, Ashleigh.
Especially ones like these. ;-)
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LOVED IT!
Ginger~
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Hey there!
Loved Rachel’s. “We plan..God laughs”
Fully encompasses my life right now too! :o)
Every time though, God’s plan is better.
Love u and praying for u
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Awwwww! I can so relate! :) Glad your day turned out better-er. :) Those cookies look scrumptious, flatness and all. Love you!!!
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Sounds like you loved well. And that’s all that matters.
(Have you ever read the essay that named my blog? Click on the Why Love Well link at the top. It dovetails perfectly with what you’re saying here.)
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I love your blog :-)
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I keep wanting to comment and not knowing exactly what to say – except that I’m appreciating what you’re sharing (especially the bit about only being able to see Jesus when you’re face-down) and admiring your honesty.
I love this post – it’s such a fun peek into a day in your life! :)
Hugs and prayers from Engand are headed your way …
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I love it when a day ends up better than my “plan”
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Just comes to show that sometimes our plans are not as great as God’s plan, even in a little way big outcome ;)
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This was one of the most beautiful, vulnerable posts. I loved reading it. I loved how you recovered amidst the craziness to live in the moments.
Beautiful, beautiful post!
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Sounds like my kind of plan. Perfection in the detours!
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This is completely off topic from your post.
Today at my college we had a table with construction paper thank you cards which were to be signed by students and sent to soldiers in Afghanistan.
I signed one. And I thought of your husband..and my (female) cousin who I believe is over there now as well. And I thought of other deployed soldiers I have connections to.
I don’t know where those cards will be going, and I don’t know you personally. (I read your blog semi-regularly and comment rarely.) But I wanted to tell you I’m praying for you and your family..and all the soldiers over there and everywhere.
in Christ’s love,
Hannah Olsen
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Ashleigh,
Just to let you know…
You’re gorgeous, even in your workout clothes.
I’ve so enjoyed your blog.
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Thank you for being transparent. I can SO relate to your day! Most of mine seem like that!
~Jennifer
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I felt the strain in my chest (that I didn’t know was there) literally lift and relax after I read this. So dealing with some attitude problems of my own (only recently realized they are in fact MY problem…noone else’s) and this was suuuch a great reminder that I can set all the mess I’ve made down and start again, the right way. Love you and your REALLY REAL posts :)
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your heart is so beautiful. i love your perspective… how you just chose to start over. i’m usually apt to scrap the whole day when i’m off to a bad start. i need to remember that i can declare a re-start anytime i want.
and i LOVE that shot of your Thrive coffee! just sayin!
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