Times of Refreshing.

Life is not slowing down anytime soon. There are mouths to feed, money to be earned, clothes to wash, floors to vacuum, events to attend, and so forth. I am guilty of getting so caught up in the madness of everyday life that I can turn into Robot Mom and Robot Wife.

"What is that Macy? You tried to go potty by yourself, but you had already gone in your diaper, and now there is poop all over you and the floor? Sure, let me just clean that right up."

"Oh Asher, you're hungry? Right this second? Here is some milk. Wait, you aren't hungry? You're tired? Or do you have to burp?"

"Macy, I will get you more water in just one second. No, you can't have a gum ball! Pooping in your diaper and then taking it off yourself doesn't count as going on the potty. You're hungry too?"

"Hi hunny, welcome home. I think Asher is tired, or hungry, or he just want to be held. Macy is hungry, and needs a diaper put on her. I need to go to the bathroom, wash my hands, and maybe change out of my pajamas...oh, and your mom called..how was your day?"

Now, THAT is good birth control.

It's so easy to go through the motions; forgetting to ever feel. Forgetting to just stop, just for a moment. Breath. Observe. Contemplate. And take it all in. Sigh. I am so blessed.

I have two healthy, beautiful children; an entertaining, handsome husband; a roof over our head; food in our bellies; and a God who loves me more than I could ever grasp. Blessed. Beyond blessed.

That is why I am so thankful to get the chance to 'date' my husband still. Once a week, JR and I leave the children with their Nana and Papa, and we get to go be alone, together. We go to the Young Adults bible study and then we do something after, like a movie or dinner. Last night, though, we got to do something special. We got to go spend the night in a hotel in downtown Denver, kid-free. I got all dolled up for my handsome husband. I made sure my hair was just right, my outfit charming, and that my shoes pulled the outfit all together (you know it is all about the shoes!). I wanted to look good for my groom; real good. These dates are few and far between, so when the opportunity comes about, we take full advantage.

Just him and me.

There are no diapers to be changed, no little mouths to feed, no people to call, no bills to be paid, no money to be earned. Not in this time. Not in our time. All that's left to do is renew, refresh, restore, revive and rekindle our love with each other.

It's these times of refreshing that bring me back to a slower pace of life. These times help me be a better mother to our children, and a better wife to my husband. They help me feel less robotic, and more human.

Now it is off to feed the little mouths...