the 27th time I've lost my camera....

AGAIN. Argh. I know I had it last night, because I was trying to take a picture of Hannah in all of her snuggly sweetness as she snuggled up with me for story time--without getting my chins in the picture. I failed by the way, which is why the snuggly sweetness will have to wait. But I digress...

Yesterday? I woke up with my alarm, scrubbed my face with sugar scrub for that "fresh from the spa" feeling, dressed in my matching skirt and sweater with pantyhose AND heels. I engaged my children in conversation on the way to school, greeted each student at the door with a smile and a hug, and was an effective, fun, nice teacher. At home, I made dinner, played with Hannah, and enjoyed my family. And then stayed up to 11:00 because I was relaxed, refreshed, recharged, and not nauseous!

Today? Not so much. I woke up before my alarm because Daryl was rocking the bed in an attempt to get me to stop snoring (I tell you...delivery is the only cure for this one...it starts when I get pregnant and doesn't go away until all the water weight is gone) So feeling guilty, and sad, just a little ticked off (after all, he had gone to bed at 9), I threw on a pair of pants and a hide your butt sweater (because the butt...growing at a faster pace than the belly, unfortunately). The girls, sensing my mood, listened to their MP3 players the entire way to school. Let's just say that before 8:30, I had a child pee on the floor, two children fight under a desk over an eraser, and another lose a hearing aid. Four hours, two spilled water bottles, a six year old tantrum, and countless nose pickings later, it was Bible time.

Bible time is usually a peaceful time in our classroom. It is the one time during the day that I can count on having everyone's attention. Everyone listens, everyone participates, everyone enjoys. Today, though, they came to the "carpet" fighting and fussing and rolling on the floor. Before I could make it over there, the same two boys that were fighting over the eraser were fighting over who got to sit on the elephant. I gave them a long speech about preparing our hearts before we come for Bible time, about coming with an open, loving, and forgiving heart, and about being calm and quiet and listening to what God had to say to us. They all nodded in agreement, all earnest and sincere. We ended up having a great lesson about the ten lepers and the one who came back to say thank you. And then it hit me.

Had I prepared my heart this morning? Had I taken the time to be still and listen? Had I stopped this morning and thanked God for all of the blessings he has given me? Instead of perusing Facebook this morning, I should have spent the extra 45 minutes in His word. Instead of mourning my lost sleep, I should have been celebrating this quiet, uninterrupted time I could have with the Lord. It's days like this where I realize my dependence on Him, my own weaknesses, His unmatchless grace. It's days like this that I need to be thanking him...for days like this.