This past Saturday I accidentally gave my husband a big chunk of the day off. He had been sick all week and had traveled for work eight of the last ten weekdays. I told him he could sleep in and not to worry about what time he got up.

My kids have energy. My oldest could be content to sit around for the morning, but my middle two who are five and three well they cannot. The worst idea I can ever come up with for a weekend morning is let’s have a lazy morning… or let the kids have a lazy morning and I will try to tackle stuff. Literally never works. I did sort of attempt to do a few things knowing that we had not one but two outtings .

By 10am we were in the car. We were headed off to a local library for a reptile show . We came home briefly for lunch and then headed off to an afternoon activity at another local library ( we library hop) .

We came home around 530pm for dinner.

I requested that the following day my husband be in charge of all the kids while I tackle some important things that have gotten ahead of me the last two weeks like my mountain of laundry that needed to be folded and put away (at least it was clean?) As well as the painting project I’ve been working on. He was even going to be in charge of our six month old baby in between feedings. I had it all planned out… I was going to finish so many things…

And then 2am came and my baby woke up to eat. Her skin felt hot… she was sick. I knew my plans for the following day were headed for the back burner and I’d need to come up with plan B. Obviously the baby was priority number one. I figured I was see if she would take some Daddy snuggles here and there. It would be fine.

Well that worked at first. Got dinner in the crockpot , laundry washing and even got some folded. I would cuddle and feed you then when you were settled Daddy time would begin. By noon you were not having it. Attached to me if where you stay for the rest of the day with the exception of about thirty minutes while I finished making dinner.

I loved the snuggles, but the weight of what I hadn’t done during the day felt heavy. I had so much to do, so much to catch up on.

Bedtime neared and I started to think. Nighttime is my best time for reflection as the day winds down and the house begins to quiet. I looked at my baby who was resting comfortably on my chest. I looked at my other kids who were all sitting nearby in the living room. I did do the important things, I did catch up on what needed to be done. I may have not gotten all the laundry done, but my children had my attention. I was able to provide comfort to a baby who didn’t understand why she felt so awful. I did what needed to be done.

I feel like God gives us reality checks once in awhile. Reminds us about what is actually important, and what can wait. All of those projects were taking up space in my head and in my heart. Now I sed them more clearly. I will finish them, but for now I am content to be holding my baby because that is what really matters.