Busy Mom Diaries: Calendars

My April Calendar

I used to frown upon Moms who flashed their family calendars on Facebook.

So I realize I am being a total hypocrite by flashing my schedule on the Internet. I want to make the point that I love calendars like many other moms out there.  I love the beginning of the month when I can use my new chalk board marker and add everything we are doing that given month. Sometimes it is hard for me to wait until the end of the month. 

I love schedules...activity schedules, exercise schedules, work schedules, daily schedules, church schedules.  I get anxious when myself or someone from my family is involved in some kind of activity and there is no schedule.  

I love lists..."to do lists" mostly.  I always have a written list.  I tried apps which give me a list on my ipad or phone.  I don't like them and I always go back to the simple pen and paper list.  I like to cross things off when they are completed.

There are many times in my life when I feel like I am not in control of my schedule.  My schedule is controlling me.  The constant demands awake me in the morning and I feel stress at the pit of my stomach.    

I think  in these moments God reminds us how much we need to rely on Him every single day.  We may think we have control of our schedules, but we are not in control of our lives.  Anything can happen to shake up our lives on any given day.  Clean slate summers have turned into times of intense struggle.  New fall excitement has turned into anxiety ridden months.  Days off to relax have turned into days of "putting out fires."  Sometimes weekends turn into days more exhausting than the weekdays.  

I remind myself often, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Rejoice always.  Rejoice in everything.  Rejoice in every single season.

As for exercise...we started this new tradition of going to a local park on Sunday afternoons on our bikes or skateboards.  Sometimes it is simply a short ride to the park a stone's throw from our house.  It still gets us outside and gets me back on my bike.  Today we even tossed the Frisbee around.

Look I match Orange Mango!

Then I managed to get to the gym and I swam 900 yards.  I stepped on the scale and I am not going to put my weight on the world wide web.  I will say I am six pounds over what I call "my standard weight."  I am not surprised.  I did not exercise at all last week and I have been eating more sugar again. I felt a little heavier in my stomach.  I think I can get it back down again.