Enough

You know that object lesson about fitting stones in a jar?
There is a pile of large stones, a pile of loose gravel, and a pile of sand. 
You have to fit them all in a jar. 
If you put the sand and gravel in first, you will never be able to fit the large rocks in.
But if you put the large rocks in, then the gravel, and then the sand--it all fits!

I've really been trying to put this concept into action in my life.  I realized the other day while taking my daughter to dance that I am way more committed to things like dance and sports and other activities than I am to family prayer and scripture study. 

Don't get me wrong, we do make an effort to do these things.  We always have.  I just haven't ever compared my commitment level this way.  It was a bit of a shocker for me. 
If someone is sick, or the baby was awake all night, or we just slept in a little too much, or we're having company, or several other small reasons, we forget to do it. 
I rarely forget lessons, and we try very hard to be on time. 

I am really trying to be more Christ-Centered.  I know that my family needs the strength to stand against the tide of evil in the world. 
The Lord is teaching me, line upon line, how to put first things first. 

So here we go....another Monday. 
The Monday after everybody being sick for 3 weeks. 
The Monday to take back all of the ground we feel like we've lost during the sickness.

We got everyone around the table at 7am (Okay, not the little 2.  Them being asleep during such activities is a GOOD thing right now). 
We took turns reading some verses, and discussed them a little.
We worked on our memorization of The Living Christ.
The bigger kids worked on chores while I got pulled every which way between diaper changes and feeding toddlers and trying to get the new cell phones running and printing off new chore planners for March.
Then I realized it has been a couple of years since we did our lamb/lion calendar for March.  It took way too long to get it printed off.  It kept shutting down my printer. 
It took me too long to remember to pray about it, but after I did the Lord showed me a way I hadn't thought of before. 

After chore game:  Pictionary
Devotional: A Hymn, a Primary Song, some Book of Mormon verses, a story from the Friend, a prayer, the pledge, the date and the weather.  Then some quick stretches and exercises. (this time let's count by 5's)

Baby to bed.  Playdoh out for Simon.  School Books out for the kids.
Mom!  MOM!  Moooooom!  Mom! MOM! I NEED YOUR HELP! 
(Sometimes I want to change my name for a day, or even just an hour.)
I think lunch happened sometime in there.  Thanks, Nate. And I got my lesson ready for co-op.

And by 2:00, I. just. have to. lie. down.
I try to snuggle Simon and see if he'll nap.  He doesn't last long.  I decide I'll just rest for 30 minutes until co-op. 
2:11--phone rings.  My co-op friend is stuck in Salt Lake and needs me to go pick up her kids.  (Her 15 year old is our Science teacher). 
I pick up her 6 kids and bring them to my house.  The other family shows up moments later.  We settle in and do our classes. 
Then we start on dinner.  It is usually so enjoyable and filling.  We usually have 2 other moms who don't have babies.  What a difference that makes! 
It was a little crazy with the babies crying and we're trying to discipline and calm and supervise 3 year olds cutting olives while we make navajo tacos for 24 people. 
Honestly, it was still really fun.  I squeezed in a few memorable sentences to my friend, and it is so nice to have someone around who KNOWS what you're going through. 
But, it was crazy. 
Just as I had the oil heated up and a few scones rolled flat and ready to fry, the phone rang.
It was the life insurance nurse who needed me to fill out a health questionnaire over the phone.  Really?  Now?
Sorry, Dallin, that you had to walk in just then. 
I can only imagine the picture he saw when he walked in the kitchen and me sitting at the table on the phone trying to remember how many times in the past 5 years I've had strep throat.  And the month and year of each episode. 
He disappeared with Sarajoy into the bedroom. (Thanks for taking her!!)

And the bread got fried and the friend returned from Salt Lake and though it took 2 trips in her tiny car, she got all 6 of her kids home.  And the other friend cleaned up and left with a smile. 

And I had a couple of minutes to catch up with the husband while the babies climbed and bounced around us on the bed. 

We ate.  Delicious Navajo tacos complete with fresh greens. (Tender Mercy as produce is not in the budget this month.)

They made us think of scones.  It seemed like the perfect FHE treat since the mess was already out. 
I fried up scones while they all cleaned the kitchen and prepared for FHE.

Brandon prepared a cute lesson on creation.  We all drew pictures as he assigned us a "day" of creation.  We ate scones.  The kids made their lunches for tomorrow.

Dallin put the little ones to bed while I put curlers in Ruby's hair for school.  She's been planning this hairstyle for about a week.  I was so tired, but I couldn't disappoint her.

And now everybody is in bed.
 I am tired, and I struggle as the Deceiver tries to tell me it was not enough.  Not enough exercise, not enough academics, not a clean enough house, not a cheerful enough mother, not enough food storage, not enough healthy food.

But look!  LOOK! Can more even fit?  Are some of those bits of gravel or grains of sand just going to have to fit in another jar at another time?

Recently in church, my sister's stake President asked the question to the women:  How do you know when you've done enough in a day?  What is it that counts when we stand before the Savior?
His answer consisted of 2 things:
direction and effort. 

Am i going in the right direction?
Did I give an honest effort?
Can I offer up this day in joy and thanksgiving? 
Will my offer be accepted?

yes.  Yes.  YES!

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