The Best Laid Plans...

Quite often, my friend Laurie does a "Top Ten" list on her blog on Tuesdays. When I sat down to write this post, it was not intended to be a "top ten" list, but it may turn out that way, even though it's not Tuesday.

Do you ever set goals, make plans, write a schedule, come up with a to do list and then feel like everything in the world seems to be fighting against you accomplishing what you set out to do and getting where you were trying to go? My plans for our summer seem to be going that way. It may be more or less than ten, but here are some goals and plans that I have had and the ways that they have been derailed.

1. Memorizing 1 Timothy. The kids and I are trying to accomplish this goal by the end of the summer. We started doing this when we learned that our pastor was preaching on it all summer. Matt reads the whole book most mornings and then we are supposed to work on memorizing part of it at lunchtime. We were doing really well at the beginning. The first chapter was "smooth sailing" and even Garrett can quote the first 3 verses in "two year old speak". (Have I mentioned that he's not quite as verbal as my older two were at that age?) The second chapter went alright as well. Then, VBS came (and went) and we are really having trouble getting back on track. I think that we FINALLY finished through 3:7 today, but we really should be in the middle of chapter four right now. Why, when I think that Scripture memory is sooooooooo important, do I not do a better job of being consistent about this?

2. Getting the office cleaned out and the homeschool books organized. AAAAKKKKKK!!! It's a mess! If I took a picture and posted it here, I could never show my face on my own blog again. Too many books without enough shelves and bins of poorly organized clothes and too much stuff that doesn't seem to go anywhere but that we need to keep for one reason or another. But, I think the real problem is mostly too much dread of tackling the job. Uggh!

3. Doing school during the summer. I really wanted to do at least some school on most days this summer. We've done the some, but have sadly missed the most.

4. Having the kids write to the Great Grandmas. My kids like getting mail. They also will write letters if I remember to have them sit down and do it. The kids have four Great Grandmas that would LOVE to hear from them and would actually write back. It's a win-win situation. Why don't I do it? (This one I will do when I get done writing this post. It's an easy quick fix and I can quit complaining and start doing.)

5. Potty training Garrett. What is keeping me from really getting this done? Some days he does well, some days not so much. Again, if Mommy were consistent, I think he could do it. Why do I not want to have only one child in diapers bad enough to just get it done?

6. NOT giving Rachel solid foods. I know this is kind of a backwards one about NOT doing something and the something I am NOT doing may sound funny to most people. However, it has been one of my goals with Rachel to exclusively nurse her for 9-12 months. Anyone who knows about my boys' allergies may understand why. She has been healthy, happy and growing. But I caved! Two days ago (which was two days before she turned eight months), I gave in! I got tired of the questions about what foods she was eating, how she's sleeping, etc. Our doctor was actually fine with me waiting. So, it wasn't even "authoritative" pressure. (You know how that affects us firstborns.) She kept grabbing at food on my plate when I was eating. She kept eyeing our food as though we were depriving her. I just caved. So, I gave her mashed up avocado on Monday... and she liked it. Perhaps this isn't really such a bad thing, but it IS yet another area that I made a plan, stuck to it for a while and then seemed to lose focus.

7. Doing crafts with the kids. My kids like to do crafts, especially Karissa. I want to teach her to do things, some of which *I* don't even know how to do. I figure that it would be fun to learn together. However, I don't enjoy the hassle and the mess. Or, I should say the hassle and the mess that I imagine there will be. Usually, the reality is not as bad as my preconceived notion of what it will be like. Plus, I just get busy doing other things. Also, see point number two above. It's just a pain in the neck to get to the craft stuff right now. I'd better get busy while she still wants to do things with me.

8. Cooking with my kids. I really should do this more often. But, so often, it's just "easier" to do it myself. See number seven above. The same principles basically apply.

9. Cutting Garrett's hair. In case you haven't noticed in recent pictures, the boy really needs a haircut. I need to move this up higher on my "to do" list!

10. Having the kids practice the piano every day during the summer. I must say that we've done much better with this than last summer, but I really do miss having lessons to keep us motivated.

Well, lest you think that I haven't accomplished anything all summer, here are a few things that I'm doing better than usual at:
1. This year I got some flowers planted outside in the flower beds and I've actually kept them all alive! I'm even growing tomatoes. (And lest anyone comment to correct me, I know that tomatoes aren't flowers.)
2. I've actually been doing better at keeping up with the laundry. But I don't always get it put away. (Another thing for the previous list.)
3. I've been reading to Garrett more than I had been. My other kids used to get read to for hours a day at his age. Poor Garrett has not had quite that much reading, but it has definitely improved.
4. I've been spending more time outside with my kids. (However, this may contribute to some of the things on the previous list not getting accomplished.)

I know there's more things that I could list, but I'm sure I lost everyone a long time ago.

As I have been wondering why things keep going the way they are, God has shown me a weariness and lack of diligence on my part (which I'm sure is very obvious to anyone reading this post). A passage that has both encouraged and instructed me is Galatians 6:7-10, especially verse 9:

7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

If you're feeling behind and discouraged, hopefully you can take heart when you realize that there is someone who is further behind than you are! If you are good at keeping on schedule and on task, please give me some hints!