Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week:
- Vacation Bible School – For the first time, my three youngest children all attended our parish’s Vacation Bible School. (My oldest son spent the week at Boy Scout camp.) For a brief moment, I envisioned having fifteen glorious hours to myself in the span of five days. My dreams were quickly snuffed out by my friend’s invitation to help out by organizing the snack craft. So much for alone time. And while I missed out on all the things I thought I’d get done while my kids were at Vacation Bible School, I did enjoy helping. Our youth minister does a fantastic job. It’s well-organized and the kids, including mine, love it! I got to spend time with some interesting little people assembling cookies in a jar and doing all sorts of fun things with blue frosting.
Under the Sea Graham Crackers - The funeral – My husband’s father passed away last week, and I’m counting just getting through the week a success. A day after my son and husband returned from Scout camp, we had to travel to the funeral. Getting my three-year-old through the four hours at the funeral parlor proved to be a challenge. I think the noise level drove him buggy. There were several walks around the block before and after the afternoon rain. By the end of the following day, after the final viewing, Mass of Christian Burial, cemetery ceremony, and lunch, we were physically and emotionally spent. Only to have two kids experience middle-of-the-night vomiting episodes. I spent most of the night half asleep with one eye open waiting for another child to succumb. By morning, I was exhausted. Mercifully, the bug was super short-lived and the kids were recovered by sunup. We made it through.
- The aphids– I was so pleased to see on our return home that the yellow aphids had not overtaken our milkweed patch while we were gone. In my husband’s absence the week before, I’d diligently inspected the plants multiple times a day, spraying the pests with an alcohol solution. Looks like at least for now, they’ve abated.
Last year’s aphid attack. We’ve done much better at controlling their population this year. - Menu plan – After weeks of flying by the seat of my pants at dinner time, I hunkered down and planned our menu and grocery list. I’ve been skating by on frozen bags of leftover smoked pulled pork, frozen fish, and having to feed only the little kids and myself at dinner time. That only lasts so long though. Time to get back to planning.
- Heart softening – There’s a fine line between over sharing personal matters and being genuine. I like to think I share enough to keep it real without throwing discretion to the wind. I think I can simply say that this year has been a rough one for our marriage, not because of any looming problems or calamitous events. The strain of day-to-day living is the most likely culprit when it comes to our series of small ups and larger downs. Somewhere in the midst of all that’s been going on, I’ve felt my heart softening. That’s a good place to start, and a small but important measure of success.
That’s all I’ve got. Celebrate more small successes over at CatholicMom.com.
Have you had any small successes this week?
i’m so sorry about your father-in-law’s passing. Praying for comfort for your husband and continued heart-softening for you (I need that same continued softening lol) It’s such a struggle sometimes, isn’t it? <3
Thank you, Carrie! It is a struggle. I supposed Jesus really meant that forgiving each other 70 times 7 thing though, so we keep trying. The advantage of having almost 2 decades under our belt is a bit of perspective to remember that these things, too, will pass.