Well this was quite a weekend....

I was delighted to send Kristin to a Women's Conference this weekend in Toronto - Women of Grace - for some spiritually-focused girl time. A well deserved break! The kids and I had a great time on Friday night with some friends - playing outside in the spring weather and then dinner at McDonald's, and of course, playland.

The kids were exhausted by the end of the day! Saturday we were invited to a friend's place for brunch, and the kids always have a ball there - and the food was delicious! Always a blessing to be with such good friends - uplifting conversation, good food and lots of fun for the kids, too!

With all the running and playing, it was no surprise (to me) that the kids were a little lethargic when we got home. They've missed their afternoon naps, and so I expected them to be a little worn out. We decided to do some spring cleaning outside, and when they tired of that, we moved indoors for a little project. Since winter is ending and 'coat season' is almost done, I thought Kristin would enjoy having her new(ish) coat rack hung up ;) What can I say, I've been a little busy lately....

I think we did a good job! It was then time to start dinner, and while I was cooking, I decided we had lots of food, and thought it'd be nice to share - so we invited more friends over for supper. The invitation was about 3 minutes too soon - I turned around to see Teddy sitting in the dining room - and then getting sick all over himself! Oh boy...

I decided it was best to rescind our invitation, which was graciously received. I got Teddy cleaned up, bathed up and the floors mopped up - and got him set up (tactfully) on the couch.

Poor guy. Unfortunately, just as I got him comfortable and, I thought, settled... Emma started complaining that she was sick. At first I thought she was just seeing the attention I was bestowing on Teddy and wanted some for herself. I was wrong.

With two sick kids and quite a mess to clean up, the house was a little hectic. I had hoped to have the house in good shape for Mommy's return, but my plans were stymied! Teddy and Emma's little tummies didn't really get settled until after midnight! Teddy had passed out earlier, but poor Emma's little tummy just couldn't be settled.

Josh, feeling neglected, settled into a nice little sleep.

Until 1am, when Kristin and I were just getting into bed... then his little tummy decided it was time to act up. What an end to the weekend!

Three sick kids have a way of testing one's patience! Life doesn't always go the way I'd like it to - and I've been learning a lot about that lately. Illness has a way of increasing the stress and pressure - the mess and general gross-ness of stomach troubles can greatly exacerbate the challenge of keeping up with three kids (although it does kind of slow them down a little...)

I generally don't do 'throw up' very well - I suppose most people don't! This weekend I was very aware of God's grace to me as I tended to these poor kids. Of course, they can't help being sick, so the burden is on me to manage my own stress and frustration. As I think about what I can learn from a weekend like this, I realize that relying on God to give me the fruit of the Spirit is vitally important for me, especially at unexpected time. A year ago, I would have been much more frantic, short-fused and a little loud with the kids. I wouldn't have handled the stress and mess very well at all. But God has been good to me - He's been teaching me and cultivating new patterns and traits in my heart.

I realize that cultivating these characteristics is so important in daily living, because you can't make a carrot grow the day you need a carrot for supper (ok, that was an odd analogy off the top of my head, but you get the point). Seeds have to be watered so that when you need that vegetable (or, fruit...) it's there, ready to be used.

I'm far from perfect, but we survived, and I think I was able to give the kids a lot of tenderness that they needed. So hard watching little one's be so sick. It's those moments where I realize how badly I want to take their sickness from them - I'll be sick so they can be well. And that's exactly what Jesus did for me, for us. And so I'm so grateful for these challenging times with the kids because they remind of just that - that my Heavenly Father took my pain, my sickness, all my faults and failures and he took the consequences so that I'll be free of them in the future. Without these practical, sanctifying times, I might lose sight of that.  Grace. Grateful.

And so we seem to be on the mend... we'll turn the corner today (I hope!) and be back in action in no time! The smiles are already starting to come back...