An Hour in My Day

I was emptying the dishwasher when:
-- Isabelle opened an early birthday card with money in it, so I sat to explain to her who had sent it. We then headed straight upstairs to grab a picture for her to color and some thank you words for Isabelle to write out. While I was finding a suitable picture:
-- Isabelle began working on her "science" project she's had fun with -- creating "slides" and looking through them in her microscope. I stopped to take a few pictures for my blog to post on her creative genius when:
-- Josiah came up with his finished Debate constructive arguments for me to look over. We read them aloud and then I asked him to prepare a short speech to go with his teaching segment he will be giving at our next Speech/Debate club meeting. Back to the coloring page, I handed it to Isabelle and then:
-- Did some group emailing of the two groups I hold leadership positions in to inform them of our week's plans. While still at the computer:
-- Isabelle bursts into tears because her coloring paper is not ending up as she would like it to look. I took a few lap moments to share with her understanding and to also encourage her to put her full effort into things so that she can feel good about the end result. I gave her the option of her creating her own picture. She smiled and went on to create a beautiful picture of a robin to send to Grandma Barbara in Baltimore. As she was doing her lettering on her picture:
-- Isaac comes to have me listen to him recite his "big memory" which he will recite tomorrow. This is Exodus 33:3-23. He said it beautifully while pacing back and forth. I praised his efforts and instructed him to go work on his 20 (more like 35 before it's all said and done) weekly memory verses which he will be reciting from memory also tomorrow. As I finish giving him instruction:
-- Josiah is prepared for me to listen to his teaching speech. Isabelle and I take seats on the couch and listen to his 5 minute presentation of how to construct an affirmative argument in Lincoln Douglas debate. He did a great job! Now back to that dishwasher:
-- Isabelle comes down with her finished thank you picture with everything lovely except the word "birthday" was spelled "barthday" so I sent her up to correct it. Meanwhile, the dishes are unloaded and the oven is preheating for the peanut butter cookie dough which I plan to put into the oven for our movie night treat tonight as a family. I head downstairs when I hear, "I'm ready to recite Mom" and turn around to take my place at the table and ask the verses. Isaac does beautifully. Isabelle stumbles into hearing and quickly asks if she had better head to her room to practice hers as well when:
-- Josiah is ready for me to accompany him as he plays through his Festival song he will be playing for a music competition in March. As I play with him, I think the same thing I think nearly every day -- "Thank you God that I had piano lessons and am able to do this with my children!!" Isabelle is awaiting my attention as the music ends. I give her instructions, praise Josiah, and head to the guest room to put on clean sheets . . .
-- Meanwhile, the oven has been preheated for over an hour. It's a good thing I didn't put those cookies in!! Smile.
Today is Saturday. This is just an ordinary hour. It takes nurturing, discipling, listening, directing, facilitating, and loving. It takes time -- precious, necessary, uninterrupted time. It is a privilege. I am the luckiest Mom in the world.