Whatever You Do

 

I lay in bed early this morning with her feverish little body pressed up against me. Her little fingers laced tightly into mine. Her head heavy on my shoulder. Every few minutes her body seizing.

 

It's the second time in a week that she spiked a fever although this time it wasn't at the terror-filled 105 level it was a week ago. All three of our littles have battled the fever and cough and body aches over the last two weeks. Just when we think we are through the woods it hits again.

 

 

We are in the final weeks of finishing our book. The hardest weeks. The hours in the day not enough to get done what needs to be done.

 

Our wonderful new helper found another job. We are back to tag teaming child care and work.

 

Doctors visits, testing and other appointments have kept us on the road more than we would like.

 

We now have two wearing glasses.

 

 

 

Conventions loom in a matter of weeks. I have seminars I am giving with no time between now and then to prepare for them.

 

How Lord?

 

I lay there early this morning holding my baby girl, fighting off exhausting. It is easy to slip into self-pity. Some days I go there quickly. How Lord? How?

 

Then she reaches her little hand up to my face, pats me and pulls my head down and kisses me on the cheek. She snuggles back down in my arms. Burrowing under the covers. Pressing as close as she can. Back to sleep. Safe.

 

Those moments.

 

And these - three littles helping Papa make Sunday morning pancakes.

 

 

 Precious moments of pleasure in the midst of hard.

 

Little girl's seizure still out of control.

 

How Lord?

 

I don't know how. It's one step at time at this point for us. But I know that this is what we have been called to do. These kids. Each one. Our business. The books we write. The families we minister to through our material. The students I teach. Simple ministries every one. It isn't glorious. It doesn't allow for time off and days away. But it is what God has called us to do.

 

So we dig in and plow ahead. Ministering as we go. Trying to be faithful in all that we do. God-honoring. Writing. Talking to homeschooling families. Loving our babes.

 

Some days better than others.  Praying for grace and strength. Finding joy in the small things.

 

"Whatever you do, work at it will all your heart as working for the Lord..."