Never Leave the Nutrimill Unattended ...

I think one method of categorizing people could be as simple as "list/schedule makers" and "non-list/schedule makers". I fall into the category of "list/schedule makers" (my husband,however, does not - he makes his own lists, but hates it when I try to make a schedule for him! Ha!)

Just about everyday, I make the "list" of to-do's for the day. Once my master list is complete, I break them into time frames to figure out the order by which I will attempt to accomplish them. Admittedly, my list is usually longer than my day. If I get most of the important ones crossed off, I try not to fret too much about what gets pushed to tomorrow. One has to be flexible with small children.

Every task takes 2-3 times longer than it should - especially when you let them "help". For example: whenever I get the broom out of the closet to sweep the tile floor, both boys run and grab their own brooms to "help" sweep. Sweeping is not a simple process you might imagine of collecting a pile of debris to throw into the trash in the Barrett house. Sweeping also takes on a defensive aspect, whereby I attempt to guard and protect my pile from my two well-meaning little ones until I have completed the entire job - less they "sweep" right through it when I am not looking, thereby requiring me to start over from the beginning. My goal in this is to try to teach to their hearts and not discourage helpfulness and industriousness. To do so, I must resign myself to putting up with and excusing their childishness. One day (I hope soon), they will be able to sweep all on their own with no help from me!

Today, my mid-morning through afternoon schedule looked like this:

10:00 -10:30 ... Grind grain, make bread, clean kitchen
10:30 - 11:15 ... Dust and Vacuum upstairs and downstairs carpet (while bread is rising)
11:15 - 12:00 ... swim with the Utterbacks
12:00 - 12:30 ... Lunch for kids
12:30 - 12:45 ... Put away laundry, remake Jared's bed with clean sheets (ran out of pull-ups last night - hallelujah!)
12:45 - 3:00 ... Naps & Office/Prop Mgt Work (thus creating a whole new list of work items to complete)

etc. etc. one gets the point ...

Anyway ... no where on the "list" today was inadvertently start the grain mill without fully pushing in the collector bowl for flour (mind you, this is after knocking off the lid TWICE and spilling whole grain). After turning on the mill, I went out to do dishes. When I went back into my laundry room, this is what I found ...




















































The grinder had shot fresh ground flour all over my laundry room. I walked into a total cloud of white dust ... dust that had covered anything and everything in its path. Ahhh! So frustrating for a couple of reasons ... 1) Cleaning this mess what not factored into my game plan for today. 2) I had other things on the list to take care of that this clean up job would supplant, and, 3) I HATE wasting food and money!

It was, however, a good time for Melinda to remind me the positives ... namely: 1) I get to be home. Period. What a blessing, right? I am home. Making bread. With my new grinder. With my kids. In the scheme of things, who really cares about the additional mess, right?

How I wish this were my first response. How I wish I didn't get so frustrated when things don't go according to my plan. How I wish I would handle minor interruptions and inconvenient interruptions in my incredibly blessed, full, and convenient life with a little more grace.

Earlier this morning during our devotions, I read part of Romans 5. I was struck by one of my favorite scriptures:

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

This morning I stopped to read and re-read it out loud to Jared. I LOVE this one. I remember thinking this morning, though, how easy it is to apply this one to other people ... to admonish and "encourage" other believers to rejoice in their trials because of the good and Godly results. I remember thinking how much harder it is for me to apply this in my own life.

I am grateful that the Holy Spirit fills my heart with love. If He didn't, I am not sure I could bear it. The reality of my own sinfulness - all of the areas in my life where I fall short and NEED the gospel to do its work ... it's just too much if I stop and think about it. As stupid as it sounds, I wish I had a do-over on the flour-fest this morning. Instead of my two boys watching me attack the mess with the shop-vac with poorly masked frustration and listening to Will repeat, "Uh-Oh Mommy. Wha happen?"... I wish I could have laughed through it and used it as an opportunity to teach and model for my kids grace under pressure and rejoicing in problems (even small ones).

Here's what I know about the Lord ... He loves me enough to answer that prayer. If I really want a "do-over" and if I really want to grow in my character, He will present me with the opportunity. He loves me enough to allow problems and trials (not that my flour mess really qualifies as a "trial") for the purpose of my character strengthening my hope of salvation and for the weakening of sin's grasp.

... let's just hope I can remember that the next time they come through.

Stay tuned.