refreshed and ready

Everyone needs a date from time to time

Lately, I've been very unmotivated. There are about a million things I could be doing besides my normal chores. Organization, deep cleaning, thank-yous to write, projects to finish (and start!), journaling to catch up on... but instead, I've done the bare minimum of keeping the house looking nice, the kids occupied, and food on the table. It's not that I've been feeling down or depressed in some way; just unmotivated and tired, left without the desire to fill the day as productively as possible. I've noticed this in other things too, such as my reading. I love to read, and I need to read-- especially the Scriptures, of course. I've not been as diligent in that lately either. I have no excuse, it is my own fault. This unmotivation in some of the very vital parts of my life might be due to a number of things-- not really having a chance to recover from the crazy holidays, being overwhelmed by having so many things to do all of a sudden, not getting enough sleep, or (and this is a tough one to swallow sometimes) my own sinfulness.

Whatever it may be, God has shown His graciousness once again in giving me exactly what I needed, even when I myself didn't know quite what that was.

This past Friday was my birthday, and as a wonderful gift my mother-in-law and her husband took the girls that evening and kept them all the way until Sunday morning. It was the best present they could have given me. Jeremy and I went out to dinner at a nice restaurant and spoiled ourselves, saw a movie afterward, slept in until 10 (TEN O CLOCK!! I haven't slept that late in forever), and had a delicious day of vegging and cuddling, just the two of us, no kids, no cares.

I love that we got to just be a couple again and remember what it was like when it was just the two of us. But, by Sunday morning, I was so ready and eager to have my girls back. I missed them and all that they add to our home. It made me realize all over again how much we are blessed to have kids and how much we love being parents, which is something that can occasionally get lost in the everyday grind and challenges.

Also, I found myself this morning with new energy and a desire to plunge right in to work and productivity with all the diligence I could muster. I wanted to tackle as much as I could, and I rejoiced in the thought of all I could do! My heart ached to feed myself from the Word of God, and new prayers bubbled up from within.

Maybe it was simply the extra sleep that I got, or the break from our normal routines; who knows. But I am definitely grateful for the renewing of so many different things, especially because I know I didn't deserve it and have been a slacker with a bad attitude. God is very good.

My blogging juices have been flowing a bit better too (a renewal of creativity, I hope! I've needed some lately), so be warned-- there may be a few new Talia ramblings coming your way soon. :)

How's this for an attitude adjustment? :
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." ~Colossians 3:23-24