Simple Sunday - Flexibility

~ thankful for the lessons in flexibility that I'm learning...I can clearly see that after Tobin's birth and now after Shav's (and probably after Josiah's and David's, too, but I'm having a harder time remembering those), my nature tries to jump into hyper-control mode...it's as if I can deal more effectively with all the newness and craziness of the adjustment to another member of the family if I can just control everything: every situation, every reaction, every way of doing things...of course, this is about as effective as Adam and Eve covering themselves with leaves, but my nature still tries to do this...these days, I'm learning--again--how important it is to let go of the reins; to realize that I won't be, and shouldn't be, in control of everything; to relax and go with the flow; and to live with a great degree of flexibility every single day...I was reminded of this need for flexibility last night and this morning when, because of Tobin and even sweet little Shav not feeling well, we decided that I should stay home with them from our church service out at Highland Retreat...I had been looking forward to this so much and was honestly quite disappointed to miss it...when Jeff and the older boys drove off in the van this morning, I kind of wanted to cry; but instead I kept reminding myself that this is a season of life and seasons are temporary...one of these days, I won't be a mother of young children who has to stay home from enjoyable activities because one of the little ones is sick; and when that time comes, I'll undoubtedly miss this!...so today, I'm striving to get rid of the rigidness that tries to creep into my mind and instead walk with flexibility, bowing gracefully like a willow tree in the wind whenever unexpected events come along to change the way I think things are going to go

~ by the way, for pictures of my boys back at Highland Retreat, check out Emily's blog...I LOVE the fact that she takes pictures of my boys when I'm not around and posts them on her blog...it makes me feel like I'm not missing out on quite as much when I can't be in more than one place at a time! :)

~ to explain about these pictures, Jeff took these several months ago, actually on July 4th after we had watched our local parade...they are part of a set of pictures that shows up on my screensaver; and I'm inspired, whenever I see them, to be more flexible in how I live my days...I may not be able to suck on my toes like Tobin can...

...or poke myself in the eye with my big toe, but I CAN exercise flexibility in other ways...Tobin's physical abilities inspire me to greater heights of mental flexibility, and these pictures serve as visual aids for me in the process of striving to attain that