Stations...it's the simple things...

In the midst of the chaos I call my mind, I decided today would be different for my girls.  I would give them assigned places, called stations (or if you're an elementary teacher, centers)  where they would spend at least 30 minutes of time. It was a brainstorm I had at the spur of the moment when I realized the heat and humidity was going to make it quite miserable for my children who basically melt when they get too warm.  Thus, stations.

The stations were basic....first was watercolor painting, of which I participated.  The second was a tea party complete with fruities, lemonade, and rice cakes.  The third was a Barbie station where I didn't completely participate, but I set it up in the Big Princesses room and helped them get things going. We followed that with a visit to Hobby Lobby to spend a gift card (the never-ending stock of crafts were added to once again) and then we watched a G movie while Little Princess slept on me.  And scene.  It was successful.

Successful in many ways really. The girls were happy to get time with me and to have me directly assign them things to do. In fact, they are already asking for it again.  But what I find most interesting was my focus on them took the slump out of my day and it reminded me that even though there were friends out golfing, friends meeting for a quiet adult conversation-filled lunch, and friends on a beach somewhere enjoying life, I was watching these two little creatures I adore creatively play. They let their minds do the work. They laughed.  They giggled.  They screamed. They ran. They argued.  My three year old even said, "Chill your deal" to me when I was on her to settle down (thank you, Big Princess for making Little Princess your slang slave).

Am I still slumping?  Probably for a long time. I'm a processor....a muller.....a chewer of thoughts that take me sometimes through valleys I would rather avoid but in order to grow, I must travel through them.  And more importantly, at least I hope, it brings me to a place where I'm able to seek God earnestly, intentionally and completely, not just out of need or out of want, but because I truly love Him.  Giving today a gold star....