Shrinking focus, Growing faith

With school out for the summer and three boys underfoot, I made up my mind to have a go at being "Super Mom". I planned on going to the park twice a week, the library at least once per week and the cheap theater every Tuesday as long as there were good G and PG offerings. We would experiment with new crafts at home and have a schedule for computer time and chores so no one could complain of unfair treatment and, oh yes, we would go camping once a month. So far things have gone perfectly.

HA HA HA HA hahaha HOOeee! Gotcha! What a whopper! We did go the library and the movies twice and the park once but nothing else has gone "right". The house is always messy, there are loads of arguments about who has computer time coming and who is 'way over the limit. An organized craft time has yet to occur and may never happen if I can't find my supplies. I wanted to do all sorts of wonderful life enriching activities with my kids but end up spending a great deal of time fretting over bills and packing (I think we're moving in a couple weeks but am not sure--more stress--argh!) and hot muggy weather and fat legs that look bad in shorts.
My mother-in-law, bless her, called me today with her usual message, "Don't worry, God knows what He's doing," and "Everything will work out." I was able to shrink my focus to the positives: I am spending time with my kids. We play board games and card games and I do take them with me most places I go. We have a place to live and no neighbors immediately on either side of us. We've never gone hungry (and if we did it would speed up the weight loss we all need.)

We can't deny that negative things do happen but we CAN focus on what God has done for us. His spectrum of blessings is tremendous! The next step is realizing that His love and care will never be withheld. Greater faith and contentment should be a natural outgrowth but we must never lose our focus on Him.