Did you make the coffee yet?

This week, we're blessed with the opportunity to attend a prayer conference at church. Chris would not have this opportunity had his classes fallen into place the way we had hoped, and I would not have this opportunity if our church did not prioritize childcare. As it is, we can both attend. Unfortunately, the start time this morning was 8:30 am. Tough to do when you have five kids to get ready.

Last night, I laid out all the kids' clothes and diapers for the morning. I stacked diapers in two diaper bags. I made five lunches and put them in the refrigerator. I crawled in bed about 11 pm. I woke up about 6:45 am, concerned that I wouldn't have quite enough time to meet my 8am departure time. I showered, got dressed, and even applied mascara. I thought about touching up my toenail polish, but it slipped my mind between the brushing of the teeth and the scrunching of the hair. I stepped out of my bedroom, savoring the quiet that is too often overrun by the chaos of my kids, and I heard rustling in the kitchen.

David.

Sigh. Please let it be a phase.

David had come out of his room (against the rules), opened the fridge (against the rules), and began eating his lunch for breakfast (I don't really have a rule about that.) His cookies were gone, and he had started on his raisins. He looked up at me and grinned the sweetest smile--no hint of mischievousness in it.

I fixed three bowls of cereal, two bottles, woke up everyone, changed their diapers, changed their clothes, brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, put on their shoes, put the babies in their carseats, made four more bottles (because they'd be at church for 6 hours), added two changes of clothes to the diaper bag, saddled myself with purses and backpacks and lunches and diaper bags. I picked up one 30-pound carseat child in one hand, one 30-pound carseat child in the other, turned sideways to shimmy out the hallway.

Chris walked out of the bedroom, showered and dressed in his scrubs. It was 7:45 am.
He said, "Did you make the coffee yet?"

??!!!!!!

I know Chris well enough to know that he wasn't asking me to make the coffee. He just wanted to know if he needed to make it (which he did.)

I'm proud to say the kids and I made it to the conference on time. Chris made the coffee and his lunch, drove his own car, and brought me a cup of coffee at 8:35 am.

We sat together in the back of the packed-out fellowship hall and heard a remarkable man of God speak about talking to God. I was exhausted, but satisfied.

I learned last year that I choose my attitude. I can have a happy day doing the same thing I did on a terrible day. When I view my role as mom and wife as a joy instead of a job, something I get to do rather than something I have to do, then I can enjoy myself.

Instead of being angry that I had to get everyone ready by myself this morning, I'm proud and thankful that God allowed me to have the patience, foresight, and organization to pull it off. We'll see how tomorrow goes!