Small sacrifices heap big rewards

It doesn't seem right that the school year is two months away from being over, or that I have will have two children in high school next year. I can't stop time, so I won't begin to stress on that topic. I've learned in parenting, that often it's the small sacrifices that don't seem important at the time that your kids notice. I was reminded of that this week when my son told me at the last minute that he had to have a judge for a speech tournament, it would mean 100 points to his grade. I was originally scheduled to be out of town at a women's retreat from church - something I was really looking forward to but I decided it was worth more to be there for my son than for a few days away with my friends. I let his teacher know and within the hour I had the most endearing text from my son, it was simple..."thanks mom..I love you so much." The words still ring in my heart days since and I know I made the right decision, it was worth those few words I'll treasure. It was just as restoring as my planned women's retreat and I realized that occasionally it's the small sacrifices that heap big rewards!

Loaded question

I marvel at the status updates that come through Facebook and the all encompassing "what are doing " question on Twitter. The questions are simple on the surface but far too often I find myself musing over my responses. It shouldn't be that hard. I suspect it has something to do with the running list of items I work on simulataneoulsy while darting back in forth between kids, laundry, husband, dogs, homework, reading, and my next task list. It's exhausting so I am thankful for Sunday afternoons at mom's with nothing much to do but watch movies, drink coffee, talk about everyone else who's not in the room (a Tillis tradition) and stress over the lack of cookies in the house. I treasure my time with my mom, though she doesn't know it. A nap on her couch makes the world seem right again and I'll take that any time over a quick answer to a Facebook status update.