Busyness to Joy

OK remember how last month I said that I hadn't posted much because life was BUSY? How I had my gall bladder out? How my husband and I FINALLY got to go out on a date and he hit an owl with the car?

Here's what else I've been doing that's been keeping me from blogging:

We went to Ft. Walton Beach, FL and stayed at a beach condo where the kids went swimming, in January, in the fog!

That's right snowbirds, we swim in January down here!

We took the kids on a dolphin cruise where we saw a bunch of dolphins and the kids had seagulls eating popcorn out of their hands!

We fed popcorn to rats with wings!

Each of the kids got to have a turn driving the boat!

OK so, they "drove" it in a straight line with nothing around them... that still counts!

We spent a day playing with friends jumping on their trampoline. Joshy kneed HIMSELF in the eye TWICE... and got his first and second shiner in one afternoon!

When you do all your own stunts, black eyes sometimes happen!

Jack's been taking piano lessons for a few months and LOVES it so much that he's started writing his own songs!

This is what a 7 yr old composer looks like.

I'm finally "somebody"... (AKA Small Town Famous)... I made it into the newspaper for teaching chess. Be jealous!

That's right, I wear a Snoopy T-shirt to teach chess.
Who says nerdy teachers don't have a sense of humor?

In short, life's been FULL to the brim lately. I have a lot to be thankful for... while I don't have a lot of time to write about it!

I'm reminded of a chunk of Ecclesiates that talks about life being busy and how we have the choice to enjoy it or fuss about it.

"I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink, and enjoy life, because these joys will help them do the hard work God gives them here on earth."
Ecclesiates 8:15 (NCV)

We've all got busy lives... family, work, friends, faith... and we're all seeking to find a good balance of it all. Today I was reminded about how things fall into place when I prioritize things well. I can't control every aspect of my life. Kids get sick. Home projects run awry. The calendar gets full! Choosing to put things in their proper place, instead of allowing the hectic parts to rule my attitude, is definitely something I can control. Choosing that kind of joy really does make the "work parts" of life more enjoyable.