I Broke the Routine

Hooray it is a new year! That means all kinds of things. 

Right now that means getting us back on track after the craziness of the holidays. 

My husband is a Youth and Children's pastor and the Holidays are always a crazy time for us. 

The end of 2017 was no exception. I also homeschool our kiddos. 

My oldest is in first grade and my middle two are plugging away with preschool. 

They usually just play a lot while I work with my oldest. 

We also have a chore chart that I LOVE, but have gotten very lax with. 

Plus a behavior chart to keep everyone in line. 

Ok usually my wishful thinking with that one.

Our routine has gotten so far out of whack, 

that I am very glad for a new year and a new week. 

Today, I started back full force with my online job, school, and the chore and behavior chart...

and the kids are having none of it!

My oldest girl is fighting off a fever virus that has had her down for a few days, so she is sleeping and is generally calm. The baby is still small enough to wrangle where I need her to be.

The two boys are just rebelling. 

I like having some structure to our day. I by no means stick to a set schedule, but they can generally know that they will have breakfast and Bible time before daddy leaves for work. Then I will finish my work, and we will begin the school day. This requires them to get their responsibilities done while I work. 

Things like getting dressed and making their beds, feeding the dog, and other small tasks.

Apparently we have been so off schedule for so long that my kiddos are not into this whole routine again. 

So we start at ground zero, because there is nothing else I can do!

Yet again, God is speaking to my heart in this time. 

I don't want you to think that I am super spiritual all the time. 

This is so far from the truth.

As a matter of fact, I am part of a Bible study on Monday nights and haven't been in two months 

because my husband has had meetings every week that prevented me from going. 

Hooray I get to go back this week! But I am seriously FAR behind.

I need a do over. I need to begin again.

During the times when I don't have time to sit down and read, I am thankful for the scripture that God brings to my mind. Today, as I begin again, the scripture that comes to mind is, 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, 

and look, new things have come.

I am thankful for salvation. I am thankful for the grace and mercy to begin again. I am thankful that God is continuing to make me a new creation. I am thankful that His work in me is far from done!

So today, we begin anew!

We begin school again. We begin our chore chart again. We begin our behavior chart again. 

And I will breathe as my children rebel the structure that I have let slide. 

I will pray that the grace I have been shown to begin my Bible study (again) will flow through me to my children. 

I pray to be calm, as I deal with the tantrums.

I pray that you find grace to begin again and to be thankful for this new year, this new week, and this new day! 

Thank you for reading and sharing. 

If you like what you have read so far, leave me a comment and let me know.