Sweatpants and Starbuck's

I woke up this morning to the sound of my daughter stating, "I threw up in my bed and it’s all yucky." Just the words a mother wants to hear at 6:30am. Shortly after, her little sister, who had been sick with a respiratory virus the day before, awoke with a fever and coughing fit. After rocking her for a few minutes to monitor her breathing, I began contemplating how I would be able to take her to the doctor without my daughter vomiting in the office. "Not going to happen today," I thought, "unless it’s bad enough to call daddy home from work." I laid both girls in my bed (I know, not within the infectious disease guidelines at all), determined to take a quick shower before washing the bed linens and spraying disinfectant everywhere. I began to obsess about a cup of coffee. I remembered that we used the last of our pecan praline creamer over the weekend. (That, I’m sure, was the enemy attacking.)

Wouldn’t you know that while I was in the shower my daughter threw up in my bed! I really should’ve seen that one coming. Two loads of laundry, at least. That’s ok. I’m a stay at home mom. I’m still very much in control. This can get done. Quickly, I was dressed and ready for the day.

The next thing that I heard was moaning from outside my bathroom door. My son, might I add my eldest and very smart son, was saying, "My head hurts so bad." I saw my husband out of the corner of my eye make a gesture that he may be faking it. Of course, I rubbed my son’s head. All of a sudden I heard some really loud sirens outside the window. For a brief moment I thought, "This is it. Today is the day that Christ is returning." My husband and I agreed that our eternal hope in Christ would be our motivation on a day like this. My son said, "Since we are all sick today, do we have to have school?" These are the words that every homeschooling mom wants to hear. I promptly reminded him that he would do what he was told today and that those instructions would most likely include school work.

It was at this moment that I marched very confidently into my closet, took off my jeans and put on my favorite gray sweatpants. I’m sure that my sweatpants are up there with "putting on the full armor of God." I mean, if I’m going to resist Satan’s condemnation and evil schemes, I have to be comfortable. I heard my son say in the background, "I'm freaking out cause you're not taking care of me." I don't know where he learned to talk like that. I took time to do my hair and clean my glasses. And, the first load of laundry is spinning in the washer as I type.

Well, it’s 9am and my coffee is brewing. It will taste great with a little sugar and milk. And, I just heard the toaster oven ding…my bagel is waiting. Life is great and I’m ready to tackle the day. I love my kids and wouldn't trade them for anything - not even a cup of coffee. Ahh, sweatpants and coffee…why doesn’t Starbuck’s deliver?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:3-14