A Battle For Time

This is a battle that I feel everyone has fought in some way or another – the battle of time.

Finding time to do what you want to be doing. Ensuring you aren’t spending too much time doing one thing, while neglecting another. Basically it’s that battle to make time for what’s important.

But what ARE those “important” things?

Dan and I have had time the past week and a half to work on our house, get settled, and adjust to life in Michigan. We knew having a few weeks to do so, would be wonderful and needed, but little did we know that at the time, God knew we needed that time too. Every day is jam packed with house projects, errands, and trying to find the time to do it all. Yes, we are choosing to fill our time with these house projects, but the one thing that has helped us keep perspective is…

Mazy.

Just today, Dan and I were trying to finish the projects we were working on (I was painting trim and Dan was trying to install an antenna b/c we refuse to get cable), and Mazy was begging both of us to play with her. We kept saying “just a second, let us finish what we are doing…” and you could tell she was just sick of hearing those words. Tears started to flow and finally I gave up, in frustration. I put my paint brush down, slammed my body on the ground, and asked what she wanted to play. But really, I was frustrated, had a short fuse, and wasn’t really ready to play.

But then it hit me. All she was asking for was just time. Time with us. Time to just be together. Time to do what she wanted to do. I know we can’t do that every second of the day and trust me, we don’t! Don’t let this post fool you! Mazy actually can be quite independent, thanks to God’s beautiful creation. She LOVES to be outside and will entertain herself for literally hours out there. But then there are times when she just needs us. Needs to be shown something, needs someone to draw a puppy, or just needs a lap to sit on.

Actually having a pool has taught us that we need to step away. It makes it feel like we are on vacation, but it has taught us to take a step away from our projects and truly spend time doing what is important – spending time together as a family. It has been a nightly ritual for us to jump in (thanks to the 90+ degree temps), us 3, spending time giggling and letting the worries of life fly out the door for that little while.

I know it’ll happen again, when Mazy needs us to do something while we are in the middle of a big project, but thinking about today, will help me keep perspective. There will never be enough time in a day if I set these lofty goals. I am a to-do list cross-er off-er. I find it so satisfying. But in having a love for that, I can’t neglect my first loves – God and my family.

It will all get done. It ALWAYS does. But what I can never get back, is the time I have with my daughter. Oh the battle of time. And oh what joy she brings to our life – to hear her squeal in that pool, oh melt my heart! What a gift she is from God, to teach me so many life lessons that I am so slow to learn!

And after a long day, all Mazy wanted to do was paint. To paint like Mommy was painting. I took it to a different level and asked if I could paint her toes and fingernails. Oh was she one proud girl! She kept saying “show Daddy” because you could just see in her eyes, how beautiful she felt and how proud she was to show him! Now THAT was worth taking the time to do today! I don’t think I have ever seen her sit so still! She kept saying “paint, pretty!”