That kind of Monday...

Big Sister is upstairs, hopefully asleep after throwing the biggest fit since... well... a few weeks ago. Little Sister is in her high chair, covered in cream cheese and many little spat-out blueberry skins. Which explains this:
Sophie has taken it upon herself to remind me (as if I could forget) the impressive amount of mischief she can cram into one day, and Al is determined to bark at her for every example of said mischief. There are unpacked bags taunting me from every room in the house, and laundry to be done, and mail to sort, and bills to pay. And to top it off, a friend called to say she was heading to the park- just the escape I need- but my phone has succumbed to the white screen of death (google it, it's a terminal illness for Razrs) and I couldn't return her call or even retrieve her number to say "Yes! We're on our way!" or even "Nope, my little monsters darlings and I apparently need to recover for one more day... *deep breath

Yep... it's that kind of Monday. The kind that mockingly reminds you ALL DAY LONG that you are back from vacation and back to reality.

A few minutes ago I was feeling really defeated. The girls, especially Big Sister, are having a rough time readjusting to our daily schedule, to returning to work & school, to not having constant playmates in Nana, Papa, and anyone else under their admittedly enchanting spell. The progress we made extinguishing whining, fit throwing and other Veruca Salt type behavior has all but vanished. We are back home and back at the beginning.

But now, as I listen to the monitor and realize that she is sleeping peacefully, as I find the humor in the cream-cheese encrusted dog, things are looking up. A little.

I'm blessed enough to have two healthy girls completely capable of making all kinds of messes and raising all kinds of... well, you know. I've got a husband who will (hopefully, hint hint) give me a break this afternoon. I've got a moment of peace right now in which to catch my breath and think- a luxury in itself! And I am daring to complain about the hardships of returning from vacation. at the beach. While countless others may never have that "burden." I'm ashamed. I'm ridiculous. I'm human.

And I'm so thankful for God's patience with my selfishness and my warped perspective. For His grace when I fail. For His mercies, which are new (and newly needed) every morning.

It's that kind of Monday...