slow down

 I awoke today and realized I have exactly three days until we bring the puppy home, 23 days until the household goods movers come, 27 days until we move into our new place, 61 days until my terminal leave begins and the girls begin homeschool a day later.
Life is coming at me quickly. Almost as fast as the fireworks shot towards Clara. I am excited for the new wild ride, and yet, would like time to slow down just a bit.


I guess I did slow down because I never did finish this.


The new puppy, Barley, has not been home four nights. He is doing well and is such a sweet little blessing to our family. I feel he has already gained weight. I wish he would slow down.


When my plate is full, like it normally is, I tend to only tend to that which will fall off first. This is similar to the squeaky wheel gets the grease idea. The problem with this, however, is that sometimes that which truly needs my attention the most is quiet as a field mouse. So in the moments that I feel plates about to slip, I look around at the quiet one and go there. I check in. I make sure the wheel has been greased. It is maintenance, let's say. Sometimes it is my husband. Sometimes it is one of my daughters. Maybe a distant friend. Sometimes, it is me.


I recently heard "Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up". I didn't get it before. I do now. Jesus worked from a place of rest. It was not work then rest. It was rest, then work.

I believe this is the season I am in. Rest. Take care of what is necessary so that I will be able to launch forward into the next season ready to conquer that which comes. I shall slow down to speed up.

update:
Barley is a year and a half. He is a wonderful addition to our family and yet so difficult. Small dogs bark a lot. And he has anxiety. He pees on carpet out of spite if I am not in the same area of the house, separated by a gate or a door. Some people's reaction would be to beat the dog. Some may re-home him. Both thoughts have gone through my head but then I realize the truth. We all pee out of spite sometimes, figuratively of course. We have our own hissy fits or negative reactions when things don't go our way. My puppy's biggest problems are that he wants to be with me and he wants to scare off dangers lurking outside. Pretty good problems to have, I suppose. So--- the lesson for me is that I shouldn't get angry when Barley does something wrong. He needs loving correction just like me.