Expectations

Liberty taking care of 'Baby Ben'

 I posted a couple of weeks ago about the Anticipation of our day. We didn't have history because Syndi got in an accident on the way to my house. Everyone was fine, and the car was wet, but otherwise drivable. The children got a great lesson in physics (cars and ice), they learned how to hook up a vehicle from the tow truck guy, and most importantly, how to be flexible, and offer grace to Mrs. H, that she didn't feel up to teaching.

Little kids turn on the trampoline

 We always do a potluck lunch and I was outside putting the hamburgers on the BBQ when the neighbor dog came over decided to retrieve one of my chickens. I took off running to rescue my chicken. The dog had the chicken in it's mouth and ran through the bushes. I forgot that there was a fence on the other side of the bushes and jumped too late to clear it and continue my chase.
Here's the image: Me in a skirt, tights and boots sprawled face first on my neighbors front lawn with the dog staring at me with my chicken hanging out of his mouth. By this time I was quite mad, and I knew the dog now thought we were playing a game. Why, would someone be yelling and kicking at you if they were playing, I'm not sure, but clearly he was playing. I fell a few more times and succeeded in putting grass stains on the knees of my tights. Jake got the chicken and I corralled the rest of the flock to keep them from harm.
Thankfully, Jess saw that I was (cough, cough) otherwise occupied and rescued the burgers from demise.

Isobel

 The reason I am sharing all this, not just so you can laugh at the image of me falling, but so that you can learn what I am so slow at learning. You have to be flexible, to go with the flow and not have too high of expectations.
I expect when I have a new baby that I am going to have to get up often and feed the baby. When I no longer have a newborn, I expect to sleep all night. I am quite upset when I have to get up.

School is not going so well this year and I find myself getting really frustrated with the children. I expect them complete their work completely, immediately, joyfully, and respectfully. The problem is that I don't expect to have to correct them. I expect that they are already trained and therefore should just do their work.
See, I want them to do their work, but don't think I have to do mine (training them). Mostly, this is just a reminder to myself that we are all sinners and we all need grace. My job is to teach my children in all areas. If I expect to correct them, I can do it with a much better attitude.  If it is clear what is expected then they can do their job better.
My verse for the week:
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
 and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I am going to be intentional in serving my family and expecting to have to correct them.
Please pray for me.