a day in the life of joye

you are invited to spend a day in the life of her.

the gal who you might think has it all together.  the mama who seems to do it all. 
guess what?  she doesn't.

let's fight those lies.  this series is an effort to dispel the superwoman myth.  it is a time to be encouraged and a place to be challenged. 

i have invited some wonderful women who want to be real with y'all.  they want to share their struggles and triumphs.  they want to give you a true glimpse into their everyday.  it might not be glamorous, but it is real and beautiful.

  come walk a bit in the shoes of another.  

 

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let's spend a day with joye. . . 

This is us.

Not looking our best, but completely real.

I took this picture on a normal day.

It was an unplanned, spur of the moment, we-haven't-had-a-family-picture-in-over-a-year-and-I'm-freaking-out-that-my-kids-might-grow-into-maladjusted-adults-when-they-discover-a-full-year-missing-from-family-albums.

And now that you've got some faces to put with the madness that will surely come, I will attempt to share a day in our life...I will attempt.

Our days are for the most part, chaotically unpredictable.

I try to have some sort of semblance of a schedule.

I try.

I will not pretend to be organized.

I will not at all pretend not to be overwhelmed by almost every second of mothering these rambunctious (but lovably so), kids of mine.

Let's start when the day truly begins.

1:00 A.M.

(yes, you read that correctly)

Legend wakes up screaming.  My baby doesn't cry.  He screams.

I run into his room frantically searching for broken bones in a half-awake state of frenzy.

Sometimes he falls asleep after I pat him on the back.

Sometimes he screams even louder and nothing I do can soothe him.

That's when I start praying,  "Lord Jesus, this is an emergency.  Pleeeease help my baby sleep."

I've prayed that prayer so many times it's become automatic.

4:00 A.M.

Legend's screaming again.

Daddy calms him this time.

5:30 A.M.

Joel's alarm clock goes off and he gets ready for work.

I contemplate murdering the alarm clock.

6:00 A.M.

Legend wakes up again.

More screaming.

More praying.

6:30 A.M.

I bring Legend into my bed, desperate for some sleep.

7:00 A.M.

The kids start filing down the stairs and literally drag me out of bed.

Note:  I am NOT a morning person.  DEFINITELY not.

I have tried to be.

It's been forced on me.

My body is in full fledge war against it.

I get the kids something to drink, switch on Curious George and try to sneak back into my room for 20 more minutes of sleep.

7:30 A.M.

I shower and get dressed and begin breakfast.

Egg toast and oatmeal is our favorite.

I read my morning devotional while the kids are eating and then we read our bible memory verse for the week.

8:30 A.M.

Dress the kids, clean up the kitchen, throw a load of laundry in the washer

8:45 ish

Bible lesson/ History lesson/ Calendar/ Letter and Number of the Week with all the kids

9:30 A.M.

We like art.  We love crafts.  We usually do a craft project that corresponds with our history lesson or bible lesson.

10:00 A.M.

I put on a show for the twins and Thad and I do Math.

Some days are easier than others.

Some days are like pulling teeth.

Every day, though, I thank God for the chance to spend this time with my boy.

11:00 A.M.

Kids play outside (weather permitting) while I make lunch.

Sometimes we walk to the park or we pick kumquats off the tree across from our house.

We love the outdoors.

It helps me stay sane when the morning hasn't gone at all like I expected or there have been a million distractions and melt downs and fussy kiddos.

12:00 P.M.

Lunch time.  

I whip something fast up.  

Like turkey sandwiches and carrots or bean burritos.

12: 45 P.M.

NAP TIME.

I LOVE nap time.

Love it, love it, love it.

I need it.

Probably more than they do.

This is one thing I hold FAST to.

I put Legend down first and then the twins next.

Some days the twins test my patience in this area.

But most of the time they're exhausted and give in.

1:15 P.M.

Thad and I begin his reading lesson.

Then we venture outside for science.

2:30 ish

Everyone's up and hungry for snacks.

3:00 P.M.

We're back outside.

Playing across the street.

Having tea parties.

5:00 P.M.

Head in to make supper.

Unfortunately, food is making me nauseous lately and I've also been feeling really tired and lazy, so dinner can be a chore I'm not always looking forward to (I'm blaming it on the pregnancy of course).

Lately, I've been craving The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Tortilla Soup.

I could eat it every. single. day. and never get tired of it.

I'm pretty sure my family wouldn't be so thrilled.

I started getting my ingredients together and realized my sweet little dears had confiscated my bell peppers.

Not something I could sufficiently be angry about, right?  After all, they were eating healthy!

But there goes my craving.

I call my honey.

He listens patiently while I explain my dilemma.

He offers me solutions and I turn down every single one because nothing sounds good.

We eventually settle on Thai.

He brings home carry out from The Green Leaf and I feel guilty but he never mentions it.

He knows better.

He really loves me.

I really love him.

6:00 P.M.

Supper time

Daddy time (the kids attack him) and I'm relieved that they have a new wrestling buddy.

My kids get this huuuge burst of energy when daddy comes home.

They climb the walls and jump from the ceilings.

It's crrraaazzy in here.

7:30 P.M.

Bath time.

Thad and Boston grab their snorkeling gear and it's a real beach party.

My kids are all part fish.

8:00 P.M.

Bed time!!

I rock Legend and read him a book, sing to him, cuddle my baby close and then tell him night night.

Then it's off to catch the other kiddos.

Joel is much better at getting them to bed than I am.

They drag it wayyyyy out when I'm the one herding them in to brush their teeth, go potty, get jammies on, say their prayers and sometimes read a few books (if I'm not dead beat tired).

I hug them tight and pray blessings over them.

I tickle and kiss and love on them.

And then I breathe a huge SIGGGHHH when I finally creep downstairs to a quiet house (albeit a disaster zone).

I rush through cleaning the kitchen, picking up toys, doing some laundry (not nearly enough--I try to ignore it until it becomes a huge mountain that blocks entry into my bedroom).

And then.

And then I relax.

Sit close to my man while we watch a show.

Devour a good book  (I read way more than a healthy limit).

Stay up too late because the plot's too thick.

Spend time in prayer.

And ask God for grace to make it through one more day of this miraculous life he's given me.

One day at a time.

Definitely my motto right now.

 

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one day at a time and He offers more than enough grace to make it through.  i am with you, sister.  thank you so much for sharing your beautiful + real day.   

from one book worm to another,

xoxo,

annalea