The older I get, the more distractible I become.

See if you can relate…

I decide to dust the furniture. All goes according to plan for maybe five minutes until I come across the photo album on the shelf. Time to reminisce on how much my boys have grown. Seeing the photo of Aunt Venia reading a book to Jacob reminds me that I haven ‘t talked to her in a while. I take a minute to call. While on the phone, Aunt Venia tells me about a new recipe for corn bread she found on a website. Off I go to print off the recipe. The icon for the Zuma game calls my name. Before I know it, I’ve gone through six levels and my eyeballs are fixated on the screen. What was I supposed to be doing? Oh yeah…dusting.

Sounds like the classic children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, doesn’t it?

This is the story of my life. I have a hard time completing tasks because I get sidetracked.

This morning, I changed my normal quiet time routine. I brought my Bible and journal downstairs to my desk where my computer is located rather than staying upstairs in my bedroom as usual.

Big mistake.

I ended up checking my email, reading Lysa’s blog and leaving a comment, checking my bank balance, and reading an article about Britney’s latest antics. By the time I got refocused on the task at hand….spending much-needed time with the Lord…I only had about 15 minutes before I had to leave for class….not long enough for me to really “be still” and listen to the Lord.

I opened the devotional book I’ve been using, and one of the verses cut my heart to the quick.

Phillipians 2:21: “For everyone looks out for his own interests not those of Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

I don’t want to be part of that “everyone” crowd. I want to be about my Father’s business just as 12-year-old Jesus was that day when His parents found him conversing with the teachers in the temple.

Change me, Lord. Develop in me a focused and alert mind and heart completely in tune with your interests. Oh, how I desire to wake up each morning with eager anticipation about spending time with you. Help me to make correct choices one at a time until they become my nature. You are worthy of my undivided attention. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, AMEN

Sundays are my favorite day of the week; summer Sundays are the very best.

I have a lovely routine.

I arise early to put the finishing touches on my Sunday school lesson for my amazing fifth and sixth graders at Heart of Mesa Church. I just started teaching the class a few months back when their beloved Mr. John and Ms. Wendy moved to a church closer to their home. I’m not sure I will ever fully measure up, but I think I’m starting to grow on the kids.

Upon arriving to church, I take the short trek to the “missions room” where Ms. Elia and Ms. Kathy have all kinds of sugary and fattening treats for sale…all proceeds going to missions projects and support of local and foreign missionaries. My three boys (plus my fourth boy sometimes called a husband) keep the missions room in business.

After Sunday school, I have the privilege of being part of the praise and worship team alongside my husband Cliff, my BFF Michelle, and several other wonderful folk. I love looking out at the congregation as we worship the Lord.

I specifically like to see Audrey with that big smile on her face as she lifts her offering of worship to the lover of her soul. Watching her challenges me to just love the Lord and quit worrying about the logistics of the worship set of music.

Sometimes, I get teary-eyed when I see El and Dona, one of our senior couples. They are both frail in body, and El is frail in mind as he is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s. But, they are there faithfully each Sunday as their health permits. When we sing the song, “Majesty”, Dona cries and raises her hands heavenward. In spite of her physical and emotional battles, she worships in spirit and truth.

Pastor Gary’s sermons never fail to step on my toes and spur me on. I am so blessed to have such a godly and encouraging pastor. He has the spiritual gift of mercy, and his purpose is best fulfilled when he is loving on people who are hurting. When I went to the She Speaks conference last month, I carried a post card he sent me for an extra measure of encouragement. On the little card, he told me of all of the scriptures he has been praying for me as I dealt with the recent losses in my family.

After church, we usually go out to eat with BFF Michelle and other BFF Alice and her hubby Dave. We enjoy sitting around the table noshing and chatting…sometimes fast-food and sometimes one step up from fast-food depending on our current financial state.

When we finally make it home from church, Cliff and I race to see who can get into bed the fastest for our afternoon nap (I usually win). I’m not talking about some wimpy 20 minute “power nap.” I sleep….I sleep hard for at least two hours…sometimes three. I sleep as if I haven’t slept in a month.

Yesterday, after my nap, the boys and I did some power cleaning. We de-cluttered and de-funked the whole downstairs. I did several loads of laundry, and Cliff and the boys did yardwork.

Then….the invasion happened.

Six teenagers not counting my own teenaged son, Garrett converged upon my home for an “all-nighter.”

The second those kids walked into my house, a huge smile spread across my face. I LOVE IT!!! I love that my son’s friends like to be at our house. They swim, they play Guitar Hero, they eat all of my groceries, they leave wet towels on the furniture.

Last night, I made a huge pot of spaghetti and they ate 2/3′s of it. They didn’t care that I had no salad or garlic bread to go with it. They drank at least a dozen Sprites.

This morning, when I got up to go to an all-day special education inservice class, I found bodies crashed out all over my house! Two upstairs, one in the “formal” living room, three in my office on the sleeper sofa, and one in the family room. None of them had covers, few of them had pillows….why? Because they assured me they would not be sleeping…yeah right!

Lord, thank you for noisy kid invasions on my home. Thank you that my son and his friends enjoy being around our home rather than running the roads. Bless these kids with a hunger and thirst for more than just spaghetti and sprite. May they hunger and thirst for a deeper walk with You!