Faith is the Anti-Entropy

I'm 31 and have 3 kids. I guess that means I'm an adult now. I've been on this earth long enough to realize something: everything falls apart. Literally everything. It takes work and diligence to keep the cupboards from getting greasy, the piano from growing dust, the ceiling from growing cobwebs, the patio furniture from getting sun-rotted and the kids toys from sinking into the mud (we live in the rainy side of Oregon). But it's not just the physical things. It takes patience, regular sleep and diligence to keep my kids from biting and pinching, remembering to share and that whatever they are doing will still be there after they use the bathroom (it is not necessary to wait until you have to go so badly that you end up peeing on the floor--really it isn't!) To fight entropy in marriage, I actually have to spend time with my husband, kiss him occasionally and converse with him about things that don't have anything to do with trash day or payday. To have a vibrant spiritual life I need to do something physical everyday to accompany it.
A friend of mine told me that Susanna Wesley, the mother of John Wesley (and 19 other children, 9 of which survived to adulthood) who founded Methodism, would sit by the fire each morning with a blanket draped over her while she communed with God. In that sacred time no one approached her. Her example became part of the basis for the method in Methodism. I've come to realize that a sacred daily ritual is exactly what I need to fight the threatening spiritual entropy.
So here is my anti-entropy game plan for April. I'm going to go to bed early and get up early. I'm going to take back my life by making two good habits. I'm going to give myself time every morning to think alone, study scripture, pray, eat breakfast and occasionally exercise before the minions arise and start begging for milk, food, dry clothes and diaper changes. It's April third and my early morning grumpy-factor has already diminished--who knows what the next 27 days bring?
What's your anti-entropy?

Home is a stage

This week I was stressed out. What else is new?
I was trying to feed the missionaries, attend scout camp, host play group, make healthy diet worthy dinners, clean my house, make jam...etc.
James wanted to play catch with me. I didn't have time. And I was annoyed he was interrupting me and asking.
Lame, I know.
A day went by that I barely took one minute to talk to and enjoy him or my squealing baby (yes did I mention baby Dave lets out a high pitched squeal all day long to entertain himself these days? Very pleasant).
Then I remembered. Jam is for kids. Dinner is for family. Clean houses are for playing in. All the things I was stressing out over are not my goals. They are the setting. They make up the stage and props with which our family life happens. They are what should be the pleasant background to what is actually important. They are not worth stressing out over.

Now if I can just remember that the next time my floor is sticky and sink is overflowing ;)