Time

"Time is a dressmaker, specializing in alterations."

That's a good explanation of why every effort I make to organize and prioritize my time doesn't work. Something comes up to alter my plans and I'm off and running in another direction.

I'm not complaining, however. Just stating a fact. Most of the time the alterations include our two grandkids and their mom who is expecting our third grandchild. Amy is trying to get a lot of things done before that third baby comes sometime in May.

The week before last, we had beautiful Spring-like weather and Amy, Derek (the two-year old), and I went on a shopping trip to Target and Hobby Lobby in Hutchinson while Alana (the four-year old) stayed with Papa. Papa doesn't like to change diapers, altho' he will when he has to, but we decided it was kind-to-Papa-week and took Derek.

Amy was looking for Strawberry Shortcake stuff to put together a birthday party for Alana. Wouldn't you know, that what you're looking for has suddenly gone out of style, or everyone else has the same idea and has bought it off the shelves before you got there. But once Amy has an idea she has an end product in mind and pursues it with vigor, even seven months pregnant. I have no idea where she got her perfectionism and subbornness.

By now I should know that with Amy, being half my age, and with a whole lot more stamina, it's not always a good idea to follow her around a mall. I remember those all-day shopping trips, but that's all they should be--a memory. So no matter how badly I want to get out of the house, I must remember not to go shopping with Amy!

Having said all that, let me add a clincher here: Amy asked me to meet her at her doctor's office when she had an appointment the day after the shopping trip to Hutch. She wanted Alana to hear the baby's heartbeat while I watched Derek in the waiting room. I saw no problem with that.

Why didn't I follow my instincts and take Alana and Derek to my house after the appointment and let Amy shop to her heart's content? Because, I fooled myself into believing that since we had a long day shopping the day before, this would be a short shopping trip. Actually, it was shorter than the day before, but then it included eating out afterwards 'cause mommy's eating for two, don't you know, and it was almost dinner time.

OK, I survived. One long shopping day is plenty, but two days in a row is not for this Nana. Plus, since Papa and I spend Mondays with our daughter at her house, or babysitting at our house so she can go shopping, that was a week of having 3 wonderful days with our daughter and grandkids, but it put me weeks behind in housekeeping, laundry, and blogging.

Today, of course we'll be reaping the harvest of shopping trips well-done. We'll be celebrating Alana's 4th birthday with Strawberry Shortcake splendor. Her smiles and delight will be reward enough for the insignificant pain and aggravation I suffered. Praise God for our children and their children. They keep us young.

"Children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed [are the parents] whose quiver is full of them;..." Psalms 127:3-5a